Page 6 of Hexmate

Rowan’s eyes flicked down my bare chest, then back up to meet my gaze. The spark of challenge was still there, but now it was mixed with something else. Desire.

“I told you,” he said, taking a step closer. “Studying. There’s so much about werewolves that isn’t in the books. Like how you smell after a fight.” He inhaled deeply, his pupils dilating. “It’s... intoxicating.”

My hand shot out, gripping his arm. I meant to push him away, to assert my dominance, but instead I found myself pulling him closer. Our chests were almost touching now, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, witch,” I growled, my face inches from his. “Don’t you know what happens to your kind when they mess with wolves?”

Rowan’s lips curled into a smile. “Why don’t you show me, pup?”

I was torn between the urge to tear him to pieces and to claim him as my own. My head was swimming, his scent driving me to the edge of insanity. I couldn’t think straight and everything was hazy. Leaning close, I tried to decide what I was going to do with him.

“Stop!” a voice cried, shaking me from my stupor momentarily.

I glanced over to see another person I’d never seen before standing at the opposite side of the locker room. He was blond, lithe, and had piercing blue eyes that almost seemed to catch me off guard. He ran up, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from Rowan.

“He’s bewitching you,” he said, looking up at me. “Can’t you smell it?”

“Why don’t you mind your own fucking business, Cromwell,” Rowan growled, scowling at this new stranger. “We’re busy.”

“Yeah,” I grunted. “Who the fuck are you?”

But the new stranger didn’t stop. Instead, there was a small burst of green magic in his eyes as he scanned Rowan. He zeroed in on the chest of Rowan’s jacket. His hand shot out, pulling something green and purple from inside the fabric.

“Wolfsbane?!” the stranger cried. “Are you stupid, Rowan? This could kill him!”

“Seems like he was enjoying it to me,” Rowan smiled slyly. “Looked like he was going to give me whatever I wanted.”

“You are drugging him! That could get you expelled! I should report you for this!”

“Like I give a fuck. He’s just a stupid dog, anyway.”

Rowan lifted his hand and curled his fingers with a sudden movement. In a flash the strange plant went up in flames in the stranger’s hand. It was reduced to ash in an instant.

“There,” Rowan said with a cruel grin. “Good luck getting anyone to believe you with no evidence.” He looked up at me, giving me a wink. “See you around, pup.”

As Rowan sauntered away, the fog in my mind began to clear. Rage bubbled up inside me, my wolf clawing to be released. How dare that witch try to manipulate me? I took a step to follow, ready to tear him apart, but a gentle hand on my arm stopped me.

“Don’t,” the blond stranger said softly. “He’s not worth it.”

I turned to face him, my anger still simmering. “And who the hell are you?”

He flinched at my tone but didn’t back down. “Caden Cromwell. I’m... the new janitor.”

I inhaled deeply, trying to catch his scent. There was something different about him too, but not like Rowan. It was subtle, earthy - like fresh soil after rain.

“You’re a witch too,” I growled, my eyes narrowing.

Caden nodded, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. “A pathetic one. But I’m nothing like Rowan, I swear. I just... I couldn’t stand by and watch him manipulate you like that.”

I studied him for a moment, torn between suspicion and curiosity. His blue eyes were earnest, lacking the cunning glint I’d seen in Rowan’s. There was something oddly... vulnerable about him.

“Why would you help me?” I asked, my voice gruff. “Witches and wolves don’t exactly get along.”

Caden’s blush deepened. “I... I don’t really fit in with other witches. And it was just wrong, what he was doing. No one should be manipulated like that, werewolf or not.”

I felt my anger begin to ebb, replaced by an unfamiliar warmth. This Caden was nothing like any witch I’d encountered before. My wolf, still agitated from Rowan’s trickery, seemed to settle in Caden’s presence.

“Well... thanks, I guess,” I muttered, suddenly aware of my state of undress. I grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my waist. “You said you’re the new janitor?”

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