Page 49 of Wolf Mate

“Agreed.”

We continued as they began to argue. I wasn’t sure they even realized we were walking away, but I didn’t give a damn.

Five years later, though it was probably mere minutes, we entered the cafeteria. It was a few minutes after eight, and several students were choosing their breakfasts, but it wasn’t too busy. Early classes had started, and most people had classes later in the day.

When the smell of eggs, grease, fried chicken, and all things breakfast hit my nose, I waited for my stomach to revolt. Instead, it gurgled …loudly. I wasstarving.

Lucy flinched. “Do we need to find a bathroom?”

“No, I need food.” I licked my lips, my mouth salivating.

“Can you sit on your own or do you want me to walk you to a table?” She nodded toward one.

“I’ve got it.” If that got food to me faster, I’d take it. “Can you get me hash browns, coffee, and a bacon, egg, and cheese omelet?”

She winked. “You got it.”

The smell of food had somehow given me more energy. I shuffled to the table where Slade and I always sat. As I got settled, Raffe breezed into the room and headed straight toward me.

A lump formed in my throat when I noticed Slade was missing. Had Raffe scared him off? Surely, he wouldn’t do that to me, but I wasn’t so sure.

“Seems like yourbuddydoesn’t care as much as he pretends to.” He arched his brow and paused a few steps away. He sneered. “Are you fucking serious?”

That was when I remembered Slade’s aversion spell. I couldn’t hide my smile, but I tried to school my expression. Itwas hard with my head pounding in sync with my heart. “Just sit over there. You don’t need to be near me anyway. Remember, you don’t associate withtrouble.” I threw his words back at him and placed my head into my hands. I just wanted whatever this was to be over. If Raffe was right, I felt ill because I was still drained from using my magic.

“Dammit, Sky,” he gritted out.

Flutters came to life at that damn nickname. It never rolled off someone’s tongue like it did his, and I hated it. I did. “Skylar,” I corrected him.

“Here we go,” Lucy singsonged.

I glanced up and truly fell head over heels in love with her. She was my hero, bringing me the very sustenance I needed to survive. She strolled toward us, and Raffe said, “Wait.”

Lucy breezed right past the point where Raffe had stopped. She set the tray in front of me, and I swiped up the fork and dug into the omelet. The taste exploded in my mouth, and I shoved in another bite before I finished the first.

I wasfamished.

Lucy lifted a brow. “That’s how I feel after a run.”

“Because you use so much of yourenergy.” Raffe emphasized the word as he sat at the neighboring table. “Obviously, she didn’t eat the dinner you brought her.”

Lucy’s gaze fell just as Slade’s laugh interrupted us. He said, “Looks like my plan worked.”

I took a bite of hash browns and glanced up to find him smiling at Raffe with two lattes from the coffee shop in his hands.

He hadn’t abandoned me.

“Asshole.” Raffe sneered as his eyes homed in on the lattes. “Why is she okay?” He nodded to Lucy.

“Because Sky likes her, andIdidn’t want to get in the way of a friendship, unlike some people here.” Slade arched a brow ashe slid into the spot across from me. He handed me a latte, and I didn’t hesitate to grab it and take a huge sip.

Slade cracked open his lid and blew on the coffee. “How can you drink it that hot? You always kill me.”

“That’s mysuperpower,” I shot back like we always did each morning.

“It seems like you’re okay now.” Lucy glanced at my food and then my face. “You actually look like you have a pulse and aren’t a corpse.”

I took another bite of food and cringed internally. Clearly, I’d looked as bad as I thought. I covered my mouth since it was full. “I feel better, and I know your class is later. If you wanna go back to the apartment, please do. I have class at nine, so I’ll head there after I eat.”

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