Chapter 24
Silence hung heavily around us.
Raffe remained focused on Adam, who hadn’t continued, wary of Raffe’s reaction.
Between my quickened heart rate and the way my blood jolted, Raffe must have felt my disbelief. He studied my profile, noting which direction I was facing.
The moment Raffe homed in on Josie, she dropped her hands into her lap and kept her eyes downturned.
“Are you fucking serious?” Each word carried more of his anger, the last one sounding more like a bellow than anything. “Aldric picked up the wolves that attacked my mate.”
“Dude, calm down.” Keith pointed a finger at Raffe. “It’s not her fault her dad is involved. I told her she shouldn’t be here when you learned this.”
More hot rage flowed through Raffe, almost taking my breath away, but thankfully, my blood remained at a steady jolt. At least, Raffe’s emotions didn’t affect my blood like mine did; otherwise, I’d be screwed.
“Fuck you,” Raffe snapped. “I’m not mad at her. She didn’t have anything to do with it, but I’m livid about what that means.” His anger switched to hurt. “I can’t believe Dad would do this to me.”
My chest squeezed tightly with his disappointment and betrayal, and my wolf urged forward, wanting to kill the person behind it all. I took a deep breath to calm down and remain rational. I turned and cupped his face, then linked, Just because Aldric picked up the wolves from the airport doesn’t mean your father was behind it. Maybe they were on their own mission, or the secret society manipulated them into attacking me. We aren’t certain what happened, and none of us can jump to conclusions.
He turned his face into my palm and kissed it. I love you so much for saying that, but if Aldric is involved, it’s very likely that he did this on my dad’s behalf.
Adam dropped his arms. Skylar’s right, though. Your dad could’ve invited the Atlanta alpha here to update him on your refusal to marry his daughter. King Jovian wouldn’t want to leave Seattle right now, and that’s the sort of news he wouldn’t want to share over a link or phone call. He also wouldn’t risk leaving after the turmoil between the two of you and the chaos that could explode if our people learned that the prince was threatening to leave the pack. Add in that if he went to Atlanta after failing to hold up his end of the bargain, he’d be walking into hostile territory.
And let’s be real, man. Keith lifted his hands in surrender. If I were the Eastern wolves’ alpha and wanted my daughter to marry the prince, Id eliminate the obstacle to fix the problem permanently. Your dad wouldn’t even have to suggest it to me.
Lucy rubbed her hands together. Josie, did your dad say anything to you?
Nothing. Josie twirled a piece of her dark, curly hair around one finger. He checked on me last night, but he always does that.
I was so damn thankful to be able to pack-link with all of them because I doubted we could’ve had this conversation verbally. If people were watching us, we’d have to be more careful.
There’s one easy solution. I’ll call him. Raffe nodded, his emotions still volatile. If he’s behind this, I need to know.
And what? Add more tension between the two of you so he tries to kill Skylar again?Adam lifted a brow. If this was anyone but Skylar, you’d say we shouldn’t be rash and can’t tip our hand until we know more.
And Sky has a point, Lucy added as she crossed her legs. The secret society could be part of it. If they knew the Eastern wolves wanted to split, having them attack her would cause problems for all of us.
Not doing anything would invite him to attack my mate again. Raffe shook his head and wrapped his arms around me. I won’t.
We don’t know the real enemy behind the attack. If you accuse your dad and he’s innocent, it’ll create more tension between you two and possibly get me hurt again if he thinks I’m driving a wedge between you.I turned to him and pressed my forehead against his.
I had to believe his dad wouldn’t do that. Parents loved their children, right? They wouldn’t do something to hurt them, even in the name of duty. I shivered, hoping I was right and not misguided.
Raffe growled faintly. Fine, but you have to be with one of us at all times, and that means no traipsing into the woods near campus alone.
My wolf whimpered in my head. But …
Babe, I won’t deprive you of that. I know your magic and your wolf need to shift. We go off campus to run. He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. All of us together, at least thirty minutes out. If you promise to stay with one of us and not venture into the woods alone, I’ll agree to be patient until we have something concrete to go on.
I pursed my lips. But my blood. I need Slade’s help to learn how to control it.
I know, Sky. He licked his bottom lip. But dammit, a coven member was involved tonight, and Slade was captured by someone working with the society two days ago. So forgive me if I want the people I trust the most to keep you safe. Can you please agree to my terms? I can’t handle you getting injured like that again. His face creased with worry, and his terror caused my stomach to squeeze.
Yeah, but if the danger isn’t resolved soon, we’ll have to determine a new strategy. I placed my hands on his shoulders and rubbed my thumbs along the back of his neck. And I’m only agreeing to this knowing that you’ll be with me most of the time to help keep my blood in check.
Fuck yeah, I will be. He smirked. Every class we have together, you can sit on my lap if that’s what you need … for stability’s sake.
I snorted. Is that the angle you’re working now?
He shrugged. Whatever works.
“Did he seriously just go from pissed to purring like a fucking cat in seconds?” Keith blinked.
Lucy jumped to her feet. “Oh, speaking of cats, I need to check on Keith.”
“What the hell?” Keith wrinkled his nose. “You haven’t changed that mangy thing’s name?”
“Nope.” Lucy strolled past us toward her room. “That’s her name forever. It suits her.”
She entered her bedroom and said, “Oh, Keithy. Did Sky and Raffe scar you with their claiming ritual? I wasn’t even here, and the smell will never be erased from my mind.”
“Tell me about it.” Adam chuckled, taking the spot beside Josie. When he sat down, he placed his hands behind his head. “What’s the plan now?”
Even though I loved being in Raffe’s lap, we were clearly making them uncomfortable, so I slid down next to him and snuggled into his side. “How about we watch a movie since we’re just sitting here to wait?”
“Only if I get to choose.” Keith smacked his chest. “I’m not watching any sort of mushy movie with the two of you just inches from me.”
Josie, Adam, and Keith debated movies while Raffe and I cuddled, content to be together.
When Lucy joined us, Adam pushed play, and we all settled in to forget all the horrors for a couple of hours.
The next fewdays passed quickly. Besides catching up with my classes, I dealt with the stares as Raffe made sure that the seat right in front of him was open for me, making it clear to everyone that we were together. The only downside to his attention was that even more people were watching me.
Even though I loved that Raffe was open about our relationship, I was uncomfortable with all the attention that came with it. A few people watched as if they expected him to laugh and insult me like our relationship was a joke.
I couldn’t blame them. Raffe had made it clear when I started school that he didn’t want to be associated with me.
Slade had been pressuring me to meet with him to train, and I understood why. If I could’ve harnessed my blood on the night the three wolf shifters attacked me, I never would have gotten injured. I explained to him that I believed my blood hadn’t activated initially because my wolf-shifter side was trying to surge forward. It’d felt as if the two energies were at war, trying to dominate one another until I shifted, and then they’d synced up or whatever.
But what did I know?
All too soon, it was Saturday morning, and Raffe had talked me into helping him warm up for the game by pleasuring each other. I was on my hands and knees as he thrust into me from behind with his fingers between my legs when our orgasms took over.
With our senses combined, my vision hazed from the intense ecstasy until I was seeing stars. Then, a knock sounded on the apartment door.
Raffe groaned in my ear, and our bodies gave one final shudder when another knock sounded louder than the first.
My hair was a mess, and my breathing was erratic. We disconnected, and I reached for my pajamas.
Raffe’s hands caught me by the waist and pulled me against his sweaty chest.
I giggled. “Someone’s at the front door. I better answer it.”
“We know damn well who it is, and Keith can chill the fuck out,” he rasped, nipping at my neck.
My heart fluttered.
Lucy’s bedroom door opened. “Are you two serious? You’re going to make me answer the door when I was trying to sleep through your sexcapades?”
Even though Raffe kept telling me I had nothing to be ashamed of, I hadn’t been raised with overly affectionate parents. They loved one another and held hands on occasion, but if I’d ever heard the kind of stuff we did from their bedroom, I was pretty sure I’d want my eardrums to explode.
The front door opened, and a voice said, “Oh, hi. Is this Skylar Greene’s apartment?”
My mouth went dry, and I leaped from the bed and ran to my closet. Frantically, I grabbed a clean set of underwear and a bra and then snagged jeans and a T-shirt, quickly pulling them on. Get dressed. Now.
What’s wrong? Raffe asked as he followed my lead, though he wasn’t moving fast enough.
My parents are here early. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Out of all the ways I’d imagined them meeting Raffe, this was not one of them. We need to get out there fast. I ran my fingers through my hair, removing the tangles.
We’re together, so—he started, pulling on his jeans.
I spun around and gasped. Yes, we are. But they’re human. They won’t understand our bond and how us moving so fast is natural. We need to get out there fully dressed and put together so they don’t think we have been doing something!
His lips mashed together, and I could feel a hint of mirth coming from him. Yup. Got it.
If I could have stomped and pouted without worrying them, I totally would have right now. Instead, my blood jolted, and I spun around, but before I could open the door, he grabbed my hand.
His expression looked sheepish. I’m sorry. I understand this is different, and I’m not making light of your concern. You’re just so damn adorable, wanting your parents to like me.
I gently smacked his chest and replied, Well, you’re kind of important to me, so it’d be nice if everyone got along.
He nodded. I’ll do my best. He kissed me before opening the door on my behalf.
My dad and mom were standing in the living room with Lucy still at the door.
A smile broke across Mom’s face, but the moment Raffe stepped up behind me, it fell flat. The skin around her russet-brown eyes tightened, and she clutched her white purse in front of her EEU sweater.
Dad scowled, his normally friendly demeanor vanishing. His forehead lined with concern all the way to the top of his bald spot. “Sky … uh … we didn’t realize you’d have company this early.”
I wanted to die. There was no salvaging this. “Oh, well. Yeah. We were—”
“Good morning, Mr. And Mrs. Greene.” Raffe breezed past me and smiled. “My name is Raffe Wright. I’m your daughter’s … boyfriend.”
Dad didn’t smile, but he shook Raffe’s hand, whereas Mom glanced between Raffe and me. When Raffe extended his hand to Mom, she gave him a strained smile and shook it.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said tightly, flipping her short blonde hair back from her forehead.
Playing with the top button of his green button-down shirt, Dad frowned. “Uh … we were hoping to have a late breakfast with Skylar, so we came early. We didn’t realize we’d be interrupting.”
I wanted to die. They knew what we’d been doing. For the first time in my life, I was certain my skin was close to the same color as theirs—fair. It was usually so easy to see that I wasn’t their biological daughter with my olive skin and features.
“Actually, I’ve got to head out. I just wanted to see Sky before the game,” Raffe said, taking my hand. “I gotta head over to the stadium for warm-ups.”
Mom’s brows lifted. “You’re on the football team?”
“You could say that.” He winked at her, and she giggled.
She fucking giggled.
Dad’s scowl deepened, which made me believe he might actually have his own supernatural power.
“Are you ready to grab something to eat?” Dad nodded toward the door.
“Oh yeah.” I turned to Raffe, unsure of what to say. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll walk with you three over there,” Raffe suggested easily then linked to Lucy and me, Luc—
On it. Lucy yawned. I’ll change and meet with Sky and her parents at the center.
Hurry. Raffe headed to the door, leaving it open for the three of us.
Within minutes, we were walking across campus toward the student center. It was a rare sunny day, but a faint chill hung in the air that wouldn’t leave until summer.
I listened, impressed, as Raffe talked to my parents, telling them about the campus and informing them of small details I hadn’t known.
I could see him using his political science degree. Normally, he was stoic and unapproachable, but with my parents, he was the opposite. He smiled and was open, yet he still seemed unaware and unaffected by the other students who passed by and stared at him, giving him that mysterious edge I adored.
When we reached the student center, Raffe pecked me on the forehead, not giving too much of a public display of affection. Then he sauntered off toward the football stadium, and I had to force myself not to watch him leave.
The three of us headed into the student center, which was loud and brimming with people, and for once, I enjoyed getting lost in the chaos. We snagged something to eat and sat down, and my parents told me what was going on with them, though I could tell they wanted to ask more questions about Raffe.
I kept the focus on them. After all, we had to be safe around this many people.
After we’d eatenand toured the bookstore, Lucy met us outside on our way to the stadium.
“Do you volunteer at the animal shelter with Sky?” Mom asked, glancing at Lucy.
She shook her head. “No. I don’t volunteer or work. My entire focus is on schoolwork and watching Criminal Minds with Sky when I can steal her away from my cousin.”
“Raffe is your cousin?” Dad tilted his head and glanced at me. “Is that how you met Raffe?”
I laughed. “Nope. I met them separately. I ran into Raffe the night I got here, and I have two classes with him.” Running into him was putting it mildly. I’d slammed into him. And now, thinking back, I wondered who had been watching me that night. There was no telling, and I couldn’t help but shiver. “I didn’t know they were related until weeks later when I came home to find him in the living room.”
They continued to pepper us with questions, and soon, we were walking through the main stadium entrance, where everyone was being pushed together.
Suddenly, something grabbed me from behind, and a scream lodged in my throat.