Page 18 of Minx

“How do you know if someone is your mate? I mean, is it a wolf thing?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I met a shiftless female once when I was going through a dark time. My mom brought me to see her, hoping it would help. She had five mates. Five! Don’t even think about the logistics of that because…I can’t. She knew they were hers because she said immediately after their first date, she cried that night, being away from them. She said her heart broke as though they were dead and not miles down the road.” Stevie shrugged. “Cleo was her name. She gave me hope when I had none for myself.”

I walked over and hugged Stevie. Being a shifter female without a wolf could be a lonely way to live. I hoped Stevie found a mate or mates that completed her, even without her wolf.

“If they were mad at Drew, then why have they been absent today and missed dinner?” I whispered, trying to work it out myself.

“Shouldn’t you go find out?” Stevie asked.

I laughed. “I don’t know which dorm is theirs. Or their phone number.” She cracked up with me.

“Wait, their tongues have been in your mouth but you don’t know how to text them? You are a mess!”

Stevie only knew the half of it.

For the rest of the night, we sat across from each other on the floor, halfway studying, halfway volleying thoughts about mating and shifters and growly boys who made our toes curl.

Stevie’s parents kept her stocked with care packages full of snacks and once they heard she had a new roommate that she actually liked, they doubled the shipments.

“Which one is the better kisser?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows.

I sighed. “I haven’t kissed all of them,” I reminded her.

“Which ones have you kissed?”

“Grim and Bodhi,” I replied but didn’t offer her any details.

“I bet Theron kisses like a starving man,” she said.

For a split second, it made me angry, hearing her talk about Theron like that. My throat swelled with a need to express something. Gods, I wanted to growl at my best friend for talking about my…no. I wouldn’t say the word. Not until they did.

“I bet so too,” I agreed.

Chapter Fifteen

A knock at the door made Stevie jump a mile high and squeal. Once she started breathing again, she insisted on opening the door since I had only gotten out of the shower a few minutes before and was combing my hair out.

I walked from the bathroom until I was near my bed so I could see who it was. My heart skipped a few beats when I saw all three guys on the other side of the door. Stevie’s fist propped up on her hip and I felt a shift in her mood.

She turned to me. “I’m your best friend now, right?”

“Yes,” I answered with a giggle.

Their eyes were on me as I continued to comb out the tangles but as soon as Stevie turned, she had their full attention. I felt like a girl being picked up for the prom.

“You know she’s been worried about you three ever since the manly, growly stunt in training this morning, right?”

I covered my face to hide what I knew was a furious blush. She didn’t have to tell them everything I said. They all nodded.

“I shouldn’t even let you see her after that stunt, and then you had the balls to walk away as thought she’d done something wrong? Who the fuck does that?”

Stevie had a mom voice. Don’t mess with Stevie.

“Now, what are your intentions with my best friend tonight? It’s late.”

I snorted, not able to contain myself any longer. The guys’ eyes were wide. Theron crossed his arms over his chest while Grim and Bodhi smirked. Theron shifted from one foot to the other. At least, I wasn’t the only one squirming at the scene unfolding. “We came to take her somewhere to talk.”

“And apologize?” Stevie put the other fist up on her hip. Two fists on hips. Damn.

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