likely the only all-female group in this contest. I didn’t need to hear the competition to know I wanted these ladies to win.
Though Brogan was unable to relax completely, I had no problem riding the high of the music and the crowd. I moved to the beat, but my gaze continuously swept the building. I kept expecting Falon to appear, and I wanted to be ready for it.
However, I didn’t anticipate Juliet striding through the door in snug blue jeans and a cute little one-sleeved top. Red lipstick and long brown curls added to her badass appearance. I blinked a few times, unable to believe she had been the little girl I remembered from my childhood.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” I muttered. I was willing to bet the casually dressed man at Juliet’s side was also FPA. Leaning into Brogan I said, “Maybe you should check outside for Gabriel while I talk to my sister. Something is up here, and I don’t feel good about it.”
It didn’t take long for Juliet to spot me. I headed in her direction, and she leaned in to speak to her companion who quickly disappeared near the bar. She had a perfectly plastic looking smile plastered onto place when I approached.
“I didn’t think this was your scene,” I said lightly, attempting small talk.
She didn’t bother to play along. “A little out of your element, too, wouldn’t you say? Everyone here is human.”
“What are you doing here, Juliet?” Fine. No small talk. We’d do it her way.
“It’s confidential.” Her eyes narrowed, and for just a moment, her wolf lurked behind her eyes. “Stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours. Agreed?”
I shook my head. “I can’t make any promises. Not until I know why you’re here.”
“I’m looking for someone. That’s all I’m sharing. I’m sorry, Alexa. I’d just rather not do this,” she gestured from me to her, “if that’s ok.”
I was stunned. And, I’ll admit, more than a little hurt. My sister was giving me the brush off.
“I’m not your enemy, Juliet. The FPA has poisoned your mind.” My tone was snide, more so than intended. “Do you even think about the things they ask you to do?”
“Poisoned?” She spat. “They took me in when I had nowhere to go. They tried to help you, too.”
“They recruited mom and dad to get to me.” I shouted the words at her without a second thought. The loud music quickly swallowed them up, but she had heard. “You’re just a walking, talking weapon to them, Juliet. You can’t trust them.”
Her irises began to bleed across the whites of her eyes. She fought back the wolf with a worrisome desperation. “Who I can’t trust, is you. You kill monsters to keep a secret. We kill them to protect the public.”
“Is that so?” I challenged, my wolf bristling for a fight. “Is that why the FPA is holding several of them in the basement? Along with humans. For the protection of the public? I suppose that’s what the lab is for, too.”
Juliet paled, her gaze darting around for her partner. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then maybe you’d better take a look in the basement sometime.” I started to walk away, then paused for a parting comment. “If you’re here for Gabriel, you’re wasting your time.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but I beat a hasty retreat outside to find Brogan. I’d just reached the door when I slammed into someone’s chest and went down hard on my ass. Falon stood over me wearing an amused grin. Son of a bitch.
“Looking for the witch?” He extended a hand as if to help me up but pulled it away before I could accept. Stepping over me, he surveyed the room, his gaze landing on Juliet. “This will be interesting.”
I scrambled to my feet and rushed after him. “Falon, did you do something to Brogan?”
“Of course not.” He scowled at me as if I were a stain he’d suddenly noticed on his jacket. “I merely suggested that if she wanted to live through the night, she would be better off leaving well enough alone.”
“Don’t threaten Brogan,” I snarled. When he walked away from me, I grabbed his arm and refused to be budged. “I’m talking to you, Falon.”
His silver gaze dropped to my hand. He stiffened and I froze. Void of humanity, Falon’s expression chilled me to the bone. If looks could kill, I’d have been dead several times over.
“Just because you’re Shya’s pet