Page 105 of Wolf Mate

My eyes widened. So far, I’d seen Slade use magic only to spell a barrier to keep people out or others from overhearing us. “That’s amazing. Can all witches do that?”

She closed her palms, and the rain stopped. “Only the strongest of the covens have an elemental magic they can control as well as the routine spells every coven member can perform. Slade and I both control water. Gavyn controls air.”

At that prompt, Gavyn rotated his arms, and a small tornado whirled up in front of him. The needles on the ground rose and swirled into it. After a moment, he stilled his hands, and the tornado vanished.

“Cade controls earth.”

Lowering his hands to the ground, Cade conjured a mound of mud from the mulchy floor. He let it grow to about five feet high before lowering his hands, and the mud flowed back into the earth until the ground was back to normal.

“And Hecate, she’s fire.”

Flipping her hands over as the priestess had, Hecate concentrated, and flames erupted from her palms and danced over her fingers. The heat soared to me, and some feeling returned to my face. She then closed her palms, extinguishing the flames. When she opened her hands again, her skin was unburned.

“I had no idea.” I took a shaky breath and realized my blood was now at a jolt and the branches near me weren’t swaying anymore.

“Well, you’re human and uninformed.” Priestess Olwyn smiled sadly. “But you’re one of us now, so you can ask us anything.”

With that, some of my loneliness left me. At least this group wasn’t disowning me. “Do you mind if I sit down and watch you?”

“Not at all.” Slade moved to a spot beside Hecate. “Maybe watching us will help you control your own power.”

I sat on the ground and got comfortable, ready to hang out here and forget the heartache of the night.

Despite the calmingway last night had ended, as I headed to stats the next morning, I was beside myself. I dreaded seeing Raffe, and my blood was almost at a hum. I’d spent hours with the witches, watching them, but as soon as I’d returned to my room, all things Raffe had crashed over me again.

I’d put in my earbuds and played classical music, and I slept on the living room couch since I had fewer memories of Raffe and me there.

Lucy didn’t come out of her room to talk, but she’d texted to say good night when she heard me come in.

Now, I squared my shoulders and marched toward the classroom, Slade by my side. I refused to let what happened between Raffe and me jeopardize my future.

“Listen, everything will be okay,” Slade assured me for like the hundredth time. “We’re arriving early, and we’ll sit as far from him as possible. I’ll be there if he tries to talk to you.”

The witches had asked why I was so upset, but I hadn’t divulged details. All I’d told them was that I’d had a huge falling out with Raffe and Keith. I swore I’d seen a smile flicker acrossPriestess Olwyn’s face before she forced her expression into a frown, but I couldn’t be sure.

Today, we had to turn in our projects and give our presentation, and luckily, Raffe and I had completed ours a few days ago. Otherwise, last night would’ve been more awkward.

As expected, the room was empty when we entered, and Slade and I took seats in the far back corner to the left. I sat against the wall with Slade right next to me. I’d learned there were two other witches in the class with us, and Slade had messaged them to take the spots in front of us, blocking Raffe from sitting near me.

Not that he would.

I hadn’t been able to eat, but I was able to drink a latte. Time passed slowly as I doodled in my notebook.

Raffe and Keith entered as class was about to begin. I felt the moment Raffe arrived, and when I glanced up, I expected to lock eyes on him.

But he didn’t look my way—didn’t even pause when he walked by the seat I usually sat in.

He was laughing with Keith and talking to some of the football players, acting like the confident and standoffish guy he always had been.

It was like he and I had never happened.

Maybe to him, we never had.

My heart crushed itself into smaller pieces, turning to dust with no way of ever fully healing. My blood fizzed, and I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from crying.

Ihadto keep it together … for myself. Raffe had already taken so much from me—I’d be damned if I let him take my dignity.

I pressed my palms to the desk, trying like hell not to focus on him.

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