Chapter 17
Zane
I throw a long pass downfield. Quint snatches it out of the air and runs it in for a completion.
Touchdown! I throw my hands up in victory because that’s the game.
We’re two touchdowns ahead, and there’s less than two minutes on the clock.
I grin and run over to Quint, smacking him on the back of the head. “Good job!”
We run off the field as Elliot and the field goal team run out onto the field.
Elliot kicks it through the uprights, earning us the extra point.
I take off my helmet and watch as the clock winds down and then join my teammates in celebration.
We’re all smiles as we head to the locker room.
I can’t help but wish for at least the hundredth time tonight that Evie had been here to watch the game.
As I have all night, I push thoughts of her and her date from my mind.
I’ll get finished here and get an update from Reid.
I asked him to tail my mate and her date tonight.
I just couldn’t stomach the thought of her being out with Jace somewhere alone and unprotected.
I don’t know what it is, but I just don’t trust that guy.
“And that’s how you do it,” Coach says as he enters the locker room, causing a loud cheer to sound around the locker room. I try to focus on the talk with Coach and then it’s off to the showers. I shower quickly and get packed up.
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Quint asks with a grin.
“Does it happen to have anything to do with a certain girl we all saw you talking to?” Terryl asks.
“Yeah, the one you made us all sign something for,” JJ adds.
I just shake my head. “You all are far too nosy.”
“We can’t help it,” Zac chimes in. “I’ve known you for three years, and you’ve never dated a girl.”
“I'm not dating now,” I remind them.
“Yeah, but you want to,” Quint calls out, and the guys all add their dumb comments.
“Okay, yeah, I do; but she turned me down. So...”
They all stare at me. “She turned you down?” Dejaun asks incredulously. Then they all crack up.
“Laugh it up,” I call out over their laughter, not really bothered by it. “I’ll get the girl; you’ll see.”
“Oooo.”
“Course you will, Cap,” Cameron, my backup calls out.
“Suck-up,” Terryl says, shoving him. Cameron shoves him right back.
“Okay,” I call out, stepping in before it gets out of hand. “Get some rest tonight. No practice tomorrow.” I throw my bag over my shoulder and start towards the door. I feel more than see Quint step out behind me and follow me. Are you back yet? I send to Reid.
Yes.
Where?
I’m out front.
I head that way. When I push the door open and step outside, I see Reid straighten from the wall he was leaning against and walk my way.
I instantly take in my best friend's body language. He’s upset, really upset.
Nobody else would probably pick up on it, but we’ve been friends for far too long for me not to notice.
I take in the tense lines of his body, and my own body reacts.
Worry for Evie builds quickly. “What happened?” my voice is harsh, and I don’t bother trying to soften it.
“Jace happened.” Reid’s words are clipped.
“What’d he do?” my words are little more than a growl. I feel my wolf rising inside me at the threat to our mate.
Reid must pick up on it as well. “Evie’s safe,” he assures me. “I made sure she got back to campus safely.” His words hit me hard.
“You got her back to campus?” My words are low.
Reid meets my gaze head-on. “I drove her here because there was no other option. I didn’t touch her. She’s your mate, and I know that.”
I hear his words, but I’m still having a hard time knowing my mate was in the car alone with my best friend. I try to remember the alternative—alone in a car with Jace. That’s a much worse thought. I take a deep breath, knowing I’m not going to like what Reid tells me. “What happened?”
Reid eyes me. “Keep your cool.” His words do nothing to help my growing anger.
“The long and short of it. He got mad, left her with a bill she couldn’t pay, and left her alone at the restaurant.
” He pauses. “It was bad. The bill was over three hundred with tax. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t even like seafood.
Her plate was untouched. She was really embarrassed.
She wouldn’t look me in the eye, and she kept telling me she’d pay me back. ”
“She won’t pay you back. I will,” I snap at him.
“I know.” Anger burns through me. “There’s more.”
“Tell me.” I am aware that I’m leaking Alpha power right now, but I can’t bother to hold it back.
“He was waiting when we got back.”
“Did he approach her?” I ask through clenched teeth.
“No, but he watched her go in. He knows I brought her back.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
He nods. “She was dressed like him tonight.”
“What?”
He shakes his head and blows out a sigh. “She was in a short black dress with a black leather jacket and black boots with heels. She looked—”
“Stop talking,” I say in a strangled voice. I really don’t want to kill my best friend.
“I just mean she looked uncomfortable,” he says quietly. “She kept tugging her dress down on the drive home.”
I run a hand through my hair. “I need to see her. I just need to see that she’s okay.”
“Did you get her number yet?” Quint asks.
“No.”
“You know we can get it, right?”
I know we can. We have several tech guys in the pack that could very easily get her number for me. “I know, but I'm trying to do this right. I’m trying to earn her trust. Who’s on for watching her dorm tonight?”
“I am,” Quint says.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take tonight’s shift,” I tell him.
“You took last night’s shift too,” Reid reminds me.
“And?” My voice is challenging, but Reid doesn’t back away. “You need to get sleep too; you’re not invincible.”
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you slip out a lot of nights,” I tell him without any anger in my voice.
Reid doesn’t say anything, and I wonder once again where it is he goes at night.
But I know that he’ll tell me when he wants to.
“I’m taking tonight.” We’ve been on rotation for security around her dorm.
She has no idea that one of us watches over her building every single night.
Not only is she too important to me to leave unprotected; she’s too valuable to our pack.
She’ll be our pack Luna one day, and that role is incredibly important.
The alpha gives authority and strength to the pack; he keeps everybody in line.
But it’s the luna that makes everyone feel loved and accepted and cared for.
It’s an important role. I’m not exactly sure how it’s going to work with her being human, but there’s no doubt in my mind that it will work and she will be so good as our luna someday.
To keep the pack strong, the alpha rules the pack until he has a son or daughter that grows up and can take the pack.
My father’s ready to hand the reins over to me.
I think he’s only been waiting for my mate, and now, here she is.
The pack will be mine sooner than later.
I’m snapped from my thoughts when I see her roommate approach the building.
“Sam,” I call out before I even think about it.
She turns, and I can see her surprise. I jog towards her.
“I was wondering if you could ask Evie to come out here, or if she’s too tired, she can just text me.
Here’s my number.” I grab the small piece of paper with my number on it that I’ve been hanging on to since I met Evie.
I’ve been waiting for her to accept it and add it to her phone.
“Sure.” She snatches the paper from my hand and strides towards the door.
I step further into the shadows with Reid and Quint.
“Now we wait.” I lean against a tree and cross my arms over my chest as I watch the front door.
I study every single person that goes in and out of those doors.
There are far too many males coming and going, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
I let my wolf’s vision bleed into mine, helping me see clearer.
My gaze snaps to the figure walking towards the front door.
My heart speeds up when I see Evie step out of the front door and into the light.
The way Reid described what she wore tonight did nothing to accurately describe her.
She looks hot. The dress is short, shorter than anything I’ve ever seen her wear.
And the boots with heels elongate her legs and show off her shapely calves.
I didn’t take her for a runner, but now I can see it.
No wonder she’d made it clear across campus.
My gaze travels up the dress, taking in the leather jacket and her hair pulled back.
I swallow hard as my blood thickens. My mate is the most desirable female I’ve ever seen.
“Try to rein it in,” Reid says, coughing softly.
I don’t bother apologizing. I’m not going to apologize for the way I’m feeling about my mate. I wait for her to look for me, but she never does. She walks over to a guy, and I barely keep my growl in my chest. She reaches a hand out to him, and I take a step forward. “Wait,” Reid says softly.
I watch as the guy holds out something and drops it in her hand. I rely on my wolf hearing and hear her say, “Thanks, Bisch.”
“You’re welcome. You’ve got this; you’ll do great.”
“I hope so; I’ve never opened before.”
“You’ll be fine. Just follow the checklist.”
She nods. “I will. Thanks.” He turns and walks away. The fact that he kept his hands to himself and was respectful is the only reason I allow that to happen.
“Rein it in, Zane,” Reid says again.
I ignore him and study my mate. She looks tired and beaten down. My chest tightens, and I walk towards her before she can slip back inside. “Evie.”
She turns around in surprise. It’s clear that her roommate didn’t tell her I was out here.
I want to rage at her roommate, but more than that, I want to know that my mate is okay.
“What are you doing out here?” She pulls the leather jacket around her and tugs the bottom of her dress down, trying to make it longer.
I hate that she’s clearly uncomfortable in her dress, and I figure the roommate is probably to blame.
I'm equally parts mad that she feels uncomfortable at all. She has a gorgeous body and shouldn’t be embarrassed about any part of it.
“Didn’t your roommate tell you I was out here?”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “No, sorry. I just had to come grab the key for the shop because I’m opening tomorrow morning by myself.”
“What time?” My voice is clipped. I’m not upset at her, but there’s no way she’s opening a coffee shop on campus by herself. I’ll be there to make sure she’s safe.
“Five.” I make a mental note of it. I’ll be outside to make sure she gets there safely and stays safe.
“Okay. Well, good night.” She turns around, and I can tell she’s going to run.
Not literally, but she doesn’t want to face me tonight.
I can feel that she’s vulnerable, and that makes me extra protective.
“Evie, wait.” My voice is deep because of the presence of my wolf.
She turns to me, shame clinging to her. “Listen, Zane, if this is about tonight, I’m going to pay back Reid. I promise. I—”
“You don’t need to pay back Reid; I’ll take care of it.”
She blinks a moment and then shakes her head. “No, you’re not. I'm going to pay him back.”
I finally ask the question I’ve been wanting to ask all night.
“Evie, are you okay?” She stops abruptly, and her eyes shoot to mine.
I want to smile when those gorgeous brown eyes hit mine, but not when I see that they’re red-rimmed from crying.
My heart squeezes in my chest, and I want to hurt Jace more than I’ve ever wanted to hurt anybody in my life.
“Reid told me about your night, and I just want...no, I need to know that you’re okay. ”
She stares up at me. “Why?”
It’s a simple question, but there is no simple answer for me to give her. “I just do,” I say as gently as possible.