Chapter 5

Camilla

After my shift is over, I walk out of Alpha Jackal’s mansion with the other servants. The doorman nods and smiles at me as he holds open the door to the courtyard. A cold wind blows in, and goosebumps prickle over my exposed skin. My jacket doesn’t cover my neck, and even though it’s summer, it’s a chilly night.

I press my hands together, rubbing them. “Cold, isn’t it?” I ask Lana and Sammy.

“Yeah,” Sammy replies. She doesn’t live in the apartments behind the mansion and fishes up a car key from her little pink purse. “I’m so glad I brought my car.”

“Lucky you...” Lana remarks before suddenly poking her elbow into my side. When I look at her, she wiggles her eyebrows up and down at me, and I can’t stop smiling when I realize who she is telling me to look at.

Bobby is standing further away, entirely alone. His lanky frame is practically getting eaten by his huge gray winter jacket. Red hair sticks out from underneath his hat, and his freckled nose is already red from the cold.

He is cute, and I find myself growing shy. Is he finally going to ask me out on a date?

Happiness blossoms within me, but for some reason, Rin’s handsome face flashes through my mind. It confuses me, and I wrinkle my nose. Why am I thinking about him again? He isn’t interested in me, but Bobby is! I should focus on him!

As I walk over to Bobby, he looks away from the mansion and towards me with a small smile on his face. My heart flutters as I get closer to him, my hands in my pockets to keep them warm.

“Hey, Camilla,” he says, his breath visible in the cold air. “How was your shift?”

“It was alright,” I reply, trying to sound casual. “You?”

“Same as always,” he shrugs and doesn’t mention the fact that he took a beating from Alpha Jackal when he dropped all of those plates. “Listen, I was wondering if you wanted to grab a drink with me tonight. Maybe at that new bar that opened up down the street?”

My heart races at his question. Alpha Jackal doesn’t like when we leave his estate, but I have seen people jumping over the fence, and I nod my head eagerly. “I would love to!”

“Great,” Bobby grins and pushes his glasses further up his nose. They are dark-rimmed and stylish. “I will meet you there in an hour?”

I nod again, unable to wipe the smile off my face. My heart is beating faster with each passing moment, and as Bobby walks away, I can’t help but feel giddy with excitement.

I don’t know how long I stand there like a lovesick fool, but I jump when Sammy throws an arm around me. The blonde werewolf is taller than me and gives me a nudge. “Way to go, Cam! You scored a date with Bobby! How are you feeling? Excited? Hyped?”

“Hey,” Lana snarls at Sammy. “Stop messing up her hair, or she won’t make it in time to her date!”

“Oops,” Sammy releases me from her hold and pats down my hair with an impish grin, probably hoping it will fix my electric hair. “Seriously though, are you thrilled? You must be. I mean, you like Bobby, right?”

I don’t even get time to answer before Lana sighs. She is the complete opposite of Sammy: whereas Sammy is bubbly and colorful, Lana is your typical goth girl.

“Give her a break, Sammy,” Lana says. “You can ask her questions after the date.”

Sammy turns around, eyes locking on Lana. “Why are you being such a sourpuss all of a sudden?”

“I’m not... or... maybe I am...” Lana growls in exasperation and kicks up some gravel with her boot. “Look, I just think that Camilla is going out on a date with the wrong guy, okay? I ship you with Rin, the dark and handsome Beta.”

My heart sinks at Lana’s words, and I can feel all my blood draining from my face. Rin? Why Rin? I mean, sure, he is attractive and all, but he has never shown any ROMANTIC interest in me. And even if he did, I don’t know if I want to get involved with someone so high up in the pack hierarchy.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. “I...I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammer, but my voice is weak, even to my own ears.

“Oh, come on,” Lana rolls her eyes. “Are we going to act as if he didn’t save your ass earlier?”

That piques Sammy’s interest. Her eyes are sparkling with interest right now. “Rin saved her ass? What? Did I miss something?”

Since I’m not going to answer the question, Lana does it for me, but not without sounding pissed off. “Alpha Jackal wasn’t happy with the food earlier. I think you were texting your boyfriend from the toilet ANYWAY, long story short: Rin saved Cam from a beating from our Alpha.”

“Wow...” Sammy glances between us. “If those words came from someone else, I wouldn’t believe them. Rin is the coldest person in the mansion. He frightens me, but...if he saved Cam, I like him a little bit!”

Before I know it, I’m squeezed to death by Sammy. She is hugging me like a snake trying to kill a bunny. “I’m so glad that Alpha Jackal didn’t hurt you. He is such a bully.”

“Sammy... can’t... breathe...” I choke out, and Lana snorts behind us.

“Let her go, Sammy. Cam needs to head home and get ready for her date with Bobby.”

“Oh, right...” Sammy leans away from me, grinning. “Rin might not be a total asshole, but I still think Bobby is a better fit for you. He is cute,” she lightly punches my shoulder. “Go and get him, tiger!”

I giggle. “We are werewolves. Isn’t there something more fitting to say?”

“Fuck, you’re right!” Sammy clears her throat. “Go and get him, wolfie!”

“Wolfie?” I laugh out loud. “You’re an idiot!”

She winks. “Bet you still love me.”

My heart warms. “I do,” I look at Lana. “Both of you.”

After hugging both of my best friends, I head home to get ready for my date with Bobby.I slip on a black bodycon dress that accentuates my figure. I think I look great—if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, I don’t have a warm coat and settle for my black leather jacket instead. It’s little protection against the chill of the night air, giving me goosebumps as I step out of the building into the darkness.

I shiver as I make my way to jump over the fence. The bar is only a few blocks away, but the cold seeps into my bones, making me wish I had grabbed a thicker coat.

I shudder as I walk out into the street from the back of the mansion’s garden. I’m moving fast, but as I round a bus stop, a man steps out from the shadows—Rin.

My heart races as I see his tall figure towering above me. He is wearing his usual black suit and tie, and his brown hair looks disheveled like he has run his fingers through it multiple times. Regardless, he is the embodiment of physical perfection, radiating masculinity and intelligence. His face is perfect in its symmetry; a light stubble outlines his jawline, and his lips are so, so kissable.

Rin is gorgeous but so very intimidating.

I try to pretend I don’t see him, but he easily blocks my path with his big frame.

“Going somewhere, Camilla?” he asks, his voice low and husky as he peers down at me.

I swallow hard, feeling his gaze on me. “Just...going out.”

“Out?” he repeats, his eyes narrowing. “With whom?”

I hesitate, unsure whether or not to tell him about my date with Bobby. But then again, why should I? Rin has never shown any romantic interest in me, and I doubt he ever will.

“Just a friend,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

Rin takes a step closer, and I automatically back up. He seems amused by that, and my heart stops when he reaches out his hand to tilt up my chin, forcing me to meet his blue eyes.

“Be careful, Camilla,” his voice is soft, but there is a ghost of a smirk on his lips. “This city can be dangerous at night, especially for a little pet like you.”

I feel a shiver run down my spine at his words, unsure of what he means by ‘for a little pet like you’ But before I can ask, he releases me and steps away.

“Enjoy your date, Camilla.”

He walks away, leaving me there with a strange mixture of fear and desire churning with me. Rin is an enigma to me, his cold and distant demeanor both terrifying and alluring. I’m drawn to him, even though I know he is out of my league.

But now, as I stand here in the darkness, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be with him. To feel his strong arms around me, to taste his sweet lips on mine, to submit to his dominant nature.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts. Rin is not interested in me that way, and even if he were, I don’t know if I could handle it. He is a dominant Beta, the second highest position in our pack, and I’m just a lowly nobody, barely even on his radar.

But the thought of him still lingers in my mind as I make my way down to the bar. Bobby is waving at me from the door, smiling radiantly, and I have to force a smile.

Why do I suddenly wish I was on a date with Rin instead of Bobby? What the hell is wrong with me? He is a dangerous demon and clearly not boyfriend material!