The ride to the store was tense.

Or maybe that was just me, considering, the image of this morning was burned so deeply into the back of my eyes, I couldn’t unsee it.

Somehow, one action had changed my perception of Quinlan drastically. Every time I looked in his direction, I couldn’t help but notice things I didn’t before.

Like the warm masculine scent of him filling his black Porsche. Sandalwood, clean skin and a certain danger that made my pulse drift between my legs. I tried to ignore the way it overtook my senses until burying my face in his neck was all I could think about.

Like I couldn’t stop thinking about his fingers in her hair, and the spill running down her breasts...

My cheeks were in a permanent state of red. I had never been the kind of person who knew how to keep her emotions away from her face.

So, I resolved not to look at Quinlan ever again.

A foolish decision, considering my eyes were practically glued to him whenever he wasn’t watching. A strange hyperawareness had come over me and I could not... any longer... ignore the glaring fact.

That he was a man. And I was a woman

And my wolf thought car sex would be a great way to lose my virginity.

***

It was in the late afternoon while I struggled with too many shopping bags to fit the length of my arms because the airhead of an attendant had dropped her facade of helping me the second Quinlan stepped out of the store thirty minutes ago for a swift errand.

I hadn’t missed the way she had cozied up to Quinlan, returning every other second with her blouse’s zipper one more inch lower than the last time, to ask him if he needed anything, even if I was the one shopping.

Either way, just when I was about to faceplant from the weight of everything, strong arms caught the bags, lifting them off me instantly.

"Bright Eyes?"

I peered up at Lyon, feeling momentarily displaced. He looked particularly handsome today in a warm ivory sweatshirt and slightly baggy jeans tucked into far boots. "Hi..."

What was he doing here?

He nudged towards the box in my grasp. "This is one of our supply chains. I’m doing a round check in the area, but none of that." His expression dimmed. "I heard about what happened last night. I am so sorry. You didn’t deserve any of that."

It all came crashing back, and whatever cozy warmth I felt in my chest towards Lyon crashed. And burned.

I took back my bags. "Thank you, but I don’t need your help."

He caught my arm gently before I could sidestep him. "Mace, come on—"

"Come on?" I echoed, vibrating with outrage. "Where were you last night? Or Jenny for that matter? Conveniently, neither of you was present when I needed you to speak for me. Or forgive me, was I too lowly a servant to be rescued by the Park family’s heir?"

Lyon flinched, his brown eyes taking on a raw and wounded look. "My family may have owned the wealth of Ashbourne for generations, but like you, Mace, I am an outcast. I know what it feels like to fight for a place in a world like ours." His Adam’s apple bobbed. "Cole was particularly careless with his Alpha command last night. Those commands affect us differently than they do full breds. When he ordered me to get lost with the full weight of his power, it overrode my mind’s activity, forcing me into a state of absolute obedience."

My eyes began to widen with horror as I began to piece together what he meant.

"I walked until I got lost. And I didn’t realize where I was until I was far enough that the hold of his command released me. Seconds away from crossing into rogue territory."

My lips parted. "Oh my god! Are you alright... did anything happen—?"

Lyon smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "I’m alright, but I do think you should hear Jenny out before writing her off. Regina, too. Last night’s catastrophe wasn’t their fault. Matter of fact, Jen’s been trying to reach you since last night."

"Oh. I left my cellphone behind in the pack..."

His eyes grew intense all of a sudden. "So it is true, then. You live with them now."

By them, he meant the Lycans.

I nodded, feeling instantly self conscious at the glittering intensity of his brown eyes. It was the first time I’d ever seen him look so serious.

"Look, Mace," Lyon said. "I’m not trying to frighten or change your mind, but you should know. There’s a reason our races don’t mix well. The Lycans are elitists. And they are selfish. There’s never been a time in history where they make a decision out of the goodness of their hearts. You should know what you’re getting into."

"What are you trying to say?" I asked, feeling a sudden rush of defensiveness.

His lips pursed. "I’ve met a few hybrids, and they call it Conditioning."

My nostrils flared. "I am not being conditioned."

"How would you know that? Do you even know a single thing about those men? Do you know what they do to unsuspecting women on the night of the Red Moon?"

My teeth grinded. "I may not know enough, but I know they saved my life. Do not insinuate that I am stupid enough to let myself be manipulated into being... what exactly do you think I am being conditioned into, Lyon?"

His lips parted. Then he shook his head. "It’s probably nothing." Then he laughed awkwardly. "I... uh... I should go."

I stood, confused, watching him leave.

But at the last second, he turned around.

His eyes crinkled with the same easy smile that made him popular with the women. "I got enrolled into Greymoor, final year. I guess I’ll be seeing you around a lot more, Bright Eyes. Save me a tour, will you?"

I thought that was the weirdest interaction I ever had but gods, was I wrong.

Because in the coming days, the entirety of Greymoor began treating me differently.

Males, specifically.