Page 14 of Burning Embers

Putting his arm around her?

And why the fuck is she smiling up at him?

Ice tumbles through my veins and immobilizes me, momentarily dampening the fire from before. I’m going to kill him. I’m going to rip him apart and cut out his heart and?—

What the cotton candy fuck, Ethan?

I quickly turn away before any of them can see the change taking over me, distorting my features.

“Ethan?” Hale’s voice is both cautious and suspicious.

I detect a hint of a warning as well, one that reminds me what will happen if anyone ever discovers the truth about what we are.

But what can I tell him?

That I believe this human female he’s with is my fated mate? That my wolf is going positively berserk seeing another male drape himself over her, even knowing it’s someone as harmless as Jake? That I want to rip her jeans down and drop to my knees before her and lick her?—

“We phones have. I mean, phones have. We. Have them. Yes.” I grab at the nearest object I can find—which is most definitelynota phone—and toss it back at them. I don’t even need to look to know the headphones have landed with a soft thump at the girl’s feet.

Fuck. Get ahold of yourself, Ethan!

“What’s his problem?” I hear my mate whisper to that soon-to-be-dead football player. Wait. No! No murder. “Is he always like this?”

Jake chuckles. “I promise he’s cool. I swear. He’s probably just stressed from work.”

Well, damn. Now I don’t want to kill Jake too terribly. He just stood up for me when he totally could’ve thrown me underthe bus to win the attention and affection of this gorgeous bombshell.

Maybe instead of murder, I can do a little light maiming…

What the fuck?

I’m beginning to sound like Ashton. And Reid. And even Emery. I’m supposed to be the level-headed one of the pack.

How did this become my day? One second, I’m teaching old lady Beatrice how to turn on and off her computer. Next, I’m face-to-face—or back-to-face, as the case may be—with my mate.

She probably thinks I’m such a freak.

Hale clears his throat, but I don’t immediately turn to face them, pretending instead to peruse the shelves for random phone cases. I’m not quite sure I have myself under control. I haven’t felt this out of sorts since I was a wee pup.

“We need to pick up Izzy a new phone and a laptop for school. Do you have any suggestions?” Hale asks.

Izzy.

What a beautiful name.

Iz-zy.

Izzzzz-y.

Izz-yyyy.

“Um…yes…of course. Right on it. Pew. Pew.” I fire my finger gun off at him over my shoulder and then inwardly curse.

What the fuck is my problem? I may not be the star of the football team, but I’m popular in my own right. I’m the class president, the founder of the robotics club, a member of National Honors Society, and one of the most sought-after bachelors at Saint Views High.

Not that you’d be able to tell from my less-than-spectacular first impression.

I finally deem myself ready to turn around. Now that I know I won’t go on a…ahem…killing spree, it seems prudent that I see my mate a second time. That I memorize the sharp curves of hercheeks and the cleft in her chin. That I daydream about those perfect, cupid-bow lips that commandeer my attention.

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