Page 106 of Wolf Mate

Just as I felt like I might lose control, Professor Haynes entered, and I used every ounce of self-control to focus on the lecture.

The next twoweeks were excruciating, each day worse than the last. Lucy didn’t come back to our apartment—she was staying on Josie’s couch to give me space, per her text, and Raffe never looked my way once in any of our classes. All the damn time, my blood was at a fizz, and each day, I got closer to losing control. Slade and Hecate took turns bringing me into the woods and casting spells to keep people away so I could let the surge happen, and each night, I fell deeply asleep on the couch from the fatigue.

Pathetically, most of the time they went with me, I imagined I felt a tingle on the back of my neck like Raffe was watching me. I’d search the tree line for him, but he was never there. I was fooling myself. He’d already forgotten I existed.

With it being October, I started to keep my jacket on all the time, anticipating the need to rush into the woods. I always had a witch near me, watching me until they knew I was exhausted and ready to pass out.

I couldn’t be alone.

My Saturdays at the animal shelter left me feeling more even-keeled for the rest of the day. Today, at the end of my shift, I went to the cat section to visit a skittish Scottish fold. The cat, true to the breed, didn’t like most people, and I was the volunteer she was most comfortable with.

Despite the cat being a girl, the shelter owner had named her Keith. For me, she was the most loving animal at the shelter, and the irony of her name was not lost on me.

As I opened the cage to tell Keith goodbye, the shelter owner, Natalie, came up behind me. “You should take her home with you.”

I laughed, rubbing Keith behind the ears. “I wish I could.”

“If you don’t, we’ll have to find another place for her. She’s been here too long.”

I froze. She wouldn’t do well with most people, nor did she care for other animals. Moving her was the worst thing that could happen to her. At least, here, she had her own cage and privacy. “When?”

“Next week.”

My heart fractured. I wouldn’t be here again until next Saturday, which meant this was the last time I’d see her … unless I took her home. I turned to find Natalie’s normally warm-brown eyes dark and the crow’s-feet around her eyes deeper.

She’d been holding on to Keith longer than she was supposed to.

I thought about it. Keith wasn’t high energy and would be relatively easy to hide in my room. Even better, she would help calm me. The animals had the same effect on me that I did on them. When I looked back at Keith, I knew there wasn’t actually a decision to make. “I’ll take her.”

“Youwill?” Natalie’s voice rose, and I looked to find her smiling.

“Yes, I will.” I just hoped I could sneak her into the apartment without anyone noticing. With Lucy pretty much not living there right now, once I got Keith inside, everything would be fine. No one would be the wiser. “Do we need to complete the paperwork?”

She pulled out the completed form from behind her back. “Already did. You just need to sign it.”

I laughed genuinely for the first time in days. “In other words, you knew I was a sucker.”

“No, but I know how much you care about her, and I think you two need each other.” She winked.

To stop her gloating, I signed the form and opened the cage. Keith jumped into my arms without hesitation and began to purr. I laughed, nuzzling her back, then asked, “Can I borrow a litter box and take some litter and food with me until I can run out and get some?”

“You sure can.”

Within minutes, I had Keith and the items loaded in my car, and I was headed back to EEU.

As I got closer, my emotions grew more turbulent, and my blood quickly escalated to the point of no return.

Keith crawled into my lap, and I reached down and petted her behind the ears. My blood leveled out into a low fizz.

This had definitely been a smart idea.

I pulled into my spot then reached behind me and grabbed the bag of Keith’s things that Natalie had given me. There was enough room for Keith to hide inside it as long as she didn’t try to get out. With no other options, I coaxed the cat into the bag and darted to the apartment.

Keith meowed, and a few students stared at me, but I made it into the apartment without causing a huge scene.

Quickly, I punched in the numbers, threw open the door, and stepped inside. I shut the door and opened the bag to let Keith out … and all hell broke loose.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

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