Page 59 of Wolf Mate

“Don’t listen to him, Sky.” Slade bumped his shoulder into mine but turned to Gavyn, giving him the stink eye. “He likes to stir up shit.”

Hecate smirked but remained quiet.

If it weren’t for all the people around us, I would’ve pushed the issue. The four of them knew something I didn’t.

Silence descended among us, and soon, we stepped into a large clearing that had four log fires burning and four large kegs in the back, with red Solo cups stacked on a portable table nearby. Most seats around the fire were taken, and people were already swaying from having started drinking early.

Needing to get away from Slade’s friend, I smiled. “I’m going to get a drink. Does anyone need one?”

“Sure, I’ll go with you.” Hecate came over and grabbed my arm. “You guys go find us a spot before they’re all taken. We’ll be right back.”

Slade frowned, but before he could intervene, Hecate dragged me toward a keg.

Had I known this was how it would wind up, I wouldn’t have offered.

When we were away from the others, she sighed. “You need to be careful with that one.”

I lifted a brow, finding it odd she would say something about one of her own. She sounded like Raffe. “You aren’t listening to your own advice with how you’re pining for him.”

She pressed her lips together. “That’s fair, but it’s also why I’m warning you. He’ll doanythingto make sure his mommy stays happy with him.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Slade hadn’t talked about his family, other than to reveal he was an only child and his parents were still married.

“More than you know.”

I wanted to ask more, but a guy stumbled in front of the kegs and bowed. “Hello, gorgeous ladies. Are you lost? Because I—” He lifted a finger. “No, wait. Let me try again. Are you lost? Because my eyes—” He shook his head and huffed. “No.I’m lost. Because of—”

“Yes, you’re lost.” Hecate laughed, snagging four cups and handing me two. “And it goes, ‘Can you tell me where I am because I got lost in your eyes?’”

“Fuck.” He groaned, running a hand down his face. “That. Dammit.”

Hecate smacked his ass. “Practice. I’m sure the next girl you think is hot will be here in a few minutes.”

“Yeah, okay.” He nodded and headed over to the edge of the clearing.

I filled up my two cups and glanced around. No one was nearby. “When you say his—”

“Hey.” Slade sidled up. “What’s taking you two so long?” He took a drink from my hand and smiled. “We’ve got a spot over there. Let’s go.”

As Slade guided me away from Hecate, I glanced over my shoulder, and she shrugged.

Something strange was going on. Slade wanted me to hang out with his friends, but he was hovering over me.

Not wanting to think anymore tonight, I guzzled the beer.

“Hey, you didn’t tell me she knows how to party.” Gavyn grinned as Hecate handed him one of her cups.

Slade laughed. “I didn’t know either.”

When everyone had a drink, I lifted mine in the air. “Empty.” I needed another cup. I turned back to the keg with Slade by my side.

This was going to be a long night, but beer would get me by.

After two more cupfuls, the world began to tilt. But I was relaxed, and my blood wasn’t raging. Maybe drinking was the answer.

The five of us sat on a log by one of the fires with people on the other two makeshift benches. Slade had me on one end of the group again, and he sat next to me, but when the tingles started on the back of my neck, I knew what that meant.

Raffe was here.

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