Page 24 of Minx

“Oh good.” She paused. “Listen, I got a call from someone asking about you. How old you are, where you are… They didn’t give me a name, just hung up when I didn’t answer their questions. You haven’t been approached by any strangers, have you?”

“Considering I’m new here, most people are strangers, but not like that, no. Why? Should I be worried?”

“Oh no.” False cheer—not a good sign. “So, any sign of your wolf yet?”

“No, Mom. And from what I’m learning, latents don’t always pan out. I might never have a wolf.” Just random, uncontrolled fire.

“Think positive, Minx. Reach deep down and try to find her. She’s in there somewhere.”

I wanted to say if that’s what she and Dad thought, why did they try to make me live so human. But I didn’t think it would do much good. “Mom, how old were you the first time?” A human would have been asking about sex with a question like that, and it would probably have been weird to address it to a parent. But I was learning how different shifters were from others.

“Ten.” I heard her sigh. “I know that’s very early.”

“And Dad?”

A long pause before she said, “We’ll have to ask him, but it’s not really relevant.”

“Girls don’t take after their dads in these things?”

“I’m not sure.”

This conversation wasn’t going anywhere. “Mom, how do you know if you meet your mate?” Growing up the way I had, I’d never expected to have one at all—and I wasn’t ready to tell Mom I thought I had three.

“Oh, I don’t know. You just do, I suppose. But it’s not always what the stories claim. Fated mates don’t always end up together forever, Minx.”

“Mom, I—”

“I have a business call coming in. Let’s talk soon, okay? Love you, baby.” And she was gone.

Had I struck a nerve? Were my parents having troubles?

Chapter Nineteen

Mom’s call stuck with me for the rest of the afternoon, through dinner with the guys and Stevie, and into the evening. The others were headed to the library for some studying and backgammon, but as much as I loved being with them and of course the library, my brain’s racing had me overheated and overwhelmed. The library would be the very worst place to find myself if my unintended fire-starting abilities should kick in. Not only would I be expelled from the one place where I might be able to find my wolf, but I’d never forgive myself if I singed one precious page of one book.

Already, the Werewolf Academy was becoming home, one I didn’t want to harm in any way. Maybe, once I dug myself out of my latency and tendency to set things ablaze, I could even contribute in some way. Be a credit to this fine institution which, I had learned, was several centuries old. Not in this building with its modern steel and glass, of course, but in a previous location “across the pond” somewhere.

So much history to learn, and I wanted my mind clear to absorb it.

“You sure you won’t come with us?” Bodhi picked up my hand and toyed with my fingers in a way that sent shivers up my arm and down my spine.

“We’ll miss you,” Theron added. “We don’t have to go to the library if you’d prefer to go somewhere else.”

I couldn’t help being pleased that they’d miss me, but a little alone time seemed in order. “No, it’s not the location. The library is one of my favorite places, but I—”

“It’s all right.” Quiet Grim to the rescue. “Sometimes, we just need to be by ourselves. To think.”

“Yes.” I gave Bodhi’s hand a squeeze and released it. “If I finish my ruminations, I’ll come find you all.”

“Don’t rush,” Theron said. “Just be careful. You’re not leaving the property?”

“Heavens, no. The city is pretty much a mystery to me. I’d be lost in five minutes on my own.”

“Good, then.” Stevie, who was still there, gave me a push. “I think I’ll pass on the library too.” She linked our arms and marched toward the elevator. “See you boys later.”

As the doors slid closed, I stepped away from my friend. “You aren’t going to come with me? Because I really—”

“Need to think, I know. But I didn’t want to be seen hanging around with your mates by myself. There are enough wagging tongues in this school on any day without giving them more to jabber about.”

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