Chapter 43
Tessa
I force my eyes open and meet his flashing grey ones that quickly turn to shock. “Tess,” he breathes. And then suddenly, there’s relief. The onslaught of emotion is just...gone. I don’t really know what happened; all I know is I can breathe. I drop my head a moment and relish in the stillness and then turn to Slater again.
I manage a small smile. “Hey.” His eyes don’t leave my face, and the intensity in his gaze ratchets up another few degrees. “So, you managed to sneak away from the team.”
“Coach gave me permission.” His voice is gritty, and unnatural. I’m pretty sure that’s his wolf bleeding through.
“What did you threaten him with?” I ask, trying to tease. It doesn’t really come out that way. I take in the stiffness of his shoulders, and I don’t mean to, but my eyes drift over his cut frame and linger on his tatoos. I have a desire to run my fingers over them, but I refrain. I know the pain it would cause.
“You accepted the bond.” His voice is flat, and I’m not sure how to take that.
“Uh, yes?” His jaw tightens, and I try to figure out what he’s thinking. “I kind of thought maybe I’d get a better response.”
He turns his head to the side. “She accepted the bond, and you didn’t think that would have been a good thing to let me know?”
“Dude, it like just happened,” Quint calls out from somewhere in the back. I have a feeling he and Zane are going to be avoiding Slate at all costs.
“I told them not to tell you,” I interject.
“They should have anyway.”
“We were a little busy trying to keep your mate from losing her mind,” Quint calls back. Slater growls low in his chest.
“Quint, stop responding,” Zane says, finally joining the conversation. “Just let him get it off his chest.”
Slater stands suddenly to his feet. He drops his head and closes his eyes. “Slater?” I ask uncertainly.
Zane comes into the living room. “Slater, go for a run.”
“No,” the word is low and full of anger.
Without warning, in a move so fast, I don’t see it coming, Zane launches at Slater. Somehow, Slater already knew it was coming. He spins so fast and throws an arm up, deflecting Zane’s hit. I scramble back to get out of the way. Out of nowhere, Quint joins the fight, and then, it’s two on one. I manage to get to my feet and slip around them and then run for the back rooms.
“Tessa,” Evie hisses from her room, waving me in. I slip inside and she closes the door behind us.
“Should we lock it?” I ask, trying to catch my breath.
“No. They could break the whole door down if they wanted.” My eyes widen, and I turn to look at the door. “We’re safe, Tess. Zane will keep them away from the door.”
“Why are they fighting? Why are they attacking Slater?”
“They’re letting him get his anger and frustration out.”
I take that in. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Zane told me what he was going to do before he went out there.”
“They won’t hurt him?”
Evie smirks. “Are you worried about your man?”
“No. Yes. Maybe?”
Evie smiles. “Don’t worry. Slater wasn’t chosen to be the next head enforcer for his winning personality.”
I frown. “That’s not the first time I've heard that.”
