Chapter 49
Evie
His jaw tightens. “I’m not anything like Jace.”
I don’t say anything. Deep down, I know he’s nothing like Jace, but there’s still that lingering uncertainty.
Or maybe it’s fear. I push away my plate, no longer hungry.
I look up and find Zane’s eyes on my face, seeing too much.
He reaches out his arm, palm open on the table.
I put my hand in his without any hesitation.
I watch with interest as his whole body seems to relax.
I'm almost scared to ask, but I need to know. I don’t want to be that scared, naive girl that blindly goes into relationships; what’s more, I don’t want to be like my mom.
She made a big mistake with my dad and made it even bigger when she wouldn’t leave him when she should have.
My stomach rolls, and I put my hand on my stomach and meet Zane’s gaze.
“My mom married a guy that wanted control.” I drop my eyes to the table, feeling like he sees too much.
“He controlled everything she did, where she went, what friends she had. She never could do anything without him knowing and approving what she was doing.” I laugh bitterly.
“And yet, he had no such issues with doing whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted, if you catch my drift. I tried for years to get her to leave him. It was only after his third woman on the side or maybe the fourth that she finally told him she was done. Well, she’d told him before that she was done; but he always managed to talk her into taking him back.
He’d find a way to pin it on her.” I shake my head.
“It was always her fault. If she would just do whatever he wanted, then everything would work out.” I take a breath.
“Needless to say, I’m a little leery of controlling guys. ”
“I’m sorry, Evie.” His hand tightens on mine a moment. “Did you get stuck in the middle of it?”
I laugh humorlessly. “He used to try to convince me that their dysfunctional relationship was my fault.”
“You know that’s not true, right?”
I nod. “I do...now.” I take a deep breath.
“I used to think that if I was just good enough, peaceful enough, things would be better between them. I would even try to get my mom to just do what he asked. And then I grew up and realized how awful he was. Then I switched to trying to convince her to leave him.” I fall silent and sigh.
“That’s why we moved to Florida. I finally convinced her to leave him.
We came here to live with my uncle, my mom’s brother, just until we can get back on our feet.
” I finally finish my sad saga, and the silence stretches between us.
“Maybe if your dad ever comes to visit you, don’t introduce me.”
My eyes jerk to his, and I see his body is stiff with anger. “Why?” I ask softly, needing to know.
“Because I’m pretty sure I'd kill him.”
I’m waiting for him to say he’s teasing, but he doesn’t.
I try to pull my hand from his, but he doesn’t let me.
He waits until my eyes are on his again.
“I’m sorry, Evie. I’m sorry you had to endure all that but thank you for telling me.
It helps me understand you so much better.
I want you to know that I will never do that to you.
” He ducks his head when I drop my eyes, so we still maintain eye contact.
“I know words are just words, but I’ll show you.
I will earn your trust, and I’ll keep at it until I do. ”
I take a deep breath. “Then why was Reid at lunch? Why do you have him watching me? And Zane, you’d better tell me the truth.”
“Because of who you are.” His hand tightens on mine.
“I know we didn’t really get to talk the other night.
I wanted to give you time to adjust to all this.
You met my wolf.” I nod. “You're my mate.” He pauses and searches my face. “You’re basically my soul-mate, the only one I will ever be with. Mates are everything to us. As wolves, we mate and bond for life. You’re that for me—my everything, the one I’ve waited my entire life for.
” His hand tightens on mine. “You’re incredibly important to me, but you’re also a target.
My father is the alpha of our pack, and I’m in line to inherit his position one day.
I’ll be the next alpha of our pack, and you’re my mate.
The best way to get to me is through you. So yes, you’re protected at all times.”
“What do you mean at all times?”
He sits back in his chair. “Somebody’s been on security detail for you since I found out who you were to me.”
My eyes widen. “I’ve never seen anybody until Reid today at lunch.”
“Yeah. I know. We didn’t want to scare you off.”
I take in everything he’s saying. “All the time?” He nods. “Even at night?” He nods again.
I study his body language. “You stay outside my dorm room at night.” It’s not a question.
He doesn’t look away. “Almost every night.”
“Why?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “I can’t sleep here knowing you’re unprotected in your dorm room. I already hate what happened to you that night in the woods. I will never let something like that happen again.”
“You just stay outside, though, right?”
He doesn’t look away from me. “Yes.”
I eye him. “So...”
He arches an eyebrow. “So,” he says in return.
“So, I’m not getting out of a follower anytime soon?”
“No. Somebody will shadow you at all times when you’re at a public place and then outside your dorm.”
“And you don’t think that’s a little overkill?”
“No.” His face is serious.
I lean back in my chair. “Tell me about mates.”
His eyes don’t leave mine. “What do you want to know?”
“I don’t know. Everything, I guess.”
He smiles. “Okay, I’ll do my best. As I already said, wolves bond for life. We wait for our mate.”
“What if you don’t find your mate?” I interject.
His voice is solemn. “Wolves eventually lose their humanity if they don’t bond.” My eyes widen at that. “Not for a very long time,” he rushes to reassure me. “But they go rogue if they don’t find their mate.”
“What happens to them if they go rogue?”
“They have to get put down, but it’s usually pretty dangerous.”
I shudder, and he reaches across the table for my hand.
“But that’s not going to happen to me. I found you.
That’s why mates are so important to us, though.
We guard them fiercely.” He studies my face a moment.
“I will never push you for more than you’re ready for, Evie.
If you never wanted to bond with me, I would let you go live your life. ”
“Would you find somebody else?”
“No. You’re it for me. Even if I could mate another, I wouldn’t. You’re the only girl for me.”
My heart sort of melts at his words. “Are you sure? We don’t know each other all that well.”
He rubs his thumb over my knuckles. “I know you, Evie. You love orange chicken and iced coffee. You work hard and stay up late to study. You help anybody that comes across your path, including giving away your free drinks at the coffee shop. You don’t ever make fun of people, and you have a tender heart.
You like to have fun and aren’t afraid to laugh at yourself.
You give your whole heart to everything you do, even if it’s a sport you don’t play often.
” He smiles at me. “I see you, and I love everything about you.”
Slate comes into the kitchen without a shirt, dripping with sweat. He walks past us and grabs a water before leaning against the counter and eyeing us. “Did he tell you about the bond?”
I nod and glance Slate’s way. “He did.”
“Did he tell you it’s weakening him?”
I turn back to Zane in confusion, but he’s busy glaring at Slate. “What do you mean?” I ask, looking between the two of them.
“Nothing,” Zane answers first.
I turn to Slate who watches me carefully. “The longer he goes with the bond between you not completed, he’s in pain.”
“Slate.” Zane’s voice is a growl.
I face Zane. “Is that true?”
“I’m fine,” he grinds out.
“He’s not,” Slate says.
“Slate,” Zane barks out.
“Zane, stop. I want to know.”
I turn back to Slate. “Tell me what I need to know.” Zane growls low in his chest, but I ignore it.
“The bond has been activated simply by spending time with you. He’ll be able to feel your strong emotions.
If you were a wolf, you’d be able to feel his as well.
The bond’s goal is to push you towards completing the bond and mating.
” Slate’s eyes are intense. “When the bond doesn’t naturally progress, the two in the bond feel the effects of it. ”
“Which is what?” I ask, my voice clear and calm.
“It starts as a stomach ache, eventually stomach cramps. It can lead to debilitating pain.”
“Slate, stop,” Zane barks. Slate shuts his mouth, but the damage has been done. I turn to Zane. “I’m fine.”
“Are you in pain?” I ask.
“I’m fine.”
“Zane, are you in pain?”
He grits his teeth. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. He shouldn’t have told you that.”
“No, he shouldn’t have. You should have.” I cross my arms over my chest and level a glare at him. Horror hits me suddenly. “Is that why you’ve been playing so poorly?”
“Wow. Thanks.”
I grimace, thinking I could have probably handled that a little better. Slate chuckles, earning him a dark look from Zane. Slate puts his hands up in surrender. “My job here is done.”
“Not so fast, Slater Thorne.” The command in my voice surprises even me.
He studies me. “You know my full name.”
“Actually, that would be my suitemate. I told her there was a Slate here who played soccer, and she knew who you were.” I watch him carefully. “Said you were going to be the next Mess.”
He blinks at me, while Zane barks out a laugh. “Messi,” Zane says in a voice full of laughter. “But I like Mess; let’s stick with that.”
“Laugh it up,” Slate mutters under his breath. “Am I allowed to go now?” he asks in a dry voice.
“When’s your next home game?” I ask, ignoring his question.
“Friday.”
“What time?”
“Seven.”
I nod. “I’ll be there. I want to try to bring my suitemate too.”
His eyes flick to Zane’s, and I fight the urge to sigh. “I’m not going to ask permission,” I tell him.
Zane grins. “I know. Can I go with you to the game?”
“You don’t have practice?”
“I do, but hopefully, I can get out on time to go watch.”
“Perfect. I'll get tickets.”
“I can get them,” Slate says in a low voice. “Three?”
“I’m not sure yet; I’ll ask my suitemate and get back to you. Does that work?” He gives me a short nod. “Okay, I’ll let you know soon.”
“Now, can I go?” Slate asks.
I meet Zane’s grin with one of my own. Zane nods his head towards the living room. “Have a good night, Slater Thorne,” I can’t resist. He grunts out a goodnight, and then it’s just Zane and I again. “That’s the most I’ve ever heard him talk,” I admit.
“He doesn’t talk a lot, but he’s always listening.” I take that in, not that it surprises me in the least. “He’ll be my enforcer one day.”
“What’s an enforcer do?”
He grins. “Enforces the pack laws.”
“By...” I prompt.
“By taking out those who refuse to obey.” His eyes darken. “Or those who would cross him or threaten our pack.”
“And by taking out, you mean...”
“Kill them,” he says simply.
I blanch. “Oh.”
His gaze is serious. “Pack life is dangerous, Evie. We have enemies, and we have to protect the weaker in our pack—the elderly, the children, our mates. We take it very seriously. Wolves don’t mess around. If they attack, they mean to kill.”
I take in his words, trying to process all this. “And you,” I pause, trying to find the words. I finally just say what I’m thinking. “I can’t picture you a killer.”
His eyes harden. “Don’t ever mistake my tenderness for you and the love I have for you and my packmates for weakness. My beast is a predator and will destroy anyone who tries to threaten the ones I love, especially my mate.”