Page 90 of Wolf Mate

He exhaled and reached behind him, placing a hand on my waist. His body was still tense, but luckily, my words were getting through to him.

“Man, I’m sorry.” Dave sounded more like himself. “But I didn’t attack her. That has to count for something. Hurting me would cause questions from everyone since I didn’t actually attack her.”

“Not after the story I’d tell everybody. Just because you didn’t attack her now doesn’t mean you won’t later.” The edge returned to his voice. “That’s not a risk I’m comfortable taking.”

I loved that he cared about me that much, but Dave hadn’t done anything to justify Raffe’s retaliation. “But I am, so leave him alone.”

He glanced over his shoulder at me, and whatever he saw wasn’t good because his face was lined with worry.

“Fine.” He pulled me to his side. “But if this happens again, he won’t get another chance.”

I didn’t have enough energy to argue with him. Instead, I remained silent, which he must have taken as agreement.

“Dave, clean up the branches before any humans come by,” Raffe commanded, authority ringing in his voice, and I was sure he expected Dave to obey.

I dreaded the questions that would circulate about what had happened here. It was bad enough that I’d had an episode in front of King Jovian. Now I’d had another one while dating his son, the very person who wanted to keep our relationship a secret. Here I was, proving to him that his reasons were valid.

Would I ever get my shit together? Every time I thought I’d made progress, I did something to prove I hadn’t made any at all.

“On it,” he replied without any resentment. Then he cleared his throat awkwardly.

Here it was, the inevitable question that would trigger everything.

“I don’t know what happened here, and to be honest, I don’t want to. But Skylar …” He paused.

Raffe snarled, “Don’t fucking talk to her.”

I cut my eyes to Raffe, arching a brow. He was going to act likethatafter he hadn’t told Josie to stop touching him? Yeah, that didn’t work for me.

Lifting my chin, I glanced over my shoulder just as Dave bent to pick up part of the tree trunk.

“Yes?” I asked.

Dave jerked his head up as Raffe growled angrily.

Well, good. He deserved to be upset, the same way I’d been. I kept my gaze on Dave.

Smirking, Dave shook his head like he couldn’t believe what I was doing. “I just wanted to say don’t worry about anyone finding out about this. I understand secrets and needing them to stay that way. I also know rumors have been going wild, and I won’t add to your burden.”

Ah, that was why he hadn’t been shocked when he’d realized it was me. He’d heard rumors. I appreciated the olive branch he was handing me. “Thank you … for everything.” Maybe he’d fought his urges so he wouldn’t get on the witches’ bad side, but that still meant something to me. He could’ve attacked me and hidden the evidence.

Dave smiled genuinely. “No problem. And thanks for stopping smelling so damn tempting.”

I smiled back then let Raffe guide me toward the apartment. I hated how good it felt to be in his arms after he’d hurt me. Part of me wanted to get angry and tell him to back the fuck off, but a more substantial part wanted to forget about it and sink into his arms.

After a few steps, Raffe huffed and grumbled, “Did you seriously thank him for not feasting on you or killing you?”

I snorted. That was one way of putting it. “Yeah. He didn’t want to hurt me. I know it.” I’d read him when my blood was strong, and he’d put up one hell of a fight. Something most couldn’t do.

Raffe scowled. “I still want to kill him. He could attack you at any time.”

“Are you going to killallvampires?” I snuggled into his side, allowing him to take more of my weight. Though I wasn’t as exhausted as I’d been the other day, I was a little wobbly.

He arched a brow. “You know what? Your plan has merit.”

I rolled my eyes and fought the smile that was threatening to break through. “You know you can’t. That wouldn’t just piss off your dad but all the supernaturals.”

“It’d be worth it as long as you were safe. How drained are you?” He examined my face.

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