Filed to story: Shifter Academy: Taming Her Wild Mates (Ivy) Book PDF Free
“I was testing you – you sent McClintock in one direction and me in another,” he says, leaning forward. “Why?”
“I don’t know -” I spit out, frustrated with myself for not catching that. I remember, suddenly, the moment he’s talking about – after Jackson ran and Luca stayed crouched by the pool. I didn’t look where he pointed, I just said yes to whatever direction he was indicating. I just wanted him to go – “Why won’t you just tell me?” Luca asks, his tone suddenly changing as he leans forward further, studying my face. “Seriously, Shrimp – why are you holding out? Is she…is she in trouble or something? What bad thing would happen if you just told me why you were out there – “
“I’m not lying -” I protest.
“You are lying,” he says to me, stating a simple fact that’s frustrating because it’s true. It’s bizarre – like he can already read me or something. “You know something, Shrimp, and I can’t figure out why you won’t spill.”
“If she ran from you,” I say quietly. “Maybe she doesn’t want to be found.”
“Why wouldn’t someone want to meet their mate?” Luca asks, leaning forward, staring at my face.
I go silent for a long moment, torn. Because on one hand I am the girl he’s talking about – the one who’s running from him, trying to keep our bond a secret. And on the other hand…I’m sitting here in his bed. And I could shout for Rafe, or just get up and run.
But instead I’m sitting right here, and we’re staring at each other in silence, and I know that there’s absolutely no place I’d rather be in this moment.
Except…well, except maybe a little closer to him…
Shit, I think, shaking my head a little. I am…I am in trouble here. And Luca, even though he doesn’t know what I know, he stares right back at me and the silence between us grows warm and comfortable. He turns his head a little in curiosity as he studies me and his eyes narrow, like he can’t…can’t quite see me or something. I watch, fascinated, at how his chest rises and falls as his breathing starts to deepen – Some silent impulse comes over me – I don’t know what – and as he watches I slowly run my tongue over my lower lip before pressing my lips together, wetting them. And then I leave my mouth slightly parted so that my breath rushes out over my lips as I exhale a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Luca’s eyes drop subtly then, fastening on my mouth –
And I swear to god, a shudder passes through him, traveling all the way down his spine.
I sit up straight, suddenly realizing – But I don’t know what the hell I realize because a new hand wraps around my arm now and yanks me out of Luca’s bed. “What the hell are you doing here,” Rafe growls, glaring down at me as I scramble for my feet. “He made me!” I shout, pointing at Luca. “He – he -“
I hold myself back from saying anything else – because one, Rafe doesn’t need to know, and two, he’ll probably punch Luca or something ridiculous.
So I sigh and, not knowing what else to do, snap my mouth shut.
“Hey, Sinclair,” Luca says, and I turn to see him grinning at my brother with a calm equanimity that makes me wonder if I imagined everything that just passed between us – I stare at Luca as he leans back against his footboard, lifting his arms to tuck his hands casually behind his head as he smiles at my brother.
“Shrimp and I were just catching up,” Luca says, nodding his head toward me though he definitely, almost pointedly, does not look at me. “Always good for the little guy to make friends, especially with someone who can protect him.”
“Ivi’s got all the help he needs,” Rafe snaps, glaring first at Luca and then at me. “Are we good here?” he snarls, asking me in not-so-veiled code whether or not Luca needs to be punched.
“We’re fine,” I say, rolling my eyes, my toothbrush kit still clasped in my fist.
“Then let’s go,” Rafe says, pulling me along with him as he strides across the room.
“Rafe,” I sigh, trying to figure out how the hell I can explain this as we get to our bunks. “I don’t want to hear it,” he snaps, spinning on me and pointing his long finger in my face. “But you’re not going a single place alone ever again, Ivi – not even to brush your teeth.” And with that he bends down and grabs me by the waist, his other hand reaching behind my knee, and I shriek as he basically launches me up into my bed. I hit the mattress hard, the breath leaving me for a second as I hear Jesse burst out in laughter from his bunk. “Rafe!” I shout in protest, starting to get pissed – I hate it when he throws me around just because he can – “Good night, Ivi!” he shouts, ending the conversation before he gets even angrier. And I open my mouth to protest just as the lights flick off, which feels like a sign. So, I heave a sigh and flop back against my pillow, staring at the dark ceiling. I jump and give a little shriek as something hits my stomach. My hands fly to whatever it is, touching cellophane…
“Eat your dinner,” Rafe grumbles.
“I already brushed my teeth -” “Fine! Do whatever you want!” The bed shakes as my brother throws himself onto the bunk below me. My hands wrap around the sandwich though, because I realize quite suddenly that I am hungry. I was just too distracted by the events of the evening to realize it. “Night, cousins!” Jesse laughs, his words almost lost in the clatter of the rest of the candidates turning in alongside us. “Love you!” Neither of us reply. I just scowl, turning in my bed and quietly unwrapping my sandwich, taking a bite as I peering into the darkness towards Luca’s bed. And even though I can barely see anything at all, I swear I see his silhouette still sitting at the end of the bed, not having moved an inch.
Except for his head – which is now turned towards me.
I sigh and drop my head back on my pillow as I finish my sandwich, curling up tight and pressing my eyes shut, going over every moment of my conversation with Luca in my head.
Thinking about his handsome face, the way his eyes fell to my mouth, the way the shiver ran down his spine – The fact that I did that to him…
This is…
I sigh, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.
Because this is getting into some dangerous grounds, isn’t it? Some wonderful grounds, my wolf corrects, curling into a little crescent and tucking her nose warmly beneath the edge of her tail. Sneak back over – let’s see if we can make him go all shivery again! No, I growl inwardly, shaking my head. The Hidden Princess At All-boys Alpha Academy
Because as much as I’m completely distracted and fascinated by my new connections, I have to resist the urge to explore them right now. There’s far too much at stake – If I let Luca or Jackson in too much, I could get caught and then I risk losing my shot at trying myself in the Academy and I’ll risk having to go home and fulfill my promise to marry Prince Edward. As much as I’m intrigued…
I have to keep my distance. Which means doing my best to avoid my mates during the two weeks of candidacy.
I can do that, right? Mates are forever – I will have time to explore my connections with them later, and right now I need to turn my mind to other things.
I can do this, I tell myself with a steady nod, my eyes still pressed shut.
