“Back the fuck away from me,” he growls. “I'm going through something right now and you're way too close for comfort.”

“Come on, Alpha,” she purrs. “Don’t pretend you don’t want me. I’ve seen the way you look at me,” she says, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Or did I misread the vibe?” she asks him, her words welcomed by the sound of a zipper.

I feel Thalia stiffen beside me, hardly breathing anymore.

“Get your filthy hands off me,” Alpha Knox snarls. “Are ...