Page 87 of Wolf Bitten

“That’s what happens when I’m completely in love with her,” he replied, cupping my face with a hand. “I can’t help but rush to be next to her.”

My heart turned to mush, and the warmth of our love flowed between us, causing me to heat up in a very inappropriate way with my parents sitting right across from us.

Dad cleared his throat rather loudly. “Hownice. Maybe you should grab something to eat and join us.”

I flinched. That was Dad’s not-so-subtle way of trying to get Raffe to leave so they could finish saying what they wanted to say to me.

What Dad might not have expected was that Raffe wouldn’t miss a beat.

Turning his attention to my parents, Raffe’s indifferent expression slid into place. “I will soon, but after playing ball for several hours, I want to sit down for a bit.”

Dad scowled, but Mom interjected, “Of course! We were just having a conversation with Sky we hoped to finish is all.”

“Alone,” Dad added.

Jaw twitching, Raffe linked,Babe. What do you want me to do here? I heard everything, but I don’t want to cause more problems between you and your parents, so if you want me to keep my mouth shut, I’ll do it. For you.

I sighed and despised that he’d even question that I wouldn’t stand up for our relationship. Once again, the bond that allowed us to share our emotions caused the other person to feel insecure. Only one thing could make this situation right. Even though I loved my parents, Raffe and I were different halves of the same soul.

“Shouldn’t Raffe be part of this discussion?” I straightened my shoulders, though my stomach churned. I’d never talked back to them like this before, and I hated that the first time had to be when the stakes were actually high. This wasn’t fourteen-year-old me wanting to argue over clothes or dying my hair. “After all, it’s about our relationship and how you want me to leave here and return …” I trailed off, unsure how to finish that statement.Homewasn’t the right word anymore, though it was where I’d grown up. Home had always been subjective, but not anymore. Now, home was wherever Raffe and I were together.

His relief poured through me, validating that I’d made the right decision. He wanted us to be in this together. There was no going back with us … not anymore. We’d sealed the bond and our love for each other.

“Skylar,” Mom gasped. “I can’t believe you’d do this. We’re only concerned about your well-being.”

“Which you think I threaten?” Raffe tilted his head, his irises darkening.

This was the man I’d met on the night I arrived, his facade of brooding seriousness in place. Now, knowing him in a way no one else could, I saw the self-control from his kind heart peeking through, as well as his regret that we had to face this. He could be vicious, but he was holding backfor me.

Dad snatched a napkin and rolled it in his hands. “If this is how Skylar wants to handle it, so be it.” Dad tried to stick out his chest, but compared to Raffe, he failed miserably. “Yes, I do think you threaten it. You’re rich and have your life set for you, including scouts wanting to recruit you for the NFL. I don’t want my daughter getting hurt more than she will be when you graduate and just remember her as one of your conquests. Sky is inexperienced and naive, and you’re—”

“Mr. Greene, as much as I want to respect you as Sky’s father, you need to stop.” Raffe’s arm tightened around me as if he thought my dad would try to yank me away. “Skylar meanseverythingto me, and it’s not because she’s shiny and new. It’s because of the person she is inside, and for you to think so little of her that you believe she would fall for someone who is callous and manipulative bothers me more than what you think of me.”

Face turning red, Dad threw his napkin on the table. “I’ve known Skylar her whole life, and you’ve been dating for a week or two, and you think you know her better than I do? I had to watch her come homeevery daywhen kids were mean to her, or something had happened that she couldn’t explain, so forgive me if I want to shelter her from another threat—likeyou!”

“Something you might not be aware of is that Skylar has never fit inanywhere,” Mom said, rubbing Dad’s arm. “So yes, you’re charming,clearly, and Skylar …” She winced and looked at me. “Well, she’d fall for anyone who would give her attention.”

The lump in my throat blocked me from swallowing, and I felt as if I’d been slapped. I understood that they were concerned, but their concern centered on how poorly they thought of me; they thought I was a weakling desperate to fit in and who would do anything so someone would want me.

Raffe dropped his arm from my shoulders, took my hand instead, and leaned over the table. “Let me beveryclear. I’ve been interested in your daughter since the day she arrived. But I acted stupidly and foolishly then, and I would have deserved everything you said about me, but know that when I treated her like that, she didn’t try to get my attention or make me like her. She tried to avoid me. But I couldn’t let her.”

“Son, you’re not making this—” Dad started.

“I’m not done,” Raffe bit out, his eyes taking on a faint glow. “I let you have your say, and I’m being honest and not putting on a front to make you like me. Your daughter is remarkable and stands apart from everyone, and it’s a damn shame that no one acknowledged that before she arrived here. I want you to understand my intentions. Skylar is the love of my life, and I willneverlet her go.”

Mom inhaled sharply. “You two are young. You’ll be going off to the NFL or working for your father’s company, and Sky will be going to vet school. Maybe at this moment, you think that, but there’s a whole world out there that you haven’t experienced yet.”

In a way, she had a point. I hadn’t considered what would happen when Raffe went on to play professional ball or work for his dad while I remained in school. But none of that mattered. We’d figure it out.

“Not to mention you’re showing signs of obsessive behavior.” Dad grimaced. “In fact, I’m worried and think we need to bring Sky home with us to put some distance between you.”

Raffe released a low growl, which clued me in that I’d been quiet for too long. I’d been sitting here, letting Raffe go up against my parents. “I’m twenty-two years old. I’m not going anywhere. Raffe isn’t the only one who feels that way—I love him, and Iwillspend the rest of my life with him.”

“So you’re going to give up your future and follow him around while he sleeps with every woman he can behind your back?” Dad spat. “Because that’s what guys like him do. My boss cheats on his wife all the time.”

My chest heaved, and my wolf surged forward. “If he dared to even look at another woman, I’d kill them both. It won’t happen.”

“Skylar!” Mom’s eyes widened, and she stared at me as if I had two heads. “What’s gotten into you?”

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