Marked (The Pack) by Suzanne Cox Page A

light. Had we drank that much? I didn’t think so, yet my legs wobbled slightly with each step I took.
    In the huge living room, bodies were crammed together and Eric pulled me closer than I expected. Everyone around us was pressed tightly together, some kissing and others doing more than a little kissing on the mouth. Another couple bumped us and Eric put his mouth to my neck and nuzzled then kissed. I liked it and moved my body more to the beat of the music. My head was dizzy. I couldn’t see well in the flashing lights, but I could have sworn a girl’s shirt had been pulled off. I leaned my head back only to see Jana with her dress to her waist, dancing feverishly with a guy I hadn’t met. The strap of my own dress slipped down and before I could pull it up the dress was tugged nearly off me. I grabbed at it and Eric smiled then bent and nipped my bare shoulder. Then from nowhere a hand grabbed my upper arm and spun me around.
    Channing leaned in toward me, her pupils bright and visible even in the dark. “I want to dance with Eric now.”
    “Um, sure.”
    She gave me a shove, sending me flying across the room. I slammed into the back of the sofa just as Myles caught me. The tempo of the music changed and the room came alive with thrashing bodies. I could see Channing had taken Eric’s shirt off and pulled the hem of her dress up near her waist as she gyrated in front of him.
    “I think we should go now,” Myles said.
    “No, I want to stay. It’s just starting.”
    “I know. That’s what I’m afraid of.”
    “I’ve got thirty minutes before Aunt Louise picks me up at Brynna’s and I’m staying.”
    “In thirty minutes you won’t be worth picking up, that is if you would even remember how to get back to the house. Which if you didn’t she’d come hunt you down, and you’d be in deep shit then, Alexis.”
    “I’m going to dance with Eric again.”
    From behind Myles someone said “Oh, my God.” Then before I realized it, Brynna had me by the shoulders propelling me through the crowd and out the front door. I wasn’t even sure I walked. I thought, momentarily, Brynna might have lifted me completely off the ground, which made me laugh. Myles was right, I was smashed.
    I allowed myself to be dragged through the woods. At the side of Brynna’s house she shoved me to the ground.
    “Now sober up before this gets blamed on us.”
    Brynna was right. I didn’t need Aunt Louise to pick me up when I couldn’t see straight, or this would be my last party. I stood and walked around.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Trying to clear my head.”
    “You want a bottle of water?”
    “That would be good.”
    Brynna left and returned in a few minutes with water for the three of us. I took a long drink and started walking again.
    “Those parties always like that?”
    Brynna snorted. “No, sometimes they’re wild. I think we got away just in time.”
    “It gets wilder than that?”
    Myles nodded. “But you better not be around when it happens.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s not a safe place to be.”
    Lights flashed in the drive and Louise came to a stop in front of us before I could ask him what that meant.
    “It was nice of you two to wait with Alexis.”
    Brynna shrugged.
    Myles leaned toward Louise’s open window. “We didn’t mind. If you could drop me home I’d appreciate it. My Jeep’s in the shop. I called dad earlier and told him I’d ask you to.”
    “No problem.”
    Myles climbed in the back as I fastened my seatbelt on the passenger side.
    “How was the party?”
    I kept my mouth shut to avoid incriminating myself.
    “Oh, it was like the usual. Not much going on.” Myles said.
    Louise made a noise and glanced at me. I smiled and shrugged. 

Chapter Thirteen
     
     
    Ahead of me, on the path, the four wolves chased each other. They nipped the coat of whichever one was closest to them. I watched and laughed, unafraid. These wolves appeared harmless. A dark grey one saw me and stopped. I took a