Page 28 of Chev's Mate

The noise reaches its peak when the time comes for Vanessa to leave work and return home, and it takes everything in me not to accompany her. I so badly wish to walk her home, but it’s not a good idea after my incident.

I continue pacing the length of my room, my mind and heart in separate places. Vanessa wants space—she’s made that abundantly clear—and I should leave Wrath. I was supposed to keep my distance, and I failed today. I got too close, and now she knows I’m here.

I can’t bring myself to leave, though. I’m a weak male, and my mate is my everything. I have no reason to exist if Vanessa isn’t with me. Now I’ve gone and made things worse.

I’m sure she heard me. Even if not, it’s only a matter of time before the women within the facility begin to talk about the giant bear shifter who broke through the fence this morning. Somebody surely noticed.

Mammon’s going to have a field day with this.

It’s been hours, and I’m sure my actions are already scattered across the headlines of every news channel. Have they discovered who my mate is? Everybody knows I’ve found her, but Echo and I have been working hard to keep Vanessa’s identity a secret.

It won’t take an expert for people to realize I came to the Wrath facility to be near my mate.

I run my hands through my hair, rough with the strands as I force my fingers through the many knots. It’s always tangledafter shifting between my bear and skin form, and I attempt to smooth it out before giving up and storming out of the room.

I’ve made up my mind, even if it’s a stupid idea. I need to apologize to Vanessa. She undoubtedly knows I’m in Wrath, and I wish to alleviate the fear I’m sure she’s currently feeling.

Silas and Gray are lounging by the front door, the two squeezed into a chair only meant for one. They both rise the moment they notice my presence. I ignore them, not in the mood for the distraction they bring.

I need to speak with my mate.

I hope I’m not too late and she hasn’t left Wrath, but there’s only one way to find out. I think I’d feel through the bond if she’d left, but I can’t rely on that. I need to see her with my own eyes, and she should hear my apology directly. She deserves that.

Then I will leave.

“Hey, hey, big guy,” Gray says, blocking the front door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I slow, cocking my head to the side before turning toward Silas. I like Gray, so I will give Silas precisely ten seconds to move him out of my way. Silas blinks, and he crosses his arms over his chest as he plants himself beside Gray.

Are they trying to stop me? That’s not going to happen.

Aziel is the only one strong enough to do so, and he’s upstairs with Charlie. He hasn’t yet settled from this morning, and I know Gray and Silas won’t go to him for help. They would be stupid to work up the wrath more than he already is, and we all know it.

“Move,” I order.

I inch to the side, fully planning to walk around the pair.

Gray copies me, and I suck in a slow breath before stepping forward and going toe-to-toe with him. He grins, and I only have a second to react before his lust fills my lungs. He knows I hatewhen he does this, and I scrunch my nose in a sad attempt to stop its effects.

I don’t have time for this.

“It’s not happening,” Silas says, drawing my attention. “You can’t see her.”

I resist the urge to laugh. I’m not a child in need of babysitting. Vanessa is my mate, and these men are in no position to tell me how and when I can communicate with her.

Gray and Silas continue blocking the door. They’re not leaving me with many choices, and I sigh as I mentally accept that I’ll need to fight them. I feel bad for hurting them earlier, but they make it hard to avoid.

Gray’s lust saturates the air around me, the smell just as enticing as it is annoying. I know he’s hoping it’ll calm me, forcing my body into a state of submission that allows him to persuade me to do what he wants. He doesn’t seem to realize its lack of effect on mated shifters.

Our bodies burn for our mates and our mates only. His scent is nothing more than a sweet-smelling annoyance.

The corners of Gray’s lips fall when he realizes his lust doesn’t have the effect he hoped for. I remain still, surprised when he rolls his shoulders back and prepares for a fight. Incubi don’t enjoy violence, but it seems Gray’s willing to make an exception for me.

I’m honored.

Silas remains calm, which isn’t surprising. He’s strong, and he knows it. He’s never tried stopping a shifter from seeing his mate, though. I may have bit his arm this morning, but I will tear it cleanly off next time. I’ve always wondered if demons regenerate limbs.

“Please, Chev,” Gray says. “Leave Vanessa alone.”

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