Page 95 of Just One Bite
Olivia is mymate.
I can’t think of anything else.
Nothing else matters.
“Is there no way you can stay in your room today? Say you’re sick?” I ask, seconds before she goes for the door.
Her sisters have just left, and I’ve got my last moment with her alone.
“Why?”
“Because …”
The thought of another male looking at you will send me into a blind rage, and I will hurt people.It’s all I can do not to shake. My skin is crawling with an itch that is not going away. I could run for hours. Ineedto shift. Just to take the edge off.
“You smell so different. And I … I’m having a hard time thinking about anyone else being around you right now. Especially when I know you’re being targeted.”
I want to say it. I need to tell her, but not right now. I have to go talk to Gavin and Zant, and figure out what the hell happened last night. I've already missed practice this morning, and Coach has called me ten times.
Plus, she doesn’t remember. I was hoping she would remember something. Any of the dreams. Did she have the same dreams I did? The ones where we met on the swing surrounded by the flowers?
When I woke up, I remembered them all. Every dream I’ve ever had about her came rushing back into my brain like they had always been there. Only, the girl in them is fully visible now and I awoke with her lying in my arms.
I’ve been looking for Olivia my whole life and didn’t realize it.
She’s the girl from under the ice.
The girl on the swing.
I know her. I’ve missed her. I’ve yearned for her and met her in my dreams every single night, then felt the loss each morning in her absence.
“Does it hurt?” Her face falls. “You seem in pain.”
“No … it’s … just taking an adjustment.”
Who am I kidding? She won’t stay locked in her room. I can’t hide her away forever. There is no going back to the way things were before.
But the bond is too fresh, and the thought of any of those assholes seeing her today makes my entire body itch. I lied. It does fucking hurt. She could get hurt. She wants casual and for things to stay the same, but they’re always going to be different now.
I don’t know how to say it. It’s like I’m running a fever, and I’m hyperaware of the steps in the hallway near my door. My thoughts are moving so fast I can barely catch them.
Why doesn’t she remember? I’m so fucked. I’m going to take out the first guy who looks her way in Noxx House and kill him. She’ll freak out. I’ll freak out. It’s going to be a total shitshow.
“Okay,” she says.
“You will?” I try not to sound too excited.
“I don’t want to, but … if it helps you, I can take one day off. Just one. I have schoolwork I can work on. Plus, I’m tired after last night.”
“Do you need anything right now? Feel sick? Hungry?”
“I’ll have my sisters bring me some food from the dining hall. Don’t worry.”
I sigh in relief and tug her to my chest. She has my mark on her, and I sense it when our skin touches. Like a magnet clicking together, it’s a perfect fit. I have to pull away after a few seconds. Touching her is going to make me shift. My wolf recognizes her. It’s agonizing. It’s euphoric. It’s terrifying.
“Are you okay? You’re still acting strange,” she asks.
“Yeah. I’ll be okay.”After I do what I’m about to do.“You’re the one I’m worried about.”
