“Hey, baby.” A tall blonde sashayed over and side-eyed me. “What’s going on?”
“Leave me alone, Bridgette.” His eyes never left mine.
“Are you being serious right now?” She placed her hands on her hips, making her tank top somehow pull lower. Her cleavage was on display for the whole world to see. “Last night, in my bed, you were very attentive.” She smirked at me. “It was the best night of my life.”
It stung that he slept with her. Maybe I was just imagining this bond between us.
“It was a mistake.” He lifted my chin to meet his eyes. He then turned his head in her direction and glared. “I said leave me the fuck alone.”
She huffed and continued to stare as if she couldn’t believe he’d just dismissed her.
“Look, obviously you and she need to talk.” I tried to keep the jealousy from my voice. I had no reason to feel that way. He wasn’t mine. My wolf howled inside, refusing to clamp down.
“No, I need to talk to you right now.” He turned his back on her and focused on me. “I couldn’t get you out of my head, and I fucked up. I don’t understand what’s going on between us.”
Our connection wound tighter as if his words were all it needed to strengthen our bond. He felt it too, but he thought I was human. That could be a good thing. He would think it was just crazy lust. Humans can’t mate with shifters. It was physically and mentally impossible. “Me neither, but it’s probably best for both of us to keep our distance.”
It was so ridiculous to be upset over him sleeping with the girl. Shifters had needs, and he was fighting our bond. I couldn’t get mad. I was fighting it too.
He rubbed his hand down his face and groaned.
“I’ll make it easier for both of us.” I turned around, and it took all my strength to pull my arm from his hand and move my legs. Without turning back, I took off as fast as I could and escaped.
Chapter Nine
I wound up skipping first period on Friday, not ready to face Ella and her inevitable questions. The way Mason and I were acting toward each other was asinine.
As I drove to the university, I parked in the overflow section. Both Ella and Mason knew where I normally parked so I had to be cautious. I walked the long way around campus heading to the back door of the building where my eleven o’clock class was. The only way they would find me was if they were specifically sniffing me out.
When I was only a few feet away from the classroom, I caught a whiff of Mason’s earthy scent.
Shit, he was near.
Before I could even take another step, he appeared, his eyes locking on me.
‘Run’ screamed in my mind. I glanced at the door only a few feet away from me. It was the girls’ bathroom, so I rushed inside.
I was relieved that there were several other girls inside. He couldn’t come in here unless he made a huge-ass scene. I should be safe here, at least for a little while. I walked into the closest stall and took a deep breath. Ugh, the stench of shit filled my nose. I should’ve known better than to do that in here.
It wasn’t long before the other girls left, and I glanced at my phone. Class had started, which meant I wouldn’t be safe in here for much longer. Everyone would be in class, and the occupants of the bathroom would be sparse. He could walk in here.
Maybe he’d already left. I could be completely overreacting. I walked out of the stall and headed to the door. I didn’t have to get close before his comforting scent hit me.
He was still waiting out there.
There had to be a way out of here. I scanned the room, and a window caught my eye. I rushed over to it and moved to open the window but the damn thing wouldn’t budge.
“Elena, you okay in there?” Mason’s voice was laced with humor. “Did you eat something bad this morning?”
Great, now he was mocking me too.
Then I realized the problem. I hadn’t unlocked the damn thing.
I fixed the problem and lifted once more. The window groaned as it opened, but it finally did.
Maybe I could get out of this unscathed after all.
I chucked my backpack out of it and then sat on the window sill. Thank God. I was home free. As I slid out the rest of the way, I was caught by strong, sexy arms.
“I’ve gotta say no one woman has ever gone that far out of their way to get away from me.” Mason’s lips turned upward into a huge-ass grin, and he winked at me. “But catching you in my arms made it all worth it.”
His hands were wrapped around my body and felt way too appealing. I had to get out of them now. “If I can’t make it any more clear that I don’t want to see you, I’m not sure what else I can do.” I pushed him hard in the chest, forcing him to release me, and he stumbled a few steps back.
“You’re something.” His eyes scanned me from head to toe, making my body come alive. He must have smelled my arousal because his smirk somehow grew even bigger.
“I’ve got to get to class.” I grabbed my backpack off the ground and slung it over my shoulder. I turned on my heel, but his hand wrapped around my arm, holding me in place.
“There’s no point.” He glanced at his watch and smiled. “You’re already ten minutes late. You’d be rude to interrupt. Let’s go grab a coffee instead.”
“No.” I couldn’t be around him. I had to stay away, for his and Ella’s safety. I couldn’t let my selfish urges take over. “That’s a pass.”
“I saved you from getting hurt.” He pointed at the
