Chapter 6

" H e said what?" I ask, dumbfounded, as I stare at the bundle of pink fabric in Seb's arms. I gingerly pluck at the offending item as if it's diseased to see if it really is what I think it is. Yup. It's a fucking dress. A pink, frilly, afternoon tea type dress. I throw the ridiculous garment onto the bed in disgust. I've found that I slip back into calling Alex by his full name when he's pissed me off. Now is exactly one of those times.

"You can tell Alexander to shove this right up his—"

"Is wearing a dress really that big of a deal? I don't get the problem," Garett, the traitor, points out.

I spin around and glare at him hard enough to let him know he is in the doghouse. Sorry, the bear house. Wait, bear cave? Oh, whatever. I'm pissed off at him.

"Oh, Ariana, can I see you in your sexy nurse's uniform?" Seb asks with a smirk as he stalks towards me, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

"No, you can't. I'm mad at you too. And stop calling me Ariana, it's Ari," I order, my frustration coming through as some of my alpha power slips into my comment. I see Seb stop in his tracks, his eyes widening slightly as his knees buckle under the force of my order .

"Shit. Seb, I'm really sorry." I'm a terrible friend, if that is even what we are. I need to get my shit together.

I didn't realise how low down in the pecking order he is. He's so confident that I assumed he was reasonably dominant. Not strong enough to have a position of power, but not one of the weaker wolves. He certainly doesn't look physically weak. He stands just slightly taller than me, with messy blond hair, and he looks like he could star in a movie. I'm talking Zac Efron looks, ladies. Yes, even werewolves go to the cinema. He also looks like he spends a fair amount of time working out. His T-shirt, which is straining against his muscular shoulders, proves this. I guess looks can be deceiving. Even his vanilla scent is mouth-watering.

His head is bowed, his breathing quickened, and I kneel next to him, feeling like the worst person in the world as I place a hand on his shoulder.

"Seb, I am so sorry," I apologise again when he lifts his head to look at me. His pupils have dilated, and a look of pure arousal shines brightly in his eyes. I raise my eyebrows.

"You kinky little shit. That turned you on?" I query, rocking back on my heels, torn between feeling uncomfortable and amused. I settle on amusement and stand up with a slight laugh.

"I thought I'd upset you!" I accuse, still smiling as he stands from his crouched position. "I'm still not wearing that dress though," I argue, trying to change the subject.

I look over at Garett. He does not look amused at the whole exchange. In fact, he's scowling at Seb. Such a grumpy bear. Rolling my eyes, I walk over to him and lean against the wall.

"Has anyone found my phone yet?" I ask. I really need to call Tori. I'm worried she is going to bring down hell on the pack—quite literally—if I don't speak to her soon.

"I think Alex was looking into it. They are trying to locate where you left your clothes in the woods, but they were shredded by the wolves that attacked you." Garett pauses meaningfully before looking back at the dress on the bed. "Which is why I don't understand why you won't wear the dress."

I scowl, my temper beginning to rise once again. "I am not wearing that bloody dress! I will go to the social naked if I have to. I don't care what they say. The Queen of England could order it, and I would happily commit treason to get out of wearing that thing," I rant.

Okay, so maybe I'm going a little far, but I'm not going to be paraded around this pack at the social this evening dressed up looking like a meek little wolf in a pretty pink dress, like I'm some prize to be won. I'm already regretting the deal I made with Alpha Mortlock. What I didn't realise is that I'm now expected to attend the pack socials, the first of which is this evening, when I will be formally introduced to the pack. Lovely.

Garett shifts against the wall next to me, and I can see from the corner of my eye that he wants to comfort me, but knowing my aversion to touch he changes his mind. He must have decided against arguing any further about the dress, knowing I'm not going to back down on this one. Good decision, buddy.

"I like seeing you in that jacket," he tells me, changing the subject, his voice lower than usual. I look down at the jacket in question. It's the one he gave me earlier, and it makes me feel safe so I've decided to keep it whether he likes it or not. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable again. All the startling admissions from this afternoon have put me on edge. I don't know how to respond to this, and I start to pull away, my walls stacking up brick by brick. He must have sensed this, as he stiffens next to me.

Thankfully, I'm saved from answering as Alex walks through the door with my phone in his hand, plus what looks like a woman's shirt and a smart pair of jeans.

"God, never thought I would be saying this, but I'm glad to see you," I blurt out. I don't seem to have a filter today, but what I said is true. Not only does he have my phone, but he has also saved me from responding to Garett. Hopefully, I can cover up my slip of the tongue by grabbing my phone from his hands, although a glance over my shoulder at Garett's expression tells me otherwise. And if that isn't enough, his next comment tells me I've fucked up.

"Now that I know you're safe, I'm going to head out. I'm not really wanted here anyway."

I flinch like he's hit me, which I immediately regret. Why am I so worried about what he thinks? If he wants to leave, then that's fine, I don't need him here. He brought me here when I was in need, but I'm fine now, his obligation to help me is over.

Garett cuts off my internal battle by striding over and enveloping me in a bear hug. Idly, a part of me wonders if this is where the term ‘bear hug' comes from as my arms slowly come up and return the embrace. He gives great hugs. I immediately feel a little better, although I'm not going to admit that to anyone.

"I didn't mean it like that, Ari. I think we just… A bear shifter does not belong with a bunch of wolves." Pulling back, he meets my eyes. "I'm needed with my people. Call me if you need anything, okay?" At this last part he gently holds my chin, not letting go until I nod at his request.

He looks to Alexander, and they do that male communication thing where they nod and grunt at each other. Whatever was communicated seems to be acceptable to Garett because he turns back to me and kisses my forehead gently before walking away.

"Well, that was dramatic," Seb comments and I glare at him, about to respond with a snarky comment, when my phone buzzes in my hand. I completely forgot I even had it, what with Garett distracting me. I quickly put in my passcode and grimace at the screen. Seventeen missed calls and twenty-six text messages, the last of which reads:

Tori : Call me now, or I am summoning some hellhounds and coming to get yo' ass.

Oh shit. I'm in big trouble. I scroll through the other messages. Most of them are from Tori, although I'm surprised to see a few are from Eric, which get increasingly concerned as I didn't reply. I send off a quick response.

Me: Hey, Eric, sorry for the late reply, something came up. I'm fine, taking a break from the hospital for a while. I'll see you soon though.

With a sigh, I look over at the men still in the room, Alexander propping up the wall in the corner, and Seb lounging on the bed like he owns it.

"I need to call my friend. This may take a while," I warn, hoping to try and get some privacy, but no, they just nod and stay where they are. Sighing again, I dial Tori's number.

After what feels like the longest phone call in history and many assurances to Tori that I'm okay and not being held against my will, I hang up. Trying to convince my overprotective witch best friend that I'm not being held captive turned out to be a challenge.

"But you have never wanted anything to do with the local pack before. I can keep you safe. I'll magic up a few ‘friends' to keep you protected. We don't need them, Ari."

Her words are true, and I don't doubt that she could keep me safe. The problem? That would require dark magic, and Tori walks a very fine line with her magic already. I don't want to be responsible for pushing her over that line and turning her dark. Not to mention that using that kind of magic would bring ASP down on us like a ton of bricks. No, this is the best solution for the moment. I will work here and travel back to the apartment at night. I will only shift when I'm on Moon River territory, as per their suggestion, and I will shift as little as I can get away with.

Glad that conversation is over with, for now at least, I glance down at my phone and see another message from Eric. Frowning, I click the message.

Eric: Are you safe? Do you need protection ?

Well, that's confusing. I might have accepted the message if he was just asking if I was safe. I did disappear off the radar, after all. But to follow it up with ‘do you need protection?' Does he know more than he let on? He's human—Tori would have told me otherwise—so why is he asking if I need protection like he knows what's been going on? Could he be one of the few humans that knows?

I send him a message in return.

Me: I'm safe. What do you mean by protection?

He replies almost immediately.

Eric: Look, can we meet up? I have something I need to talk to you about.

I sigh, rubbing my eyes. Why can't anything be simple? I'm about to reply when Alex comes stalking over, eyeing my phone.

"Everything okay?" he asks. Having eavesdropped on my entire conversation with Tori, he obviously wants to know what is going on in my text messages too. Nosy wolves.

"Yeah, just another complication. It's fine. What are you still doing here anyway? Don't you have important beta business to attend to?" I question with a little more snark than I intended, my eyes flashing with frustration.

Alex doesn't miss a thing and raises his eyebrows at my lack of control. Luckily for him, he doesn't mention it. Seb, on the other hand, has no problem making comments.

"Ari, they are going to rip you to shreds if you can't control yourself tonight." Great. However, he is right. I need to get control of myself.

"Come on, Sebastian, let's leave Ari to get ready for tonight," Alex says as he goes to leave the room. Just as he is turning away, I remember something from my conversation with Tori.

"Oh, Alex, did you or one of Moon River Pack go to my apartment the other night?" They must have been one of the ‘hotties' Tori kept referring to, trying to make the best of the situation and hook me up with someone. My stomach sinks a little as he shakes his head .

"No, we were ordered to stay away. The first contact we have had with you was when I spoke to you at the bar the other night."

Shit. So who was this mysterious shifter that had turned up on my doorstep? Like I don't already have enough to deal with.

Alex is still waiting at the door expectantly for Seb, who shakes his head as he gets up and starts looking through the wardrobe in the borrowed room, muttering something about ‘helping' me get ready. I share a bemused look with Alex and wave him out of the room. I'd hoped for a bit of quiet to sort through my thoughts. I'm so used to being by myself that having all these people around me, who actually want to be around me, is a little overwhelming. But as Seb picks up the horrendous pink dress from earlier and models it against his muscular chest, making me double over with laughter, I find myself thinking that perhaps that isn't such a bad thing.