Thrown to the Wolves (Black River Pack Book 3) by Rochelle Paige Page A

we wanted to give you guys some alone time first,” Eliza said.
    “Today seemed like a good morning since we really need you at The Den tonight,” Spencer said apologetically. “Sorry it couldn’t be longer, bro.”
    “I’ve been helping out behind the bar, but payroll needs to get done, and I didn’t want to fuck up your system,” Elias added.
    “Shit!” I swore when I realized it was Wednesday and I really did need to go into the bar so I could get everyone’s paychecks approved so they’d hit their accounts on time.
    “It’s okay, Parker,” Annora reassured me. “I understand you’ve got work that needs to be done.”
    “I’ve got a brilliant idea!” Eliza interjected. “How about you bring Annora in with you and I’ll meet you there for a girls’ night out?”
    “Eliza,” Spencer growled. “You know I’ve got shit to take care of tonight and can’t go with you.”
    “Oh, please,” she snorted. “Parker will be there to watch over me.”
    “Me, too,” Elias added. “And you know I won’t let anything happen to either of them.”
    “Girls’ night out!” Eliza shrieked as Spencer shook his head at her.
    “You wanna come in with me tonight?” Parker whispered into my ear.
    I rubbed my cheek against his before answering. “Yeah, I think I do.”

Chapter 6
    Annora
     
    After Eliza and I made breakfast for everyone, the rest of the day flew by, and I quickly found myself getting ready for a night out. So much had changed in my life recently. One short month ago, my biggest concern had been that I was a disappointment to my parents because I couldn’t shift. Now, I was on the run from a psychotic wolf who wanted to mate me—an alpha to whom my own parents had practically sold me for Christ’s sake! On top of that, I’d been injured in a car crash I’d engineered to escape my father and found myself mated and marked within hours of meeting Parker.
    What I needed more than anything tonight was a break from it all, and I found myself feeling relieved that Eliza had suggested this girls’ night out. I knew that Parker was worried about me since he kept asking me all day long if I was really sure I wanted to go. After having spent my entire life doing what was expected of me, it felt damn good to put my foot down and do what I wanted instead.
    Not that I wasn’t willing to compromise with Parker. I knew it would be difficult for him to let me out of his sight tonight since we’d just mated, especially since I could still be in danger.
    “Are you sure you’re up for this tonight?” he asked after he’d parked in the lot outside the bar. “You should be home, resting. You’re still recovering from the car accident.”
    “You heard what the healer said,” I pointed out. “I’m fine.”
    “Maybe she was wrong,” he grumbled.
    “Parker,” I sighed. “She’s the pack healer. The one you insisted come to your house to care for me immediately. The same person you told me I could trust.”
    “Shit,” he muttered. “That was before I found out I don’t trust anyone when it comes to you.”
    My heart warmed at the frustration in his tone. It probably should have irritated me, but I took comfort in the fact that he cared so much for me in such a short period of time. I knew it was probably futile, but I was trying to protect my heart from him. Even though I’d willingly accepted his mark, I wasn’t ready to trust anyone with my whole heart yet, either. Not after what I’d been through. But that didn’t mean I wanted Parker to suffer needlessly at my expense.
    “You’ll be here with me the whole time,” I reminded him. “I promise to let you know if I get tired or need to go home. And I’m just going to have a couple of drinks with Eliza and Grace.”
    “Grace is coming too?” he asked.
    “Yeah. That’s what Eliza said when she called the cabin earlier,” I confirmed.
    “You ready to meet Hunter?”
    “He’s going to be here too?” I yelped, a little nervous to