Chapter 31
Tessa
Evie and Zane get there just in time for the game, and Quint makes it back with enough snacks to feed an army. “Are you ready?” Evie asks as she sits next to me.
“Yes!”
“You think they have this game today?”
I nod. “I do.”
Zane wraps his arm around Evie’s shoulder. “Slate’s more rested than he usually is; he’ll be good to go.”
The game starts, and I’m on my feet with the rest of the fans. We’re only a few minutes in when I turn to Quint, who’s sitting next to me. “Is it weird?”
He glances at me. “Is what weird?”
“Slater told me you guys all get shots before the game that keep your,” I pause. “Your you know what subdued.”
He grins. “I love you, Tessa. You make everything sound more dirty than it really is.”
My mouth drops open. “That wasn’t dirty.”
He just chuckles. “It is a little weird; it took me awhile to get used to it. But you eventually get used to it. The good thing is the shot only works for a few hours and then the connection fully returns.”
I turn my gaze back to the field and watch as Ben makes a really good save. I jump to my feet. “Way to go, Ben!”
Quint elbows me after it quiets down a little. “Better not let our man, Slate, hear you cheering for another guy.”
“He can’t hear me over this crowd.”
He gives me a smirk. “You’d be surprised what he can pick up on.”
I look down at the field, at the man in question.
My breath catches in my throat. He gets a look at the goal, but the shot is just a little too far to the side.
The ball runs alongside the outside of the net.
Their goalie sends it back out. We get the ball and keep it at our end and get another look at the goal, but one of their players sends it out of bounds.
Bruce does a corner throw in to Slater, and Slater head butts it to Diego who kicks it in. Goal!
I join the other screaming fans and watch as the guys run together to celebrate. The rest of the half finishes without any more goals scored. I blow out a breath as half time starts. “Good so far,” Evie says, squeezing my hand. “We just have to hold on to our lead.”
“Another goal would be nice to seal the deal,” I add.
She grins. “By Slate?”
“Of course!” I stretch. “I’m headed to the bathroom.”
“I’ll come with.” She turns to Zane. “We’re heading to the bathroom.”
“I’ll come.”
Evie isn’t at all surprised, and I don’t mind because he can use those broad shoulders to make a path for us. We get to the bathroom fairly easy, much easier than at the football games at least. When we get into the bathroom, Evie whirls around and grabs my hand, startling me.
“What in the world, Evie?”
“What happened with you and Slater?” she asks.
I stare at her, still trying to catch my breath from her accosting me. “What?”
“What happened at the house?”
“What do you mean?”
She makes a sound of exasperation. “With you and Slater. What did you do to make him sleep?”
My eyes widen. “Nothing. We just...slept. That’s all.”
She gives me a look. “There wasn’t even like, I don’t know, kissing or anything?” Her eyes dance mischievously.
I shake my head, walking towards one of the stalls. “You’re a mess.”
“Me?” she squeaks. “You always wanted all the details from me!”
“Well, that was,” I walk into a stall and close the door. “Different.”
“Different how?” she demands.
“Okay, it wasn’t different at all,” I concede. I finish my business and head to the sinks to wash my hands. “You know I wouldn’t—” Somebody comes really close to the sink next to me, and I move further down.
“Hello, old suitemate.”
I look up and see Sam, my old suitemate and Evie’s old roommate standing next to me at the sink. “Long time no see.”
I stare at her in shock. “Where have you been? You up and left college without a word to anybody.”
“Did I? Huh.” She smiles, but it’s not at all friendly.
“Well, I just wanted to stop by to say hi. Hi.” She waves at me, and honestly, it’s really weird.
“Oh, and I wanted to give you a little present.” Before I can process what she’s doing, she grabs my wrist. “There. Bye now.” She walks over to the exit.
“Oh, and say hi to my old roomie for me.” And then she’s gone.
I stare after her, weirded out by the entire thing.
“Tessa? What are you looking at?” Evie asks from behind me.
I turn around to face her. “Your old roommate was just in here.”
Her face pales. “Sam?” The word is barely a whisper. I nod. “What did she want?”
It’s only then that I remember her saying something about a gift. I look down at my wrist and stare at the shiny silver bracelet now adorning my wrist. “She gave me this.” I show Evie the bracelet, and she stares at it as well.
“What is it?” she asks.
“A bracelet, I guess.” I start to finger it, but she puts a hand on my arm.
“Don’t. Let’s talk to Zane first.”
“Zane? Why?” I ask, but she’s already leaving the bathroom. I rush to catch up with her. Zane sees us approaching and smiles, but it cuts off when he looks at Evie.
He strides towards us. “What’s wrong?”
Evie doesn’t waste any time. “Sam was here.”
Zane instantly changes. His entire body stiffens, and he scans the area, even as he takes Evie’s hand in his. “What happened?” he asks.
Evie turns to me. “She talked to Tessa.”
“What did she want?” he demands. I’m not used to him sounding that way- so cold and furious.
“I don’t know. She just said she stopped by to say hi.”
“And the bracelet,” Evie whispers.
“Oh.” I lift my wrist. “She gave me this.”
“What is it?” Zane demands.
“I don’t know. It’s just a bracelet.” I start to fiddle with it, seeing if I can figure out how to take it off.
“Don’t touch it,” Zane says urgently. I freeze. “Don’t mess with it until we know what we’re dealing with.”
Evie turns to me, her face pale. I feel like my face matches hers. “What is it?” she whispers to Zane.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s just a regular bracelet.”
“Why not?” I ask.
He meets my gaze. “There’s no way she made the trip here and sought you out and put herself in danger just to pass on a friendship bracelet.” His voice is harsh and so not what I’m used to from him. I study the bracelet and get a bad feeling. “Can I just take it off?”
“No.” His answer is swift. “We have no idea what will happen. For all we know, you could die when we take it off.”
I stare at him in horror. “Zane!” Evie shrieks.
He grimaces. “Sorry, Tessa.”
Quint walks out of the men’s bathroom and sees us gathered. “Hey, my peeps. Are you ready to head back—” he stops. “What’s wrong?”
“Sam showed up,” Zane says.
Quint’s eyebrows rise. “Is everybody okay?”
“Tessa’s not,” Evie says, picking up my wrist and showing him.
Quint stares at the bracelet on my wrist. “What is it?”
It’s Zane that answers. “I don’t know. Any ideas?”
Quint steps closer. “May I?” he asks, far more serious than I’m used to from him. I just nod, having no idea what else to say. Zane closes in on me and Quint, and I try not to feel weird with both of them so close.
“Don’t try to undo it,” Zane warns in a low voice.
Quint gives Zane a somber look. “What are you thinking?”
“I have literally no idea. I reached out to my dad. He was already on his way for the game.”
“Slater’s game?” I question.
Zane nods. “He got delayed because of some work stuff, but he’s almost here now.”
“He’s the...” I change my words when I notice there are people all around us. “He’s the one in charge, right?” Slater told me Zane’s dad is the alpha.
Zane nods. “He can give us an idea what to do, if anything.” My nerves start a happy dance, and I feel like I'm going to be sick.
A thought hits me. “Don’t tell, Slater.” Zane and Quint both give me matching wary expressions. “Not while he’s playing. Let him finish the game, and we’ll go from there.”
Evie squeezes my hand but doesn’t say anything. “Okay,” Zane agrees. “We’ll let him play for now, but if he sees we’re all gone, he’s going to figure out something’s up.”
I lift my chin. “Then we all go sit in those seats and watch the game.” I start back towards our seats.
“Tessa,” Evie starts.
“My dad will be here in like five minutes. The game won’t start back up for a few minutes anyway. Let's just sit tight a few more minutes,” Zane says calmly.
I agree, but my insides are churning. I don’t look down at my wrist, but I do take stock of how I’m feeling.
I really don’t feel any different. “I really think it’s just a normal bracelet.
Why she went through all that, I don’t know.
” I turn to Evie. “What happened with her and Jace anyway? I mean you told me they were awful to you, but you never really told me any more than that.”
I don’t miss the look she and Zane exchange. Evie gives me a careful look, like she’s trying to decide just how much to tell me. “Just tell me,” I finally say.
Reid shows up out of nowhere. “She’s gone.” Zane curses low under his breath. “We could track her,” Reid starts.
“But Slate’s our best tracker,” Zane fills in.
Evie finally turns to me. “Remember the other night,” she starts.
“Let’s go somewhere a little more private,” Zane says.
He ushers us over to an area where there are no people around.
The guys provide a wall around us, and Evie turns to me.
“Remember that horrible creature from the other night? The one Slater killed?” I nod, my throat tight.
“That’s what Sam and Jace are. Were,” she corrects.
“Jace is dead, but Sam got away that night. I told you that they were awful to me, but I didn’t tell you that they took me from my room one night and carried me into the woods.
They were going to take me to their leader, but Zane intervened, thankfully.
But they shifted into those horrible creatures. ”
My heart is beating overtime, and I will myself to take in everything she’s saying. “So, they’re wolves too?”
“No. Zane, can you explain it?”
Zane turns around so he’s facing us. “They’ve got a guy, they call him their master, calling the shots.
This guy just so happens to have a vendetta against my family.
” His jaw is set, and I can see the anger coming off him.
Evie puts her hand in his, and he seems to relax slightly.
“They use dark magic to force a shift, but they’re not really wolves.
So, they transform into a form of dark magic.
What they’re doing is beyond dangerous and really evil. ”
“And Sam is one of those...things?” I ask.
“Yeah. They’re called Skinwalkers, and somehow, they targeted Evie. They knew she was my mate before I did. We don’t know how. And now, they know you’re Slate’s mate. That has to be why they came after you.”
“But why this bracelet?” I ask.
“That’s what we’re going to find out,” a new, powerful voice says. The fact that Zane doesn’t jump in surprise like Evie and I do, let’s me know he knew the man was coming. I turn and take in the man who looks like a slightly older version of Zane.
“I’m going to take a wild guess and say that you’re Zane’s dad,” I tell him.
He smiles easily. “You would be correct. You must be Tessa. I’m James.” He puts out his hand, and I put mine tentatively in his. His hand is so large, it nearly swallows mine whole.
“I think I’ll just stick with Mr. Blackwood,” I tell him.
He smiles again, and it reminds me so much of Zane. Another guy moves into my line of sight, and I take in the big man. “This is Joe, my enforcer.”
“Oh.” I swallow. “You’re the one that takes out all the threats.”
His eyebrows rise just the slightest bit, and I feel everybody turn to look at me. “That’s what Slater said.”
Mr. Blackwood laughs. “That sounds like our Slate. Now, let’s see about that bracelet.” He puts his hand out. “May I?” I step forward and put my hand out. He takes my hand in his and turns it in all directions, looking at the bracelet.
“I’m not really sure why everybody’s overreacting. It's just a bracelet,” I say. Zane’s dad doesn’t say anything, but he keeps looking at it.
“Well, for one, it’s real silver,” he finally says.
“Is that a problem?” I ask.
He meets my gaze. “Real silver burns our flesh. Nothing we can’t recover from, but it’s a nuisance.”
“But I’m not...one of you.”
He nods and looks at Joe. “Any thoughts.”
The enforcer steps close and picks up my wrist, examining it in the same way Zane’s dad did. It seems to take forever, and I try to be patient. I really do. “If we don’t get back to the game, Slater’s going to know something’s up. And he needs to focus on this game; they need this win.”
Zane’s father nods. “They do. Okay. That's all for now. You can head back into the game.”
I take a step back. “Really?”
“For now. Let’s watch Slate finish his game, and we’ll go from there.
Zane, give me a moment, would you?” Zane’s dad gives Reid and Quint both a hard look.
“Keep close.” They both nod, and I follow them as they start back towards our seats.
We make it to our seats just a few minutes into the second half.
Hopefully, Slater didn’t notice anything.