He leaned in, licking his bottom lip as he swallowed. "You owed me a meal. For the emotional distress of being called a parasite." My fists clenched at my sides. "You'll get a punch in the face, that's what you'll get." "Promises, promises" Silence hung between us. Not empty, electric. For a moment, neither of us moved. The wind whispered between the trees. The distant voices of Alphas laughing around the banquet faded like background noise. Then he said. "Funny thing about you, Seth. You walk like a ghost, fight like a wolf, but talk with a confidence about everything like someone who's been hiding something." That landed like a punch to the gut. Because it was too close to the truth. I swallowed the burn in my throat and shifted my weight. "And you talk like a man who needs to be heard, but has nothing new to say He gave a short laugh, inched so close that our faces came dangerously close. He stared down at me, unreadable, the fire between us flaring brighter with every heartbeat "Careful," he murmured, his voice a dangerous purr. "Keep talking like that and I might start enjoying our little chats." I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and gave him a tight smile. "And that would be your first mistake." Then I turned on my heel, grabbed my plate-minus the steak-and walked away without another word . But even as I crossed the clearing. I could feel his gaze like heat on my back. Still watching. Still dangerous. And worse… still intriguing That's when something else caught my eye. My spine stiffened. A little ways off, on the large dining table, I spotted Reed and Cassius sitting around Finn with their friends. Laughter echoed from their little circle of followers, but it wasn't the light , easy kind . No, it was sharper. A little too loud. A little too pointed. I think I heard my name too. And in the middle of it, hunched and trying to smile was Finn . His shoulders were curled in, eyes darting as Cassius clapped a heavy arm around him. Reed leaned in, grinning as he whispered something in Finn's car that made Finn's smile disappear. Not teasing. Not harmless. Bullying, masked in brotherhood. Since the Alpha instructors were gone, no one was watching us. Reed's evil smile and dus dirty teasing brought the memory of them intending to violet me in the forest. My blood heated up at that memory just as I was a little distracted by my emotions, I ended up colliding chest-hrst into another body Hard I looked up and nearly cursed myself. It was Alpha Asher