Chapter 4
Zoey
My wolf was pissed. He had his back turned toward me and wouldn’t even look my way. I was expected to hold a normal conversation while that man sat on the other side of the room ignoring me.
I was on the verge of wolfing out.
The only thing keeping me somewhat sane was the fact that he was only talking to one of his brothers. Braxton. I was pretty sure that was his name, but what the hell was my mate’s name? I knew I’d never crossed paths with him.
Oh God, is he a freshman?
Senior actually, a voice in my head said.
I nearly jumped out of my seat.
“Sorry,” the guy next to me muttered.
I stared at him in shock.
I’m a witch, he silently explained. I can hear people’s thoughts.
And apparently talk to them.
I didn’t mean to. I’m just keeping an eye on you and Monte.
Monte?
Your mate.
I started to choke as a piece of steak lodged in my throat.
My mate? I managed to think before I could no longer respond.
“Zoey?” Zoey? I could hear people yelling my name both aloud and in my head, but I couldn’t breathe, and I couldn’t explain it.
My life was draining from me, and the edges of my vision were darkening.
Do not pass out, I tried to tell myself. This can’t be it. I’m too young to die. I just found him.
I tried to sob, but my body was shutting down. I couldn’t move despite desperately wanting to claw at my throat for just a bit of air.
My body was still and wouldn’t move. I was trapped.
A loud roar sounded in my ears and a tingling sensation washed over me just as the edges of my vision started to fade. A sharp thrust into my chest kept me from passing out.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The chunk of steak loosened and shot out of my mouth.
I gulped in fresh air as tears pricked my eyes.
I knew everyone was watching me, everyone but him, because he couldn’t even bother to look my way.
Are you kidding? He just saved your life, Jax explained.
That couldn’t be right. He was going out of his way to not even look at me. Why would he help me?
Feeling embarrassed, overwhelmed, and knowing all eyes were on me, the second I felt strong enough to move, I jumped out of my seat. I had to get away from here.
His hand grabbed for my wrist, sending electric shocks up my arm, but I slipped away and ran for my room. At the last second I turned and headed right out the front door.
“Zoey, wait.”
“Zoey, are you okay?”
“Zoey, come back!”
I wasn’t even sure who was yelling as several people tried to call me back upon my exit. All I wanted to do was get away.
My eyes burned as tears streaked my cheeks.
Why the hell was I crying?
Probably because I’d almost died.
Or maybe because I just found my one true mate and was so confused by everything.
It could be because I was stuck in this awful gold dress when all my sorority sisters decided to wear navy and leave me to stick out like a sore thumb.
I wanted to shift and just let the thing shred, but I was too practical for that. Instead, the second I made it to the edge of the woods, I started pulling it over my head even though I was still running as fast and as far away as possible.
Another loud roar sounded behind me. I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see my mate shift in midair letting his suit shred to pieces.
I gasped and stumbled as I froze in shock.
My heart raced. Did that really just happen?
I was standing there in only my undergarments as he rushed to my side then turned around, covering my body as his head whipped back and forth, scanning the area for any threats.
He’s protecting me, I realized.
He let out a low growl, but there was no one there. Not yet at least.
People were pouring out of the Theta house, and I could hear them calling my name.
The fur on the wolf’s neck stood up as he braced for attack.
The witch that had been talking to me before the steak incident ran toward us and skidded to a halt.
The wolf lowered and gave a deep guttural growl in warning.
Shit! Would you please either get dressed or shift to your fur. Mating wolves are never sane, and the others are coming quickly. Don’t make him do something he’ll regret later.
Guilt overwhelmed me. Why would he do that?
To protect you. Do I really have to explain it? Even though his lips never moved, he threw his arms out in exasperation. Just shift already!
I wasn’t about to remove my bra and panties with this guy standing there.
He must have heard my thoughts because he turned his back to us. Or maybe it was because the wolf had growled at him once more.
For a guy who wouldn’t even look my way, I was not expecting such an overprotective wolf.
Seeing others running towards us now, I quickly stripped the remainder of my clothes and shifted.
I thought the wolf would relax some once I was in this form, but I was seriously mistaken. As if sensing my change, he turned, looked me over, then rubbed the length of his body against mine before barking at me and then nipping at my hind legs until I turned and ran.
Was he an Alpha? I wondered. His wolf certainly had the traits of one, or at least that’s how it felt to me.
Yet, he didn’t outrun me and didn’t try to lead the way.
Instead, no matter where I went, he was right there off my left flank, continuing to guard and protect me.
Never once did he try to overtake me or change my course.
The further we ran, the quieter the voices behind us became.
I knew facing my sisters was going to lead to an interrogation I did not want to deal with. How much more embarrassing can one night get?
There was a part of me that longed to be alone to sort out my feelings, yet the other wolf’s presence comforted me and soothed my own wolf.
We ran in perfect sync through streams, jumping over fallen branches, and maneuvering around large boulders. I was mesmerized by it.
I hadn’t taken a direct path to the lake, in fact, we’d run the full perimeter before stopping. Hours had passed but it felt like only moments before I slowed.
Walking to the edge of the lake, I leaned down and lapped at the water. It was cold and felt great on my throat, which was still scratchy from choking.
For a moment I considered the possibility of just staying in my wolf form forever. That way I’d never fully have to deal with the fallout from this evening.
I sat back and looked out over the still lake. The moon shimmered on the surface. It was so beautiful. I couldn’t ever remember being so at peace. And somehow, I knew it didn’t exactly have anything to do with the views, but everything to do with the large male wolf posting guard next to me.
He was looking out at the lake too as I dared to catch a glimpse of him. He was much bigger than my own wolf, a darker brown to my lighter tan coat.
When his head turned and our eyes met, I couldn’t drop my gaze. His hazel eyes sparkled in the moonlight in a swirl of greens and browns. I knew I would never forget those eyes.
Mine, my wolf sighed.
My body stiffened. My mate. While we were running, it was easy to forget that part.
I had a true mate.
I gulped hard.
It was clear he recognized the dramatic shift in my mood because he closed the gap between us and once again rubbed his body against mine—not just his body, his scent.
It hadn’t dawned on me before, but he was leaving his scent all over me, marking his territory. But I wasn’t a piece of property and just because we were destined mates did not mean I was required to accept him.
A sharp pain stabbed at my heart as I thought those words.
Shit. I’m screwed.
The last thing I needed was a mate.
Somehow, I’d managed to make it through college almost unscathed despite my reputation on campus. I might be considered the most desired woman at the ARC, but I’d been too busy building my small business to warrant the title.
Still, I was a Theta girl and that alone provided a reputation I wasn’t exactly thrilled to have. Add in the whole influencer going viral thing and suddenly I was getting daily confessions of love and requests for dates.
No thanks.
I barely had time to juggle my classes and keep up video production. How the hell was I supposed to make time for dating? And what the hell was I going to do with a mate?
Daring another glance his way, I tried to remember what the man looked like.
I’d been in such shock when he’d stepped up to greet me from a sea of handsome guys all dressed in similar suits that I hadn’t really looked at him.
If it wasn’t for my wolf’s acknowledgement, I highly doubted I could pick him out in a lineup.
But I’d know that scent of his anywhere.