Page 28 of Alpha's Hated Mate

“In the woods? Which professor is letting you work out there in the middle of the night?”

“None of them. Look, I’m struggling a little in biochemistry, okay? I figured if I did a little project on my own and presented it in class at the end of the semester, it would bring my grade up. I don’t want anybody else to know about it, though. It’s so competitive in that class and the woods are off-limits. If anyone finds out, they’re bound to snitch on me to make sure I don’t get credit.”

“So . . . you’re just doing a science project in the woods?” A wave of relief washes over me. Iknewit had to be about some nerdy project of hers. Nadia is competitive and dead serious about her grades. It’s what her life revolves around. “Look, just be more careful, okay? If I spotted you, somebody else could have, too. And I don’t want to see you get kicked out of Moonhelm for doing extra credit.”

She laughs, and that makes me laugh with her. “If I was going to get kicked out, that would be how it would happen.”

We sit and talk for a little longer as the sky turns from orange and blue and darkens to night, and for a little while, we’re not thinking about all the other bullshit in our lives.

On my way back to my room, a sense of vindication hits me. I should know better than to be suspicious of my sister. Still, I’m glad Saffron told me so I know what Nadia is up to and make sure she’s more careful in the future.

I turn the corner down the hallway to my room and see Yarra standing at my door. She turns to me, her eyes large and panicked.

“Oh, thank God,” she said. She rushes up and takes me by my hand. “Come on.”

“Whoa.” I pull away from her. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Saffron,” she says. “Something’s really wrong with her.”

“What?” A cold panic seizes me. “What happened? Is it another vision?”

“I don’t know what this is. Come on, she’s at my place. Chad’s with her now.”

We run out of the hallway, bound for Chad and Yarra’s private quarters.

Chapter Thirteen—Saffron

The howling. Goddess, save me, I’ve never heard anything like it.

It’s like the cry of a million souls. Wolves that have passed through the veil hundreds of thousands of years past and are crying out in pain from beyond. It shakes the trees around me and vibrates the ground under my feet. I hunch over to keep the sound from shaking my bones.

There’s a light up the trail. Just a flash of gold for a moment. Then I see her running . . . her white dress flowing in the wind as she runs toward me. Her dark hair flows behind her, away from her pale face. She’s terrified . . . and she’s holding something.

The closer she gets, the better I see her and the bundle in her bruised arms. She holds it close to her chest. She’s barefoot and desperate to escape the howling behind her.

Run,I want to yell at her. She doesn’t see me. She rushes past me and into the woods beyond, leaping over fallen logs and branches. I can hear her heartbeat and feel her fear. She needs to get to safety . . .

The howling comes again, and I know I’m about to die. The sound crashes into me and shakes my insides hard enough to send me to my knees. I manage to hold on to the bundle. It’s a baby.A baby crying . . .I struggle, but I stagger to my feet with the baby in my arms and run.

The trail is hard, covered in pine needles, sharp stones, and branches jabbing and cutting into my bare feet. I stumble and trip, but I manage to make it to a clearing . . . but I’m exposed. I panic as I look around, not knowing what to do next.

A caw cries out above me, and I see a large black raven. It looks at me and caws again before flying further into the woods. I barely catch my breath but run to follow it . . .I have to protect the baby.

I’m gasping for air, reaching out as I sit straight up and claw at the ceiling. Arms grab my shoulders, holding me down.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay. You’re safe.”

My vision clears, and I realize I’m looking up at Chad. His long dark hair has fallen into his face as he struggles to hold me still.

“It’s all right,” he says softly. “It’s just me.”

As I calm down, I look around and realize . . . I’m not in my room anymore. That’s where I went to sleep. That’s the last thing I remember.Why am I in Chad and Yarra’s room?

“What . . . what am I doing here?”

The door opens and Yarra comes in. Aydan’s right behind her. They see me, and Yarra immediately rushes to my side. “You’re awake.” She wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me. “Oh, thank God you’re okay. I was so worried.”

I’m so confused. I must have sleepwalked again. She releases me, searching my face to be sure I’m really all right. “I’m okay,” I tell her. “I guess I’ve just been sleepwalking again.”

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