Page 42 of Plug and Claim

“No problem,” Kira said. “As soon as I return the ring—”

“Just give me the box.”

Kira frowned. “I thought you didn’t want it.”

“It’s my fault. I didn’t want you joining the pack, but I shouldn’t have sent you there.”

No, you shouldn’t have, Kira thought.

Not when you know he abducts our females.

She had very mixed feelings about Chelsea, but she needed followers, not rivals, and Chelsea might have been a bitch, but she was a formidable one.

“You were right,” Chelsea continued. “The vampires are the real enemy. I forgot that. I’ll return the ring.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’ll go when it’s safe and just leave it outside his office.”

Kira hesitated before passing her the jewellery box. “I can help.”

Chelsea snorted. “You’ll be in no state to walk after the initiation. And the sooner this is returned, the better.”

“I…w-won’t be able to walk?”

Fuck.

What the hell were they going to do to her?

“You’ll be fine,” Chelsea said, her tone becoming crisp and business-like as she tucked a strand of hair behind Kira’s ear. “In a few hours, you’ll be one of us. Which means that from now on, we are your pack, and you can count on me.”

Kira pressed her lips together. She did not trust Chelsea further than she could throw her bony ass, but at least she had a tentative ally.

A sliver of light appeared on the stage as Chelsea peered out through the curtains at the pack assembled on the court. She faced back to Kira. “All the alphas are here. The initiation is starting.”

Kira’s heart lurched, her confidence vanishing as the air left her lungs.

“You should probably sit,” Chelsea said.

“Okay,” she said, trying not to panic. “Where?”

The simple chairs and table did not look comfortable for the ordeal ahead, and the floor was hard and dusty.

Chelsea seemed to take pity on her because she pointed to the back of the stage. “There’s a gym mat there.”

“Thanks,” Kira muttered, slowly lowering herself onto the firm mat. It was better than nothing.

“Ready?” Chelsea asked.

Kira opened her mouth, but no words came out. A lump had formed in her throat, and she didn’t dare speak.

Was she really going to cry?

Pull your shit together.

Chelsea hovered near the curtains. “Kira?”

She didn’t reply.