Kiss Of The Alpha : A YA Paranormal Romance

Chapter 195: Chapter 195

Heather

We got back to campus as the sun rose. Exhaustion and a touch of pain made it hard to keep my eyes open, but hope coursed through me.

There was plenty to worry about, but as we walked back to the dorms—still coming down from our adrenaline high—we were united in friendship. Were. Witches. Fey. We’d fought a battle as one, and lived.

Sure. My side was still burning, but it’d heal. And if I thought about everything we still had to do, it seemed like an impossible feat. But looking back at how far I’d come—how far we’d come—it was impressive. Our potions needed some beefing up, sure, but before I left to stay at the compound, the werewolves weren’t the least bit friendly with each other. And the fey... But now we were fighting together. That felt like a victory. Maybe a small one, but it was enough for now.

Brent and I followed Serena and Donovan to the dorms. There was no way I was walking all the way back to Brent’s cabin—no matter how much I wanted the privacy. The term "dead on your feet" had been taken to a whole new level tonight. This morning. Whatever day it was.

Donovan showered first. When he was done, I took a quick one. Serena was sitting on my bed when I was done. "You went through with it, didn’t you?"

Brent raised an eyebrow and motioned to the bathroom. I’ll give you a moment.

I almost laughed. He didn’t want to get in trouble for not telling Serena. She always had a knack for seeing right through Brent and me. "Yeah. We did."

She swatted my shoulder, and I winced. "Sorry! But I knew it. Something was up with you all day. You have to tell me everything."

"Sure. When I’m not so tired, and the guys aren’t listening in."

"Girl time is needed. ASAP."

"Agreed." It seemed a little too good to be true that she wasn’t upset with me over this. "You’re not mad at me?"

"That you didn’t tell me it was happening?" She shrugged. "A little, but I get it."

"Are you going to do the same?" I asked. "Before the battle?"

She glanced at the bathroom door.

What are you two talking about? Brent asked.

Girl stuff.

He grunted. How much longer you need?

I dunno. A couple minutes? Maybe more. And no listening in!

He chuckled. I’ll do my best.

"I don’t know," Serena said. "Donovan wants to me to meet his pack. They have this whole elaborate ceremony in Ireland, but now... I don’t know why we’re waiting."

"This fight... I mean that thing nearly ripped me in two. If just one was hard, how are we going to fight more than that?" I blew out a breath. "I’m scared."

"Me too." Serena slouched down on the bed. "But we’ll get her." The shower shut off, and she stood up. "I’m happy for you. You deserve a big slice of happy in all this crazy."

"Thanks. So do you."

She sighed. "I know. I’m just afraid what his pack will do if he comes back with some random chick. He was kind of a player back in the day and there are a bunch of she-wolves over there that are going to be pissed."

"When the time comes, if you want me to go with you to Ireland, I will. You’ve had my back and I will totally have yours."

"You’ve had mine, too." Serena squeezed my hand. "I haven’t forgotten what you did for me."

I shook my head. "That was no big deal." A little curse seemed like nothing compared to what we were dealing with these days.

"It was a big deal." She gave my hand a quick squeeze as the bathroom door clicked open. "Night." She whistled at Brent, who was still glistening from the shower and wrapped in a towel that was a little too small for him.

"Goodnight, Serena." He gripped the knot of the towel as she slid past. Probably wise. His face was flushed when his gaze met mine. "We need to get you out of this dorm."

I laughed. "Or get you slightly bigger towels. Wouldn’t want anyone sneaking a peek at my goods."

He grinned. "Your goods? I thought they were mine?"

"It might be your body, but it’s mine, too." He jumped onto the bed, and suddenly, I wasn’t all that tired. "Just be careful. I’m wounded."

"I’ll be really gentle." He lowered to brush a kiss on my lips, and grinned. "Very, very gentle."

I woke with a start, unsure what was going on.

"Who is it?" Brent’s voice rang out.

"It’s Heather’s father. You have five seconds to get your ass dressed and out of my teenage daughter’s bed."

Oh shit, I said to Brent as I pushed him out of bed. The movement ached along my side, but nothing like the pain from a few hours ago.

We’d put on clothes to sleep in—you never knew what was going to happen living in the dorm—but still, this was more than a little disconcerting. With my side still aching, it took me a second to pull a sweatshirt over my head. By then, Dad was pounding on the door again.

"Don’t make me break it down, Heather Jones."

Shit. He three-named me. I checked that Brent was

fully dressed before opening the door. Dad was bracing to knock again.

He pushed past me. "What in the hell is going on here?"

I swallowed. "Dad..." I had no idea what to say. Not even the foggiest.

He knew this was coming, remember? We’re not doing anything wrong. He faced Dad. "I know this must be difficult, but we talked about the bonding before, Mr. Jones."

Dad crossed his arms. "Right." I was a little relieved to hear that from him, but the word was clipped. He was still angry.

But we’d been over this. I knew Dad wasn’t happy—he’d made that known at my birthday party—but I’d hoped that he was over it by now.

"Heather and I completed our bond two nights ago."

Dad’s jaw ticked. "I thought that wasn’t until the full moon."

Oh shit. Dad smelled like the sharp tang of anger. You think we should’ve waited until he wasn’t so pissed to tell him?

Keeping it from him won’t solve anything. "When Claudia returned fully bonded to Lucas, we learned it was possible without waiting until next month." I had to give it to Brent, he was staying really calm, even while Dad was giving him the ninth-degree stare down. "I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner, but with everything that’s been going on, there’s not been a lot of time. I hope you know that I love and respect your daughter more than anything or anyone in the world."

Dad ran his fingers through his hair, and it stood on end. "So basically my only daughter is married and I had no idea about it."

"Sorry." I winced. "We were thinking of having a wedding later."

His face told me exactly where I could stick that idea.

"Okay. I should’ve warned you. This isn’t the best way to find out about us, but Dad—you knew this was going to happen after my birthday. It got delayed. That’s all."

He rubbed a hand down his face. "I know. I just—when it didn’t happen—I thought maybe it wouldn’t. That you’d have more time being a kid. Go to college. All those kinds of things."

"I can still go to college. Once all this craziness is dealt with." Not that going to college was even on my radar at this moment. Anything beyond the fight with Luciana felt like a million years away.

"We’ll talk about this later. I’m sure your mother and brother are going to want to know, too." He blew out a breath. "The FBI wants to talk to you."

Cops were one thing. I didn’t like them—they made me totally nervous even when I hadn’t done anything wrong... Except show up in a place will a few dozen dead bodies. But FBI? That was big time.

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