Page 22 of Chev's Mate

I wander behind her house, deep enough in the woods that she won’t be able to see me if she looks out her windows. Her curtains are drawn, and I lean against a tree and fiddle with my phone, mindlessly scrolling through the newest articles written about me. I hoped they would grow better with time, but they’re worsening. Mammon is working hard to discredit me, and it’s working.

It’s only a matter of time before I’m asked to step down. I’m good at my job, and I’ve efficiently implemented many of the changes I promised to achieve. The females are rehabilitating at incredible rates, and we’re seeing even more success than initially planned. It’s not enough, though.

I disrespected a female, my own mate, and I’m being punished for it. People have lost trust in me, which I honestly can’t blame them for. Echo will take my place, but she is a good leader. The women will be in capable hands.

I kick at a random rock and glance at Vanessa’s back windows. She’s nowhere to be seen, my mate hidden inside her home. I’m disappointed, but it’s okay. I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Vanessa’s always more lively in the mornings.

I scroll through another few articles, but I lose all interest the second Vanessa’s bedroom light flickers on.Yes. My mate strolls inside the room, her pace slow and sleepy. She worked a long day today, and I’m sure she’s exhausted.

Before I can follow what’s happening, she throws her phone on the bed and rips off her shirt. I gulp, my eyes landing on the smooth skin of her belly and chest. She’s wearing a modest bra, but it’s enough to crush me.

I lick my lips, knowing full well I should leave. I can’t get my muscles to follow the command, though. I scan the area to ensure nobody else is around to see her, and I quickly strip and shift into my bear form. I hear better in this form, and I listen for guards as Vanessa walks around her bedroom.

I’ll kill anybody who gets too close.

My butt snaps several twigs as I plop down, and I fight my bear’s instinct to howl as Vanessa moves closer to her window. He wants to inform her of our presence, but I refuse. She’d be upset to learn I’m here, and I selfishly don’t want her to stop undressing.

I slap my tail against the ground as she begins removing her pants.

She undoes her buttons, but I huff and look away the second her light-blue underwear comes into view. I want to see her so badly, but not like this. I won’t do this. I won’t be this man.

I fight every instinct to look as I shift back into my skin and redress. My clothing is tight and uncomfortable, and I curse Aziel for supplying me with such constricting items. I miss the freedom of my leathers.

Aziel’s shirt is folded and tucked carefully aside, and I hesitate before putting it on. It still smells of Vanessa, and I quite like it. I planned to sleep with it tonight, but I’ve never been known for my self-control.

It’s not a shifter’s best quality.

I force myself to stare at a tree for several minutes, giving Vanessa enough time to redress. I bet she’d change quickly in leathers. She’d be easier to undress, too, but I know not to expect that. My mate may never want me to remove her clothing.

When I turn back to her window, I’m relieved to see she’s redressed. She wears a black nightgown, the cotton fabric clinging to her every curve. She might as well be naked.

Despite my hatred for Wrath clothing, I quite like this.

It leaves much to the imagination, while also leaving nothing. I can see every slope and curve of her body, and I do my best not to stare at her full breasts or wide hips as she picks up her phone and paces the room.

Her face is red, which is intriguing. What’s she looking at that’s got her so emotional? Occasionally, she turns in a way that her phone faces the window, and I inch closer to see. It’s still not enough—I can’t quite make out her screen—and I climb onto the lower branches of a tree to get a better view.

This is inappropriate. I know I’m going too far, but I have to see what she’s doing. The new angle is better, and I slam a hand over my mouth when I finally glimpse her screen.

Me. She’s looking at photos ofme.

My bear forces loud vibrations from my chest, and I have to swallow down air to get them to stop. I can’t be too loud. Vanessa may be a nymph, but her hearing is good enough to detect my damn bear making his annoying fucking mating noises.

I grab the branches of the tree I’m sitting in, squeezing so hard, I think my fingers are bleeding. Even that isn’t enough to stop the noises from pouring out of my throat. It’s practically apurr, and my heart drops into my stomach when Vanessa turns toward the window.

My bear finally stops, but I fear it’s too late. I know Vanessa can’t see me, but I still shrink behind the foliage to be safe. Did she hear me?

She places a hand over her chest, her fingers curling and digging into the soft flesh of her throat. She may not be a shifter, but her body will respond to my bear’s call. My fears are confirmed as she trails her hand down her torso, her skin turning red.

My noises made her aroused. This is not what I want.

I have half a mind to run to her door and admit to what I’ve done, but that will only make things worse. She’ll know I was watching her, and she’ll never want to see me again.

Vanessa stares out her window for a few seconds, her eyes darting around before she returns her attention to her phone. She sits on the windowsill and leans against the glass, giving me a perfect view of her screen.

Her screen, which is covered in images of me.

She scrolls through them, and I let out a whispered curse when she clicks on one of the more salacious ones. It’s of my thigh, the one that holds my animal and mate mark. She’s looking to see them, but she won’t find anything on the internet.

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