This was a rough and tumble bunch. Even the girls were a handful.
"I wasn't thinking pink lace. I'm seeing unicorns, lots of sparkly, purple unicorns." Ella spread her hands out in front of her, as if she were picturing the scene.
Char and Kayla chuckled. Ella decided it might be funny to mock up some horrific design just to antagonize Wolf. It served him right for being so dreadful toward her.
"Ha, real funny, Cotton Tail," Mark snorted.
"Cotton Tail?" Ella cocked her head.
"Yeah, you know." Mark glanced toward Ella's butt.
Ella almost choked as she got the reference.
Oh, my god. Not only are they not letting the little incident go, but they gave me a nickname.
At least Mark was congenial, despite the humiliating nickname. He checked Ella out, but it didn't affect her, like it did when Wolf stared at her. Mark was handsome in a rugged sort of way. He had shoulder length dark brown hair, which made his blue eyes stand out. His forearms were covered in tattoo's, that disappeared up into the sleeves of his black t-shirt. But Mark didn't do it for her. Ella took a quick look around but didn't see Wolf.
That's not why you're here, she admonished herself.
"I heard about the handprints," Kayla's snickered.
"Just great. Did you tell everyone?" Ella glared at Mark.
"Don't look at me. Jericho's the gossip."
"Jericho's as bad as a girl." Char shook her head. "Always stirring shit up."
"Wolf's to blame. He kept me from falling over a crowbar by grabbing me around the waist."
"Sure," Mark said skeptically.
"It's the truth," Ella insisted, then sighed. "Well I guess Cotton Tail is better than Ice Princess."
"Why would your nickname be Ice Princess?" Kayla's blonde head tilted.
"Ask Wolf," Ella smirked.
"My brother's such a charmer. Here, drink up."
Char thrust the tray of jiggly booze toward her. Ella grabbed a little paper cup and squeezed the vodka-laced lime jello into her mouth.
"Whooo!" Char whooped as she crushed her cup, then chucked it at the trash. "Again?"
Ella nodded, taking another shot. She might not be a wild child, but she could hold her alcohol. She'd experimented too much in her youth, hoping it would calm her curse. It didn't.
Wolf
Wolf lurked in the corner, watching Ella, like some kind of creeper.
Better me than some serial rapist.
He still couldn't believe the crazy woman was walking the streets past dark, looking like a wet dream.
He almost drove past Ella since she wasn't wearing her Little-Miss-Straight-Laced uniform. Wolf nearly stalled his bike when he caught glimpse of her in the getup that was downright smokin'. The backless halter top gaped at the sides, taunting him, as it played peekaboo with her tits. Ella's jeans were so tight they looked like they were painted on. His fingers itched to grab her pert ass, now that he knew what it felt like. Full and firm.
Wolf groaned out loud as he recalled the heat of Ella's thighs pressed against him on the bike. He still felt the delicious sting of her nails on his ribs. She thought she was hurting him, but her biting grip had been a torment of a different kind. Would Ella claw his back with the same fervor he'd seen sparking in her eyes, when he demanded she get on his bike?
You need to leave that one alone, Wolf shook his head as he adjusted his crotch. Any woman that prim, who thinks she's too good for you, isn't worth the time.
He knew it was immature, but Wolf still took impish pleasure watching Ella nervously pan the clubhouse. She thought she was mortified before, now she'd learn the meaning of the word. His pack knew how to have a good time.
God she's so fucking repressed.
Wolf laughed at how red Ella's cheeks turned as she noticed several brothers taking a piss in the wrecked bathroom. She acted like she hadn't seen a cock before.
Wolf stopped cold.
"Surely not," he muttered.
Wolf started up a game of pool with one of the guys, but quickly abandoned it to another pack member. His mind kept returning to the unfathomable thought. Ella was too old to be so damn innocent. Though that would certainly explain the rosy flush and demure glances that she instantly smothered. His inner Wolf growled insistently, goading him to do something foolish.
"Ah, Hell." Wolf scrubbed a hand over his face.
"What was that?" Vick asked.
"Nothing. Let's get a fight going. You and Tony have an ass kicking coming."
Wolf had to blow off some steam and clear his head. Trying to figure out that woman, was occupying too many of his thoughts lately.
"Just fucking great. Here I was thinking I'd watch Cotton Tail get shit faced."
Wolf followed Vick's glance to see Ella throwing back jello shots with his sister.
"Hell no," Wolf growled, and stomped over to the bar.
"Shit, Cotton Tail, you're going to be praising the porcelain god at the rate you're going," Mark swore.
The damn nickname his pack had given Ella was funny, and yet not, at the same time. It suited Ella. She was skittish like a little bunny amidst a pack of wolves.
"Char!" Wolf bellowed.
"What?" Char's head popped up, along with Ella, Kayla and Mark's.
"You know what," Wolf snarled as he gestured to the crumpled cups on the counter.
It was underhanded to play drinking games with Outsiders. It was cruel and unfair, since they didn't have the same metabolism a Shifter did.
"I'm pretty sure I know my own limit." Ella's eyebrow rose.
"Fine. It's your funeral. You're on your own. I'm heading out back," Wolf countered.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I was on my own already. Char, another round," Ella insisted defiantly.
"Don't worry, Princess. You are on your own. I wouldn't want you to mistake my concern for your safety, as some sort of interest, cause that's never going to happen. I wouldn't want you to have a conniption fit," Wolf threw the words Ella had said earlier, back at her.
Ella's eyes widened and she lost her grip on the shot she was about to take. Suddenly the cabinets started rattling, and the bottles and cans on the counter danced about then fell over.
"Shit, I thought you were joking about that earthquake," Mark looked around.
Just as abruptly as it started, the tremors ceased.
"I need to leave," Ella said, looking frightened and hurt.
"No. Don't leave, Ella. We're having fun. The quake stopped," Kayla entreated.
"That's not it." Ella hung her head refusing to look at Wolf.
Wolf didn't know why he felt guilty. She was the one who'd rebuffed him with her comment and cool demeanor.
"Don't go. Wolf's just being an ass, cause well, he's an ass," Char encouraged.
Ella smiled at his sister's disrespectful comment.
I'm the alpha for Christ sake.
"It's not like she has a way to get home anyway," Wolf mumbled under his breath.
Ella's eyes swung up to meet his, sparking with anger.
"I can walk," she countered.
"Not after drinking you won't, and you know the deal we made." Wolf pinned Ella with a pointed stare.
"I can take care of myself," she insisted, staring back at him without blinking or averting her gaze.
His inner beast bristled with interest at the little female's challenge. No one challenged the alpha, except for maybe his sister. But rather than put Ella in her place, his beast wanted to bend the Ice Princess to his will in a completely different manner. That frustrated Wolf even more.
"Ah, so you call being late on you rent, taking care of yourself."
It was a low blow, but Wolf couldn't help it. Ella riled him.
"You know nothing about me." Ella's clenched fists trembled by her side.
There was a cracking sound, and before Wolf could duck, the cabinet fell off the wall, striking him in the back. Ella cried out as she moved toward Wolf.
"I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Ella's hands fluttered over his shoulders, head and back, brushing away broken glass and dust.
"It's not your fault. I'm fine. Watch out for the glass. That freaking quake must have loosened it." Wolf shoved the debris aside. "Good thing I'm redoing all this."
Ella frowned shaking her head.
"Please, Wolf, take me home."
There were tears welling up in Ella's eyes. The earthquake had obviously freaked her out. No doubt his attitude wasn't helping. Something fiercely protective rose within Wolf, seeing her wounded expression.
"Hey now, I'm alright. We'll go outside, where nothing else can fall on us."
Wolf reached out his hand and encompassed Ella's delicate fingers. Instantly that strange tingling sensation worked up his arm. His inner beast stood up in attention.
"I'm not afraid. It's just … "