Entranced Read Free

with sugary sweetness. “I’ve tried a ton of times to get my how-to-walk learner’s permit, but the instructor always fails me because I keep crashing into brooding guys who never seem to know how to watch where they’re walking. It’s a curse. Seriously.”
    He stares at me, unimpressed, with his arms folded. “I’m not brooding; I’m just in a hurry.”
    I gesture for him to get a move on. “Well, then you should probably get going instead of wasting time insulting my walking incompetence.” When he continues to stare me down, I put my hands on my hips and arch my brows at him. “What? Never had anyone call you out before?”
    “No, but normally I make them shut hell up.” His gaze drops to the markings on my arm, and then his head cocks to the side. “I’m just trying to decide if I want to shut you the hell up.”
    I keep a calm expression, but I’m a little frazzled on the inside. He glanced at the Mark of Immortality. Can he tell it’s fake?
    I shove the thought from my head. No, if he knew I was human, he probably would’ve killed me already. Not all werewolves are completely bad, especially in human form, but werewolves who hang out at places like the Black Dungeon are usually looking for trouble.
    “What? Cat got your tongue?” he questions with a smirk. “Or should I say wolf?”
    I roll my eyes. “That was super cheesy. Seriously, dude, does that ever work on anyone?”
    His smirk broadens. “It got you flustered, didn’t it?”
    I roll my eyes again. “Well, it’s been a real pleasure running into you, but I’ve got other broody guys to run into.”
    I start to walk away, waggling my fingers at him, but his fingers wrap around my arm. Moments later, his breath dusts the back of my neck.
    “Don’t do it,” he whispers in a low tone that carries a warning. “You’ll end up getting killed.”
    “I’m not doing anything except trying to get away from you.” I try to slip my arm from his hold, but he tightens his grip. A shallow breath escapes my lips. “Let. Me. Go.”
    “Stay away from Anastasiya, Alana”—his voice is one step away from a growl—“because, if you get in my way, I’ll have no choice but to kill you, which would be a real waste considering you’re the first person I ever let walk away from me unscratched after calling me a cocky asshole.” With a brush of his fingers across the back of my neck, he mutters, “Interesting,” then moves away from me.
    I spin around with my hand cupped over the back of my neck.
    “Don’t look so worried.” He backs down the hallway in the opposite direction of the dance floor, stuffing his hands into the pocket of his black cargo pants. “I promise you and I’ll run into each other again very soon. I just hope by then you’ve learned how to walk better.” With that, he turns around and pushes out the Do Not Enter door at the end of the hallway.
    I stare at the door with my jaw hanging to my knees and a thousand questions racing through my mind. What the hell just happened? How the hell does he know what I’m plotting tonight? Better yet, how the hell does he know we’re going to meet again?

Chapter 2
     
    By the time I make it to the bar, a handful of Keepers have arrived. They aren’t near each other to keep under the radar—some are on the dance floor, others near the serving table.
    Jayse is chatting with the bartender when I approach him. He seems cheerier than when I last saw him, laughing at something the woman behind the counter says. She looks a few years older than him with flowing red hair. From the way he keeps throwing her charming smiles, I can tell he’s flirting with her.
    Usually, I’d tease the crap out of him, but I’m too worried about Wolf Guy.
    When Jayse catches sight of me, his expression sinks. “What happened?” He examines my face. “You look pale? Are you getting a fever?” He places his palm to my forehead.
    I dip my head away from his hand. “Stop being a weirdo,” I hiss under