Page 29 of Chev's Mate

I see red. “She is not your mate. She is mine, and as much as I appreciate your meddling, this is my decision to make.”

Silas sighs. “You’re not being rational. We’re trying to help you.” He steps back, and Gray welcomes himself into my personal space. “Vanessa’s your mate. Nobody doubts that, but she’s frightened and wants to be left alone.”

They’re not going to make this easy.

“Do you have mate bonds?” I ask. The answer is no. Demons aren’t blessed breeds, and they don’t have true mates. I turn toward Silas. “Are you so all-knowing that you understand the intricacies of a mate bond?” The answer is also no.

Gray takes my arm, and I brush him off.

“I am leaving.”

I push Gray and Silas aside and reach for the door. Gray makes a quiet noise in the back of his throat and reaches for me again, but Silas stops him.

“Let him,” he says. “But wewillbe watching, and wewillintervene if you upset her.”

I’d expect nothing less.

I step outside and pull off my clothing. I’m quickest in my bear form, and I shift before taking off into the woods. My muscles burn with how fast I push myself, my paws slamming into the ground with each step. I already know the guards won’t let me enter through the front gate as I usually do, so I head toward the hole I made in the fence earlier today.

It hasn’t been fixed yet, and I squeeze through before darting toward Vanessa’s house.

I shift back and yank on my clothes once it’s within my sight, and my heart is beating out of my chest as I approach Vanessa’s front door. I’m terrified of what she’s going to say and do to me, but I have to do this. My female deserves an explanation and apology, and it needs to come from me directly.

I made a mistake today, and I won’t make it again.

The porch creaks underneath my feet, and I stare at her front door for a long minute before knocking. There’s a quiet patteringfollowed by some rustling, and I scramble back several steps so there’s ample space between her and me.

Vanessa pulls open the door.

I shrink, making myself small so she doesn’t see me as a threat.

She still grows rigid, and I can practically taste her fear. Still, despite it, she doesn’t shut the door. Instead, she runs her eyes down my body, traveling from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet.

I remain silent, giving her time to adjust before I begin my apologies.

Vanessa’s lips purse as her gaze momentarily lingers near my thighs. I know she finds them attractive, and I wish I were wearing my leathers. The Wrath clothing is modest, and the entirety of my legs are covered.

It’s horrible.

I clear my throat as Vanessa licks her lips, softly reminding her of my presence. Her eyes are wide and full of need when she meets my gaze, and I’m faintly aware I’m shaking as she takes another step toward me.

My mate.

Chapter Twelve

VANESSA

THIS IS BAD.

My heart pounds, the pesky muscle refusing to slow. I’ve been on edge all day, unable to concentrate after I heard that loud commotion from the northwest wall of the facility. I knew immediately it was Chev.

It had to have been Chev.

It’s doubtful there are many bear shifters lurking around Wrath, and it’s even more doubtful that any of them would be able to make a noise that makes my skin vibrate the way it did this morning. I practically fell to my knees when I heard him, my body burning with emotions I refuse to think too much about.

Not. Good.

I scroll through my phone, desperately searching for anything with my name. Reading about Chev is bad enough, and knowing that soon my name will be included has me breaking out in a cold sweat.

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