Chapter 25
Slater
I shove Tessa away just as whatever it is explodes from the forest. I shift instantly, shredding my clothes and meet the creature head-on.
It has Tessa in its sight, and that’s not going to happen.
Several things hit me at the same time. First, I take in the hideous black creature and realize it’s the same creature that came after Evie.
The creatures that her roommate, Sam, and her then boyfriend, Jace, turned into.
And then Tessa screams. Terror rolls through me, and I react without thought.
I viciously bite and tear apart the neck of the creature, wringing its body back and forth.
My wolf is ruthless, and right now, I don’t even try to pull him back.
This creature was after our mate; it deserves to be gutted.
It hits me precious seconds later that Tessa is still screaming.
And now, I have a different kind of problem on my hands.
I toss the dead creature to the side and turn towards my mate.
She’s staring at me with eyes wide with horror.
She puts her hands out in front of her. The stench of fear rolling off her makes my wolf growl low in his chest.
“No,” she whisper cries.
I freeze and realize that she’s scared of me.
My wolf goes still, surprising me. He doesn’t usually give up a frenzy that easily; and that’s exactly what he was going through with that creature of darkness.
In my shifted form, it’s harder for me to fully comprehend what’s going on.
My wolf doesn’t pick up on nuances like I do in my human form.
But if I shift right now, I will be naked.
And I have a feeling, she might lose her mind if she sees me shift back. I have no idea what to do.
Zane. I reach out to my packmate. I need help. I need Evie.
His growl rolls through my mind, and I quickly reframe my request. I need yours and Evie’s help. Tessa saw me shift, and she’s terrified. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I should shift back or not.
I feel his anger roll away, quickly replaced with calm. Where are you? I give him our location. We haven’t left campus yet. We'll be right there.
I break the mental connection and watch my mate.
She’s hyperventilating now, and my anger surges.
I also sense someone approaching. I can’t risk being seen.
The creature I tore the neck out of is covered by the darkness.
But I’m out too close to the main building.
If someone comes this way, they’ll see me.
I quickly move towards Tessa. Her eyes widen, and I will her not to run.
My wolf will give chase if she does, and I won’t be able to stop him.
She takes a step back, and my wolf growls in warning.
He takes another step towards her, and she takes another step backwards.
My wolf growls again, and she goes still.
“Please don’t hurt me,” she whispers.
My wolf growls loudly at her words, and I realize we’re out of time.
I have to get out of here, and I’m not leaving her.
I run at her and push her into the darkness.
She lets out a small cry but doesn’t scream thankfully.
He nudges her again, and this time she sinks to her knees in the grass.
He nudges her again, and she scrambles back.
I hate that she’s so afraid, but at least we’re under cover of darkness now.
My wolf sits right in front of her, not daring to move.
Thankfully, she stays quiet as well. A guy and girl walk past, completely oblivious to us.
After they pass, Tessa gets up on her knees like she’s going to make a run for it.
My wolf positions himself in front of her, so she can’t.
I see her wild eyes looking around desperately, and I will Zane and Evie to get here.
I want desperately to shift, but I’m afraid that will push her over the edge.
She’s in a precarious position right now.
This was not how I wanted to introduce her to my wolf.
Frustration burns through me, but I push it aside.
Right now, my mate needs me. I just need Evie and Zane to get here and explain things, so I can shift and then hold her.
I scent them before they get close. My wolf growls at another male approaching our female. We need him, I remind my wolf. He growls again, letting me know he’s not happy with my thoughts.
“Tessa,” Evie calls out as she makes her way over to us. I notice Zane has a hold of Evie’s arm and is watching my wolf carefully. I feel his alpha power hit a moment later, and my wolf growls in warning.
It’s just a precaution, Zane sends. I know it’s because his mate is here, but it still annoys me and my wolf.
“Tessa,” Evie says, coming closer.
Tessa doesn’t take her eyes from my wolf. “Evie?” Tessa’s voice breaks, and I feel it to my very core. I hate it with every fiber of my being that she’s scared of me, of my wolf. My wolf echoes my anger in the form of a low growl. Tessa jerks backwards.
Not helping, Zane sends to me.
I don’t bother with a response. Evie and Zane get closer.
When Evie tries to get close to Tessa, Zane stops her with a hand on her arm and then speaks to Tessa.
“Tessa, everything is okay. I’m going to explain to you everything that’s going on.
But first, I need you to come away from the wolf.
” A growl erupts from my wolf, and he takes a step forward.
Slate, stop. I ignore him. If he thinks he’s going to take my mate from me, he’s lost his ever-loving mind.
Tessa stands slowly to her feet and then takes a step back.
My wolf growls and moves forward in an instant, placing himself between Tessa and Zane.
Zane reacts instantly, all but throwing Evie behind him and throwing alpha power at me. My wolf doesn’t even react to it.
“Slate, stand down,” Zane says out loud, but I ignore him.
He’s not taking my mate from me. My wolf echoes my sentiment with a fierce growl.
“I am trying to keep things from escalating, Brother,” Zane says.
“But if you threaten my mate, I will do what I need to do to keep her safe.” He waits a beat and then turns back to Tessa. “Tessa, I need you to come—”
My wolf leaps forward, growling at Zane.
“Slate! Knock it off!” Zane all but roars at me, but I can see he’s starting to shift.
He’s keeping it under control, but it won’t be long.
Some part of me knows that’s a bad idea, but the other part wants him to shift so we can tear into him.
How dare he try to take our mate from us.
She is ours. Ours to protect, to make safe, to make sure—
“Slater?” a soft voice says. And then she touches my wolf’s side.
The touch is so soft and brief, I would have thought we imagined it.
But when my wolf instantly stills, I know we didn’t imagine it.
My wolf turns his head to her, and she stares down at me.
“Slater?” her voice is so soft, and yet, I can see the bravery in her eyes, the courage in her stance.
“That’s Slater,” Evie says quietly. “I know it’s so much to take in, Tessa; and I’m so sorry it had to happen this way.
But things are escalating. Zane is about ready to shift.
If he does, it will be bad. Really bad. I need you to help calm Slate,” Evie continues in a very calm voice.
“Please, Tess.” Tessa finally turns to face her friend, and my wolf growls at the loss of eye contact.
Why did you have to shift? Zane asks through our mental link.
Surprise runs through me. You don't smell it?
Zane lifts his head, and a growl reverberates through his chest, making both Evie and Tessa startle. “Zane, what is it?” Evie asks. He pushes her behind him and crouches low. I move towards Tessa, ready to jump in front of her if Zane loses control.
Are there more? He demands.
Not that we’ve picked up on.
He nods. My wolf is one of the best trackers in the pack because of his scent tracing.
So, when my wolf lets me know that there’s nothing else out here; it’s the truth.
The rancid smell of the dead thing is still bothering my wolf’s nose, but so far, we’ve been ignoring it.
Zane glances over at me and then back at Evie and Tessa.
“Tessa, I need you to listen very carefully to what I’m about to say.
” My wolf growls low. I hate that he’s talking to my mate without me beside her, but I realize this has to happen.
I need to shift back. “This is going to be a lot to take in, but—”
“Slater is a wolf.” The words from Tessa’s mouth take us all by surprise.
“I don’t know how, but I—” she turns to face me with wide eyes.
“I watched it happen,” she whispers. “I don’t.
..I don’t understand. This is all..” She shakes her head.
“I have to get back to my job.” She runs a hand through her hair, a sign she’s in distress.
I can’t take it anymore. I'm not going to have my mate terrified when I can do something about it.
Do you have pants or shorts or anything? I ask Zane.
Yeah. Give me a minute.
“Evie, I have to grab pants from the truck. I’ll be right back.”
Evie nods and watches him go a minute before turning back to me.
She doesn’t say anything, and I wonder if this is her first time seeing me in wolf form.
Zane is back seconds later and tosses a pair of black sweatpants at my feet.
“Evie and Tessa, turn around,” Zane commands.
Evie spins around instantly. Tessa is a little slower to turn.
It wouldn’t bother me if she wanted to watch, but I have a feeling my very human mate wouldn’t be used to my nakedness the way I am.
So, I wait for her to turn around before I shift and throw on the sweatpants.
Part of me is shocked my wolf surrendered control back to me so quickly.
Usually, I have to wrestle back control from him.
That was the easiest shift I’ve made in a very long time.
My guess is because he knows Tessa needs me, the human me.
As soon as my pants are on, I walk towards my mate.
“Tessa.”
She turns around, and I don’t give her a chance to be afraid.
I step right up to her, wrap my arms around her, and pull her against my chest, letting her feel the solidness of me.
She needs to know that I’m strong, that I will fight to protect her every time, and that I will keep her safe.
She needs to know that my wolf is a dangerous predator that will stop at nothing to keep his mate safe.
I’ll tell her all that, but right now, my mate just needs a hug.
She just needs to be held. I run my hand down her spine and feel her shiver in my arms. I don’t think it’s from the cold.
I think it’s from fear and worry and shock.
Only when her shivers start to ease and the acrid smell of her fear starts to die down, do I pull back just the tiniest bit, just enough to be able to see her face.
“Slater?” she questions softly.
“It’s me.”
She stares up at me. “And the wolf?” she whispers.
“Also me.”