Chapter 38
Tessa
Dinner with Slater is...perfect. It’s not fancy, which is really good because of the way I’m dressed.
But it’s a chance for the two of us just to spend time together without anybody else around.
We talk for hours about everything and yet nothing.
I never laugh harder than when I’m with him.
And I never feel safer than when I’m with him.
Somehow, we avoid talking about the bracelet and its ramifications.
When we’re back in his truck, he brings up last night.
“I’m sorry about my parents.”
I turn my body, so I can face him while he drives. “Yeah, they weren’t big fans of me, were they?”
His jaw tightens, and I reach out and put my hand on his arm. He yanks it back, but the damage has already been done. I close my eyes and catch my breath. At least this one was super fast. “Are you okay? Tess?” he asks when I don’t answer him.
I cough and catch my breath. “Yeah, that was really stupid. I forgot for a moment.”
“When I get my hands on the people who cuffed you with that, they’re going to wish for mercy.” I don’t say anything, mostly because I don’t know what to say. I hate that I ruined our night and shattered the relaxing night we were having.
“Maybe you should let somebody else handle them when you find them.”
It’s silent for a moment, and then he speaks in low tones. “You do realize I’m the future pack enforcer, right? It's literally my job to track down people that threaten our pack. And add to that, you’re my mate. It’s my right as your mate to track down your enemies and kill them.”
I flinch at his words. “Kill them?”
“Yes.” His voice is hard. He looks over at me.
“I don’t take my job or responsibilities lightly both as an enforcer and as your mate.
It's my job to protect you and our pack. There are those who want nothing more than to destroy our pack and bring it to its knees. There’s real evil out there.
And while I don’t relish having to kill, I will do it in a heartbeat if the lives of my mate or my packmates are at stake.
And I’ll do it without a single ounce of regret.
” Silence falls between us. “Have they told you that the Master, the one behind Jace and Sam, the user of dark magic is after Zane’s family? ”
I turn to him. “Alpha Blackwood said as much. Why?”
“The whole reason all this started was the Master fell in love with Zane’s mom, but she didn’t choose him.
She chose Zane’s dad, her mate. The master wasn’t a wolf, but he decided he should be so she would give him a chance.
So, he found a powerful alpha who would help him get what he wants.
That’s why they came after Evie. He wants revenge.
If he can’t have Zane’s mom, he’ll go after her kids and take away their mates. ”
“What about Riley?” I breathe.
“She’s got round the clock protection.”
“Reid?” I ask.
“Him as well as others.”
“Does he watch over her house every single night?” I ask.
“When he’s in town,” Slater answers.
“How does nobody know?”
He shrugs. “He’s careful about it, but I would bet that Alpha knows. He would have to know.”
“You think so?”
“Oh yeah. He would smell him around his house every single morning when he goes out.”
I take that in. “Then why doesn’t Riley?”
“She’s just not paying attention. She’ll see it when she’s ready.”
I’m quiet as we drive. “I know I’m still learning about all this, but thank you, Slater.”
“For what?”
“For protecting me, for protecting your pack mates, for being you. You’re going to make a great enforcer one day.” He parks not far from my door and walks around to open my door for me. “I had a great time tonight; thanks.”
“Me too, Shorty.”
I shake my head but can’t stop my smile. When we walk inside, the dormitory is teaming with life. There are people everywhere, and it takes work to get through the crowded hallway to get to my room. I stop at my door. “Will you get some sleep tonight?” I ask.
“I’ll rest in my other form,” he says quietly.
“Slater,” I try.
“I’ll be fine.” He steps as close as he can without touching me. “Sleep well, Shorty. Dream of me.” And then he turns and strides down the hallway. I lose track of how many girls watch him go. But he doesn’t give any of them the time of day. Only when he’s out of sight do I head into my room.
“How’s Slater?” Stephanie asks as soon as I step inside. I shake my head, and she just laughs. “I’m sorry; you always have this sort of dreamy look on your face after you’ve been with him.”
“In my defense, have you seen the guy?”
She nods. “Yep. Dream away.”
I laugh again and start getting ready for bed. I spend about two hours studying before I can’t stay awake anymore. I send Slater a text.
Me- I'm going to sleep now. Hope you can get some rest too.
He texts me back right away.
Slater- sleep well. I’ll be watching to make sure you’re safe.
As much as I hate that he’s not sleeping, it does provide such a measure of comfort to know he’s keeping an eye out. With the thought of him close by, I fall asleep almost instantly.
The urge to run, to keep moving hits me hard.
It’s so cold. I shiver and try to find Slater’s shirt, but I can’t seem to find it.
“Keep going,” that voice urges; and I make myself move faster.
There’s danger all around me. I look behind me and see a dark, horrifying creature racing after me.
I scream and run faster, but my legs won’t move like I need them to.
They feel too heavy. I fall and watch in horror as that creature jumps towards me, mouth outstretched.
Water hits my face, and I gasp in shock. My eyes shoot open. I scream in surprise, but Slater doesn’t move. “Easy. It’s just me.” I stare up at him and try to calm my racing heart and catch my breath. I reach up and use my sleeve to wipe off the water dripping from my face.
“I’m sorry. I couldn't get you to wake up, and I couldn’t touch you. Water was all I could use.”
I take another breath, still trying to calm my racing heart. I glance around us, checking to make sure one of those creatures isn’t nearby. When I look back at Slater, his face is grim. “Are you all right?”
I don’t even know how to answer that, so I don’t. He glances at the dorm building behind me and then back at me. I know what he’s going to say before he even says it, so I say it for him. “This isn’t working.”
His eyes meet mine. “I’m going to sit in front of your door next. I’ll be able to stop you before you get outside.”
I shiver in the cold, and weariness overtakes me. “You can’t do that, Slater. Then you won’t get any rest.” Because he obviously can’t stay in his wolf form in the hallway.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Slater, you can’t—” He cuts me off.
“Tess, Babe, I am barely hanging on.” He runs a hand over his head in frustration. His glowing eyes meet mine. “Don’t ask me not to watch over you or not be here. The idea of you coming outside, trapped in a dream—”
“A nightmare,” I correct.
“A nightmare,” he says. “Makes me sick and so incredibly angry.” I wrap my arms around myself, trying to get warm. I’m so cold and tired. He curses, and my gaze shoots to his. “You don’t even have shoes on. Come on. Let’s get you inside.”
But I don’t move. “I can’t, Slater.” My voice is barely a whisper. “I’m so scared,” I admit. I watch the change come over him. Gone is the gentle Slater, my Slater. In his place is the enforcer Slater. His eyes take on a hard glint.
“Let’s go. My truck is this way. I'd pick you up, but...” he lets the words hang. He can’t because he can't touch me.
“What about my stuff?”
He looks down at me. “If you want, I’ll help you pack a bag; but it’s the middle of the night.”
“And I’ll wake up Stephanie.”
He nods. “You can borrow anything of mine you need. We just have to get through the night, and then we’ll come over first thing and get your stuff.
Let me grab the truck; I’ll be right back.
” He leaves me and sprints for his truck.
He’s back moments later, with the door open for me.
I eye the clock when we get in. It’s just after one.
I lean my head back against the seat, feeling absolutely defeated.
He doesn’t say anything on the way, and I'm grateful. When we get to the house, we quickly make our way inside. I follow him through the quiet house to his room. Only once the door is closed, does he turn on the lamp next to his desk. Then he gets to work. He turns on the shower and returns a moment later. “Shower will be warm in a minute.” I sit on the bed, too exhausted to move. He appears in front of me again. “I’ve got clothes for you for when you get out.”
I make myself walk into the bathroom and strip for the shower.
It feels really good and helps to start warming up my freezing body.
I stay in there a long time, being careful not to get my hair wet so I don’t have to sleep with wet hair.
Reluctantly, I finally turn it off and dry off.
Then I dress in the clothes Slater gave me.
I don’t let myself think about the black boxers I pull on, nor the sweats and t-shirt and socks.
I pull on the hoodie he left for me and open the door.
I notice right away he’s not in the room, but as soon as I step into the bedroom, he opens the bedroom door and comes in.
“Zane heard us come in and was checking in.” His gaze sweeps over me, but he doesn’t say anything about my clothes—his clothes.
“Take the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“You don’t have to sleep on the floor; we can—”
He cuts me off. “I can’t. I don’t want to accidentally touch you.”
His words make me deflate, and I just sort of feel empty inside. “You should take the bed. This is a big week for you.”
“Tessa, take the bed. I’m not sleeping on it.
” He grabs a pillow and blanket from the bed and drops down onto the floor next to the bed.
I feel terrible, but I know arguing is futile.
So, I climb into the bed. “I’ll hear you during the night if you wake up and get out of bed.
I won’t let you leave the room,” he says in a voice that’s void of any emotion.
“Okay.” I stare up at the ceiling, wondering if I’ll be able to sleep. But the combination of being warm and being in Slater’s bed with him right beside me on the floor makes me fall asleep almost instantly.
Something wakes me up. My eyes shoot open, and I realize it’s morning.
I hear a soft sound and turn my gaze to the spot beside me where Slater slept.
He’s no longer sleeping. No, he’s doing pushups.
A lot of them. I watch him pump out pushup after pushup.
When he finally stops, I continue watching him.
“You know, if I knew this was the sight I’d wake up to every morning, I would have slept here a long time ago. ”
Those gray eyes find mine, and I shiver at the heat there. “If I’d known what you looked like dressed in my clothes and sleeping in my bed,” he pauses and gives me a look and doesn’t finish his thought. I think it’s probably for the best that he doesn’t.