Page 58 of Savage Desire

I make my way downstairs as I wait for her response, but there’s nothing. I consider asking another witch in the communal area, but it’s just my luck that there’s no one there when I reach the first floor.

Rubbing my lips together, uncertainty claws at me as I consider what to do, opting for another text message.

Polaris: I’ll sit in our usual spot so you know where I am.

Polaris: I hope you are okay.

Tucking my cell phone away, I make my way to the main academy building, gnawing on my bottom lip with every step. I’m fine on my own, that’s not the issue, it’s more the fact that I’m not really equipped to be someone’s friend, not in the way she might need, and I don’t want to do something wrong, inadvertently, because I’m being obtuse.

I’m still locked on my concerns as I step into the dining hall, my gaze immediately darting up and down the length ofthe witches’ table, but I don’t find her. As I make my way to our usual seats, I notice the other student members of The Renegades aren’t present either.

Maybe it’s something to do with her coven and their center.

The possibility calms my uncertainty and I take my seat, eyes instantly darting across the room to the wolves’ table. Minnie is talking animatedly to Lincoln, who throws his head back with a laugh at whatever she’s saying, while Asher has his chin dipped and his gaze locked on his cell phone once again. Tatum is sitting beside him, eyes aimed my way, with a small curl to his lips as he mouths a single word.

“Hi.”

I feel the heat rise to my cheeks as I reply with a smile and a slight wave of my own. I’m about to question where Wylder is when a shadow casts over me from behind.

“Little Witch,” he murmurs, one hand curling around the back of my seat while the other nestles on the table beside me.

I look up at him, the woodsy scent that follows him everywhere wrapping around me as I smile.

“Big bad wolf,” I reply, earning a questioning look. “What? If I’m a little witch, then you’re the big bad wolf,” I explain, and he snickers, shrugging instead of denying the claim.

“Well, the big bad wolf doesn’t want you sitting all alone. Come be with us.”

I press my lips together, eyes darting across the room once again, but the sight of Bianca only reminds me of the reasons why I shouldn’t do that. I’m shaking my head before I turn to him, and I can see the protest on his lips, but I press a finger to his mouth, halting the words as I speak.

“Thank you for the offer, I really appreciate it, but I can’t, and it’s not just because of the tension that comes with it.” His eyes widen, ready to interject, but I press the tip of my finger harder as I push on. “It’s also because I haven’t seen Bryonysince everything happened with Lucille and I promised I would be here, in this exact spot, when or if she showed up.”

His eyebrows furrow for a beat before he presses his lips against my fingertip and pulls the closest chair out to take a seat.

“Then I will join you, Little Witch,” he decides, and I gape at him as he drops my hand from his face and effortlessly reaches for a plate and starts dishing food out.

“That’s not a good idea,” I insist, my pulse ringing in my ears as the other witches around us watch openly. At least they’re not snarling and giving me shit like Bianca does, but that still doesn’t make this a good idea.

“What’s not?” Wylder asks, not even bothering to look at me as he grabs a bottle of water now that his plate is piled high with food.

“This… whateverthisis,” I grumble, glaring at him as he finally looks my way with an amused look on his face.

“It’s only a big deal if you make it one, Little Witch,” he states, eyes casting down to my empty plate. “Here, take mine,” he adds, switching the plates before us.

This is what it feels like to be utterly swept up in the chaos of a wolf. A feeling I seem to be growing all too familiar with. Staring down at the pile of scrambled eggs, layers of crispy bacon, and stack of pancakes, I don’t even know where to begin.

“Thanks,” I mumble in protest, feeling my cheeks heat further with the sensation of eyes raking over me, but when my gaze snaps across the room, the wolves I was expecting are deep in conversation.

“They’re not going to save you from me, Polaris. If anything, they’re going to encourage me to sit here with you every day so they don’t have to deal with my shit,” Wylder says with a snicker, and I roll my eyes at him.

“That’s not what I was thinking,” I mumble, grabbing my fork and scooping up some eggs.

“Then tell me what youwerethinking,” he pushes as I take a bite of food, thankful for the brief moment of solitude before I have to answer.

“I wasn’t thinking anything,” I finally answer, grabbing at a piece of bacon this time, and he grins at me. The second he inches closer, I already know he’s going to leave me blushing.

“I’ll tell you what I’ve been thinking about,” he murmurs, his volume dropping to little more than a whisper, and I shake my head.

“I don’t want to know,” I insist, fork poised over my food as I refuse to take a bite, knowing full well he’s going to tell me anyway, and I’d rather not choke.

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