Hidden Mate

15

I should’ve told him yes. The more we could discourage our connection, the safer both of us would be.

“Why am I not surprised?” A corner of his mouth lifted. “She seems like the type.”

“Hey.” No one insulted my best friend, at least, not in front of me. “She enjoys the angst. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

He lifted a hand in surrender. “Didn’t say there was.”

I had nothing to say to that. My wolf brushed against my mind, wanting to come closer to the front. Now wasn’t the time. She probably wanted to go for a run or something; it hadn’t even been a week but she was antsy. Back home, I’d go for daily runs just to gain some distance from my father.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Huh?” I wasn’t sure what he was getting at.

“You seem uncomfortable.” He turned toward me. “Are you feeling sick or something?”

“No …” The fact he could sense my discomfort bothered me. “I’m just a little unsettled.”

“What do you mean?” he started, but the door in the back of the classroom opened, and thankfully, the professor entered.

A week later, we were still playing the same song and dance. It was another Tuesday, and Donovan and I sat next to each other in biology class. We’d tried splitting up, but no one was willing to switch tables.

We’d been hostile and would avoid each other like the plague. This past weekend had been even more fun since he’d appear wherever we were.

“Beginning this week, Thursdays are lab days.” The professor paced in front of the whiteboard and pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “Whoever you’re sitting with will be your lab partner for the semester. Make sure to exchange emails or phone numbers. There will be assignments that you’ll need to research together as well.”

He grabbed a marker and wrote the history of biology on the board. A huge armpit stain caught my attention, which explained the horrid body odor I’d been smelling since the beginning of class. He wore a bright red shirt, so the area under his arms contrasted sharply.

“This is the first paper you two will write together. It’s due by midterm.” He pointed at the board. “Please research one topic that has been derived from biology and explain its impact on our world. I must approve the topic beforehand, so a week from today, you should have your ideas submitted to me. Class dismissed.”

Not only would I have to be his lab partner, but we would also have to work on two papers together. Keeping my distance from him had already proven harder than I’d imagined.

I packed up my bag with no intention of giving him any of my information. The other students and the professor were already heading out the door.

“Here.” Donovan handed me a piece of paper with his number and email written on it. He tilted his head. “Where’s yours?”

“I don’t think we need to exchange info.” If I had his information, I might be tempted to call him. This was the safest option for both of us. “We can talk here in class and figure it all out.” I turned to stand and left his information on the table.

A huge hand grabbed my arm and kept me in place. “No.”

My skin tingled where he touched me. I jerked my arm out of his grip, trying to keep my wits. “What do you mean no?”

“It’s obvious you’ve had everything handed to you your entire life.” His eyes darkened to a navy. “But I’ve had to work my ass off to get here.”

“Wait.” This asshole thought I was spoiled and entitled. “You don’t even know me.” I’d sacrificed a lot to get to this school. My dad had refused until I’d pointed out how all the alpha heir males went to college and I could possibly find a good mate here. I had no intentions of keeping that promise, but I’d been that damn desperate to gain space.

“It’s obvious.” He waved a hand at me. “You’re gorgeous, dress well, and those two guys you hang out with have loads of money.”

I must have misunderstood him. He couldn’t have called me gorgeous. Even if he had, why was I hung up on this fact? “You think I’m gorgeous?”

“What?” His cheeks turned pink. “I … uh … you must already know that. But don’t worry, you’re not my type.”

That stung and woke me from my stupor. “Thank God.”

I picked the paper up from the table, and he sighed with relief. I smirked and leaned forward, ignoring his sweet, rainy smell, ripped the paper in ten different sections, and dropped it to the ground.

He blew out a breath, and the scent of his minty toothpaste filled my nose. The combination of his distinct smells almost undid me.

“It figures.” He stood, slung his beaten, black backpack on his shoulder, and turned his back to me in dismissal.

I shouldn’t ask, but there was no stopping me. “What does that mean?”

“You don’t give a s**t about anyone but yourself.” He faced me again, disdain etched into his features. “Apparently, it doesn’t matter to you that I grew up in the system with no one in my corner. I scraped and fought my way here, but sure, piss it all away for me.”

No wonder he was so hardened, but that didn’t give him the right to insult me and act like it was okay. “You don’t know s**t about me.” I stepped into him and shoved my finger into his chest. “My life isn’t as peachy as you’d like to think. Brock is the price I had to pay to get here.” I needed to stop, but he enraged me like no one ever had. “And last week, my dad told me to sleep with a guy to get information, so don’t act like you’re better than me.”

He stumbled back a step. “Are you serious? Your dad wants you to …” He trailed off, disgusted and unable to finish that sentence.

Why in the hell had I told him that? I’d never, ever hinted that my dad was an asshole to anyone other than Roxy. The one time I broke down was with a human I was incredibly attracted to. “Just …” I grabbed my bag and sucked in sharply. “Forget I said anything.” I didn’t want to face him again. I’d already said too much.