Hidden Mate

14

“Yes, but this is important. This will be a great opportunity for you to prove that you’re worth something.”

“How so?” I had no interest in proving my worth. I didn’t want to go around threatening or killing people. That wasn’t the type of person I wanted to be.

“You’re a woman,” Dad said slowly, “so you should be able to get him to spill his secrets like your mother did to me.”

“But she died though.” I didn’t even remember my mother. She’d died during childbirth with me.

“That’s not the point,” he said angrily. “I need you to find out where they live, how many are alive—”

“Brock already tried.” What did he expect me to do? “He doesn’t want us to know.”

“Then use your feminine wiles.”

Wait. Roxy sat in her bed and faced me. Did your dad just tell you to sleep with a guy to get information?

“Are you serious?” I knew he didn’t care about me, but he’d gone too far. “You want me to—”

“Stop being dramatic,” he huffed. “This is our family legacy.”

“How is this our family legacy?” I had to be missing something big if that was the case.

“We’re going to rule over all the supernatural races soon, and to do that, some sacrifices need to be made.” He seemed to be holding the phone closer to his mouth because his voice got louder. “And a dragon could cause issues if we don’t learn what we need to from him. I need you to step up to the plate and get me that information. If not, there will be severe consequences.” Dead air filled the line, effectively ending the conversation.

Roxy looked disgusted. “Your dad is the worst kind of scum.”

“Yeah …” That’s all I had to say. He wanted me to seduce a dragon, and I hated to tell him it wouldn’t happen.

The next morning, when my alarm went off, I almost hit snooze. I’d dreamed all night of Donovan, and I had no clue why. I couldn’t remember the details, but the fact that I hoped to see him today didn’t bode well for me.

“Oh my God.” Roxy threw the covers over her head. “For the love of all things holy, turn the blasted thing off.”

“It’s nine in the morning.” I got to my feet and padded over to my closet. “You act like it’s the crack of dawn.”

“It feels like it is.” She rolled over and fell off the bed. “Dammit.”

I spun around. “If that wasn’t karma’s way of telling you to get your ass up, I don’t know what else it could be.” I picked out a pink shirt and jeans. “Let’s go eat breakfast together.”

“Fine.” She stood and rubbed her ass. “But only because I’m starving.”

Within twenty minutes, we were entering the Student Center. When we headed toward the cafeteria, a funny feeling took flight in my stomach.

“Are you okay?” Roxy glanced at me as we headed to the pancake line. Something feels weird with you.

I must have tapped into our pack bond without realizing it. No, I’m fine. Even if I wanted to tell her what I was feeling, I couldn’t put it into words. Just my nerves, for some reason.

Probably because of your dad’s phone call last night. She looked at me. You aren’t actually going to try to seduce Egan, are you?

No, don’t worry. I wasn’t one of my dad’s minions, and besides, I thought of Egan as a friend. The dragon is all yours.

That’s not what I’m getting at. She got in line. He treats you …

Donovan was several people ahead of us, and it was like he felt me approaching. He faced me, and our gazes locked. He pivoted forward again, not even acknowledging my existence.

This day couldn’t get any better. Look, I get it. And don’t worry, nothing will happen.

I sure hope not. Roxy didn’t sound convinced.

Can we drop it? I really want to enjoy breakfast and get to class. I didn’t want to worry about pack life. That was the whole reason we were here.

“You’ve got it.” She winked and began rambling about clothes she wanted to buy on the internet.

I entered Webster Hall in search of my biology class. I was going to be late, thanks to a certain self-proclaimed redheaded vixen forcing me to pick out her next outfit to order. Apparently, it was for the homecoming game in a few weeks.

Just like all the other classes, I was the last to arrive. For humans to be so damn slow, they sure knew how to get to class early.

There were ten tables in two rows in the entire room with a whiteboard right in front. The last open seat was in the front far left table. I headed straight to it and almost stopped when I realized who I’d be sitting next to.

Donovan.

Fate had to be mocking me. I forced my feet to move and trekked over to the chair.

He watched as I sat beside him.

I wasn’t sure if I’d receive the nice, cold, or indifferent Donovan, and the worst part was, I wasn’t sure which version I wanted.

M

y heart raced as I pulled a pink binder and a pen out of my backpack and placed it on the table. The chairs were so close that my leg accidentally brushed his when I sat back upright.

He jerked his leg away from me like I repulsed him.

This day was already starting out so lovely. I stared forward, wishing the professor would enter and begin class. The air between us held so much tension.

I tapped my pen on the table. I needed an outlet for all of this nervous energy.

“Do you mind?” he rasped but kept his attention forward.

“Uh …” It took me a second to realize that the noise might be getting on his nerves. “Yeah. Sorry.” One-word sentences were the best I had, apparently.

My leg bounced as the energy transferred to another extremity.

He glanced at the offending leg. “Too much caffeine this morning?”

“No.” This was all due to his proximity, but I shouldn’t admit that. “I mean, yes.” Side effects of caffeine sounded like a better excuse. “It was a long night.”

His breathing increased. “Your group of four stayed out late?”

The fact he was interested enough to ask confirmed I wasn’t the only one feeling whatever was between us. “No, Roxy kept me up last night, watching The Bachelor.” I wanted to cry.