Chapter 21
The wolf froze and jerked his head to the left just as the most alluring smell in the entire world hit my nose.
Musky sandalwood and amber.
Raffe.
Home.
Understanding slammed into me like a truck when I realized the wolf in front of me was Keith.
Heavy footsteps pounded from a few trees away, and when Raffe stepped out of the firs, my eyes burned with unshed tears.
He was here.
Finally.
Raffe’s brows furrowed, and he blinked at me like the people back in my old town used to do.
Like I was a weirdo.
My heart broke, and I whimpered. I didn’t know how to speak to him like this. I growled, and my blood jolted in frustration, especially since I didn’t have the energy to stand up.
Then Raffe ran toward me. His irises turned dark, and his panic slammed into me.
Skylar? His words popped into my head like they’d been doing but this time loud and clear. What happened? How is this possible?
When he dropped beside me, his forehead creased with worry as he scanned my back. Then he noticed my hind leg.
Three wolves attacked me, I said, hoping that the way I’d communicated with the animals worked with him.
But when he didn’t respond and gently touched my back, causing me to yelp, I realized he must not have heard me.
What the hell?
“Fuck,” he snarled then turned toward my face. “Babe, what happened? Link with me, and tell me everything.”
I pawed at the mulch with my front paws, frustrated. I didn’t know what to do, but I needed to communicate with him and get him or his pack to find the unconscious wolves. I jerked my head the way I’d come from, hoping he or Keith would understand.
Raffe turned to Keith. “Link with Adam, Lucy, and Josie, and follow her scent—see what you can find. There’s got to be something back there she wants us to see,” he commanded. “I’m staying with Skylar. I’m not leaving her fucking side ever again. I don’t care if I have to quit the team.” Determination and love emanated from him.
My fear of him not wanting to be with me disappeared. I never should have doubted his intentions again. When was I going to learn? Clearly, this was baggage I carried from a lifetime spent as an outcast. It had more to do with me and less with how Raffe had treated me when I’d arrived at EEU.
Branches cracked not far from us, and I growled, wanting whoever was coming to know that I would kill them if they even looked at my mate wrong.
“It’s Slade.” Raffe’s jaw clenched. He removed his evergreen EEU sweatshirt, revealing his chiseled abs and the curves of his muscular chest.
Despite the pain, I think I started drooling. My mate was not only a caring and loving person but sexy as hell too. Everything inside me wanted to be back in human form so I could feel his body against mine the way nature had always intended.
That was until he leaned over and pressed the sweatshirt to the wounds on my back then lifted me and tied it under my stomach. I bared my teeth and snarled, the agony blinding me. Stars danced in my vision.
“You’re going to freeze to death,” Slade said, pulling my attention from Raffe to him.
Slade stood ten feet away, his mouth pressed into a firm line of disapproval.
I wasn’t sure if he meant Raffe being shirtless in the cold or me being in wolf form. If it was the former, I could get behind that, especially with the sweatshirt putting so much pressure on the wound that I wanted to pass out.
“I’m fine.” Raffe ran a hand through his wet hair. He’d taken a shower before leaving the gym to meet us for dinner. “You know we wolf shifters have a high tolerance for the cold, and Sky’s bleeding way too much to let the blood loss continue.”
Flinching, Slade cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t believe it was her if it wasn’t for the magic radiating off her. It’s stronger than ever before.”
My mind flicked back to the animals and how they’d come to me.
“I can’t link with her, though.” Raffe removed one of his shoes and pulled off his sock. “Which doesn’t make sense. She’s a wolf right now and my mate.”
I could feel his worry.
Nothing could be easy when it came to me. Life was like a game of chess, and I had no clue how to play.
Branches rustled nearby, and Hecate stepped up beside Slade. Her eyes homed in on me, and her brows rose. “Can’t say I was expecting this. How is that possible?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Slade slowly stepped toward me, watching me as if I were a science experiment. It was the exact expression he had in labs.
He licked his lips. “Don’t wolves who join a pack have to submit and acknowledge the leader as their alpha before they can pack-link?”
“Yeah, but as the prince, I can link with everyone in the United States. Every wolf pack is underneath us, so that shouldn’t be the problem.” He gently lifted my hind leg.
Pain exploded worse than before, and I gagged. I wanted to thrash, but I wouldn’t risk hurting Raffe. When he tied his sock around the injury on my leg, I snapped my teeth, though I made sure not to get too close to him.
“I know it hurts, but I need to stop the bleeding,” Raffe rasped and scratched behind my ear.
Even though my leg still hurt badly, I wanted to shake it at how amazing that felt. He must have noticed because he grinned.
“Is that your answer for everything?” Slade wrinkled his nose, ruining the moment. “You’re the prince, so my suggestion is irrelevant? After all, you know best, even though you’re clueless about what the issue is.”
At that moment, not being able to communicate was in my best interest because Slade had a point. They didn’t get along in general, but it was worse when it came to me.
“That’s what you want to talk about now, with Skylar like this?” Raffe slipped his shoe back on, sans sock, and glared daggers. “She’s a fucking wolf and injured, which means she shouldn’t shift back yet, and she can’t communicate with me. We should be focusing on how to heal her and get her back in human form.”
“You two, chill.” Hecate lifted her hands and stepped toward us.
Oh, hell no. She wasn’t getting close to my mate, especially while he was shirtless. He was mine. I snarled, baring my teeth at her, ready to attack.
Raffe beamed, his eyes warming to the blue that showed only around me, and he waved me forward as if he approved of me attacking her.
The human part of me was slightly appalled, but the wolf in me was ready to tear the bitch apart if she got any closer.
“Get back here.” Slade grabbed Hecate, pulling her to his side. “And don’t look at him. I don’t know why she’s acting like that since she’s never bitten him, but she’s already acting like they’ve completed their bond.”
When Hecate averted her eyes, my reason returned. I wanted to ask how to submit to Raffe, but my wolf surged forward, taking control.
I leaned over and nudged his arm with my snout. His brows furrowed, but when our gazes locked, his brows rose as if in understanding.
We stared at one another, but this was different. This wasn’t just pure love; this held an undercurrent. My blood increased to a fizz as if it were preparing for a fight, but there was no way I’d fight Raffe.
“What are you two doing?” Slade asked uncomfortably.
Raffe’s breathing turned rapid, and his eyes glowed brightly. The power inside him surged forward. “She’s trying to submit like you suggested.”
My blood’s instinct was to push back, but my wolf howled loudly in my head. As soon as she quieted, my gaze lowered to the ground of its own accord, then a myriad warm spots popped into my chest. The sensation was less intense than the connection I felt with Raffe, but a piece of my wolf also seemed to float out.
Skylar? Raffe tilted his head.
Hope jolted in my chest, but his speaking to me had never been the issue. So I tried again, using the same method as with the animals, Raffe?
His jaw dropped, and he exhaled. How the hell is this possible? What happened? And why didn’t you wait for me before running into danger? I told Lucy to stop you, but clearly, she didn’t.
So many questions, and I was still processing that I was talking to him with my mind. It sounded like someone was in trouble, and Lucy was with me. That’s why she gave you a heads-up. It wouldn’t have made a difference if you’d been with me—the wolves that attacked me must be working with a witch who created a magical barrier like the one in the underground bunker. Slade was the only one who could walk through it then. This time, Lucy couldn’t follow me, and I couldn’t go back. Then, three wolf shifters attacked.
Whoever did this to you, I get to kill with my bare hands. Raffe’s face tensed, making the angles of his sculpted face sharper. And slowly so I can watch them struggle until they take their last breath.
That promise had me feeling all sorts of warmth that I didn’t want to analyze.
And Slade got here right when the barrier went down on its own. Raffe shook his head. He and Hecate weren’t on campus—we had to wait for them to come back. Adam, Josie, Lucy, and Keith shifted and ran along the barrier, looking for a break in it while I waited for Slade and tried to bust through the damn thing.
My heart stopped. The witch must have run off when Slade showed up.
They didn’t want to be caught by the supreme priestess’s son. That tracks. He scooted closer, leaning carefully against my side.
“I take it my suggestion worked.” Slade tapped his foot.
Raffe scowled. “Yeah. I guess since she was turned instead of born, she was like a rogue.”
I didn’t want the two of them arguing over something pointless. He needs to find the coven member who spelled the area. They can’t be too far if they’ve just taken down the barrier, right? I had no clue how that worked, so I could be wrong.
Raffe repeated what I’d said, but then his body tensed.
What’s wrong? At least I could talk to him now like this.
He turned to me, and his eyes glowed.
They can’t find anything back there, Raffe linked.
Keith replied, Yeah, I know, man. That’s what Adam just told you.
Wait. No. That’s not possible. There were three wolves. One was killed, and the other two were knocked unconscious.
Oh my gods, Josie linked with a faint hint of shock. I thought Keith was messing with us when he said you were a wolf.
Josie, focus, Raffe snapped. My mate is injured, and we’ve got to find the bastards responsible for it. Keep looking while I take Skylar someplace safe and warm.
I flinched at his tone.
Okay, we will, but their scents vanish at a certain point, Adam said slowly, like he hoped to prevent Raffe’s ire. But we’ll scout farther. See if the scents pop back up.
Raffe stood and frowned. I need to pick you up and carry you. We can’t stay out in the open.
The thought of moving made me want to cry, but he was right. If we loitered, that would give the enemy time to bring reinforcements. Okay.
“Is everything all right?” Slade asked, rubbing his hands together to get warm.
“No. The scents vanished, which means your coven was definitely involved. You need to help the wolves pick up their trail while I take Skylar somewhere safe and warm.”
“Do you think that—” Hecate started.
A menacing growl emanated from deep within Raffe’s chest. “I’m taking her home so her wolf can focus on healing is what’s going to happen.”
Hecate crossed her arms. “Can I finish now?”
“I just need to make sure no one plans to object.” He squatted beside me and wrapped his arms gently around my chest and backside. The buzz between us sprang to life, easing some of the pain and calming my blood.
“I wasn’t.” She scoffed. “I was about to suggest that I go with you so I can hide her from sight. I’m sure people seeing you—the elite, untouchable, mysterious quarterback—carrying a wolf into the women’s apartments might cause problems on campus for supernaturals.”
He sighed. “You’d do that?”
“For her, yes.”
I tried to smile at her, but all I managed to do was open my mouth and let my tongue hang out.
Then Raffe decided to lift me. My back burned slightly, but not as bad as when I’d been walking and favoring my foot. I realized he’d tied my healthy back leg to my injured one, preventing it from dangling wildly. Overall, being in his arms wasn’t that much more painful than when I lay still on my stomach.
“Go. Gavyn and Cade texted and are on their way here to help.” Slade frowned. “Sky needs to be safe. She’s been through hell.” An odd emotion wafted from him, but I couldn’t quite make it out.
I wished my blood was fizzing so I could decipher it.
Hecate lifted her phone. “Call me if you need anything.”
The three of us made our way back toward campus. The cool air blew, ruffling my fur, but with one side plastered to Raffe’s chest and his arms around me, I stayed warm. I was also thrilled that I was covering his chest so Hecate couldn’t steal a peek at my man, though I couldn’t blame her if she tried. He was amazing.
Should you tell me how to shift so you don’t have to carry me all the way back like this? I wasn’t sure how it worked, but carrying me must have been awkward for him.
His arms tightened. You can’t, not with your injuries. It’ll make them worse. You’ll have to rest and heal enough so you can shift back without suffering more blood loss.
My breath caught. Wait, I’m stuck like this? I didn’t mind being a wolf shifter because it made everything so much easier for us, but damn, I didn’t like not having the option of turning back into human form right away.
Just until you scab over. That’s another reason I needed you to stop bleeding. Shifters heal faster than humans, so it won’t take long.
Why scabs? If an injury meant I couldn’t shift, I would’ve thought I’d have to heal completely before trying.
He kissed the top of my head, and butterflies took flight in my stomach. I never would’ve imagined wolves could feel them! An interesting fact I wish I could share with my microbiology class.
As long as your wound isn’t fresh and gaping, the magic that shifts you back into human form will heal you in the process, like with scabs. If you do it too soon, though, you risk making the injury worse and, at times, life-threatening.
Made sense … well, as much as anything did with the supernatural.
When we neared the tree line, Hecate stopped. She wiggled her fingers as if to warm them. “Okay, I should spell her now.”
Even with the cloudy darkness surrounding us, I could be seen. Many students would be arriving back late from the away game and throughout the night if they’d gone out instead of coming straight home.
“Fine.” Raffe huffed. “But I swear if you try anything funny—”
“I won’t.” She rolled her eyes. “Sky and I might have gotten off to a rough start, but when the supreme priestess claimed her as one of her own, she became my coven sister, and I will do right by her. Got it?”
My chest expanded. Things had changed between us when I’d been accepted into their coven, and her loyalty to her people and leader spoke volumes about her. She’s sincere. We’ve become friends. We’d spent a lot of time together, especially while Raffe and I were broken up, and we’d forged a bond of our own.
Even though Hecate’s words made me feel loved, they’d done the opposite to Raffe. The spot in my chest where he lived shrank with distrust and frustration.
“Let’s get her inside the apartment,” Raffe rasped.
That was all Hecate needed. She lifted her hands, and this time, I felt her magic cover me. It was hot, like fire, the element she could conjure, but it didn’t burn.
She gritted her teeth, and her bones popped as she pushed more of her magic toward me. Sweat covered her face, and she blanched and lowered her hands. Her eyes widened. “Something’s wrong.”