“She’s human,” Slater’s dad says, looking at me like I’m the scum of the earth.
“She is.” There’s an aggression to Slater’s voice that’s troubling. I don’t want him to fight with his parents over me. If I could touch him, I would put my hand on his arm. But I can’t. Frustration fills me. I hate not being able to touch him; touchis literally my love language. It’s how I communicate best, and I feel lost without it.
“Tessa is human,” Zane’s dad says calmly. “As is Evie, Zane’s mate, which you know. Time’s are changing, Samuel. And we either change with them or get left behind.”
“Tanner would have never put up with this.” I can feel the tension escalate. I don’t know who Tanner is, but if I had to take a guess, I would guess that he was the alpha before Alpha Blackwood.
“No, he wouldn’t,” Zane’s dad says calmly. “And he’s also not alpha anymore.” We all would be fools not to hear the threat in his voice. “Like I said, you either change with the times or get left behind. Your son has chosen a wonderful mate. Tessa is strong and loyal and tenderhearted. She is the perfect mate for Slate. You would do well to welcome her and give her the honor she deserves. But just in case you don’t heed my advice, hear my warning. Tessa is Slate’s mate, and as such, she is under my protection. I will not allow anything to happen to her.”
“She’s under my protection as well. And if you do so much as make her uncomfortable, you’ll deal with me.” Slater’s words are low and fierce, and my heart aches. This isn’t how family is supposed to be.
“I don’t want to divide your family,” I say quietly.
“You’re not,” Slater says, anger in his tone.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Tessa,” Slate’s mom says quietly. The words are a little stilted, but I appreciate that she’s trying.
I smile at her brightly. “It’s nice to meet you as well. I can see where Slater gets his good looks from.”
She gives me a hesitant smile, but I can tell my words do nothing to soften Slater’s dad towards me. I meet his gaze head-on. I want to make things work, but I also won’t roll over and play dead. “Slater means the world to me, and I hope you can respect that.”
“And if not,” Slater’s voice comes from right behind me. “I’m sure you know who I’ll choose.”
Chapter 34
Tessa
I turn and look at Slater. That wasn’t exactly what I was going for. He looks down at me and doesn’t look the least bit repentant. He reaches towards me, like he’s going to touch me, and I flinch back. He freezes and drops his hand. I hate this stupid bracelet.
“What was that?” Slater’s dad asks. Dread pools in my stomach. “Why did you flinch when my son tried to touch you?”
They both look at me with confused expressions. Well, his dad looks more mad than confused. “Slater would never hurt anyone,” his mother says with a tight expression.
“Mom, it’s fine,” Slate starts.
“It isnotfine,” his mother says, looking at me accusingly.
“Why is she acting that way?” Slater’s dad asks.
Aware that the room has mostly quieted behind us, I look up at Slater. His jaw is set, and he doesn’t look happy. I figure it falls on me to make the peace. “So, I’m wearing this new accessory.” I hold up my wrist. “I didn’t put it there myself; somebody else did. And right now, we can’t get it off. In the meantime, every time Slater touches me, it sort of hurts.”
They both stare at me like I’ve lost my mind. “It sort of hurts?” his mom repeats.
“It hurts a lot,” I admit.
I can feel the tension in Slater next to me, but I don’t look at him. “Who put it on you?” His dad asks.
“A skinwalker,” Slater says. His parents both go quiet.
His dad looks between us. “And you can’t get it off?”
“No.” Slater’s voice is void of any emotion, and I hate that he’s how he was when I first met him. He’s been so different with me, but he’s back to the cold indifference. Frankly, I hate it.
“We’re worried something might happen if we try to take it off. There’s no clasp, no mechanism to undo it, no nothing,” Zane’s dad explains. “Any ideas?”
Slater’s father looks at me and then at Slater. “What happens when you touch her?”
“It hurts her,” Slater tells him. “We already told you.”
