Chatper 386


    Chapter 0386


    My fierce blush gave me away, but still I hushed Susie. I leaned closer to her to admit, “We’ve fooled


    around but I wouldn’t say we’ve had sex…”


    “Oh?”


    “In the woods, I think was ready to, but he’s such a gentleman. He wanted to wait until we could do so


    morefortably.”


    Susie nodded. “I’m not surprised he’s so romantic, especially with you.”


    I didn’t ask her what she meant. She was one of the few who was invited into our


    collective fold. She was privy to the truth of Nichs and my affections for each other.


    “The truth is…” A bit of pink dusted Susie’s cheeks. “I’m no longer a virgin.”


    My eyes went wide. “You and Mark?”


    I supposed I shouldn’t be so surprised, but it did so go against thepetition’s rules, I would have


    thought they would wait until Susie either left thepetition willingly or was eliminated. Going against


    the rules is dangerous, especially when the person she slept with wasn’t a prince.


    Mark wasn’t exactly in a position to defend Susie should the rules catch up


    her.


    to


    I would keep the secret for her to my death bed, if necessary. Though hopefully when thepetition


    would end, the two would be able to find a way to be together for real.


    “He was so gentle,” Susie said, a bit of starlight in her eyes. “I felt so safe.” She smiled and it was so


    honest and pure, my heart did a little dance in her honor.


    “I’m happy for you,” I said. Too soon, my caring heart gave way to worry. “Be careful though. If you are


    caught…”


    Susie nodded seriously. “That’s partially why I didn’t want to wait. If we get separated…” She brought


    her hands to her heart. “I wanted him to be my first. I wish he could be my only.”


    I had to speak to Nichs. Surely there was some way we could bring the two together and keep them


    there. I couldn’t assuage that fear now, however, so I just nodded in earnestpanionship.


    We continued walking toward the dining room. When we arrived, I reached for


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    the door and yanked.


    The door ripped straight off its hinges. I looked at it in surprise as I held it in my


    hand.


    Susie’s wide-eyed expression mirrored my own. “Piper…”


    “Uh… sorry…” I set the door down against the wall. Several ser vants looked from it to me and back


    again. “Guess I don’t know my own strength,” I said, and chuckled a little. They didn’t know that I was


    being serious.


    It had been so long since I’d had a wolf. I supposed the merging wasn’t going quite as smoothly as I


    would have liked.


    Susie continued to give me worried nces, even as we made our way into the dining room and took


    our seats.


    My stomach growled. I felt ravenous. The serv ants brought out tes, and I ate my first. Then my


    second. Then a third.


    The other girls watched me, stunned, as I continued to eat and eat.


    “Are you… feeling okay, Piper?” Susie asked.


    “I’m so hungry,” I said, and asked for fourths.


    “You are acting like you haven’t eaten in days,” Tiffany said from across the


    table.


    “Let her eat,” Veronica said. She was the only one at the table who didn’t seem bothered by the sheer


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    amount of my food consumption. Granted, she was the only one who really knew what was going on


    with me. She knew the process of restoring wolves better than I did, even.


    I ate my fourths. I could have probably had fifths, but everyone was looking at me so strangely, like I


    was some kind of attraction on disy at the carnival. So I stopped myself from eating more.


    As the meal came to a close, I rushed to join Veronica before she could get too far. When I was at her


    side, I whispered, “What is happening to me?”


    Veronica ced a finger to her lips and then led me to a sitting room where we could speak privately.


    “Your body has been without a wolf for so long, it will take time to limate yourself to having one


    again,” Veronica said. “The process is simr for those who im someone else’s wolf.’


    “But this is my wolf,” I said. I was feeling slightly indignant. Miracle had already


    been my wolf once. Why was this process the same as if I had never had one?


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    “Your body will adjust, likely quicker than those who never had a wolf,” Veronica said. “But it will take


    time. It’s not a process that can be rushed. You’ll have to relearn to control yourself. This includes your


    strength, your hunger, and your… other impulses.”


    I frown. “What other impulses?” At Veronica’s hesitation, I pressed, “Please, Veronica. I need to know


    what I’m up against here. I don’t want any more surprises.”


    Veronica seemed reluctant only a moment more, before she inhaled a deep breath and answered, “If


    your wolf recognizes someone as its mate, you are going to feel very strong feelings for that person.


    Romantic. Possessive. And sexual. Very strong sexual feelings.”


    Oh. “That should be fine,” I said. “I don’t have a mate.”


    Veronica gave me a t look. “Are you so sure about that?”


    Why wouldn’t I be?


    “You didn’t have a wolf before, Piper. So you might not have been as perceptive to your natural


    attraction to your mate. But now that you have one, you will feel that attraction tenfold.”


    “Veronica,” I said. “I would know if I have a mate. I’m sure of it.”


    Veronica continued to stare at me like she didn’t believe me.


    At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Nichs walked through. When he saw us he


    smiled. He looked relieved.


    “There you are,” he said, as his gaze locked onto mine. “I heard about the door. I just wanted to check


    on you.”


    My vision seemed to narrow down, focusing entirely on this man in front of me. A growl built up in the


    back of my throat. My fingers curled, w like. My breaths became deeper, heavier.


    All of my nerves felt alive. My muscles tensed, ready to pounce. My core tingled pleasantly, and my


    panties got a bit wet.


    I blinked, surprised at myself. I was suddenly, unbelievably h orny.


    I nced at Veronica. She gave me a subtle nod.


    “I will leave you two to talk privately,” she said. She nodded at Nichs as she passed him. Then she


    was out the door, closing it behind her.


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    Nichs stood very still. I knew he had heightened senses curtesy of his werewolf. If he couldn’t


    deduce what was happening to me from sight alone, the smell would give me away.


    I maybe would have been embarrassed, if I wasn’t so unbelievably hot for him in that moment.


    “Nick,” I said, and it came out a growl.


    He swallowed thickly. Something twitched in his pants.


    He took a step toward me. I took two toward him.


    Then we both moved at once, and I stopped keeping track.


    We collided with each other. Our mouths sought each other, then our tongues.


    His hands went under my as s, and he lifted me. He carried us both to the sitting room sofa, where he


    sat down with me directly in hisp.


    His d ick was hard for me.


    I growled again, deeper. “Mine.”