2. Evander

"So you drank the library dry?"

I wince around my hangover and glare at my brother. "You say that like it's hard."

"I am both horrified and disappointed, if I'm being honest."

I wrinkle my lip at Thorne, who is poised at the other end of the table, fork halfway to his mouth. "Share your pancakes, or I'll give you something to be horrified by."

"Do it and die, little brother," he snarls.

I growl right back.

"Children, please do not make me get the sedatives from the clinic," Iris says as she sails in. She leans in, giving my brother a light kiss that turns into something a little more when he pulls her down into his lap.

Gross.

"You're both disgusting," I grunt, as I grab the platter of eggs and sausage from in front of Thorne. I stab some, shoveling it onto my plate, squinting around the pulsing lights in my eyes.

The library was kind of hard to drink dry. It turns out, they really stock up for those Midnight in the Stacks events.

And at about eleven thirty, the boys and I took it upon ourselves to ensure that they wouldn't have to clean up full bottles.

Recycling only.

It was responsible. But mostly, it was something to pass the time.

After Briony Cane left, I was really fucking bored.

She was the whole reason that I showed up to drink in a fucking library, somewhere that I literally never voluntarily go. Even when I was a kid in Alaska, I managed to keep far away from the Pack library.

I saw her there.

Ever since she broke up with Will, I've been… confused. Will is my friend, and I feel bad for him since she broke up with him.

But damn.

I could never date her. I wouldn't betray my friend like that. It was basically just timing that he got to her first, and I respect him enough to stay away.

Unfortunately, I also can't really stay that far away.

Hence, the library. I heard from Zander, who heard from Amira, that Amira and Briony would be at the library event. They used to go with their friend Kelly every time, but recently, it's just been Amira and Briony.

So, I convinced the boys to leave the bar and go to the library.

And when she left, I finished off enough vodka to drown a hippo.

"You're going to need to find a mate soon, Ev," Thorne says with a malicious glint in his eyes.

"Fuck you," I mutter.

I'm well aware of the fact that I'm turning thirty in about two years. If I don't find a mate by then…

I won't be able to shift anymore.

Part of me, however, doesn't hate that idea.

I've lived in Thorne's shadow for long enough that the idea of doing something on my own, even if it's a fucked-up thing, like living as a human, is kind of enticing.

Iris sighs at me. "Don't you two ever communicate kindly?"

"No," we answer simultaneously.

She throws up her hands and gets up off of Thorne's lap. "I need to go to the clinic. Someone brought in a bunch of baby deer, and no, you can't eat them," she says, wagging her finger at me.

I bite into a sausage and growl at her.

"You have one job today. The both of you," she points to Thorne and me. "You need to set up the house for the Blue Moon Bash."

Ugh. "Thorne's the alpha."

"And as my beta, you're supposed to help me. So fucking help," he mutters.

I sneer at him and shoot him a finger, but I lapse into silence as I consume my breakfast.

I'm not built for decorating.

Neither is Thorne.

This is going to fucking suck.

Iris leaves and we finish our breakfast. I glare at him. "This is really an alpha's mate's job."

"Iris doesn't have time, and she says that gendered bullshit has got to go."

I don't respond to that. Instead, I crack my back. "Well. Best get going then."

Thorne nods, and we set to our task.

I'm looking forward to the Blue Moon Bash, but for one reason and one reason only: It's my next chance to do my weird, fucked-up stalking of Briony Cane.

The nightof the bash finally arrives, and despite both of our hesitations, Thorne and I didn't totally screw it up.

It actually looks pretty good.

The yard is filled with tables, some low, some high. There's a table for each type of food, with some wait staff to circulate. They're teenagers that Thorne conscripted into doing community service instead of partying, because they got caught shifting in human territory, so they're not exactly happy about it, but they're scared enough to do a decent job. Historically, Blue Moon celebrations are held by the alpha as a way to build some camaraderie in the pack.

This one looks like it's going to be just the ticket.

Since moving to Oakwood, my brother has had a lot of pressure put on him. It was a huge move for the pack, and I didn't agree with it at the time.

Now, however, seeing the looks on people's faces?

He might have been on to something.

I shuffle, uncomfortable in my stiff jeans and a black button-down shirt. "Why did you make me wear this?" I grumble to Thorne.

"Because you have to look presentable as my beta," he responds.

"I look like an idiot."

"You look fine. Stop pulling at your sleeves."

It's Thorne's shirt, and I hate how stiff it is.

I can hear my friends calling, and I'm about to go over to them when someone catches my eye.

My breath hitches in my throat. My skin feels like I'm standing under a thunderstorm, electric and tingling.

Briony.

She looks… amazing.

Briony has always been pretty. I made comments about that fact to Will often enough that he started to think something was weird, so I stopped a long time ago, but I've never been able to get away from the fact that Briony is pretty damn beautiful. Her hair looks like ink spilling over her shoulders, and she's wearing a dress that reveals the graceful arch of her neck and the curved muscles of her shoulders.

Fuck.

Fuck.

The dress is a deep forest green, the same color as her eyes, and I know that if she looks over at me, I'm going to lose my shit.

"Bro," I hear my friend Zander say. He comes up and slaps me on the back, and I stiffen.

"What?" I snap.

"Damn. Who shit in your Cheerios?"

"I hate that expression. And no one. Where's the bar?"

Zander laughs. "Starting already? Nice. Let's fucking go," he says with a howl.

I can feel Thorne's glare as we walk away, but I'm too distracted to care.

Briony.

The whole night, I feel like I can't go more than fifteen feet from her. Like some kind of fucked-up asteroid, I orbit her. Wherever she goes, I follow. I try to make it look casual, but eventually, I'm sure she's going to notice.

She's smart as hell like that.

Sure enough, the twilight has almost given way to night when she marches over to where I'm sitting. "Why are you staring at me?" she says, her hands on her hips.

I swallow. Suddenly my lips feel like they're made of rubber. "Um…"

"Stop. It's fucking weird. Did Will send you to spy on me?"

I shake my head. "No? He's just out of town."

"I do not care where he is. He can be anywhere and sleep with anyone he wants now that we're not together," she says with a snort. "Stop staring at me. Leave me alone. It's bad enough that I have to see you everywhere. Just… leave me alone," she says with a little stomp of her foot.

Oh, shit.

That's so cute.

Briony spins and stomps away, but I swallow as she does.

Her dress clings to her ass. Like, clings to it.

I can see it jiggle as she moves.

I shut my eyes. Stop being so obvious, Evander.

Or just stop watching her altogether

Her comment, however, is sitting with me. He can sleep with anyone he wants now that we're not together.

What does that mean?

Zander collapses in the chair next to me. "Dude. You have got to see the wolves who came over from Aspen. There's a girl with tattoos…"

"Why did Will and Briony break up?" I ask him sharply.

He shrugs. "Dunno. Will said she broke up with him. Stomped on his heart when he wanted to mate her."

"Yeah. That's what I heard too."

"Does it matter? They're not together and she's… Briony," Zander says with a glance at the dance floor. "Might as well date my grandma, right?"

"Right," I add. Zander proceeds to talk all about the tattoos on the wolf from Aspen, but I don't listen.

Instead, I think about raven hair, green eyes, and a story that I think I might not quite know the truth about.

As the moon rises, my friends all start to dance. I hate dancing, so I linger on the edges of the dance floor, trying not to stare at Briony.

I wonder, not for the first time, what it would have been like if I had asked her out first, instead of Will.

It's kind of the story of my life, though. Second best. Too late to get the girl. Beta to my older brother. I've never been first or best or really chosen by anything. Somehow, I always seem to be just… second.

It's beginning to feel a little crushing, if I'm being honest.

There's a sound on the dance floor and my head snaps to look.

Briony.

She's trying to pull back. The male who is dancing with her is holding onto her hand like a vice.

My hackles shoot up, and I'm on my feet instantly.

As I approach, I hear him say in a low voice, "Come on, Briony. You're looking fine tonight. I had no idea such a little mouse like you was hiding an ass like that."

"Ew," she says, her nose wrinkling.

"Aw, don't be such a bitch. Will warned us you were no fun. Come on, let me show you a good time."

His hands descend, and he grabs the globe of her ass.

Rage descends over my vision.

Literally, I begin to see red. A growl rattles out of my chest, and it's one-hundred percent wolf.

Around us, everyone pauses. I'm vaguely aware of them, but my focus is entirely on Briony.

And the asshole who is still trying to touch her.

I stalk up to him as he's trying to grab her again. "Hey," I snap.

He looks at me. I have no idea who the fuck this guy is, but he has the balls to give me a sneer.

"Back off, man, I'm dancing with her. Aren't I, Briony?"

She pales.

The fear on her face is more than enough for me. I turn to the asshole and punch him.

Hard.

Right in the face.

He sinks like a sack of potatoes.

"You don't disrespect females," I bark at him. "Especially not in the alpha's house."

A small crowd of male wolves grabs him and tugs him away, and slowly, the dancing resumes around us.

There is, however, still a circle around Briony and me.

She's staring at me. Her silk hair is waving in the breeze, and one of the strands has kind of crept across her face.

Cautiously, I move it back behind her ear.

The movement seems to jolt her out of whatever trance she's in. "What the hell?" she snaps.

"You're welcome," I snarl back.

"I didn't ask for your help, Evander."

The way she says my name raises goosebumps on my arm. "Well, you got it."

"Ugh! You're such an asshole!"

"Well, I'm an asshole who just helped you out, aren't I?"

"What do you want? Do you want me to say thank you? Simper, like some kind of damsel in distress?"

She's taken about five steps forward, so she's glaring up at me. Her cheeks are flushed with anger, and I can see the tops of her breasts pressing against the neckline of her emerald dress.

Fuck, it's hot.

"Yeah, I would like that," I sneer.

Briony's eyes flash. "You're such a dick. Even if I was going to thank you, I wouldn't now. Leave me alone!" she squeaks.

She turns on her heel, sprinting for the edge of the dance floor. I see her friend Amira gather Briony up, shoot me a glare, then they both leave.

I sigh.

I don't know why, but Briony brings out the worst in me. There's something about her that just makes me say or do the wrong thing, every time.

I need to let go of this weird thing I have for her. She's my friend's ex-girlfriend. She hates me. And most of all, I have no idea why both of those things matter to me.

But as I watch her go, I am sure of one thing.

I really, really don't want Briony Cane to hate me.