I can smell the party long before I can see it. The acrid scent of a bonfire floats through the trees of the forest, enveloping me as I stumble down the worn deer path. It’s the only true sign that I’m headed in the right direction and not losing myself completely in the woods. A branch snags on my cami and I swear, pulling myself free. The cami is more for style than comfort but so far, it’s not doing me any favors. But even though it’s autumn, it’s still early enough that it’s barely begun to be cold outside. Which is at least one less discomfort I need to worry about on this trudge through the dark woods.

I frown. Of course the true discomfort is the fact that I’m even going to this stupid party in the first place.

I swat a bug out of my face and trudge onward.

The only reason you’re even going to this party, Margot, is because of that asshole Kieran.

I scowl at my own inner thoughts, mostly because they’re true and I can’t ignore them. But when Kieran told me about the party specifically so he could then tell me that I wasn’t welcome, well… I may be the pack outcast but I sure as shit am not going to let them dictate where I can and can’t go. So, dumb party in the woods where they don’t want me? Better believe I’m going to be there whether I actually want to go or not.

It’s the point that matters.

You keep telling yourself that, Margot. But at least there’ll be free booze.

Granted, me drinking is technically illegal, but my twenty-first birthday is in two days, so who’s counting?

Cops, Margot. Cops are the type of people who definitely do count that sort of thing.

As if there’d be cops in the middle of the woods searching for parties.

Anyway, I can use this party as a birthday celebration of sorts. It’s not like I’m going to get one otherwise.

I step over an obnoxious log, then grin. Really, if I think about it, it kind of means Kieran and the others are paying for my birthday party then.

A bark of laughter bursts through the trees. I’m getting close, now, and can actually see the flickering lights of the bonfire.

I hesitate.

You can still turn around. Go back home. No one would ever know you were even here…

I’ve been with the Silvercrest pack since I was a baby, too little to remember anything else. But that doesn’t mean I’m a welcome member of the pack. I wasn’t born a pack member after all, just found by Samuel, the Silvercrest Alpha, on the side of the road. Discarded. At least he had the decency to not abandon me right then and there. Instead, he scooped me up and passed me off to old lady Odette to raise. Not because she was good with that sort of thing, but because she didn’t have a mate or kids of her own, so she was the most convenient.

Not that I’m bitter.

A cold breeze causes goose bumps to appear on my skin and I rub my arms. Maybe the thrifted cami was a bad idea after all. If I was in my usual flannel and t-shirt, this wind wouldn’t even bother me. But I just wanted to look hot for this party. For my birthday. That can’t be too much to ask…

I push past a particularly twiggy tree and suddenly I’m on the edge of a clearing. A huge bonfire in the center of the space lights the area, illuminating the pockets of Silvercrest wolves, most around my age, though I definitely see a handful who are maybe a bit too young to be here and a few who are too old and clearly trying to hold onto their fleeting youth. Of course one of the things they all have in common is a pattern of never forgetting to tell me that I don’t belong.

I’ve reached the party, and I pause for a moment.

Okay. Now what?

I scan the clearing and spy a rickety table bowing under the weight of a keg. That’ll do. I cut around the fire, heading for the table.

“Margot!” The familiar voice reaches me and I bite back a groan. Maybe I can pretend I didn’t hear her.

A hand reaches out and grabs my arm, tugging me to a stop. “I thought that was you!”

I turn to find Sloane, her long blonde hair perfectly straightened for this night in the woods. I can’t help but think of how many spiderwebs and sticks got caught in those precious locks on her way out here.

“I can’t believe you came,” Sloan continues. And surprisingly there doesn’t seem to be any malice in the statement.

Sloane has been trying out a new thing lately—being nice to me. Or at least to my face. But I haven’t yet been able to figure out whether it’s genuine or not. There’s a small chance that maybe Sloane is just growing up and learning how not to be an asshole. But then again, this could just be another way to torture me. I wouldn’t put it past Sloane to be playing some sort of long game.

I realize Sloane is waiting for me to respond, so I shrug. “Not much else to do on a Friday night in the pack compound.”

Sloane smiles, and this time I catch a hint of fakeness to it. I’m right not to let my guard down around her. I return the smile, letting my own fakeness shine through. Two can play this game. And I have years of practice.

“Well,” Sloane continues. “I’m gonna get a drink, but maybe we can connect again later?”

Please, god, anything but that. Any little bit of joy from his party will definitely be quashed if I have to spend any more time standing next to someone pretending to like me. Especially if it’s for nefarious purposes.

I snort at this and watch her sashay away before I continue my trek toward the keg. Maybe if this was high school, I’d make a different decision when it came to Sloane, but this isn’t, and I’m not some child anymore. I’m an adult and I’ve already set my own plans in motion. All I have to do is stick it out a little longer, a few more years max, and then…then I will do the unthinkable.

I’ll leave the Silvercrest pack behind and get the hell out of here.

My plan sends a warm buzz through my body, and I have a hard time believing that the watered-down beer in the keg will do anything to match it, but I’m still willing to give it a try.

There’s a small crowd in line at the keg and I’m just about to reach it when one of the guys turns and the firelight catches his face, illuminating it.

I stop.

Fuck. Fuck! What are they doing here? I know I overheard Kieran specifically saying they weren’t coming!

If I thought for even a moment that the Tripdick would be here, I would have never bothered showing up.

The firelight flickers on Leo Moreno’s face, making his stupidly attractive cut cheekbones look even more handsome, as if the fire itself is fawning over him like the rest of the sycophants he’s surrounded himself with. There’s a laugh and someone throws an arm around his shoulder—Tripdick number two, Ranveer Mehra, with his incredibly white teeth in his perfect smile. And then of course number three shows up, slamming himself between the two of them, causing Leo to spill his drink. Apollo Pickford just laughs it off, and if anyone else had made Leo spill his drink, they’d be in trouble, but not Apollo. Apollo’s guffaw is contagious and it only takes a moment before all three of them are laughing and shoving each other and having a grand old time.

Because of course they are. They’re handsome, powerful, beloved by the whole pack. And one day one of them will be Alpha.

And I fucking hate them.

It’s easy to be all of those things when you have everything handed to you on a silver platter. They’re playing life on easy mode and winning while simultaneously bragging about their skills like the cocky assholes they are.

Apollo gives Leo another shove, and Leo turns in my direction. His eyes land on me and the glee in them changes into something darker.

Oh shit.

I missed my chance to flee.

Ranveer and Apollo follow his gaze, and suddenly all three are staring at me. Ranveer’s bright smile turns into a cruel smirk, and Apollo’s laugh into a harsh mockery of delight.

My body turns and I start to stride away before I even realize what I’m doing. It’s fine. As long as I get to the trees, get out of their sight, they’ll lose interest in me and let me go.

There’s another loud laugh from behind me, but I don’t look over my shoulder, don’t check to see if the joke is at my expense, don’t do anything but increase my speed until I’m finally, safely, stepping into the dark trees once more.

Relief flows over me like a cool mist and I exhale slowly, trying to ease the shaking that has overtaken my body.

This whole thing was a mistake. I see that now. It’s time to go home.

A twig snaps behind me, the sharp sound brazenly loud here amongst the trees and away from the raucous party.

I spin and see only a flash of white teeth, the reflection of dark eyes. Ranveer. Close. Too close. How did he get here so quickly?

“Leaving so soon, Solus?”

His voice is low, slow, and dangerous. I shiver.

I definitely should have skipped this party…