22. Adrianna

22

ADRIANNA

T he dining hall buzzes around me, unaware of the turmoil that's taken root in my gut. I'm quiet, I can sense it. I don't have the mental capacity to engage in unnecessary conversation, and the glances I keep getting from everyone around the table confirm they can sense it, too.

I shiver. The cold chill still hasn't quite left my bones yet. I think it might take the rest of the week to warm me up again. I might even go in search of a second blanket for bed tonight. Otherwise, I know I'll be pummeled by icy nightmares, and I'm not about to succumb to that.

"What's on your mind, Alpha?" I startle at the deep rumble of Cassian's voice, slightly surprised by him using his apparent nickname for me in public.

"Nothing," I breathe, unwilling to lift my gaze from my plate, where I continue to move my peas around the porcelain instead of actually eating them.

"You're a shit liar," Brody states with a scoff, and I do manage to lift my stare this time, only to give him a dirty look. When he doesn't falter under my irritation, I roll my eyes, turning away from him once again.

I can hear Flora giggle softly from beside him, making me sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I keep my emotions in check.

"So, what is it?" Kryll asks, capitalizing on the moment, and I shake my head.

"Do you need girl talk?" Brody offers, and my gaze flicks to Flora, who smiles softly at me, making it abundantly clear that if that's what I need, then she's here for me.

"No," I admit, offering her a tight smile in response, and she nods.

"But you need to talk," Raiden chimes in from my left, his stare burning the side of my face as I hum. "With who?" he pushes, unrelenting, and I sigh.

The quicker I give them an answer, the quicker they'll back off. That's clear. Irritating, but clear.

"With a wolf."

I catch sight of Cassian throwing his arms in the air at my admission, drawing everyone's attention his way.

"Would you look at that?" His eyes are narrowed, but there's a glint there that tells me he's all ears.

"I'm considering if there's anyone else first," I admit, looking back down at my plate to avoid the wrath I know is coming. Instead, the feeling in the air is more butt-hurt than anything.

"What's wrong with me?" he asks. I shrug, acutely aware that the entire table is waiting for another answer, but I pretend the peas on my plate are too riveting to shy away from. "Addi." There's a warning in his tone, and I sigh, tilting my head to meet his pointed stare.

"I don't…maybe Janie might help," I grumble, watching as his brows gather and his jaw tics.

"Janie? I mean, for sure, she would, but what's wrong with me?"

I'm locked in a stare-off with him, unable to look away as I struggle to give him an answer, when Flora snickers.

"You don't come with a vagina."

I splutter on my next breath as the table erupts in a round of laughter and her cheeks turn pink from the attention.

"So?" Cassian is not backing down from this. Maybe he could help. I know he would, but there's a part of me holding back. Likely the part that knows something is growing between us, between all of us, and I'm scrambling to push the pause button, but it's futile at this stage.

"You're also hot-headed and she might need a softer approach," Brody muses, wagging his finger at Cassian, who huffs.

"And just hot in general, she's going to struggle with that too," Flora adds, earning another chuckle as I gape at her. She's definitely a handful. I can't handle her and Nora together. Ever. I wouldn't stand a chance with these smart comments.

I chance a glance at the wolf in question to find his heated stare still focused on me.

Fuck.

This is exactly what she's talking about, and I hate that she's right.

"Are you two still together?"

I frown, glancing at the girl suddenly appearing at the end of the table, and my spine stiffens. One of these days I'm going to get to eat a meal in peace, but it's clear my chances are slim. Looking at her, really looking at her, it takes me five seconds to get my read on her, and shock, horror, it's not good.

Her green cloak says enough, and the way the corner of her lip flicks up on a sneer leads me to believe I know exactly where this shit is going.

"Excuse me?" I plaster the fakest smile I can muster on my lips, relaxing my shoulders back as if my mind isn't mush.

She runs her tongue over her teeth, flicking her brown hair over her shoulder in a way that has me questioning if she's been taking lessons from Vallie. "I mean, are you still laying claim to our man?"

Our man? Our man? Our fucking man?

It spikes a level of anger through my veins that I can't make sense of, or I refuse to, but either way, my nails dig into my palms as I fight back the immediate urge to knock her the fuck out.

"Again, excuse me?" I repeat, tilting my head and fluttering my eyelashes like I have no idea what she's hinting at.

"Don't play dumb," she seethes, and I snicker.

"But I do it so well." My eyes narrow as my nostrils flare. My anger is no longer hideable.

"Has anyone challenged you since the new moon?" she asks, pressing her palms flat on the table beside Cassian, and I hate how close she's standing to him.

"I have no idea what moon we're on," I grunt with a shrug, watching her inch closer to him.

"She was forced into a duel the other week. Pretty certain we're still on the same one," Brody states with a bored tone, but she's unfazed by his lack of excitement at her presence.

"This can't go on any longer," she snaps, baring her teeth at me.

"Says who?" Raiden chimes in, leaning back in his seat as he drapes his arm over the back of my chair. She catches the movement, gulping as she turns to the vampire, which clearly sets a level of uncertainty running through her.

"Says me." There's a slight falter to her voice.

"And?" The corner of his mouth confirms he loves the reaction he's garnering from her by simply staring her down.

Flustering, she pushes up from the table and folds her arms over her chest. "Someone better step up to a duel."

I frown. "Wait, you want to duel for Cassian, right?"

"You're playing dumb again," she snaps, loud enough to draw a few stares from others around the dining hall. Perfect, what we need more than anything else right now is a growing audience. It's exhausting.

"Who else are you going to be able to duel for him if not me? Come back when the new moon comes," I grumble, slightly excited by the fact that I can get my hands on her. It's a pity it's not today, I need something to exert all of this pent-up stress on, and she would make the perfect target.

She shakes her head, a glint of something in her eyes as a sneering smile spreads across her face.

"No. Not when I can duel with the wolf instead."