Filed to story: Shifter Academy: Taming Her Wild Mates (Ivy) Book PDF Free
“About,” I growl, snapping my eyes up to him, pissed that he won’t just let me get it out, “the fact that I smell like a girl underneath Jesse’s scent marking, and when he gets close to me…he can sense it.”
Rafe screws his face up in confusion. “Why the fuck would that matter to him? Like, a lot of guys would be pissed if they found out a girl was trying to infiltrate the academy. But this? Enough for him to want to, like, rip you to shreds -“
“Because,” I sigh, knowing that I could lie but…honestly, I’m not going to get away with it, because Rafe is on the scent now, and he knows all of my tells. “Because he’s my fucking mate, Rafe.”
I blurt it out, and lift my chin, because…I mean, I have nothing to be embarrassed about. He’s my mate, and it’s supposed to be a good thing. Right?
But as I watch, every single drop of blood drains from my brother’s face.
I stare wide-eyed at my brother, waiting for him to react.
But Rafe just…stares at me, his face ghostly-white, until I start to get seriously worried.
“Rafe,” I murmur, leaning forward a little, starting to reach out a hand to touch him.
“What the fuck Ivy,” Rafe whispers, so fast that the words all bleed together into one, so low that I can barely hear him. But the sentiment…is perfectly clear.
“Well it’s not like I asked for it,” I say, spreading my hands out, my eyebrows going up. “I didn’t do anything, Rafe!”
“We’re getting you out of here,” he says, his head snapping back towards the barracks, coming back to himself now and – just like dad – immediately springing into action. “We’re calling mom – this is over -“
“What!?” I gasp, and then I dart forward, smacking him as hard as I can on the arm, The Hidden Princess At All-boys Alpha Academy
“Rafe! No!”
He turns his head to me and growls, ready to retort, but I hit him again, which makes him pause.
“Rafe! You are not taking this from me just because that idiot doesn’t know how to handle himself! I want to be here – I want to train as part of the Academy! This isn’t up to you anymore, you asshole!”
Rafe blinks at me in surprise – probably because I don’t think I’ve ever in my life sincerely called him an asshole. But I bare my teeth at him now, meaning it, because he kind of is being one. Rafe is not in charge of my future even if he thinks he is.
“He is going to kill you, Ivy,” Rafe growls, leaning forward and staring at me, making me see what’s at risk here.
“He’s known something was up since the first night, Rafe,” I counter, stubbornly crossing my arms and glaring at him. “We’ve gotten through almost two weeks of him having no opportunity to hurt me – we can get through a few more days!”
“And then once you’re in the Academy?” he says, raising his eyebrows. “Because he’s fucking good, Ivi – he’s definitely getting in too.”
“When we’re in the Academy we’re allowed to carry weapons,” I say, speaking my ideas aloud as I think them because – honestly – I haven’t planned this far ahead. “I’ll learn how to protect myself!”
Rafe groans and buries his face in his hands, realizing that he’s not talking me out of here without a big fight – and also realizing, I think, that as much as I’m his little sister I’m grown now – it’s actually not his job to decide whether I stay or I go.
And damn it? I’m staying until they make me leave. Rafe takes a few deep breaths, his face tucked away against his palms, clearly putting the pieces of his reality back together. I press my hands against my thighs, waiting, working to slow my own breathing.
Slowly, Rafe starts to look up at me. “Seriously,” he whispers, his green eyes peeking over his fingertips. “He’s your mate?”
I nod seriously.
“You’re sure?”
I nod again.
“How do you know?”
I shrug. “It’s like people say. My wolf – she knew instantly when I smelled him.”
“And Jackson…he doesn’t know?” Rafe asks, exhaling deeply and dropping his hands from his face, resting them on his knees. I shake my head. “Jesse’s scent marking is enough to confuse my scent, I think. Jackson – he’s figured out his mate is here, and that I have something to do with it. But he hasn’t figured out it’s me.”
“So,” Rafe cocks his head to the side. “That’s why he’s trying to kill you – because he thinks you have something to do with keeping his mate away. But you know it’s him…so…” My brother studies me carefully, narrowing his eyes. “What? Are you like…in love with him?”
“Rafe!” I gasp, an instant blush coming to my cheeks. “What!? No! I don’t even know him! And!” I fling a hand out in the direction in which Jackson disappeared, “He keeps trying to murder me!”
“But he’s your mate!” Rafe’s face screws up in confusion. “Doesn’t that mean -“
“I don’t know what it means!” I say, throwing my hands in the air. “But do not mistake my being mated to him for any like affection! I have no idea what’s going on! I am brand new to this as well!”
