Chapter 41

Prue

“She was flying down, not running,” Andrew stated, still breathless, his eyes expressing mix of awe and disbelief.

I smirked, letting a hint of triumph curl at the corner of my lips. The thrill of outpacing someone like Andrew could never get old.

“What?” John asked, disbelief lacing his voice.

“My specialty,” I replied smoothly, giving John a teasing wink that carried both mischief and pride.

The dares continued, ricocheting from were to were like sparks in the night, each one more unpredictable than the last. At one point, I found myself at a table, elbow-to-elbow with Greg for an arm wrestling challenge. The air was thick with tension, a mix of anticipation and the subtle undercurrent of testosterone. Let's just say – I lasted. That was enough for me because, as everyone knows, he's a ranked member, intensely trained, and built like a powerhouse. Beating him wasn’t just about strength; it was about holding my own against the impossible.

Another dare found me facing John, this time challenging each other to climb a tree. We stood side by side, the ground firm beneath our feet, my shoes removed so I could feel every contour of the bark. John gave me a sharp look, concern flickering across his face.

“Won't you hurt yourself?” he asked, his tone half serious, half teasing.

I only smiled, a silent acknowledgment that words were unnecessary. Control wasn’t in the noise you made, it was in the quiet confidence you radiated. I subtly shifted, extending my nails just slightly – my hidden advantage. While John relied on brute strength to ascend, I let precision, speed, and the sharp edge of my nails do the work. The result? I reached the top first, a perfect jab to his ego and an invisible crown placed firmly on my head. Looks like my father’s obsession with all those climbing lessons finally paid off. He’ll be happy when I share this with him.

Later, Greg threw down another fun challenge, this time daring John to breakdance. He wasted no time, pulling up a You.tube tutorial and mimicking the moves with surprising skill. I had to admit, his physical strength and coordination allowed him to pick up complex maneuvers quickly, and I found myself genuinely impressed. Watching him twist, spin, and defy gravity, I couldn’t help but think: strength wasn’t everything, but skill married with power made someone truly formidable.

And then it bounced back from John to me.

“Truth or dare, Prue?” John asked with that infuriatingly pleased smile.

“Dare.” I didn’t even hesitate. I still had zero intention of telling him anything real about myself.

“I dare you…” he paused, milking the moment with a smug grin, “–to kiss the Alpha.” Fu.ck my life.

For a second the room went quiet. I instantly flipped him the bird, which made him burst out laughing while the others chuckled along. I didn’t laugh, I just stared at him without moving.

“He probably has a mate somewhere out there,” I said flatly, dripping with disdain. “I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes.”

“It’s just a dare, Prue.” John’s smile turned wicked while I continued glaring at him with the exact same expression of pure displeasure.

“I knew you were going to do something like this,” I said honestly. Maybe I shouldn’t have admitted that as John’s grin only widened.

“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” he added. Prick. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I slowly stood up, thinking it over. I could just walk out of the room and blow the whole stupid game to hell. No one could force me to do anything, and I absolutely hated being forced.

Besides, Alpha boy was supposed to date me first – adore me, shower me with gifts and attention. Beg me even, before he ever got to put his lips on my body. He wasn’t supposed to even get a hint of my scent before all that. Stupid John.

“Will you chicken out?” he pressed, clearly aiming straight for my challenge instinct. I hated him. He knew I was about to leave.

“I don’t do strangers,” I said, playing my last card.

“You don’t have to do him… yet,” John replied, his smirk stretching wider. Goddess, I hated him.

I started walking toward Alpha boy, but I kept my eyes locked on John the entire time, watching his victorious smile grow wider and wider. Yeah, it was his victory and he knew it.

I only looked at Andrew when I was so close my legs nearly hit his knees. Without warning I dropped straight onto his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck, my face still twisted in that same disgusted expression. The sudden move clearly caught him off guard as his hands landed on my thighs automatically, steadying me.

My body instantly flared. Heat shot through every single place where we touched, like sparks jumping across dry wires. My skin burned beneath his hands, my pulse suddenly loud in my ears. Damn it. I needed to make this fast. Goddess, how I hate to be forced.

“Its just a dare,” I said, looking like someone had just asked me to eat bull’s balls.

Then I smashed my lips against his – hard – like the world was on fire. Maybe it was, because my body definitely was. For a split second everything around us disappeared – the room, the laughter, the stupid game. There was only the heat of his mouth against mine, the solid warmth of his body wherever we touched, the way his scent wrapped around me like something dangerously addictive.

My heart slammed once – hard. Too hard. So I pulled away immediately, before anything else could happen. Before he could react. Before I could. I slid off his lap and turned around without even glancing back at Andrew. If the Goddess had any mercy at all, I would erase that moment from my memory forever. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. But you, dear John, just made yourself an enemy.

I flopped onto the sofa and stared at John, who was grinning like he had just orchestrated the greatest masterpiece in human history.

After a long, stretched silence he finally said,

“Well, Prue. Your call.”

I glanced around the room as if choosing someone, my gaze skipping past the Alpha so quickly it barely registered before landing right back on John. Then my face softened and I smiled sweetly.

“So, John… truth or dare?”

“You ain’t getting truth out of me!” he replied cockily, already puffing himself up. “Give me a big dare!” He hasn’t realized yet that I just played him with my intonation.

“Oh, I will.” I kept that same sickly sweet voice, and I watched his smile begin to falter as if some survival instinct deep inside him started waving bright red warning flags.

“Okay,” I said slowly. “Here comes the big one.” I leaned forward slightly.

“I dare you…” I paused just long enough for the tension to build, for his worst ideas to come alive in his own mind and torture him.

“…to kiss a guy.” The bomb dropped as my voice lost every ounce of sweetness, turning sharp, cold and full of hatred.

John’s mouth fell open. Then he flipped me off just like I had earlier.

“Choose someone with a pierced tongue. It’s really se.xy to kiss someone like that.” I said with a wink, the room breaking into chuckles and hoots while Greg tossed a quick, amused “touché.”

“You can kiss me,” a guy sitting next to me offered. I snapped my head toward him and took a proper look. He had stylish cothes, flashy smile and confident posture. Oh, so he was a proud gay.

“I’m not doing that, I’m not gay,” John snapped.

“It’s just a dare, John,” I mocked him, repeating his own words in an exaggerated voice. “Don't make big deal out of it.” I added with disdain.

“Besides you don’t have to do him… yet.” Eat your own shit, John.

He stood up abruptly and stared at me like he was deciding whether to punch me or storm out.

“Will you be the chicken now?” I added casually. “Don’t throw stones at people, John. The world’s round, so they always come back and hit you in the back of your head.”

For a moment, the tension in the room pulled tight like a wire ready to snap as John and I locked in a hateful staredown. Then suddenly he turned and marched toward the back of the room. There sat a guy who had been mostly quiet the whole evening, just watching the chaos of ridiculous dares unfold and participating, if called out. His left arm was covered in tattoos and a silver ring pierced his lower lip.

As the guy realized what was about to happen, he managed to frown out,

“Why me?”

“Shut up. It’s just a dare,” John growled. His Beta aura pushed outward, forcing submission as he grabbed the guy by the back of the neck and pulled him forward. Then he crashed their mouths together. It was not a quick childish press of lips. No, he actually kissed him – hard, with tongue and passion. Wow. Did he actually enjoy that?

The room watched frozen for a second before erupting into whistles, hoots and cheering. John abruptly broke the kiss and stalked back to the sofa, his face red as hell while he breathed heavily through his mouth.

“Happy now?” he asked, glaring at me with pure hatred.

“Well,” I said, stretching and yawning dramatically, “I’ve seen enough.” I stood up.

“I’m out.” I flashed him both middle fingers while doing a ridiculous little dance with them and my body until I reached the door.

Some people were laughing and some were still staring while replaying the last scene in their minds – dirty weres. John moved his eyes away from me and just sat there stiffly, staring straight ahead like I had been completely erased from existence. Sour, sour loser.

I stepped into the hallway and the door shut behind me, the laughter and noise fading away, while I was feeling strangely victorious. Sure, I had just been forced to kiss the arrogant Alpha boy but at least John had ended the night making out with a dude in front of half the pack. Honestly? Totally worth it.

As I ascended the stairs one annoying thought refused to leave my head. The Alpha’s lips had been warm and thick and tempting.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath and kept walking. But no matter how hard I tried to shove the memory away, it kept creeping back into my mind. The warmth of his body, the way Andrew’s hands had tightened on my thighs, a river of lust that flooded my mind and senses, making me crave so much more. I scowled – it didn't happen.

I was left buzzing, yet hollow, still hungry for more as I rubbed my chest, strange heaviness settling there. He can go to hell – I don't want him.