Page 32 of Midnight Mate
“It’s fair.” I hesitated. “The difference is the peace I get there.”
She bit her lip, unwilling to pry further.
My wolf was restless, pushing me to tell her the full story.
I changed the subject. “Speaking of peace, what’s the story with you and Travis Burns?”
“You know him?” she asked, surprised.
“He’s a wolf.” I shrugged. “I make it my business to know my own kind.”
I didn’t bother to tell her I’d looked him up and asked around about him after our run-in yesterday morning.
She sighed and reached for her wine glass. “We went out a few times. He wanted to get serious, and I didn’t. When he pushed, I broke it off, and . . .”
Her face paled.
“And what?” The look on her face had me instantly on edge.
“He lost his temper,” she said then took a big sip of wine. I waited, sensing she needed time to tell it. “He threw things,” she said finally. “Yelled. Nearly shifted.”
Something about her careful tone had my wolf already snarling.
“What do you mean ‘nearly’?” I pressed.
She met my eyes then looked away again. The wine glass in her hand wobbled, and I gritted my teeth, waiting for her answer.
“His legs remained human but his arms . . . his hands… He threw a vase at me and nicked my ear with a claw.”
She lifted her hair back to reveal a still-healing scrape on her earlobe.
My wolf rose so quickly I almost came out of my seat. Bloodlust pumped through my veins.
“East.”
Cat’s voice sounded faint and hollow against the rushing in my ears.
I gripped the chair until the wooden armrest crumbled in my hands.
Cat slipped out of her seat and rounded the table, crouching beside me. Her blue eyes held mine with no trace of fear. “Breathe, East. Just long, deep breaths. You’re fine.”
Her voice was soothing. Calm.
Shit.
My heart rate finally slowed. Only now, I was mad at myself. A quick glance told me we’d gained the attention of at least half the restaurant.
“You okay?” Cat asked.
I grabbed her hand. “I’m so sorry, Cat. That was unacceptable.”
“It was understandable.”
“You just got done telling me your ex lost control of his wolf side and flipped out. And then I almost did the same damn thing. In public, no less.”
She shook her head. “You would never hurt me.”
She was right, but it touched me how sure she sounded.
