Page 6 of The Forgotten Princess

“I had to be close to you,” he says.

And I get it. Even when I thought he hated me, I wanted nothing more than to be close to him. I tried to convince myself that I would be okay walking away from him when the time came, but I knew I wouldn’t.

As class begins, I see a shadow pass by the door. I look over, but nobody is there. I get a shiver down my spine, but I’m just being paranoid. It was probably just somebody late for class running by.

Devin puts his hand on my thigh under the desk, distracting me from all other thoughts. It’s incredibly hard to pay attention to the teacher. He doesn’t glance my way, but I can see the smirk playing on his lips. He knows he’s getting to me

The teacher clears her throat, abruptly pulling my gaze away from Devin. She gives Devin a look but keeps on teaching. Still, he doesn’t move his hand and I realize that I’m in trouble.

How am I supposed to survive until summer to complete our mate bond?

After class, Devin grins widely as he holds my hand in the hallway.

“You’re going to get us in trouble,” I complain to him.

“I’m an alpha—nobody can get onto me,” he says simply.

I raise an eyebrow. “You always get in trouble in Dawson’s class.”

“He doesn’t actually care that we flirt in class,” Devin tells me. “He’s just a little sad about the fact that I met you before he met his mate.”

I frown. “He’s really upset about that.”

“You’re sweet to be worried, but I told you—if Dawson wants to talk, he will.”

Boys. They never like to talk about feelings. But I know that Dawson is hurting. He could really use somebody to talk to. And if Devin won’t do it, maybe I should.

We walk into our mating rituals class together, taking a seat near the back. Once again, Devin puts his hand on my thigh.

“That’s really distracting,” I whisper.

Whispering in a room full of shifters doesn’t help—they can hear if they want.

Devin leans closer, putting his mouth close to my ear. “You can pretend to be upset all your want—your hot pink eyes betray how you really feel.”

I shiver, which causes Devin to grin.

Well, two can play at that game.

I scoot my chair closer to him, putting my hand on his thigh. Devin’s entire body stiffens at the move.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Tori Benson.”

“What game is that?” I tease.

“The kind of game where I ignore my alpha’s wishes, leave the island, and marry you today.”

My heart skips a beat. “Is that supposed to be a threat? Because that sounds really good to me.”

Devin growls.

I glance over and see that his normally green eyes are amber in color. His wolf is close to the surface.

The bell rings as the teacher walks in. It takes nearly the entire class period for Devin’s eyes to go back to their natural color.

I’m tired of waiting.

Before we head inside Dawson’s classroom, I pull Devin to a stop just outside the door.

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