Page 62 of Wolf Mate

Eyes tightening, Slade lifted his hands.

He was going to perform magic. I had to stop this before something awful happened, especially with innocent bystanders—humans—close by.

“You two,stop.”I pushed myself away from the tree, trying like hell to balance. If I swayed or stumbled, that would only prove how dire the situation had been. “I’m going home, so there’s no need to continuethis.” I waved a hand in front of me too hard and stutter-stepped.

“You heard her.” Slade stood up and smoothed his shirt. “She’s fine. Go back to your friends and leave us alone.”

Raffe curled his lip. “So you can pressure her again? Not happening. I’ll take her home, or she can join my group back at the bonfire.”

“Fine, we’ll go back.” Slade started to turn to me.

Raffe caught his arm. “What did I tell younotto do again?”

I realized the crux of my entire problem. I wasn’t sure if it was my drunken haze or this moment that made everything click into place. Overall, Slade’s friends seemed nice, but I didn’t fit in with them. I didn’t belong with humans or supernaturals. With my body and emotions, I was human, but my blood held power, so I danced between two worlds, belonging to neither.

No wonder my parents had abandoned me, especially if they knew the type of magic I had.

The cold void inside me that seemed all-encompassing at times gaped open. I’d thought that learning about my heritage and finding friends had mended it some, but I’d been so wrong. Or maybe reality was ripping it back open.

No one understood me.

“I don’t want to go back to the party.” My voice shook, so I paused to get my act together. “I want to go back to my apartment.” If I couldn’t enjoy being in the woods without drama, I wanted to be in my bed, wallowing in self-pity. I needed to break down and accept the truth that it had taken me way too long to realize.

Raffe frowned and glared daggers at Slade. He pointed at me and said, “You’ve upset her and made her feel uncomfortable. Is that what your goal was tonight?”

“No!” Slade shook his head. “I wanted her to see that we make sense together. But every time I feel like I’m making progress, you intervene.”

“That wasn’tprogress,idiot.” Raffe’s voice hovered between words and a growl. “You’re going to learn, one way or another.”

I hurried to Raffe, my feet slipping, and caught his arm before he could punch Slade again. The buzz zipped between us, and Raffe relaxed enough to lower his arm. I didn’t dare look at Slade. Focused only on Raffe, I murmured, “Don’t. He’s been drinking, and this isn’t worth it.”

“Sky, get away before he hurts you too,” Slade said urgently.

The bit of headway I’d made with Raffe reversed, and he tugged me behind him, blocking me from Slade’s view. The muscles in his back strained against his polo shirt. “I wouldneverhurt her.”

“Bullshit,” Slade retorted, not valuing his health at all. “You’ve hurt her multiple times, blasting her in front of the class and with all your snide comments. Don’t act like you’re the hero when you’ve been the villain the whole fucking time.”

It was true enough that I wouldn’t argue with him. With Raffe, I wasn’t sure what attitude I’d get when we were around other people. But one thing I knew without a doubt—when it came to my physical health, he’d been my main protector, and I felt safe with him. When he’d almost kissed me and I’d told him no, he’d stopped without hesitation, a huge contrast to how he treated me around others.

He’d explained himself, though his actions weren’t truly justifiable. I was forbidden and, worse, an unknown.

So having Slade, the person who’d been kind and helpful, try to force himself on me had changed something deep within me. I’d been foolish to come out here alone with him.

“Slade, you need to go back to your friends.” I stepped around Raffe, needing him to see my expression as I said it. I didn’t want Slade to blame this on Raffe. “I’m going home, and I don’t want you near me for the rest of the night.”

His mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? He pays attention to you one time, and you’re panting after him like all the other pathetic girls?”

I inhaled sharply. “That’s not what I’m doing.” Any other time, that accusation would have been valid. This time, I didn’t feel safe with Slade. “You’re not yourself tonight.”

Raffe snorted. “You sure have her fooled.”

“Fuck you,” Slade said loudly, and he turned his hand over.

“If you cast any magic this close to humans, there will be consequences.” Raffe crowded Slade and said slowly, “Holding my wolf back when all I want to do is sink my teeth into your throat is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. If I can do that, you better not touch me with your magic, or not only will you have to answer to Dad and me, you’ll have to address it with your mother too.”

His mother.

He’d mentioned her in passing a handful of times. She was the priestess of their coven and busy, but when he spoke about her, respect shone in his eyes. Now, two different people had brought her up and made it clear she wasveryimportant in his life. Something about the context nagged at me. I was missing something important.

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