“Nai…” His voice was low and tinged with panic. “How many marks do you have?”
“What does it matter?” I snapped defensively.
His eyes widened, and he swallowed hard.
“I see we’re back to you not sharing things once again,” I laughed, a sarcastic and biting sound. Then I spun and lifted my hair to show him the mark at the base of my neck. “There you go. Now you’ve seen them all.”
I pivoted to face him again, but instead of a smug or haughty expression … Rage looked terrified.
Not quite what I’d expected.
“What are you?” he whispered, his voice filled with awe and fear—his wide-eyed expression emphasizing his emotions.
His words slammed into me, shaking me to my core.Whatam I?
Not once had I seen the marks in that light … in a way that made medifferent. How could he ask that? As if I were a …creature, not a fellow wolf shifter and alpha heir.
Tears filled my eyes, blurring my vision, and I raced away from him, through the grass, and into the woods. The back of my heel snapped, but I didn’t care. I needed to get the hell out of here.
“No!” Rage yelled after me. “I’m sorry!”
But this time, his apology came too late.
Chapter 21
The morning sunlightfiltered through the window, brushing against my skin like an unwanted lover. I wasn’t ready for today. Or any day. How could this be reality?
Rage is my mate.
Hot tears pricked my eyelids, and I blinked them away. As I sat up, the memories of last night roiled through me, and my stomach clenched. That beautiful moment with Rage,my mate, dancing, kissing,trusting… he confessed his love. We both wore our mate marks out and proud … but then, all of it was destroyed because of these strange marks.
Even now, I heard his voice echoing in my mind.
What are you?
I stared at the elemental marks on my chest like hideous scars that declared me different. I didn’t want them.
But what were these? None of the other students had them; my dad didn’t have them.
I’m a freak.
After tying my hair into a top knot, I brushed my teeth and focused on the day ahead.
I needed to survive the midyear games tonight or I’d flunk out of Alpha Academy. If that happened, I wouldn’t be allowed to lead Crescent Clan. Nolan would take over. None of that was an option.
I spat into the sink with an angry snarl.
Screw Rage.
Screw Nolan.
Screw these marks!
I dabbed some concealer over my mate mark just in case Nolan was in the kitchen. The last thing I needed was for him to know I was one-half of the fated mate-pair. My plan: breakfast, and then head over to Harvest Dorm to run drills with my friends for tonight.
I slipped into yoga pants before pulling on a tight tank top and my sneakers. Popping into the kitchen, I skidded to a stop. Yep. Nolan sat at the island, eatingmyfood. His eyebrows dipped into a scowl when he spotted me.
“Think you’re ready for tonight?” he growled.
