Chapter 44
Tessa
“I’m okay.”
“Son?” Alpha Blackwood asks through the phone.
“Nothing,” Zane responds in defeat.
“Okay.” I can hear him speaking to someone or maybe more than one person. It takes a minute for him to come back. I don’t say anything while we wait; I don’t really know what to say. I feel bad that he has to do this, but I also need this bracelet gone.
“You good, Man?” Quint asks softly.
“Yeah,” Zane says. He looks at me, and I don’t know how to respond to the intense look he’s giving me.
“What?” I finally ask.
“Can you feel Slate at all?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like can you still feel his emotions?”
“No. It’s completely gone. He’s keeping a tight hold of them.”
Zane takes that in. “I’m going to reach out to him and tell him to drop his hold.”
“Why?” Evie asks, stealing the question out of my mouth.
“Because I think I need his help to break it. He’s one of the strongest in our pack, and he’s also your mate. I also have a close connection with him and can find and use his strength easily enough. I think it could work.”
I take in what he’s saying. “Okay, but let’s do it tomorrow. It’s been a big day. You’re tired; Slater’s going to be tired after his game. Let’s try tomorrow morning when everybody is fresh.” The fact that nobody argues with me makes me think I’m making the right decision.
Once I’m in bed for the night, I text Slater.
Me- good game today. hope you can get some good sleep tonight
Slater- seeing as I’m stuck in a room with a guy who snores all night, probably not
I grin.
Me- okay, now I gotta know. who snores?
Slater- Diego
Me- Diego's already asleep? I would take him for a partier
Slater- yeah, he’s not in bed yet. I just know from past experience
Me- guess you need some earplugs
Slater- I usually wear my headphones to bed when I’m stuck with him. are you okay from everything earlier? the guys treating you okay?
Me- oh yeah, they’re great
Slater- they're not great. they're both pains in my backside, especially Quint
Slater- mostly Quint
Me- he does seem to have that effect on people
Slater- he's like one of those big dogs that still thinks he’s a puppy
I laugh out loud at the comparison.
Me- I think you might have nailed it
He doesn’t text back right away, and I put my phone down to wait. But I'm not that patient.
Me- it's weird hanging out with Evie and Zane and Quint without you. I think I kind of miss you
I smile at that and put my phone down. Fatigue pulls at me, and before I know it, I fall asleep.
It’s not the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had, but it’s definitely not the worst. Before I get out of bed the next morning, I snag my phone to see if Slater ever texted back.
My heartbeat picks up speed when I realize he did.
Slater- I had to go deal with something. these guys are like toddlers sometimes, I swear
Slater- hopefully you’re sleeping. sweet dreams, Shorty. I miss you too
I resist the urge to sigh, but I screenshot the text.
I don’t know why, except to just be able to make sure I don't lose it. Then I shower and dress for the day. I throw on a pair of black leggings and Slater’s sweatshirt, the one I practically live in now.
I throw my hair into a wet bun and head out to the kitchen.
“Tess, hey, we were just going to go get coffee? Want to come?” Evie asks.
“Yes.” It’s not even a question.
After buying coffee, we start the drive back. I’m busy staring out the window when I see a hair salon. A wild idea hits me. I lean forward and grasp the back of Evie’s seat. “Can you guys drop me off at that salon?”
Evie turns to look at me. “Why?”
I grin. “I want to do something. Something crazy. Want to go with me?”
She doesn’t even bat an eye. “Yes.”
“Uh, how crazy are we talking?” Zane asks.
“It’s a hair salon, Zane. How crazy can it be?” I ask.
He shakes his head but drives into the parking lot. “With you two, you never know.”
I laugh. “It’s close enough, we can just walk back.”
“Yeah, no. I’ll stay here and wait.”
I eye the salon and then Zane. “It could be a little bit.”
“It’s fine. I have a book I need to read for class anyway. Take your time.”
“Thanks, Zane,” Evie leans forward to kiss him, and I take that as my cue to leave. I'm almost to the front door when Evie catches up to me and hooks arms with me. “So, what are we doing?”
I grin at her. “How do you think I’d look with blue hair?”
An hour and a half later, Evie and I leave the salon laughing. “I still can’t believe you did it,” she says looking at my hair.
“Really? It’s me.”
She laughs. “Yeah. Okay, so I can believe it. You look incredible.”
I run my fingers through the smooth, bright blue hair. “I really like it.”
“And don’t forget our nails,” Evie says, bumping hands with mine. Our nails match my bright hair. We even got the technician to put FMU on our fingers. The pointer finger has the F, the middle the M, and the fourth finger carries the U. “I love them.”
“Me too,” I wholeheartedly agree.
When we get back to the car, we climb in. Zane kisses Evie again. “How’d it go?” She shows him her nails, and he smiles. “I love those. Tessa?” he turns to me, and his eyes go wide. Then he chuckles. “What do you think?” Evie asks with a grin.
“I think it’s great.”
I debate taking a picture and sending it to Slater, but I decide against it. I really do want him to focus. When we get back, Quint takes one look at my hair and then laughs out loud. “Tess, you are so perfect.”
I flip my hair over my shoulder dramatically. “Thank you.”
We all get serious when Zane faces me. “Ready to try again?”
I take a breath. “Okay. What do I need to do?”
Zane looks at Quint. “You ready?” Quint nods, serious for a change. Zane’s eyes lose their focus a minute, and I frown.
“He’s using the pack link,” Quint explains.
A few moments later, Zane’s eyes start to do their glowy thing. “All right. I’m connected to my dad and the pack. We’re almost ready.”
I close my eyes and wait. When nothing happens, I open my eyes again. “What are we waiting for?”
Zane cocks his head to the side. “That.”
I frown, about ready to ask what when the front door opens, and Slater steps inside. “Slater!” I move towards him without thought, stopping only inches from him.
I watch as his eyes don’t widen in shock like Zane’s did. They run over my hair and then my face and body, even my nails. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “I love it.” And that’s that. I can’t stop my smile.
“I didn’t want you to miss me in the crowd.”
His eyes run over my face. “Not possible.”
I so badly want to hug him; it’s almost painful not to. I squeeze my hands together, so I don’t do something stupid like touch him. “I missed you.”
He steps into me, almost touching. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” He glances over my shoulder, and I watch as his eyes lose their soft expression. “You ready to do this?”
I nod. “Did Zane tell you to come?”
He glances down at me again. “He told me what you were going to do, and I wasn’t not going to be here for it.”
“And it’s okay with your coach and team?”
“It’s fine.”
I don’t like that answer, but the sooner we can deal with this, the sooner he can get back. “Okay then. Let’s do this.”
We join Evie, Zane, and Quint. “Ready?” Zane asks me, his voice deeper with the presence of his wolf.
I nod. “Yes.” I brace myself for the pain coming.
Zane looks at Slater. “You in control?”
“Yes.” His voice is also lower, and I know his wolf is present. When I look up at him, his eyes are glowing again as well.
“Okay.” Zane reaches for my wrist. Thankfully, Slater doesn’t respond more than making a low sound deep in his chest. Zane’s eyes glow brighter, and then he starts to pull. That feeling ignites inside me, and I bite my tongue to keep from crying out.
“Stop,” Slater shouts, and Zane instantly pulls back. I take a shallow breath.
“It’s not working,” Slater growls.
I take a shaky breath and turn to Slater. “It has to be you.” Those dark gray eyes find mine. “We have to end this, Slater. Please.” He stares at me, and I can see how conflicted he is. I push forward. “Do you have any doubts about bonding with me?”
His answer is instant. “No.”
“Neither do I. You have to trust me in that, just like I have to trust you.”
He stares down at me, and I will him to see the truth in my eyes. I want him to say what I haven’t been brave enough to utter yet. I see when he snaps. He lifts his head, his eyes glowing. “Leave.”
Zane doesn’t wait a moment. He grabs Evie’s hand and the keys. “Let’s go.” Quint even follows without a word. Suddenly, it’s silent. I stare up at my man, unsure what to do next.
“Come on.” I follow him as he walks to the back bedrooms. He opens the door to my room without asking which one is mine.
I guess he must be able to smell that it’s mine.
He closes the door behind him and faces me.
I shiver at the intensity in his eyes and will myself not to look or act nervous.
I know if I do, he’ll call the whole thing off.
He steps close until we’re almost touching.
“We’ll try, but if it’s too much for you, you have to tell me. ” His eyes plead with me.
“I will, Slater. I promise.”
He continues to stare down at me, regret all over his face. “This is going to hurt. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. It’s not how I envisioned marking you.”
“You’ve envisioned it?” I ask.
“More times than you probably want to know.”
“What did you envision?” I nearly whisper. He stares down at me. “Tell me,” I push. “What would you do if you could freely touch me.”
His eyes flash, and I shudder at the look in his eyes. It’s downright predatory now. “I would start by kissing you until neither of us could breathe.”
I suck in a breath. “That’s a good start,” I whisper.
“Then I would kiss you down the side of your neck to the point that connects your neck and shoulder. I would pay special attention to that spot.” His voice is a rumble now. “I would kiss you there, over and over again until you arch your back and fully surrender to me and let me bite you.”
I suck in a shaky breath and meet his gaze. “I want that, all that.”
“I do too, Baby.”
“Then bite me so we can end the power of this bracelet, and then you can do all that to me in reverse.”
His eyes heat, and my stomach pitches at the look in his eyes. He steps even closer and drops his head, so that it’s almost touching my neck. He only breathes on my neck, and it’s seriously the most intimate thing I’ve ever been a part of. “Slater,” I whisper, trying to remember how to form words.
He makes a sound, and I take that as my cue to continue. “I love you.” He goes very still; I think he forgets to breathe. “I just wanted you to know before you,” I swallow. “Before you mark me.”
He pulls back the tiniest bit, so that his eyes meet mine. “I love you too, Shorty.”
I meet his gaze head-on. “Then bite me and make me yours. End this power that keeps us from each other.”
And then he strikes.