Page 50 of Wolf Bitten

In other words, she didn’t want to be alone with Raffe and me.

“You say that like you have a choice.” Raffe sneered.

There was no way in hell I was going anywhere without Raffe. I didn’t want to hear any excuses.

I also didn’t want to be like all the teachers and principals who’d made snap judgments about me and hadn’t bothered to hear my version of a story. I refused.

“Lafayette, I’ll let you know if we need anything else but do work on placing more guards around the perimeter and more supernatural reinforcement in the woods. The rest of you are free to do whatever you normally do at this time.” Supreme Priestess Olwyn turned on her heels and marched toward the women’s apartments, not bothering to see if Raffe, Slade, and I followed.

It wasn’t like we had a choice. She was going to my room.

“Man, do you want us to come with you?” Keith asked, arching a brow. “It’s not like the supreme priestess has any authority over us.”

I didn’t like that idea. I wanted answers, and if we fought with her, I’d remain clueless.

“Mom won’t talk if anyone joins,” Slade murmured, sounding pained. “It’s best if you two come alone.”

Raffe huffed and rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately, I agree withhim. But you two can join Lucy in Josie’s room. That way, you’ll be close by if we need you.”

“You got it.” Adam saluted.

I smiled. Adam had always been a nice guy who went with the flow.

Zella gave me a little wave, and she and Lafayette headed toward the student center.

But Hecate came to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re back and safe.”

“Me too,” I sighed.

She winked and headed toward the woods. Adam and Keith were already halfway to the apartments.

Slade waited for us. “Are you two ready?”

“Let’s get this over with.” Raffe scowled.

As the three of us slowly walked toward the apartment building, I moved so that I was walking between the two guys.

Twenty feet from the double doors, Slade bit his lip. “Please listen to her. Give her a chance to explain her decisions. She wasn’t sure what to do.”

A horrible thought hit me right in the chest. My blood ran cold.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Icouldn’t push the thought away. The thought that my friendship with Slade hadn’t started with the best of intentions knocked the breath out of me, and I stopped in my tracks. My blood fizzed.

“Babe?” Raffe asked with concern. “What’s wrong? Is it your …” He scanned the area.

Why he’d stopped talking wasn’t hard to figure out. He wanted to ask if it was my magic, but there were humans and other supernaturals close by. I inhaled shakily and focused on Slade as he turned around, realizing we weren’t beside him.

I asked, “Is that why you were nice to me on that first day of class?”

Slade’s eyes bulged, and he winced as if he were in pain.

I swallowed the question of whether he was okay, not wanting him to use his discomfort as a way of avoiding this conversation.

Huffing, Raffe took my hand, and our intense buzz eased my blood. Losing control here, in front of humans, would be asking for trouble.

“We should go inside.” Slade clutched his ribs. “Mom’s waiting for us.”

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