Page 60 of Wolf Bitten

I laughed. “We’re eating. Let me sit next to you.” I snagged my plate, cake, and drink while he narrowed his eyes and picked up his own.

“Fine.” He settled in. “But as soon as we’re done eating, you’re right back here. I don’t want any barriers between us.”

Lucy leaned her head back. “See what I have to live with?” She smacked Josie’s leg and said, “Let’s get something to eat.”

Without meaning to, I glanced at Josie, wondering what reaction I’d find.

She winked at me and looped arms with Lucy. The two of them strolled to the kitchen and got their own food.

“What are we watching?” Keith asked with two plates of food as he took the spot next to Josie’s.

I told them our choice.

“What? No!” Keith wrinkled his nose. “That sounds—”

“Skylar picked it,” Lucy interjected from the kitchen.

His eyes bulged, and his scowl transformed into a smile. “Different. That’s what that sounds like.”

“Yeah?” Raffe asked, throwing an arm over my shoulder. “You want to watch something else? You don’t sound thrilled about it.”

“Thrilledis not the word I would use, but there’s no fucking way I’m not watching this with everyone.” He rearranged his food so one plate sat on the edge of the couch and the other in his lap. “I’m just glad we get to learn about big and small animals.”

Adam strolled into the living room and sat on the floor. “Man, sometimes I wonder about you.”

I snorted. “This isn’t a documentary. It’s actually a movie.”

“Oh.” He exhaled. “Thank fuck for that.”

And, for the first time since my capture, things felt normal. I relaxed next to my mate, ready to enjoy time with our friends.

The next fourdays flew by. Raffe, Lucy, or Slade was with me whenever I wasn’t in the apartment, and I’d begun training with Slade again, though not the other witches.

After what I’d learned, I understood better where Supreme Priestess Olwyn had been coming from, but I didn’t trust her. I’d have felt the same about Slade if he hadn’t helped me escape the bunker at a huge risk to himself.

When I trained with Slade, Raffe, Keith, or Adam came with me. Raffe didn’t trust that Slade wouldn’t let one of the other coven members ambush me.

Even Keith and I were getting more comfortable with each other.

Raffe had asked me to take time off from the animal clinic for a few weeks. He swore after football was over, he’d go with me each Saturday, saying the thought of me being ambushed and taken again was unbearable. The thing was, I agreed with him.

I stood by the football bus where the team was getting on to go to another campus an hour away for tonight’s game. I wanted to go with Raffe, but I was afraid his dad would show up and my blood would activate, so I was staying behind.

He’d tried to miss the game, but I’d insisted he go. He didn’t need to give his dad any more ammo for us not to be together.

Raffe’s displeasure and concern swelled into my chest. He kissed me again despite the football team and their coach watching. Lucy, Adam, and Keith stood a few feet away from us, but everyone else had boarded.

Raffe muttered, “I shouldn’t go.”

“You should.” I cupped his cheek, enjoying the way his stubble rubbed my fingertips. “You’re part of the team.”

“Fuck them.” He pouted. “You’re more important.”

“Oh my gods,” Keith groaned and smacked Raffe on the arm. “We’ve got to go. We’ll be back tonight. You act like it’ll be days.”

“Let’s go!” Coach Prichard yelled from the bus. “Or I’m calling all your parents, and you can explain why you’re benched.”

Raffe scoffed. “He’d never bench us.”

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