**CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.**
I turned to the mirror and saw my ocean-blue eyes had turned onyx black, and my canines were protruding through my lips. I was gradually transforming into my feline side. Flicking my gaze back to Amanda, who was now on the floor trembling and whimpering, I scoffed, “Fucking coward.”
I gave her one last look before leaving the restroom, retracting my fangs and canines. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, steadying my breathing to change my eye color back to normal.
On my way back to the bar, I stumbled into someone and almost fell but was caught by steady hands around my waist. “I'm so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going,” I apologized as I regained composure, tugging down my skirt that had hiked up from the collision.
“It's fine,” the familiar voice said. “Is that you, Eline?”
I looked up to see Draken and almost immediately his scent invaded my nose. Just minutes ago, he hadn't even been around. “Oh, Draken. You came…”
He laughed breathly. “I should be saying that to you, considering this doesn't seem to be your type of space.”
“True. And, um, sorry about your game. I came to watch it with my friends.”
“It's fine. I wasn't in my best condition, and I did see you at the game.”
“Right. What about Topper?” I asked, remembering the rage on his face back at the rink when he'd slammed into Raphael's bloodied face. It gave me shivers. “Is he going to be okay?”
Draken shrugged. “I don't know what went over him back then, but what I can say is that Raphael definitely deserves it. Topper hardly gets angry.”
I nodded, feeling a bit guilty as I wondered if Topper could have punched Raphael all because of me. I mean, I did complain to him that Raphael was harassing me. Could that be why he had *roughed* him up so badly?
“You shouldn't worry too much though,” Draken added afterwards as if he could read my thoughts, but I knew Draken didn't know that Raphael had threatened to assault me sexually. “I'm sure Raphael would be okay. He's a shifter after all. He'd heal fast.”
I smiled at that, adding, “I don’t know if this helps, but I just want you to know that you played better than Raphael, and I saw the foul he committed.”
Draken laughed again. “Well, that makes me feel a bit better. You know what would make me feel even better?”
“What?” I shouted over the music. I hadn’t realized we were practically yelling even though we were close.
“Do you want to get out of here?” He asked, a bit shyly.
I gave his question a thought. I should have said no immediately, but I didn't. Instead, I nodded, shouting, “Sure,” in response. “But first I need to let my friend know.”
“I'll be waiting outside the club then.”
I watched him leave while I made my way back to the bar where Tennessee was still seated. She was eating the cucumber placed on her drink when she looked up at me. “What took you so long? Did you do number two?”
“No. I wasn't doing number two,” I replied, glancing over at the dance floor. Karina was still there. However, she wasn't alone now. She was making out with someone there. I grimaced. “Should we go separate them or what?”
“Nah. She's probably looking for someone to dick her down so it's cool,” Tennessee replied dryly. She seemed to find the cucumber she was eating more fascinating than any other thing currently going on in the club. “Do you need another drink, Eline?”
I shook my head. “Actually, I'm leaving,” I said, but Tennessee arched an eyebrow suspiciously. “with someone. I'm leaving with someone.”
“Oh my God, Eline! Did you finally take the initiative to lose your —”
“No. No. No,” I cringed, cutting her off before she could even complete the sentence. “We're just hanging out. Nothing sexual about that, I promise.”
“Well make sure to use condoms.”
“We're not having sex,” I rolled my eyes as I began to make my way out of the club. “I trust you with Karina. I'll make my way back to the hostel before curfew.”
“Sure. Don't worry about Karina, and worry about the *dick* you'd be getting.”
I cringed at the word *‘dick’,* wondering if it was the word of the day since a lot of people had decided to throw the word around like it was as normal as saying the word *‘The’.*
Draken was waiting outside, the area sparse and the sun starting to set. As I approached, I noticed an unlit cigarette between his lips as he leaned against his car. “I didn't know you smoked,” I said, crossing my arms. “Smokers are liable to die young.”
He smirked and gave me a once over, one that made me feel self-conscious under his gaze. “I didn't know you wore varsity shirts and short skirts. You're liable to catch a cold.”
I laughed. No. I actually *giggled,* feeling flustered. “Well, at least it won't be as life threatening as lung cancer or other illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and mouth cancer.”
“In case you're forgetting, Eline, cold kills also.”
“I should remind you that the leading cause of death in America are heart diseases and cancer —”
“One I wouldn't have since I'm a werewolf,” he flashed me a grin as he opened the car door. “After you.”
I felt my cheeks get heated as I made my way into the car, strapping myself with a seatbelt. Draken turned around and opened the door, settling into the driver seat. The car was different from the last one we'd used in his apartment. He didn't bother using a seatbelt as he reached for a lighter in his glove compartment, lighting the cigarette between his lips.
“Is it legal to smoke and drive?” I prompted as the vanilla wafted through my nose. “I also didn't know cigarettes came with flavors.”
“Now you know,” he smiled as he turned on the ignition of the car and began to drive.
As he drove I noticed I hadn't even asked him where he was taking me to. Hell, if he was planning to kidnap me and hand me over to his devil spawn twin brother to use me as a lab-rat I wouldn't have known. “Where are we going?”
“You'd see when we get there,” he replied, taking a drag of his cigarette before blowing it out. The car smelled of vanilla and smoke, but I didn't mind it. At least it helped overwhelm Draken's own scent. Also, it wasn't in my place to complain. It wasn't *my* car after all.