Page 89 of Wolf Bitten

“You two, go.” Mom nodded in the direction we’d been heading. “I’ll get Grumpy Butt and take him back home with me.”

“Okay.” I hugged her, tears burning my eyes. Now that things were patched up between us, I didn’t want her to leave. But she needed to. “Thank you for coming.”

“Sorry that the ending wasn’t so great.” She pulled back and kissed my cheek. “Next time, it’ll go better.” She cut her eyes to Raffe and said, “You better take care of our girl.”

He laughed, a sound usually reserved for me. “More than happy to, though she can be a handful.”

“Oh, I know.” She patted his shoulder. “I raised her. Now, goodbye.”

My steps felt lighter as Raffe and I headed out the door. That cocky smirk was back on his face, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment by teasing him.

What are we going to do about getting something to eat?I linked, knowing he had to be hungry. He’d just played football for three hours.

He wrapped an arm around my waist as we headed toward the double doors at the back of the student center.Let’s order pizza. I want to get you into the apartment and away from any more drama.

I could agree with that.

But as soon as we reached the doors, a familiar musky smell hit my nose, and Raffe stopped in his tracks.

King Jovian stood in a corner near the exit, leaning against the green wall.Well, that was something to watch, along with at least twenty other supernaturals. I see her parents aren’t thrilled about you two either.

Show’s over. We’re leaving,Raffe linked, opening the door for me to walk out first.

As we went outside, King Jovian followed.The three of us need to talk.

No, we’re good.Raffe moved faster.

It’s not a question. It’s a command. We need to talk about the two of you and the future,he insisted.

Just when I thought we’d dealt with all the drama of the day, more had to show up and prove me wrong. A conversation with his dad, though, was inevitable.Raffe, he won’t leave until he talks with us. We should listen. Keith and Adam are close by, right? Maybe he’ll let something slip about the wolves that attacked me.

Raffe paused, and his emotions grew turbulent.Fine, but you stay beside me at all times.He added Lucy, Adam, Keith, and Josie to the link.Dad wants to talk to us, and I need you to come around to the woods by the student center. He’ll want to go into the woods, but I’ll make sure we stay close to the tree line.

On our way,Adam replied.

We turned to King Jovian, who had a grin on his face.

That was where Raffe got it from.

“Your mother is in the bookstore, so let’s go into the woods. She wants us to talk, but not in the open.” He turned on his heels, expecting us to obey.

Not arguing, we followed him, and a quarter mile in, Raffe stopped and said, “We’re far enough.”

King Jovian grimaced, and his nostrils flared. “This is our problem now thatshe’shere. You’re trying to tell me how to run things when I’m still the alpha. That’s not how this works, and you know better. If this keeps up, there will be more consequences.”

A shiver ran down my spine as hot rage blasted from Raffe. He linked,Like trying to kill her again?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

King Jovian took a step back, and the anger melted from his face.What?

“You heard me, but I can say it out loud if that will help you understand.” Raffe’s neck corded. “Last Saturday, when the football team played an hour away, at least one coven member created a barrier, tricked Lucy and Skylar into thinking someone needed help, and cut Skylar off from the rest of us. Then, three Eastern wolves attacked her—wolves that Aldric picked up earlier that day.”

My blood jolted in tune with how my pulse quickened.Raffe, I thought we wouldn’t accuse him of anything until we had proof.Even though I hadn’t expected this conversation to go well, I hadn’t been prepared to confront him.

He was threatening us, and I won’t stand here and fucking take it,Raffe replied, edging forward so he stood between King Jovian and me.

I had no clue about any attack.King Jovian shook his head.The wolves Aldric picked up were the Atlanta alpha and four members of his pack. They came to discuss your betrothal to his daughter. I had to tell him it wasn’t an option after all, and let’s just say it didn’t end well. I’ll handle them.His eyes hardened and focused on me.We need to discuss a more pressing matter. How is it that Skylar smells like a wolf and has made it seem like you two have a completely formed bond? She shouldn’t be able to pack-link, yet she is. The rumor of my son mating with a human has already begun circulating due to your brazenness, and having anyone learn that a human can link with us and form a completed bond is dangerous. What sort of magic are you using? Are you trying to ruin our family name?

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