Page 102 of Wolf Mate

Raffe bellowed, “Get thefuckout now, or I’ll make you.” I was surprised he didn’t attack Keith, but when he backed up closer to me, ensuring that Keith couldn’t see me, I realized why.

He was protecting me from one of his own.

My heart fluttered while my entire body felt weighed down. Keith wouldn’t let this go.

“I’m stepping outside so you two can get your shit together,” Keith snapped. “Then you better join me in the living room. Lucy, Adam, and Josie are on their way here. It’s time for a fucking intervention.”

“Get out before I lose control and kill your ass,” Raffe seethed, his body shaking with each deep breath.

My blood was almost at a hum.

When the door shut, Raffe turned to me, his face strained. His emotions were anger, regret, dread, and fear.

For the millionth time, I wished I couldn’t read emotions. The last three sensations nearly ripped my heart into pieces all over again because he felt that way about being withme.

“I’m so sorry.” He hung his head. “Stay here, and I’ll talk to them.”

The words knocked the breath out of me. “Are you serious? You want me to hide in my room while you face the firing squad about us?”

He cleared his throat. “It’s better this way. You won’t be visible, adding—” He stopped like sense had been knocked into him.

“Adding what?” I laughed, but the noise made my raw throat feel as if it were bleeding. “What will my presence make worse, Raffe? Please tell me.” I’d thought that when we came out to his friends, he’d want to face them together, but instead, he wanted me to hide in my room as if my absence wouldn’t remind them that I was a human freak with power.

“Fuck, Sky.” He leaned his head back. “I can only deal with one irrational person at a time, and I need to focus on Keith and the others. If they call my dad …” He trailed off and popped his neck. “Can you just listen this once, for fuck’s sake?”

Here was the asshole I used to know. I’d seen glimpses of him since we’d started dating, but nothing like the jerk standing before me. I stepped forward, my blood humming. “You want to see irrational?” The wall where my favorite painting hung started to shake. I was losing control, but I didn’t care.

His gaze darted to the wall as my picture crashed to the floor, the glass front shattering. He flinched and placed his hands on my shoulders.

Immediately, my blood calmed, despite the anger growing within me. I forced myself to step back, the backs of my knees hitting the bed. I almost fell onto it but somehow stayed upright.

“Sky—” He groaned. “Look, I’m—”

“No.” I karate-chopped the air, my blood back to a high fizz. “If you say sorry one more time, I’m going to scream. Doing the same thing over and over again negates any apology. You don’trespect me, and you know what’s worse? I’ve been allowing it.” The reality of what I just said crashed over me, waking me up from whatever stupor I’d been in.

“Babe, look, I’m being an ass. I get it, and you’re right.” He lifted his hands in surrender.

The front door opened and slammed shut. Then Keith shouted, “She’s messing with his mindagain. That’s it. I’m done waiting.”

Raffe clenched his hands, and I could read his emotions. He was flustered, and for some reason, he hadn’t felt that way until I’d defended myself. Yet another negative reaction concerning me.

“Man …” Adam sighed. “Wait.”

Loud steps came toward my room, and Raffe spun around as the door opened.

“I swear togods, Raffe.” Keith stood there, his face turning red. “If you don’t knock this shit off right this second, I’m linking with King Jovian. Something needs to be done about her because you’ve lost your damn mind where she’s concerned.”

Adam, Josie, and Lucy stood in the small hallway behind Keith. Lucy cringed while Josie’s mouth hung open. Adam rubbed his temples as if he had a headache.

“Wait. Is this why you said you wanted to stop pretending to date?” Josie’s brows furrowed. “You want to be with a human?”

“No.” Raffe lifted his hands to his side.

I gasped, and my blood hummed in tune with the repeated stabbing of my heart. I’d thought I understood pain, but nothing compared to this.

“I don’twantto be with a human.” Raffe glanced over his shoulder at me. “But I want to be with Skylar.”

Keith laughed. “Same thing. She’s human, even if not completely.Differentisn’t good where the prince is involved.”

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