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Zeke’s calloused thumb was rough as he caressed my knuckles. “So the bastard spoke too?”
I nodded, trying not to hear the werewolf’s gruff voice in my head. “I’d been out with college friends at a club. He cornered me at the bar and put himself between me and my group.”
Zeke clenched his jaw, but when he spoke, his voice was calm and even. “Did he have a name?”
I arched a brow. “I’m not telling you this for you to run to Boston and kick someone’s ass. We have bigger problems.”
He squeezed my hand. “I’m not leaving Salem to go pick a fight, but should I ever cross paths with this dickhead, I’d be happy to make him wish he’d never laid eyes on my mate.” He cleared his throat. “Onyou.”
I just met Zeke today and shouldn’t have enjoyed hearing him call me “his” as if I were something he owned, but…it was sort of nice to feel precious to someone. I didn’t have any siblings, and ever since I’d lost my parents in the fire, I’d been alone.
I slid my hand free of his. “Somehow, he knew I was a witch. He claimed he’d been looking for me. I hurried onto the crowded dance floor, figuring I’d lose him there, but I didn’t realize I was dealing with a werewolf at that point. He told me his name was Shawn. He seemed to be fishing for mine, but I didn’t take the bait. I just wanted to get back to the safety of my group.”
Talking about it out loud was making my fingertips tingle. I met his eyes. “He grabbed my wrist and said that hunting turned him on, goading me to run again.” I cleared my throat. “I thought he was going to kill me.”
Zeke’s entire body tensed. “How did you get away?”
“I snuck out the back of the club and into the alley. When I started to cast a blur spell, he burst out the door with so much force it almost ripped it off the hinges. He choked me before I could finish the incantation. He slammed me into the wall and said something about needing my blood. I kicked him in the crotch as hard as I could. He let go for a second, and I ran, calling 911 as I went. I found my friends and we left before he could corner me again.” I searched Zeke’s green eyes. “I knew werewolves existed, but I hadn’t realized how strong and…dangerous you were. Your sense of smell and sight and hearing are supercharged.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “And you could probably lift this car by yourself if you had to.”
He rolled his shoulders back. “You might be able to turn me into a toad right now, but I’m still here.” He studied my face. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I’ve never known a werewolf to stalk a human like that. That’s not how we were raised. We use our abilities to protect ourselves, not to harm humans.”
“Tell that to my anxiety.” I sighed. “I’m asking you to give me time to sit with this whole mate thing. And it really is me, not you.” I managed a half-hearted smile. “If I’m your one true mate, then we have time, right? Neither one of us are going anywhere.”
He glanced out the window at the darkened Crow’s Nest. “What about the rule about wolves and witches not mixing?”
“I don’t know.” And I didn’t. All this was too much. But I did like that I could talk to him. I didn’t have to keep supernatural secrets. “For now, we need to keep this mate thing to ourselves. No one can find out.”
He rubbed his hand down his face and looked over at me. “This was not how I envisioned it would be when I finally found my mate.”
His words were like a sucker punch to my belly. I frowned. “Did you think you’d tell me I was the one, and then we’d tear off our clothes and make babies?”
“No.” He blinked. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You thought your mate would be taller?” Now that I was on the attack, all my pent-up emotions about werewolves came spilling out. “Or maybe you thought I’d be thinner with bigger boobs?” I shook my head. “Maybe less…witchy? Screw you, Zeke.”
I got out of the car and slammed the door before I realized it wasmycar. Oh well. I could lock it up later. Gripping my keys in a tight fist, I went to the back door of the store. I’d work on unpacking some inventory until I was sure he was gone.
Zeke called from behind me. “Ruby, wait.”
I unlocked the door and looked back over my shoulder. “Sorry Fate disappointed you.” I slipped inside the store and locked the door, pressing my back against it.
Zeke knocked, calling through the door. “I didn’t mean it like that. Please open the door.”
“Go home.”
“I’m sorry.” He pounded on it, but not hard enough to even shake it underneath me. He wasn’t using his full werewolf strength. I counted myself lucky.
But I didn’t turn around and unlock the door.
His voice was low and clear. “I’m glad Fate chose you.”
I held my breath as a tear rolled down my cheek. He didn’t knock or speak again. Finally, his truck roared to life. I closed my eyes and slid down the door until I was sitting on the concrete floor of the store. Pressing my lips together, I stifled a sob.
This was all too much. Lillian could have died tonight. I wasn’t ready to lead the coven, maybe I never would be. And now a werewolf was telling me I was his mate? Why would Fate tangle him up with a witch?
How did everything get so damned complicated?
I wanted to run. But where would I go?
