Page 73 of Wolf Mate

He’d left to go hang out with Keith and Adam, not wanting them to become suspicious, but that was fine. Lucy and I got to watchCriminal Mindstogether.

I’d woken up an hour earlier than usual before class this morning to get coffee and breakfast before the time I usually met up with Slade. I didn’t bother bringing my backpack since I’d be coming back to the apartment before class.

As I walked out of the apartment building and headed toward the student center, Slade stepped out of the woods.

My throat went dry, and I removed my phone from my pocket and sent Raffe a text. He’d made me promise to let him know if Slade showed up when he wasn’t around.

Me: Slade is outside my apartment.

I put my phone back in my pocket. Raffe would be on his way soon, and he could smell my scent, so I took off toward the student center.

“Sky … lar!” Slade called out. “Wait.”

He had some balls approaching me like this after everything. I picked up my pace, giving him my answer. I wouldn’t even acknowledge his presence.

“Dammit, why do you have to make things so difficult?” he muttered.

If he was trying to fix the issues between us, he was handling the situation horribly. As he caught up to me, my blood jolted, and a scream lodged in my throat. What was it with him and not taking no for an answer?

“I found something out!” he called, stopping me in my tracks.

My blood fizzed. “What is it?” I kept my back to him, ready to take off if it was something I wasn’t interested in hearing. I didn’t like that he kept pushing me to talk instead of waiting for me to come to him on my own terms.

“You know what I mean. I learned more about what you are. If you want to know what it is, you’ll have to talk to me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Ifought the urge to beg him for the information. It took every ounce of my self-control.

My blood fizzed at that dangerous level that meant a hum and havoc weren’t far behind. But dammit, Slade knew how important this information was to me. I could only hope he was telling the truth and not playing games. “Why should I believe you?” I couldn’t give in too easily, but my suspicion was all for show. I was certain he knew that. He had me right where he wanted me.

“When have I ever lied to you?” he answered.

The one benefit of my magic stirring to this level was that I could read his emotions, but they weren’t helpful. Determination and annoyance.

Needing to see his expression, I turned around. Slade had come here to dangle a carrot in front of my face, and he wanted to push me into talking to him instead of waiting until I was ready. Disappointment sat heavy in me, making it hard to breathe, but I didn’t want to risk missing out on important information. “And?” I arched a brow, refusing to give him more than that after the shit he’d pulled Saturday night and yesterday morning.

He smirked, and I regretted asking.

He took a step closer. “I think we should—” He cut himself off and glanced toward the apartment buildings at the exact moment the base of my neck tingled.

Raffe was here.

My heart jolted, but my blood didn’t surge. I didn’t take my eyes off Slade. I needed to read every damn expression on his face.

“Did you text them?” Slade’s nose wrinkled, and the skin around his eyes tightened. “Or is Raffe stalking you?”

Them?

Unable to stop myself, I looked in Raffe’s direction to find him, Keith, and Adam stalking over.

Raffe had on EEU evergreen-colored sweatpants and a black T-shirt while Keith wore boxer shorts and a white tank top. Adam was dressed in jeans and a polo shirt, indicating he’d been up, unlike the other two. My gaze immediately went back to Raffe and the noticeable bulge in his sweatpants. The cold weather had no effect on him, or if it did, any future physical interaction we might have together just got way more intimidating.

My body flooded with warmth. What the fuck was wrong with me, having these thoughts at a very inappropriate time?

For a split second, Raffe’s irises warmed to cobalt as our gazes connected.

I wanted to die all over again. He’d told me he could smell my arousal. I could only assume …

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