Hidden Mate

4

“And I’m assuming Dumbass is too.” Lillith waved her hand toward the still retreating Brock.

“Nope, actually, he’s not.” My body sagged before I could stop it. “He’s a family friend.” I guessed that was the best way to put it. Brock’s dad was rubbing elbows with my dad, hoping to team up with him.

Tall, dark, and sexy keeps glancing over at you. Roxy linked with me, amusement on her face. Too bad he and his friend are human.

Tell me about it. This was the most interested I’d ever been in someone, and I hadn’t even gotten within five feet of him. They’re human, and we’d better keep our distance. The last thing we need is Brock causing problems.

And he would in a heartbeat, Roxy agreed and focused back on the vampires. “Aren’t you two night owls or something?”

“Eh, we can be.” Katherine placed her elbows on the wooden table. “But we aren’t restricted to such timelines like others are.”

I heard the two guys across from us stand, and I turned in Dreamy’s direction. Damn, he was built. I hadn’t noticed how broad his shoulders were until he stood, and his loose t-shirt clung to each one of his muscles. He had to be over six feet tall, which meant he would tower over me. I’d never seen a human that large without the help of steroids. But there wasn’t a toxic fume surrounding him, so it was all authentic and him.

His gaze met mine, and the world seemed to stop.

He paused, and for a second, I thought he was coming over.

The corner of his friend’s mouth tipped upward. “You okay, man?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said in a deep, husky voice.

His words made me feel raw … naked. Hell, they almost felt like a caress on my skin.

“Then why aren’t you moving?” His friend’s voice shook with laughter.

The guy tore his eyes from mine and glared at his best friend. “I am.” He took a few steps toward the boys’ dorm.

“Oh, hey.” The guy’s friend stopped beside me. “You deserve better than that asshole.”

He was being nice, but I was so damn tired of everyone telling me what I needed or deserved. “How do you know that? Maybe I’m a bitch.”

Roxy’s mouth dropped so low it almost hit the table. Sadie!

“Yeah …” Dreamy’s friend huffed and shook his head. “Sure sounds like you are.”

Dreamy grabbed his friend’s arm and tugged him away. “Just come on.” Disappointment flashed across his face.

For some reason, that hurt worse than my father’s disappointment, which was saying something. I’m an asshole. I wished I could take back the words.

Our table remained silent until the guys were out of human hearing distance. They were the only two who’d been at risk of overhearing our conversation.

“See.” Dreamy leaned into his friend. “That’s why we aren’t nice to anyone.”

And I’d already given him a poor impression of me. Just great.

“Color me surprised.” Lillith turned so her side leaned against the table. “How much bite do you have in there, little pup?”

And the dog jokes had officially started.

“I’m just as shocked.” Roxy tilted her head, examining me. “She’s normally not confrontational like that.”

“Oh, stop it.” I felt like a complete ass, and them going on about it was only making it worse. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s good to play hard to get.” Katherine winked. “You don’t want to come off too interested.”

“I wasn’t interested in him.” I had my eye set on the friend, but that didn’t matter. “Besides, it’s for the best. My dad would flip if I intermingled with humans.”

“If that asshole alpha would calm his s**t down, it wouldn’t be nearly as huge of a deal.” Lillith stiffened with anger. “I mean, he even considers half, if not more of our kind to be too weak, so what’s the big deal? Some humans make a better lay.”

My dad’s stance was renowned throughout the supernatural community. He boasted that most people, even outside the shifter race, viewed him as a leader. It was true because he didn’t have a problem with blackmailing, bribing, or killing to stay on top.

“Oh my God.” Roxy turned toward Lillith. “How do you know that?”

“Let’s just say our nest pretends to go along with the masses, but we like to go out on a limb from time to time and keep to ourselves.” Lillith twirled her hair with her finger. “And I’ve had the privilege of sleeping with a human man or two.”

“Lillith.” Katherine lifted a hand. “You need to be careful who you tell these things to. You never know …”

“Oh, please.” Lillith waved her off. “These two are way too nice to be associated with that asshole’s pack.”

Roxy snorted before clamping a hand over her mouth.

“Wait …” Lillith glanced from her to me. “Are you from Tyler’s pack?”

I wanted to lie, but they deserved to know the truth. “Yeah …”

“Not only are we from his pack, but …” Roxy lifted a finger and swirled it in my direction. “… she’s the alpha heir.”

“See.” Katherine lowered her chest to the table. “Now look what you’ve done. Our asses are toast.”

“No, they aren’t.” They thought I would run and tell him. “I came here to get away from them. Your secret is safe with us.”

“I do have a question, though.” Roxy chewed on her bottom lip. “How are you two out in the sun? I thought …”

“That we’re cursed to a life in darkness?” Katherine curled her fingers and inspected her pale pink nails. “No, we haven’t succumbed to our dark urges.”

It was comforting that they hadn’t. Most of the vampires we’d dealt with didn’t mind getting their hands dirty. When vampires gave up their humanity, it became harder for them to be in sunlight. If they kept their humanity, they were essentially human but with a super-long life and blood cravings. My father wouldn’t want me associating with Katherine and Lillith because they weren’t the strongest of their kind. In his eyes, they couldn’t do what needed to be done.

“Being a vampire sounds perfect.” Roxy patted the area around her eyes. “Never having to worry about crow’s feet.”

“You still have a longer life than humans do.” Shifters could easily live up to two hundred years. We even had a few who’d reached two hundred and fifty.