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Authors: Winter Pennington
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growl vibrating against my chest. “I am not fucking playing with you. I am not playing your fucking little game. I don’t give a damn how much fun you think it is. Stop it. If you don’t, you can get out of the car and walk your happy ass home.”
I glared at Zaphara, knowing the wolf stared through my gaze. In human form, my eyes were green, but when the beast rose they changed. The few flecks of gold around my pupils spread out like a bursting star. It was unnerving to watch. I’d seen it only a few times in the mirror. Zaphara’s expression went from surprised to curious.
Lenorre said, “Zaphara.”
One word and Zaphara moved to the backseat. She sat down and, surprisingly, did what I had asked. She kept her damn mouth shut. The CD had fallen to the floorboard when the car jolted to a stop. Lenorre handed it back to Zaphara, who picked the case up off the floorboard and returned the CD to its slot.
Her expression was free of satisfaction or devilishness. She didn’t even look smug. I was surprised. Slowly, she inclined her head and I relaxed a little.
I took my foot off the brake and drove in silence the rest of the way to the club.
----
Chapter Ten
When we got to the club the parking lot was empty with the exception of a few cars here and there. I guessed they were employee cars. The club was open to the public from Thursday to Sunday. Since it was Wednesday, they were closed. You had to be eighteen to enter and twenty-one to drink in The Two Points. The patrons were eclectic, ranging from high-school and college students to hard-working adults. As with most clubs, business hopped on the weekend.
Rosalin had informed me several weeks ago that the club had a gay-and-lesbian night. It was held in a different part of the club, with a bouncer on each door. I was heading toward the main entrance when I heard Zaphara mumble, “Quite the mouth, she has.”
I turned back to see she was walking beside Lenorre. She’d spoken as if I couldn’t hear, but I was guessing she actually didn’t care if I did.
Lenorre’s stormy gaze met mine, glinting softly in the streetlight. “You have no idea,” she said, her voice low. I ignored the twinge between my legs.
I waited by the two double doors as they approached. Zaphara reached for the door and looked back when she noticed Lenorre had stopped to stand next to me.
“Go inside and tell the others I wish to speak with them privately,” Lenorre said.
Zaphara did as she was told without question. I nearly had to put her through the windshield to get her to stop looking at my CDs, but Lenorre asks and off she goes.
Lenorre touched my shoulder, and I jumped, turning back to her.
“I know she makes you uncomfortable,” she said softly, “but you must believe me when I tell you that she is not as bad as she pretends to be.”
“Not to you. You’ve got her wrapped around your finger.”
Lenorre shook her head, curls dancing against her back “No, she is not wrapped around my finger. You merely have to give her a reason to respect you. Until she does, she will continue to challenge, tease, and even sink to the level of irritating you intentionally. It is similar with wolves in a pack. She taunts you.”
I pictured various ways of gaining respect from Zaphara…none of them exactly pleasant for her. But if I wasn’t careful Zaphara would literally flip my bitch switch. I wanted to jump on her and make her…well, make her do something . The words “shut up” came to mind.
“I don’t really care if she respects me or not.”
“You should. Zaphara is not one you would enjoy having as an enemy.”
“What is she?”
“That is for her to say.”
I gave a frustrated growl.
“I’m not putting myself out there and trying to be her friend, Lenorre. You’ll just have to deal with that. So far, I don’t like her, and my dislike grows every time she opens her damn mouth.”
The corner of Lenorre’s mouth twitched and humor illuminated her
I glared at Zaphara, knowing the wolf stared through my gaze. In human form, my eyes were green, but when the beast rose they changed. The few flecks of gold around my pupils spread out like a bursting star. It was unnerving to watch. I’d seen it only a few times in the mirror. Zaphara’s expression went from surprised to curious.
Lenorre said, “Zaphara.”
One word and Zaphara moved to the backseat. She sat down and, surprisingly, did what I had asked. She kept her damn mouth shut. The CD had fallen to the floorboard when the car jolted to a stop. Lenorre handed it back to Zaphara, who picked the case up off the floorboard and returned the CD to its slot.
Her expression was free of satisfaction or devilishness. She didn’t even look smug. I was surprised. Slowly, she inclined her head and I relaxed a little.
I took my foot off the brake and drove in silence the rest of the way to the club.
----
Chapter Ten
When we got to the club the parking lot was empty with the exception of a few cars here and there. I guessed they were employee cars. The club was open to the public from Thursday to Sunday. Since it was Wednesday, they were closed. You had to be eighteen to enter and twenty-one to drink in The Two Points. The patrons were eclectic, ranging from high-school and college students to hard-working adults. As with most clubs, business hopped on the weekend.
Rosalin had informed me several weeks ago that the club had a gay-and-lesbian night. It was held in a different part of the club, with a bouncer on each door. I was heading toward the main entrance when I heard Zaphara mumble, “Quite the mouth, she has.”
I turned back to see she was walking beside Lenorre. She’d spoken as if I couldn’t hear, but I was guessing she actually didn’t care if I did.
Lenorre’s stormy gaze met mine, glinting softly in the streetlight. “You have no idea,” she said, her voice low. I ignored the twinge between my legs.
I waited by the two double doors as they approached. Zaphara reached for the door and looked back when she noticed Lenorre had stopped to stand next to me.
“Go inside and tell the others I wish to speak with them privately,” Lenorre said.
Zaphara did as she was told without question. I nearly had to put her through the windshield to get her to stop looking at my CDs, but Lenorre asks and off she goes.
Lenorre touched my shoulder, and I jumped, turning back to her.
“I know she makes you uncomfortable,” she said softly, “but you must believe me when I tell you that she is not as bad as she pretends to be.”
“Not to you. You’ve got her wrapped around your finger.”
Lenorre shook her head, curls dancing against her back “No, she is not wrapped around my finger. You merely have to give her a reason to respect you. Until she does, she will continue to challenge, tease, and even sink to the level of irritating you intentionally. It is similar with wolves in a pack. She taunts you.”
I pictured various ways of gaining respect from Zaphara…none of them exactly pleasant for her. But if I wasn’t careful Zaphara would literally flip my bitch switch. I wanted to jump on her and make her…well, make her do something . The words “shut up” came to mind.
“I don’t really care if she respects me or not.”
“You should. Zaphara is not one you would enjoy having as an enemy.”
“What is she?”
“That is for her to say.”
I gave a frustrated growl.
“I’m not putting myself out there and trying to be her friend, Lenorre. You’ll just have to deal with that. So far, I don’t like her, and my dislike grows every time she opens her damn mouth.”
The corner of Lenorre’s mouth twitched and humor illuminated her
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