Chapter 25
My breath caught as the overly musky scent hit my nose and the power soaked into my bones. Before even turning around, I knew who it was.
King Jovian.
My heart clenched, and I regretted asking my parents to come here. I didn’t want them on King Jovian’s radar if he was the one trying to kill me.
“Skylar,” King Jovian said, voice deep and low.
I turned toward him, knowing there was no point fighting the inevitable, but I linked with Raffe, I don’t need you to do anything, but your father is here. When I faced the king, I noted that both Queen Tashya and Aldric were with him.
My lungs seized.
As soon as I glanced at Aldric, he averted his gaze. That was odd, and I wondered if he felt guilty. My blood activated to a low fizz.
“Ki—” I stopped myself before I finished his formal title. That would be strange, given that we had no kings in the United States. I swallowed as the king’s eyes turned icy.
What magic did you use to make the bond seem complete? King Jovian linked, his hands tightening on my arm.
I’ll take care of this, Raffe replied just as Lucy exclaimed, “Uncle Jovian!” She hugged him tightly, and the king’s eyes widened as he released me.
Lucy looped her arm through his and smiled at the queen, pulling the king a few steps farther away from me as she exclaimed, “What a lovely surprise!”
King Jovian resisted, a frown set hard on his face, and his eyes glowed.
I waited for his voice to pop back into my mind, and when it didn’t, I figured he was communicating with Raffe. Part of me wished I could hear the conversation, but the other part was thankful that I couldn’t. If his dad had tried to have me killed, I’d rather live in blissful ignorance … or as close as I could without actually dying.
“Skylar,” Queen Tashya said kindly as she strolled over to me. Her gray eyes were warm, and her dirty-blonde hair was pulled back into a loose braid, giving her face the essence of youth. “It’s so nice to see you again.” The corners of her mouth tipped upward. And I see you’ve given us yet another surprise. She tilted her head, emphasizing her curiosity.
Mom cleared her throat, but Dad brushed past me.
His face was flushed as he extended a shaky hand. “Are you Jovian Wright?”
Holy shit. My dad knew of Raffe’s father. How was that possible?
“Yes, I am.” King Jovian flicked a tentative glance at me and asked, “Why?”
“I’m Skylar’s father.” My dad kept his hand extended. “Robert Greene. I’m the finance manager at Piller Commercial Groups, so meeting the CEO of Wrights Property Group is a little surreal. The way your company moves so quickly despite its size and scoops up properties that no one knows are on the market has everyone intrigued about your methods. It’s pure brilliance and, truthfully, legendary.”
My dad was fanboying over my mate’s father, who could very well be trying to kill me. If this wasn’t proof that Fate was real, I didn’t know what was. Not only that, but she had a wicked sense of humor.
“Oh, honey.” Queen Tashya patted the king’s chest. “We get to meet Raffe’s, uh, fiancée’s parents. How lovely.”
Mom choked. “Fiancée?”
I wanted to die. Right then and there. I didn’t know what to do, but I noticed Aldric sneaking away in the chaos.
“You’re engaged? And you didn’t think to tell us?” Mom clutched my arm, forcing me to face her. Her gaze homed in on my bare ring finger. “Are you hiding the ring? Haven’t you been dating this boy for only a week? What—”
“Wait. Raffe is your son?” Dad’s admiration fell from his face, and he blanched, almost resembling a vampire. “I knew his last name was Wright, but it’s a common name.”
“We’re not engaged.” I raised both hands, wanting the chaos to stop and to get the hell out of here. “Absolutely no engagement has happened.” Just an unbreakable fated-mate bond, which made us more committed than marriage ever could, but I would definitely be leaving that out.
Raffe’s voice popped into my head, and somehow, I felt Lucy in the connection. Dad is refusing to leave and wants to talk to Skylar and me later. Lucy, don’t let Sky out of your sight. Not even for a second. If she needs to pee, you go with her. Got it?
Don’t worry. But when the game is over, we might need to switch to protecting you instead of her. Lucy snorted then tried covering it up with a cough.
I didn’t need her stressing him out more than he already was. I glared at her and linked, Everything is fine. I’ll behave. A witch couldn’t risk putting up a barrier spell here with all the humans around. Just focus on the game.
Easier said than done when I don’t give a shit about anything but your safety, he grumbled, his concern flowing into me. If it wasn’t for the pack link with you, my ass wouldn’t be down here. If anything seems strange, you tell me immediately. I’m tuning in to your emotions.
“Your silence speaks volumes, Skylar Jane Greene,” Mom spat, forcing me back to the verbal conversation going on around me.
A lump formed in my throat. She hadn’t full-named me since I was sixteen and accidentally ran my car into a ditch. I had no idea what had been said to know how to answer. Shit.
“Clara, this was a misunderstanding on my end.” Queen Tashya laughed, a little high-pitched, and clasped her hands in front of her chest. “I misspoke. I meant to say girlfriend, not fiancée.”
Dad lifted his chin. “That’s quite a mix-up. I know that neither Clara nor I would accidentally say fiancé when speaking about Skylar’s boyfriend.”
He had a point, but I could understand how the queen had gotten there. She couldn’t say mate, so she’d said the first thing that popped into her head to convey the sort of relationship Raffe and I had. Boyfriend didn’t even come close to what we shared.
“We should take our seats.” Lucy pointed toward the opening that led to our section. “The game starts in less than twenty minutes, and we don’t want to miss the football team’s entrance!”
I latched on to the valid excuse to get us out of this situation. “You’re right. Let’s do that.” My heart stopped. Please tell me we won’t be sitting next to them.
Lucy shook her head. They have box seats. Don’t worry.
Some of the weight on my shoulders lifted. At least, that was a silver lining, though considering how my parents kept flicking concerned glances my way, the damage had been done, and I couldn’t blame them. Mom had only learned about Raffe last week, and she would never understand the bond he and I shared. This seemed superfast to them.
“Well, it was great meeting you.” Queen Tashya shook my parents’ hands and placed a hand on my cheek. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing you soon, dear.” She turned to Lucy and hugged her.
Oh yes. We’ll be talking soon. King Jovian nodded. I have some things the three of us need to discuss, and I need you to explain to me how this full bond and her mind-speaking with me is even possible.
He was already suspicious of me; I couldn’t imagine his response when he learned I was now a wolf shifter.
The king didn’t shake my parents’ hands but told them goodbye. When the four of us moved toward the opening and away from Raffe’s parents, oxygen filled my lungs again.
Both my parents were abnormally quiet, Mom’s earlier carefree demeanor gone and replaced with the concern that Dad had been trying to hide all morning.
“Come on.” Lucy waved us deeper into the stadium, heading toward center field.
The entire place was crowded, and people bumped into us as they rushed to the bathroom, got something to eat or headed back to their seats before the game started.
When we reached midfield, Lucy turned onto the steps to the seats. We headed down to the fifty-yard line, close to the front row.
“Wow. How did you get these seats?” Mom asked from behind me.
Lucy snorted. “Benefits of being related to and dating the quarterback.”
“He’s the quarterback?” Dad sounded strained. “Of course he is. He’s a Wright.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I didn’t and followed Lucy to the front row. She took the fourth seat from the end, so I stayed close to her, not wanting any chance of getting stuck between my parents so they could gang up on me. This way, they knew when they spoke to me, Lucy would overhear.
Mom slid into the seat next to me, leaving Dad on the end. The time on the clock said fifteen minutes, and the cheerleaders rushed to the edge of the field near the band. The last time I watched a game, I’d been distracted. This time, I was able to stay in the moment, waiting in anticipation for my mate to come running out.
Soon, the band began playing, and the cheerleaders danced in rhythm with the song. Josie, in the center. Then the football players raced out with my mate in the very front, Adam and Keith at his sides.
The crowd went wild as they ran onto the field, and I knew the moment Raffe spotted me. The back of my neck tingled, and the warmth of his love filled me even more.
Running out here like this with you there smiling at me has already made this game the best fucking one ever, he linked.
Not missing a beat, he ran to the sidelines where the team would stand, but he pressed past that, and I noticed he held a shirt in his hand. He ran right up to me and winked as he tossed the shirt over the rail.
I caught it, and when I unfolded it, I realized what it was.
My heart leaped into my throat, and my cheeks hurt from how huge I was smiling.
It was his jersey.
He lifted a hand to where his mouth was behind the helmet and blew me a kiss, linking, I love you.
I love you too. I slid the shirt over my head and smelled his scent, mixed with his sweat, all over it. In other words, it was perfect.
He trotted away, and I could feel the daggers Mom and Dad were shooting at me with their eyes. But I kept my head forward, refusing to acknowledge them. I didn’t want to ruin this moment.
The original planhad been for us to leave campus and eat at a restaurant, but with the horrible traffic, we decided to go to the student center, especially since Mom and Dad needed to leave for home soon.
Even though I loved seeing them, the visit had been tense and exhausting, and with an unknown enemy lurking around, I wanted them gone as quickly as possible.
Lucy pretended to peel off from us after the game, which EEU had won, thanks to Raffe, Adam, and Keith dominating the game, lurking behind us until the three of us headed into the center.
“Should you text Raffe so he doesn’t go back to the apartment looking for us?” Mom asked carefully.
I removed my phone from my back pocket, wanting to smack myself. I hadn’t even been a wolf shifter for three days, and I’d already forgotten that, around humans, we had to keep up appearances. Even though Raffe had learned about the change of plans the moment it happened, I sent him a text, obliging my parents.
We headed to the cafeteria, which wasn’t as packed as I’d feared, and the three of us went through the line. I hated not waiting for Raffe, but I also knew that neither of us could eat like we wanted to in front of my parents without seeming more odd.
I snagged a piece of pizza and a bottled water. Mom chose a salad while Dad got a burger, and we settled at a back table.
Mom and Dad glanced at each other, and when I took a bite of my double-meat pizza, Mom exhaled loudly.
“Sky, we’re so glad you seem to be happy here.” She picked up her fork and stabbed some lettuce. “This is a great opportunity, and you seem settled, but to be frank, we’re worried.”
Okay, so this was happening and probably the real reason they’d wanted to eat here—to get me alone before Raffe joined us. “Why? I have friends for the first time ever, my grades are solid, and I have Raffe.”
“He’s the main reason we’re worried.” Dad interlaced his fingers. “We never heard of him until a week ago, and suddenly, he’s in your bedroom when we show up in the morning. His own mother says you two are engaged, and he brings you a jersey, pretty much claiming you in front of everyone. Whatever this is, it’s not healthy, especially with him being a Wright.”
My head snapped back. “A Wright? You mean the son of the man whose feet you almost fainted at before you realized the connection?”
Dad huffed. “I admire his business tactics. He’s cunning and ruthless, which is why I don’t want my daughter anywhere near that family. You’ve never had a boyfriend before, and I don’t want them to eat you up and spit you out.”
Babe, are you okay? Raffe linked, his concern wafting through. I’m on my way.
I’m fine. Don’t worry. I didn’t want him to think I was under attack, though I was. Verbally. It wasn’t the kind of danger he needed to worry about.
A chill ran down my spine. Cunning and ruthless. Two words that could describe the person who’d been attacking me without leaving a clear link back to him. But I wasn’t here to defend King Jovian. I needed to defend Raffe, my mate and the love of my life. “Raffe isn’t his father.”
“How can you know that, honey?” Mom reached across the table. “You barely know him.”
My blood jolted as my emotions became less controlled. “I know him better than you think.”
“You losing your virginity to him doesn’t mean you know him.” Dad hit the table. “This is what I’m talking about. We think you should come home.”
I laughed maniacally. “Are you serious? You two pushed me to come here! Remember? I told you it was weird to be accepted when I’d never applied, and you practically packed up my stuff and pushed me out the door. Any way to get your freaky-ass daughter away and get some distance.” I’d never told them how I felt before, but they’d never spoken to me this way either. These were whole new relationship waters we were treading.
Mom’s jaw dropped. “We’ve never called you freaky. And we assumed you applied and didn’t want to tell us. Those accusations right there are not fair.”
“Neither is you coming here and judging me. I did come here, and I finally fit in. And yes, Raffe is part of the equation, but he’s not all of it.” I pushed my plate aside, no longer hungry. I didn’t like where this conversation was going. “I’m not leaving.”
“Now listen here—” Dad leaned over the table.
Mom touched his shoulder, holding him back. “What your father means”—she glared at him—“is that your first love feels like it will last forever, but that’s not normally how it goes.”
Everything I wanted to say would only elevate the tension between us, so I bit my tongue, trying like hell to keep my mouth shut.
Silence descended for minutes, the three of us not eating and unsure of what to say.
I had to remember that I’d never been like them; I wasn’t even human anymore. If I’d been human and didn’t have this supernatural connection with Raffe, they would have had a right to be concerned. But I couldn’t think of anything I could say to make them understand that there was no way in hell Raffe and I wouldn’t be together. Not now. Not ever.
Finally, Mom broke and said, “Honey, we never thought you were a freak. I know kids called you that, and I won’t lie and say things didn’t happen around you that neither Robert nor I understood, but we never meant to make you feel alienated, and I’m sorry if we did.”
Some of my anger ebbed. She’d never been honest like this before and had always avoided addressing the issues with my blood. “I didn’t understand it either, and I could see your fear. I felt all alone, and now … I don’t.”
“I’m glad, but Raffe—he had an entirely different childhood than you.” Mom bit her bottom lip.
“She’s right.” Dad nodded. “He’s had a life of privilege, getting what he wants and then tossing it aside. People like the Wrights … they like something shiny and new. Just like he made a show of giving you his jersey. They like to claim things, but when the newness dulls, they like to—”
Hot anger that wasn’t my own scorched through me, and that was when I felt the tingle at the base of my neck. I glanced up just as Raffe reached our table, his face a harsh scowl.
He’d heard everything.