Page 14 of Wolf Mate

Slade had the decency to wince, but Raffe’s expression slid into a mask of indifference.

“Listen, as fun as this is, I’ve got somewhere to go.” This time, I meant it. I had to get out of here before the ground started shaking again or something equally bad. The best way to relax was to remove myself from the situation. I needed to leave all this bullshit with Raffe and Lucy behind for a few hours.

When I walked past Raffe, he didn’t stop me, but he strolled next to me to my beat-up, black Honda Civic. He looked the car over, and his nose wrinkled.

Elitist jackass.

I had nothing to be ashamed of just because I hadn’t been born into money. I made a show out of unlocking my car with the fob because that was the one perk it had—beyond the electric windows—and opened the car door.

When he sidled up beside me, my breath caught.

“Things here aren’t what they seem,” he murmured softly. “Be careful. You’re a magnet for danger, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Remember to call or text me if you get into trouble, and that includes getting stranded.”

The concern in his voice made me pause, and when I looked at him, I realized I’d gotten myself into more trouble. Instead of the standoffish expression and fuck-off attitude he so often projected, he looked like a different person.

One who truly cared.

My heart stuttered, and words wouldn’t form, so I nodded. My blood warmed, but it wasn’t from the usual strangeness inside me.

“Good.” He sighed, and his expression hardened as he took a step back and laughed coldly. “And if your car acts up, let me know.” His eyes flicked to Slade.

And now he was insulting my car. The sexy jackass was back. That was good. I understood how to deal with jerks. It was when he seemed to care that I became tongue-tied.

When I didn’t respond, he arched a brow. “You will, right?” He sounded uncertain.

“My car runs fine.” I slid into the driver’s seat, slammed my door, and then started the car. I shifted into reverse. I needed to get out of here and fast. Fortunately, Raffe moved out of the way quickly, and I was able to step on the gas and back out.

My window rattled, and my stomach clenched. It was like being at EEU had increased the volatility of my abilities more than ever before.

When I braked and put the car into drive, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing in his direction.

The corners of his mouth tipped upward, and dammit, he somehow looked even sexier. It was enough of a shock that my blood cooled marginally to a high fizz.

A sense of mischief overtook me, and I saluted him with my middle finger as I drove away.

I forgot that Slade was there until I pulled out of the university and headed toward Portland, wanting to lose myself in the city and get my blood back under control before I ran into one of them again.

After a few hoursof driving around and visiting bookstores and an animal shelter, I finally pulled back into the school parking lot.

I’d managed to calm down and find a way around one stupid stipulation the university had set on me for attending—I couldn’t get a job. My entire focus had to be on my studies to ensure I maintained good grades.

But I’d thought of a loophole.

The administration hadn’t said anything about volunteering, and obtaining hours at an animal shelter would increase my chances of getting into a top vet school. I’d filled out the application, and they’d informed me that I’d have to take a required class before I could begin, but I was more than happy with that. They’d even said they would work around my schedule, so EEU shouldn’t have an issue with my hours there if they did find out.

As I returned to the school, my blood jolted again. I grimaced. Just pulling onto the campus had me all amped up.

I parked back in the far-end spot that no one wanted, likely because it was the farthest from the apartment buildings and residence halls. In a way, it symbolized what I warred with inside myself—being in the back and invisible while wanting to fit in.

It was around five o’clock, and students were milling around everywhere. I hoped that meant Lucy was out and I could slip into the apartment and grab some clothes. I suspected she had a ton of friends, so if I wanted to avoid her, I could pack several days’ worth of clothes and shower in the gym locker room orsomething. I hoped the housing admin would figure out where to reassign me soon.

Slipping from the car, I surveyed the area. With my luck, something would attack or chase me.

Things here aren’t what they seem. Raffe’s words replayed in my mind.

I’d pushed that weird situation from my mind while I was gone, but now that I was back, the conversation and strange interactions sprang back up. He’d been trying to convey a convoluted message to me, but I had no clue what it was.

I gritted my teeth. If he wanted to tell me something, why didn’t he come right out with it?

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