Chapter 14
Effie Harlow
When had I moved beds? That was the first question that popped in my head as I sat up, leaning on my elbow while looking around my surroundings. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled to find myself in Caedmon’s bed, but this hadn’t been where I had started the night, for sure.
My comforter was wrapped around the two of us, and this time Caedmon hadn’t left before I woke up.
His arms were wrapped around me, and my head had been resting against his chest. I couldn’t help but warm at the soft gesture as my fingers gently ran through his hair and I laid back down.
His breathing was soft and even, so much so that I didn’t want to leave this moment or get up. Class was this afternoon, right?
I did seriously want to know how I went from sleeping in Dakota’s bedroom to in here, though.
When we had returned from one of the only and best shifted runs I’d ever been on, I had been hungry and exhausted.
Instead of asking where the others were at the time, I had eaten some frozen pizza and curled up in Dakota’s room, watching some movie as his hard, warm body unfroze me from the outside lakefront.
I realized in that moment that it was worth getting cold if I had someone like him to warm me up.
It was amazing to be wrapped up in his arms, his dark bedroom smelling like him and his soft blankets almost having a fur-like texture to them.
I don’t think the man even realized what he had done yesterday.
How much he had changed the day by just offering me an out.
Offering some relief. Some fun. Some excitement.
Stress relief. It probably helped that he had also absolutely wrecked my entire body with just his touch and kiss in the locker room.
I had never climaxed before, and it had been absolutely mind blowing.
I wasn’t naive to all pleasure, but I had never touched myself before, mostly because I had never felt the urge.
Never had been inspired to. So the feelings yesterday had been overwhelming and perfect at the same time.
I was starting to wonder if that was the reason why so many women in my pack had stayed with their mates.
Did all men make you feel that way? Somehow I didn’t think that was the case.
Somehow I think what the two of us had was special.
Obviously, it actually was very special and unique…
he had admitted we were mates. Unfortunately, I had fallen asleep long before the others had even gotten home, so I had yet to have that big discussion with them.
Today after class we had all the time in the world, though, and mark my words, I would be figuring out what all of it meant for my future and their part in it.
I looked at Caedmon, his arms tightening around me, as I smiled slightly, realizing that the pain from my body was essentially gone.
Maybe shifting had aided in my healing? Was that possible?
I had never shifted a lot at home, so I didn’t have enough experience to know if that was a quick fix.
My wolf growled at the concept that maybe Gerald didn’t like us shifting because it did exactly that—healed us. Made us stronger.
Shaking myself from that negative thought pattern, I tried to remember if I had gotten up at some point to come in here. I don’t think I had. So had Caedmon come to get me? Had Dakota brought me in here?
You could just ask.
I snuggled closer to Caedmon, loving how silky his hair was under my fingers, and decided it could wait.
Instead, I watched the thick snow falling outside.
My wolf, unlike usual, didn’t bother picking up her head, looking exhausted and happy as she stretched out and went back to sleep.
Meeting Dakota’s wolf had been an experience that had made her goddamn year, and mine as well.
Although it had been actually shocking how massive he was.
I mean, I absolutely loved it, but I don’t think I’d ever seen a wolf that large.
I found it attractive. Was that normal? Maybe it was more that my wolf found his natural dominance attractive?
I nearly groaned, trying to not overthink that, because it would probably just get my wolf all worked up again, and for once, she was being quiet.
My wrist pulsed, making me remember that there were other things I had yet to handle that didn’t revolve just around the mating question. Ryder.
He had marked me. At first, my body had felt at odds with it, the power settling under my skin in orange and purple flames that had felt as though they were draining me. Now it felt like an ember growing under my skin as if waiting for something… what for, I had absolutely no idea.
Also, had he ever shown up last night? I was going to assume no.
I shook my head, wondering how I would manage to get an answer from him.
Crap. I had also walked out on Aanya, hadn’t I?
She probably wouldn’t want to be my friend after that rude move.
I squinted at the clock next to the bed and deflated into the mattress further.
I needed to get up, but Caedmon was holding me so tight, I wasn’t positive that was going to happen.
“Caedmon,” I whispered softly, but loud enough that a low rumble broke from his throat in response before one eye opened.
My gaze darted down to the button-down he was wearing, finding it mostly open, showing me his muscular chest and tattoos.
Okay, I wouldn’t have expected the tattoos on him.
My center tightened as I tried to sort through why the markings on his skin had me feeling a heated desire, besides the fact that I found him so attractive.
“What?” His voice was rough and sleepy as he eyed my gaze.
“I like your tattoos,” I admitted shyly, curling further against him. He seemed to relax at that. It made me wonder what he was afraid of me saying.
His lips hesitantly brushed my forehead as his eyes closed again, not saying anything but keeping me tucked against him.
I considered asking him to come to class with me, but I could feel how tired he was, making me wonder how little he normally slept.
I closed my eyes, only attempting to do so momentarily, but when I opened them again, the lightness of the room had a bit of panic streaming through me.
What time was it? I almost immediately wiggled out of his grip, realizing that I probably had a very short time until class now. I wasn’t positive how I did it, but I slipped from bed, and looking back at Caedmon, I tucked the blanket around his muscular frame before looking at his lips.
I pressed a gentle kiss to them before jumping back, my face flaming at my actions as my chest tightened. I shouldn’t have done that. Not without his permission. I nibbled my lip, but then he let out a tired sigh, and my name coming from his lips removed any insecurities.
As I turned to leave his room, I smiled slightly to myself, hoping that maybe he and I could figure whatever this was out.
I mean, he was one of my mates. That was insane to me.
How did I end up with a mate like him? A mate like any of them?
! I didn’t try to rationalize it and instead thanked the Goddess for small blessings.
As I made my way through the main room, I didn’t sense anyone else, making me wonder where the others had gone off to this morning.
I got dressed quickly in a pair of dark jeans, torn at the knees, that I’d owned for a few years, and an oversized cable knit sweater with my jacket and boots.
It was a cozy outfit, and I found myself lingering in front of the vanity, brushing my teeth and undoing the braid I’d put my wet hair into last night, trying to decide if I should wake Caedmon so I wasn’t going it alone on campus.
No. I could do this on my own. I knew I could. Plus, I needed to be able to do some stuff without them, right?
“No you don’t.”
My wolf had me rolling my eyes as I found my schedule and packed up my backpack, realizing I had about an hour and a half until my first class. More than enough time to figure out where exactly I needed to go.
And talk to Ryder.
It wasn’t often that I felt sure about a decision—rather the opposite—but the mark on my arm had me knowing that I needed to talk to him.
Knowing that it was important to find out what it meant for us, for me.
A mark like that wasn’t accidental. I was naive, but I wasn’t stupid.
The tingling on my skin left a warm feeling in my center as I grabbed my backpack and walked towards the elevator.
As much as I missed the boys, I had to admit, there was something liberating about going onto campus by myself. A bit terrifying also, but liberating. I wanted to explore it. I wanted to have control over my future and schedule. It was something I had never had before.
I was in somewhat of a daydream as I examined the winter landscape around me, traveling from the Eclipse driveway past a familiar cafeteria building towards the academic end of the campus.
My eyes continued to stray towards the frozen beauty of Lake Michigan, and while there was a bite to the morning wind, small specks of warm sunlight would randomly break through and turn the snow around me almost into a blinding diamond white.
It wasn’t until I was nearing the administrative building that I realized a larger issue—I had no idea where Ryder’s office was, or if he even had an office.