Page 15 of Make Me

Once they were halfway to the dorm, Holly broke the night’s quiet silence. “You and Zack seemed cozy tonight. But I always thought there was something going on between you and Cody.”

Bethany let out a broken laugh but didn’t say anything. Holly didn’t push as she tried to find the words to say.

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t ever have either of them, so I would rather not talk about it.”

Holly squeezed her arm silently and laid her head on Bethany’s shoulder, offering a silent comfort Bethany wasn’t sure she deserved.

CHAPTER EIGHT

CODY

Age 19.

End of first year at the Academy.

Cody’s jaw clenched.

Standing about fifty yards away, his mate stood flirting with another wolf, and he couldn’t do a damn thing about it. Bethany’s golden hair shone in the sun as she stood next to one of the class buildings talking to Christopher, who was another Alpha Heir although from a much smaller pack than the Clawmoon’s. Her throaty laugh carried along the breeze to Cody’s ears, and he fought with his wolf to not go storming over there and snatch her away from Christopher. The pull between them was excruciating to fight, even if he was the only one feeling it. It had gotten worse over the last year, and Cody was close to breaking, Alpha Command be damned.

“Cody.”

He turned towards another voice that had his wolf tied in knots. Zack came to a stop next to him. Over the last year, Zack had become a good friend and someone Cody relied on a lot. The handsome wizard was quiet, which most would confuse for shy, but he was powerful. More powerful than he let on, but he had a feeling it was because of the Coven Zack belonged to. The Ashcraft coven was a shit show on a good day, always power hungry and backstabbing, so it made sense that Zack laid low. Especially when the Coven Leader’s son, Brent, was attending the Academy as well.

Zack’s eyes drifted past him, and he frowned. He must have caught sight of Bethany and Christopher as well.

“I take it you’re not a fan either,” Cody said, turning back to watch Bethany.

He knew Bethany had had a crush on Zack when they first started at the Academy. Still did, though she did her best to hide it. Something had happened six months ago when they were studying in the library. He and Holly had left to go get snacks, and when they had come back, the scent of desire was strong in the air, but Bethany and Zack were studiously ignoring each other.

He had expected his wolf to flip out like he did when any male talked to or was near Bethany, but his wolf had settled at the sight of the two of them. In fact, his wolf really liked Zack, and Cody didn’t blame him. With his silver eyes, thick-rimmed glasses, and lean muscles, the wizard was definitely attractive.

His attention was drawn back to Bethany when she placed a hand on Christopher’s arm. His wolf let out a low, threatening growl. Zack glanced at him worriedly and placed a hand on his arm, tugging him away from the scene and behind one of the dormitory buildings. He let Cody go once they were alone, and Cody paced back and forth, fighting with his wolf to not go back out there and rip Christopher’s throat out.

“What does she see in him anyway?” he gritted out, pacing. He ran his hand through his hair aggressively, snarling when his fingers caught on his curls. He yanked, and the pain helped ground his wolf.

“She’s your mate, isn’t she?”

Zack’s quiet question had Cody drawing up short. He started out into the woods behind the dormitory building, bracing himself for the pain of defying the Alpha Order as he nodded. A faint tug at his gut was all he felt, though, and he turned to Zack, eyes wide.

“Yes,” he said quietly. A low headache started, but it was manageable. His father’s Alpha Order must be fading. It naturally faded some with distance and time, but not usually this quickly. His father wouldn’t be pleased when he learned that.

“Does she know?” Zack asked.

Cody shook his head. “My father forbade me from telling anyone. My pack…”

Zack nodded. “I understand.” He looked down at the ground, his cheeks red, and Cody had a feeling he knew what he was about to confess. “I kissed her. Or she kissed me. Six months ago. It was…”

“Hey.” Cody stepped closer to Zack, and the wizard tensed, expecting the worst from an angry wolf. “It’s okay. I knew about it.”

Zack looked confused for a moment before his face relaxed. “Smell?”

Cody nodded.

“And you’re not mad? Shifters are usually really territorial.”

It was Cody’s turn to look down at the dirt, cheeks red. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and turned to lean his back against the side of the building. “No, I’m not mad.”

Zack was right. Shifters were usually very territorial. But Cody’s wolf liked Zack. He knew Zack liked guys. He had caught Zack kissing another guy a few weeks before the kiss with Bethany in the library. He had thought Zack only liked guys until he and Bethany had kissed. Now his wolf just wanted them both.

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