CHAPTER SIX - THIS PARTY IS KILLER

I was getting tired.

The party was still happening, lasting way longer than I had anticipated.

I was slumped in Roarke's lap at the table, my head resting on his shoulder. I just wanted to close my eyes and sleep, but I couldn't. Roarke was distracting me with his gentle touches. Whenever his fingers ran through my hair, like my mother had done with me when I was a child, I relaxed, probably more than I should've.

"Hun, are you okay?" Maurice asked, approaching us. I hadn't seen her much at the party, just the occasional bumps into each other on the dance floor. She bent forward, examining me, like a concerned grandmother would do.

I offered a tired smile. "Just tired, that's all."

"She's usually asleep by now in my arms," Roarke commented, then took a sip of his wine. "The party is almost over. We will be leaving soon."

Maurice nodded, then headed back to the bar. I stifled a yawn, skimming the dance floor with drowsy eyes. Blake was spinning Josephine in circles, her lavender dress flying out at her knees. She looked happy. They both did.

Roarke tightened his arms around me, mumbling into my neck, "I like holding you."

My pulse spiked as I struggled for a response. I didn't know what to say back - his touch didn't terrify me? He moved his head, burying his face into the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply. I didn't care about the eyes on us anymore. I was too tired to care at all. I just wanted to fall asleep right then and there.

"Are you cold?" he asked, feeling the goosebumps on my thigh. "Do you want my jacket?"

I shook my head. The goosebumps weren't because I was cold.

We didn't move from the table until the party was over with. People began flooding from the building, a chaos of laughter and chatter. Roarke rose to his feet, pulling me with him, then guided me towards the exit. As we moved with the crowd, I was tapped on the shoulder by Josephine.

She smiled. "We should hang sometime, Chloe." She was nice. Her and Maurice were both so nice. "A girls night soon, what do you say?"

"Sure," I said, relieved. "We can invite Scarlett."

Josephine released an uneasy laugh. "Scarlett doesn't do sleepovers or girls nights. She kinda does her own thing. As much as I love her, she won't want to hang with us."

"I have a feeling she will," I replied, thinking back to the short interaction with Scarlett in the bathroom. She had been crying over a man. She needed someone to talk to. Josephine gave me another smile, doubt in her eyes, then returned to Blake's side.

Now, you probably thought this was a drama-free, perfect night.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but it's not over yet.

As I was descending the front steps of the building, holding Roarke's hand, a fight broke out behind us. Two males, one from Roarke's pack and one from Maverick's pack. I had noticed the tension at the party between the two packs, but for the most part, everybody remained in line - until now.

One of the males shoved the other, sending him stumbling backwards - and you guessed it, right into me.

I didn't see it coming.

In a matter of seconds, there was chaos.

I was falling down the steps, being trampled as people moved to see. There were startled screams and gasps from around me. Then, a deep, terrifying roar overshadowed everyone, rumbling the steps. That roar belonged to the one and only, Roarke Farkas, Alpha of the Farkas Pack.

People were suddenly backing away in frightened shouts. Tears were rolling down my cheeks as a pair of hands grabbed my arms, helping me to my feet. I found myself looking into Blake's eyes and he looked terrified. "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine."

"Josie, take her," Blake said, pushing me into Josephine's arms. She held me tightly, her eyes filled with panic. I watched as Blake whipped around and rushed towards his Alpha who had lost all control.

Roarke bared his teeth at the men, who had separated during the roar, his muscles trembling. He was fighting his transition. I shuddered when Blake appeared at his side, attempting to calm down his Alpha from a safe distance. Roarke appeared scary as hell - his eyes glowing, his skin red, a vein throbbing in his forehead.

"He can't hurt Blake," Josephine said, shakily. "He c-can't."

I spotted Maurice in the crowd, watching with wide eyes. There was no doubt on her face that he wouldn't kill those men.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I moved forward, ignoring Josephine's protests. I didn't want him to kill them. I didn't want to witness another death. Hesitantly, I touched his back and flinched at how coiled his muscles were.

Blake gave me a worried look.

"Roarke," I said, quietly. "Look at me."

He released a deep growl at the men who both backed up a step. I dragged my hand down his arm, then intertwined my fingers with his. I was relieved when his fingers curled into mine, possessively. I tugged on his arm, trying to grab his attention.

When he finally looked at me, his eyes instantly assessed me, checking for injuries.

"I'm fine," I told him, forcing a grin. "Can we leave? Can you take me home now?" I felt weird being so gentle with him, but it worked. His hand slipped behind my neck and crushed my face into his chest, his other arm pulling my body forward.

Alpha Maverick emerged from the building. "What the hell is going on?"

Blake hesitated. "Alpha Roarke's female was hurt."

Roarke growled.

"No, I'm fine," I said, giving him a pointed look. Then, I lifted my head, looking up at Roarke who was staring at me. "I'm fine, Roarke. Let's leave."

"No," Roarke snarled, stepping forward to the man who had pushed the member of Roarke's pack into me. "I'm killing him."

My eyes widened as Roarke slipped from my grasp, stomping forward. The member of Maverick's pack looked terrified, yet bared his teeth at the furious Alpha. Blake shoved his hands into his hair, unsure what to do. Thankfully, Maverick released a snarl, equally as terrifying as Roarke's, and growled, "He's my Beta."

The man scampered behind Maverick's back.

"Your Beta pushed a member of my pack into my female," Roarke hissed, fuming. "You can't even keep your own Beta in order?"

"I will punish him later," Maverick said, glaring at his Beta. "There is no need for bloodshed tonight. We're celebrating our alliance."

Roarke wasn't having it. He had created the alliance with Maverick's pack because it was the smartest, safest decision. It would save bloodshed between the two dominating packs. I didn't want Roarke to impulsively ruin this alliance over an accident, over me. I moved forward, once again grabbing his arm, clinging to him.

"Roarke, come on," I whispered, stepping in front of him. "I want to leave."

He didn't look at me. "Not until I kill his Beta."

Maverick snarled again.

There was no way I could persuade him. His anger was blinding him. I looked at Blake who was now hugging Josephine off to the side. Then, my eyes flickered to Maurice who was watching with a praying look. She didn't want the alliance to be called off. Judging by the numerous faces around us, nobody did. This alliance was important.

Now, you're probably wondering how I saved the alliance - because I did. I don't like to brag, but sometimes I'm a genius.

I did what Roarke feared.

I left him.

I pushed through the crowd and sprinted off into the trees. Like I had expected, a growl erupted and Roarke came chasing after me, catching up to me fast. I wasn't actually trying to escape him - I knew he would catch me. I just wanted him away from the celebration.

So, when I was tackled to the ground, there was a smile on my face. When he flipped me over with a growl, his angry expression instantly faltered at my smile.

My breasts brushed up against his chest. "You're too predictable."

It finally occurred to him. "You knew I would chase you." I was still smiling when I nodded. Even though it was dark, I could see the gleam in his eyes. He liked my smile. "You - damnit, I was trying to punish that pup for hurting you. Nobody hurts you."

"It was an accident," I said, quietly. "And, I'm fine. I was telling you that, but you weren't listening. You can't end the alliance over something so little." He dropped his head into the crook of my neck and his frustrated moan tickled me. I remained absolutely still beneath him, unsure what to do.

He lifted his head. "Why do you care?"

"About the alliance?" I asked, receiving a single nod. "I don't know. Death is death, no matter the species. I guess I'm tired of seeing death."

Roarke started running his hand up my bare shoulder. "I didn't like seeing you fall. I tried to grab you."

I held my breath. "I know."

"I will protect you, always," he murmured, his finger tracing my collarbone. "You're mine, and mine alone."

He was still heated. "You've made that clear."

"Have I?" he asked, a purr erupting from his chest. I didn't have a second to react. He was notorious for kissing me unexpectedly. His lips crashed into mine, pushing my head further down into the ground. Roarke was scary as hell, so was his kiss. His lips were telling me that he owned me. They were claiming me.

Yet, I didn't try to push him off me. I let him kiss me. It was as if my brain wasn't working because I knew my brain didn't want this, but my body certainly did. My hand lightly touched his stubbled jaw and he moaned into my mouth at my touch.

He was settled between my legs and I wasn't even concerned about the dirt that would ruin the beautiful dress I was wearing. He was hungry for me. The nibbling of my bottom lip and the eager tongue were signs.

I had never been kissed like this before. All of the men in my past had been gentle - and Roarke was rough. I liked it.

When I felt his arousal against my hip, I snapped out of it.

I pushed at his chest and he pulled away with a growl. Roarke was staring down at me with his dark eyes; they seemed to eat me up. He seemed to understand as he slid off me, then grabbed my arms, pulling me to my feet with him.

Since I had kicked off my heels during my run, he easily lifted me up into his arms and started carrying me back the way we came. "Come, let's go home."