Chapter 31

Prue

The next day I decided silence was overrated. If I had to be trapped in this car again, I might as well make the best of it. At first, Andrew’s Beta and Delta – John and Greg – had seemed like nothing more than his loyal lapdogs, always hanging around, following orders, laughing at his dumb jokes. Puppets. But then again… maybe puppets could be useful.

I didn’t know a damn thing about how this whole pack life actually worked. Who was who, what the rules were, how not to accidentally insult some big wolf and end up on the wrong side of the food chain. Being friendly with the high ranks could come in handy. And, honestly, what better way to mess with the Mighty Alpha Boy than by charming his closest allies right under his nose?

So when John gave me a casual smile from the back seat, I smirked back.

“So, John… Beta, right? What exactly does a Beta do besides babysit big bad Alpha boy?”

Greg burst out laughing before John could answer, while Andrew’s knuckles tightened on the wheel like I’d just pissed on his territory. Perfect.

John leaned forward between the seats, grin widening.

“Pretty much that. I keep him from losing his temper and wrecking things.”

He shot back with a smug grin, eyes glittering with mischief as he glanced at his Alpha. Lucky me – this one clearly enjoys pushing his boss’s buttons. I had a good feeling about this. This might get real' fun.

“Correction,” Greg added from the other side, “he tries to keep him from losing his temper. Doesn’t always work.”

I laughed, low and wicked, and tilted my head at them.

“Sounds like a full-time job. Maybe you two should get a raise.”

Andrew growled low in his throat.

“They don’t need a raise.”

I ignored him completely, still watching John and Greg.

“And what about a Delta? What’s that gig like?”

Greg puffed up his chest dramatically.

“I’m the muscle. The enforcer. The guy who makes sure rules get followed.”

“So basically, a bodyguard?” I teased.

Greg grinned proudly.

“Pretty much. But don’t worry, you’re safe. I only bite when ordered.”

He winked at me while John snorted.

“That’s a lie. He bites whenever he gets the chance.”

They both cracked up, and I couldn’t help but laugh with them. For the first time since stepping into this mess of a life, I actually felt like maybe I wasn’t completely on my own.

And the best part? Every time I spoke to them instead of Alpha boy, every time they laughed with me, his jaw clenched tighter, his grip on the wheel more white-knuckled.

Yeah. This could be very useful.

----

By the third day of carpool prison, I’d had enough of sitting stiff in the front seat, half-turned like some awkward parrot just to chat with John and Greg in the back. My neck was going to cramp permanently if I kept twisting like that. So I made a decision – subtle as a hurricane.

When Alpha boy pulled up, I left the passenger seat empty and opened the back. I quickly brushed passed John and wiggle my butt right between the Beta and Delta with a triumphant grin.

“Much better,” I announced, brushing imaginary dust from my skirt. “Now I don’t have to risk a chiropractor appointment just to talk to you guys.”

John chuckled, shifting a little to give me space, while Greg elbowed me playfully.

“Guess we’ve been promoted.”

“Front row access to my sparkling personality,” I said with a wink.

Their laughter echoed in the car, and it was addictive – so much lighter than Alpha boy's usual brooding silence. We talked about school, teachers we hated, pranks they’d pulled back when they were younger. At one point Greg leaned closer to explain some dumb inside joke, his shoulder brushing mine. Later, I nudged John’s arm when he teased me about being “short for a she-wolf.” The casual touches came naturally, and I didn’t shy away from them. Why would I?

But the best part was watching Alpha boy out of the corner of my eye. His jaw tightened with every laugh I shared with his boys. His hands gripped the steering wheel so hard I thought he’d snap it in half. The little muscle in his cheek twitched each time my hand brushed one of theirs. Delicious.

I leaned in closer to John just to make it worse.

“So, Beta,” I teased, “be honest. Who’s scarier when they’re angry – you or Alpha Broody up there?”

John laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.

“Oh, definitely him. I just pretend I’m scary.”

Greg slapped his knee.

“You pretend? Dude, you’re about as terrifying as a wet puppy.”

I laughed with them, tossing my hair back dramatically. The sound filled the car, warm and bright, the complete opposite of Alpha boy’s dark aura simmering in the driver’s seat.

Finally, his patience cracked. He slammed the brakes so hard I barely managed to grab both seats, keeping myself from flying through the windshield like a ragdoll in a crash test.

“Greg,” Andrew barked suddenly, voice sharp as a whip. “Sit up here. Now.”

The laughter cut off instantly. Greg froze mid-chuckle, glancing between me and Mighty Alpha like he’d just been called to the principal’s office.

“Uh…” Greg cleared his throat. “Sure, Alpha.”

He awkwardly stepped out, rounded the car and climbed into the passenger seat, leaving me and John in the back. The sudden chill in the car was almost comical. I bit back a grin, letting my lips twitch just enough to hint at victory. Because if Alpha boy thought I was done, he clearly hadn’t learned who he was dealing with yet.

Out of nowhere, Andrew leaned towards us, without turning, his big paw landed on the side of my thigh, shoving me toward the window – clearly trying to wedge some distance between me and John. But the second his skin touched mine, it wasn’t just sparks. It was like a low hum vibrating through me, a siren song rising from that single point of contact, threatening to drown me in heat and drag me under. My whole body jolted, mind flashing straight to se.x, not sanity. His hand wasn’t just a hand anymore – it might as well have been a damn vibrator. I couldn’t look away, couldn’t breathe, just stared at those fingers burning against my bare skin. What the actual fu.ck?

He slid his hand back to the gearshift as if nothing had happened, resuming the drive, while my traitorous eyes trailed after it like it was some golden ticket to paradise. I had to wrench my gaze away and glue it to the window. It was nothing. Just air. Just touch. Just breath. It was nothing.

Except now I was sitting directly behind him, and his scent curled around me like a living cloud: stronger, sweeter. Three times more intoxicating than the last time. I hated it. No one had warned me that the bond grows like a song stuck in your head – soft at first, but looping endlessly until it’s all you can hear.  Just fu.ck me.

“Is your boss always spoiling the fun?” I bit out bitterly, catching his reflection in the rearview mirror. In less than a second, his eyes locked on mine – hard, unforgiving, burning straight through me.

“Sometimes.” John drawled casually, but there was a spark of amusement in his tone.

“But he’s not that bad,” he added sincerely, as if it was his sworn duty to defend his Alpha. Loyalty – probably stitched into their high rank DNA.

The car went quiet once more. The air inside felt thicker than outside, suffocating almost, as if every breath I took was tainted with him. My eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, meeting his again without meaning to. His gaze lingered, hard and unreadable, before he tore it away and focused on the road like it had personally insulted him.

My chest tightened. Goddess, I hated this. Hated how much space he took up in my thoughts, how much his touch still burned on my thigh like an invisible brand. I wanted to shake it off, to laugh, to tell myself it was all in my head… but the bond hummed low under my skin, mocking me. Growing. Expanding. Spreading like it had a mind of its own. Like a cancer, I thought, forcing my disgust for him to the front of my mind, clinging to it like armor.

I tilted towards the window, letting the cool glass press against my temple, pretending the boys’ chatter in the back was all that mattered. I even laughed once or twice at something Greg said, though it sounded hollow even to my own ears.

Still, I could feel it – the weight of Andrew’s presence in the driver’s seat, his scent curling around me like smoke, impossible to ignore. And beneath all of it, the tension stretched tighter and tighter, a string wound so hard it was bound to snap.

By the time the car slowed in front of school, I was both relieved and disappointed. Relieved to escape him, disappointed that I already knew the moment I stepped out, the silence and space wouldn’t erase the way his touch still haunted me.

I pushed the door open, forcing a smirk onto my lips as armor.

“Thanks for the ride, Alpha boy,” I said lightly, sweet enough to be mocking. “Try not to miss me too much.”

His boys chuckled, but he didn’t reply – just gripped the wheel tighter, jaw clenched, eyes forward. That was answer enough.

I hopped out, slammed the door, and sashayed up the walk without looking back. But the truth was, I felt his gaze on me the whole way to the entrance, searing into my back, as if daring me to turn around.

And maybe – just maybe – I wanted to.