But not me. No babies on the way here, and I could only dream of being so busy with my mates. Or having them in the same room except when times were desperate. I carefully wiped my feet on the provided mat at the foot of the slippery marble stairs to the stacks. Up there were many tables and chairs as well as couches, many in quiet corners, and I had one in mind. As I reached the top landing, I looked down and spotted another bright-blue poncho and its wearer headed in the door. Had he been coming this way the whole time? Because I’d really started to believe it was the same person.
And when he started up the stairs, I got scared. I’ll admit it. I was in the same age range as the kidnapped girls. Was he following me? This guy had not been headed for the library until after I bumped into him. I scooted behind a pillar and watched him climb to the top of the steps then pause and look around. I wished Dean was here. Even though he was not a shifter, not pack, he was a great and supportive friend and classmate. He’d gone from a crush on me to one on another pack member, Sierra…and it wasn’t likely to happen, but at least he had good taste.
Then he started off to the left, so, once he was far enough away, I went to the right. Far right. I tried not to let it worry me, to convince myself it was all in my mind, but when I saw the same guy, poncho now off but over his arm, I gave up and fled. Right after using my phone to take a quick snap of his face.
I had no real reason to think I was being followed. He hadn’t said a word to me and, in fact, when I reached the bottom of the stairs, far too unnerved to study, he was seated at a table with a book open in front of him.
Just another student, but I left anyway. I went to the donut shop and bought a dozen.
Ate every one and had too much of a stomach ache to go to my afternoon class. Life was not going as planned at all.
Chapter Seventeen Tris
Christie asked how high every time Samson said jump. I knew she was my mate. We were mated in every way possible, but still, she ran to him every time he called. And he was taking advantage of her pack loyalty. He knew I wasn’t allowed onto pack lands and, while he had looked the other way the few times I’d barged my way in, it was only a matter of time before he asserted his place in the pack and made sure I never went there again.
He was breaking my mate apart and though I didn’t hate him for what he did so long ago, breaking her heart was warrant for hatred to grow inside me.
Christie walked in the door and plopped into the first chair near the entrance, letting her bookbag flop to the floor like a dead fish. I’d just gotten in from work but was glad for time alone with her. I didn’t mind Gigi—in fact, she was the grandmother I thought everyone needed in their lives—but Christie and I were newly mated, and I craved the time alone with her, and not just in the bedroom.
“Everything okay?” I asked, spoonful of peanut butter poised right at my mouth.
My mate looked positively green around the edges and had both hands on top of her stomach. She was wearing a pair of tight dark-washed jeans with one of those sweaters that hung down one arm, revealing her shoulder and the lace intricacies of her black bra underneath.
Every time I saw her, it was like the first time.
“I got a little stressed at school and decided death by donuts was the way to fix it.”
I snorted at her description. I mean, who hasn’t taken out their stress on fried dough? I certainly had.
“Well, there are other ways to handle stress that are a lot more fun and don’t give you a raging stomachache. I just want to volunteer for the position for the next time you need to cut loose.”
She laughed, throwing back her head, but then groaned. “Ugh, everything hurts. Also, there was chocolate milk involved.”
“Let’s get you into bed. We can watch something funny, and you can let the fried dough settle in your gut.”
My gorgeous mate nodded but didn’t make a move to get up. I put the spoon in the kitchen then crossed the room, only one thing on my mind—getting her to bed.
“What are you doing?” she giggle-asked as I picked her up honeymoon-style and carried her toward the bed. I laid her down gently once we got there and unzipped her long, black leather boots one at a time, trying to be seductive about it, and probably failing.
“You are the best,” she said in an already sleepy voice. She unbuttoned her jeans but made no attempt to actually take them off.
“I know. I am. Are you wanting these off? No funny business now. I’m not that kind of guy. Jeez, Christie.” I pulled off her jeans then kissed her from her feet to her thighs but stopped before I wanted to. She was not feeling well, and my wolf demanded I make sure she was okay. My hormones were officially overridden.
“You are that kind of guy, and I swear once this sugar high has passed, I intend to take advantage of you. In the meantime, find us a movie, my mate. I’m so…blah…”
She tucked herself under the covers, and