Filed to story: Shifter Academy: Taming Her Wild Mates (Ivy) Book PDF Free
I start to move away but he takes a step forward. “God damn it,” he growls, angry but putting a hand out towards me, almost pleading – “would you just stay still? I’m trying to – to apologize…”
My eyes go even wider if that’s possible – god, they must be like saucers now – “You’re what?” I breathe, fascinated. “I’m trying to say I’m sorry!” he says, all in an angry rush. “And I’m not good at this – and you’re not making it easy -“
“Oh, my bad for not making it easy, Jackson,” I growl at him, still thinking of the bruises that still blush purple on my neck. Jackson loses a long, angry breath and shakes his head at me. “I am sorry,” he says through clenched teeth, pushing forward even though…well, yeah, I am not being exactly receptive to this, am I?
“I…I’m not really used to this,” he continues, frustrated, “and I’m not good at talking to people, and…and I was confused about a lot of stuff – and I still have questions!” My expression softens as I look up at Jackson, watching his confused face, the way he looks down at the floor instead of at me, like he’s a little kid stumbling through his first formal apology after getting in trouble.
“But,” he continues, flicking his grey-blue eyes back to me now, “I am…sorry. For hurting you and scaring you. I shouldn’t have done that – I lost my temper, and I’m…” he sighs deeply, and shrugs helplessly, shaking his head like he doesn’t know what to say. “And I’m not going to do that anymore. Okay? So, you don’t need to be…afraid of me.”
Finished, he hangs his head, looking down at his shoes, clearly ashamed.
My anger drops away from me in a flash and, in its wake, my heart breaks.
Suddenly my mind turns back to all the times I’ve watched him, consciously or unconsciously, and my wolf whines inside me with pity. Because Jackson – he is always alone. He eats every single meal alone, and he doesn’t talk to anyone before lights out. He always just sits in his bed, silent, by himself.
And while I always thought that was a choice…
Well, what if it wasn’t? What if Jackson doesn’t have any friends…because he doesn’t know how?
“You’re forgiven,” I say, the words falling from my lips instantly, easily, and his head snaps up, his face the picture of surprise. I nod, reassuring him. “It’s okay. I forgive you. Um, we can just…move on.”
“Okay,” he says, fighting a smile. “Thanks. Good.” He starts to move away, but I shock myself by reaching out and grabbing his sleeve.
Jackson stops, turning to me with equal surprise.
“Hey, why don’t you eat breakfast with us in the morning?” I say, my words rushed.
“Really?” he asks, his eyebrows going up. He turns his head a little then, hesitant. “I’m not sure that your…friends are going to be happy with that.”
“Leave them to me,” I sigh, dropping his sleeve and crossing my arms with a shrug. “Just…come. If you feel like it. It’s not a big deal.”
He stands for a moment, staring at me, and then he nods once and turns, walking slowly out of the bathroom. I turn then, looking for my brother, and I breathe a sigh of relief when I see him busy, distracted by a group of candidates who are talking to him over by the urinals. Because…well, Jackson’s right – Rafe is not going to be happy about my impulsive invitation if Jackson shows up tomorrow. And I did break my promise to Rafe not to talk to him again.
But…well, he is my mate. And he’s really hot, my wolf whispers unhelpfully, brushing up warmly against my heart and wiggling with excitement. He’s hotin like…a mean way – but did you see how cute he was when he apologized!? Go after him – maybe he’ll do it again –
I groan audibly, closing my eyes against her impractical – but admittedly tempting – impulses. But suddenly I’m broken out of my reverie by my brother’s voice at my side.
“You good?” he asks, his warm hand coming to rest heavy on my shoulder.
“Yup,” I say, my eyes flashing open as I grin up at him.
“Good,” he says, slinging his arm around my shoulder and leading me out of the bathroom and towards our bunks. “Because we all need a good night’s sleep. You’ve got to bust your ass tomorrow.”
“Aye aye, Captain,” I sigh, walking with him and then climbing into my bunk just as the lights flick off, truly intent on getting a full night’s sleep.
But Jesse?
Jesse has other ideas.
“Wake up!”
My eyes fly open as a hand slaps across my mouth, accompanying the whispered words. I gasp in a quick breath of air through my nose, but as soon as I realize that it’s Jesse –
“Asshole,” I breathe, though the word is muffled against his palm. I start to swat at him, wanting to go back to sleep.
“No way,” he whispers, grinning at me over the edge of my bed. “You’re coming with me – we are having this long-delayed chat.”
And before I can even protest, Jesse grabs me by the collar and starts to drag me from my bunk. I give a little gasp of surprise but then yank my uniform from his hands, turning and find my own way down before Jesse hauls me bodily to the ground. Because while Rafe will probably sleep through a couple of whispers, he is not going to sleep through my sound of my body hitting the floor. And Rafe – he cannot know what Jesse knows. Not after yesterday’s surprise. The Hidden Princess At All-boys Alpha Academy
So I glare at my cousin as my feet hit the floor, scowling as I snatch my boots out of his waiting hand. He’s still grinning at me as he nods his head to the right and I nod, following him away from the bunks and towards the front of the barracks.
I glance over my shoulder at the bulk that is Rafe, sleeping soundly in the bottom bunk of our bed, and when we get far enough away that we probably won’t be heard I give Jesse a hearty shove on the shoulder. “What the hell were you thinking,” I growl, stopping by the door to tug my boots on.
“I was thinking,” Jesse says, pushing the door open and gallantly bowing me through into the night air, “that we need a little cousin time, just to ourselves, to discuss a certain little secret -“
