Veiled Spirits

It’s probably better if they do think I’m a garbage gremlin. It’ll hurt when my mates finally realize I’m not worth it, but I can deal with all the pain in the world to keep them safe.

On that depressing note, I should probably stop hiding in an alcove with my combat instructor and a ghost. Straightening, I brush past Levi and head for the front of the building. He transported us to an alcove near the door, so it’s a short walk outside.

Levi is hot on my heels as I push open the door. Once my eyes adjust to the overeager sun, all I see is Bishop. He notices me as soon as I leave the building, and he starts walking toward me. Bishop has his hands shoved in his jeans pockets, and he’s wearing a similar band tee to the one I’m in.

I completely forget I’m supposed to play it cool around him, so people won’t know we’re mates. After my nightmare earlier, I’m just so relieved to see that he’s okay. Taking off at a run, I close the distance between us in no time. When I’m close enough, I leap at him, wrapping my arms and legs around him like a spider monkey.

Bishop catches me with a grunt. He supports my ass with one arm and bands the other around my back. “Hello to you, too, sweetheart,” Bishop says with his lips pressed against my ear and a smile in his voice. His warm breath fans across my neck, causing me to shiver slightly.

“You’re okay,” I whisper. Even though I know it was just a dream, it’s still hard to see everyone I care about being killed. Seeing Bishop in one piece and unharmed soothes a part of me I don’t really want to acknowledge. This is totally how friends feel about each other.

“Of course, I am,” Bishop responds. “Hey, what’s wrong, Izzy? Did something happen?”

“Nightmare,” I answer, refusing to release my death grip on him so we can talk like normal people. In his arms is one of my favorite places to be. For totally platonic, friend reasons. That’s all I can ever feel about him. If only my stupid heart would get the memo.

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I’m fine, as you can see. So are the wolves, who are starting to get a little jealous at all the attention you’re giving me.”

I groan at the reminder of my other mates. I’m not sure why they’re here, but I can’t deny that I’m relieved to see them after the dream earlier. Bishop doesn’t put me down until I’m ready to let go of him. After another minute of enjoying his hug, I wiggle to be put down. He slides me down his body.

Spinning around, I take off toward the wolves. Archer is the first one I see. I crash into him at full force, and he doesn’t budge even an inch. That’s one solidly built wolf.

While I’m hugging him, I breathe in his vanilla citrus smell. After a quick hug, I whisper to him, “Tell anyone I hugged you, and I’ll shank you.” He barks out a startled laugh at my threat but doesn’t say anything.

I move on to Luca next. When I wrap my arms around him, his arms hesitantly enfold me in a hug. The man is great at giving hugs, unfortunately for me. I bury my nose in his chest and inhale his dark, woodsy scent. When I pull back, I meet his aquamarine eyes with my gray ones. “You heard what I said to your brother. The same applies to you, wolf boy.”

Without waiting for a response, I walk over to Cain. He’s more reserved than the other two, so I don’t hug him at first. His green eyes flick between mine before he opens his arms in an invitation. I slowly approach him, not wanting to freak him out. When I’m in reach, he startles me by grabbing me around the waist and hauling me into his body.

After a moment of breathing in the burnt marshmallow scent of the wolf, I tell him, “I’d rather not kill you, so keep this whole lapse in judgment to yourself.” When I pull back, Cain gives me a half smile as his arms drop away. That’s the most positive emotion I’ve seen directed my way from him.

“Why, exactly, are you threatening us if we tell anyone you hugged us?” Archer asks while trying to smother his amusement. The wide grin stretching across his handsome face betrays him, though.

I roll my eyes. “I have an image to uphold. Who’s going to believe I have the personality of a cactus if it gets out that I give hugs and shit?” I huff and cross my arms as all three wolves smile at me. It’s a reasonable concern. I’ve spent a lot of time carefully constructing my image of a heartless porcupine. It keeps people away. In this town full of assholes, that’s a good thing.

“I don’t think anyone would believe them, anyway, little raven,” Levi interjects from behind me. I totally forgot he was here; I was so caught up in Bishop and the wolves.

“Who the fuck is he?” Luca rumbles as he advances on Levi.

CHAPTER 13

ARCHER

“I’m her m—” the guy as tall as Luca starts to answer from behind our mate. Izzy throws her arm back and connects with him. She groans, and he grunts as her elbow hits his solar plexus.

Izzy turns to face him and whispers, “Not here. There are too many ears.” He gives her a nod and straightens up.

Elbowing people in the gut is more like my sunshine. With her blonde hair, delicate bone structure, and pale skin, Izzy does look like the embodiment of the sun. She also smells like berries and sunlight. It’s only when you look into her eyes that a few clouds appear. Izzy’s eyes are like the ocean during a hurricane, emotions constantly swirling and crashing in the gray depths.

Despite her prickly personality, Izzy’s emotions flit across her face. She’s horrible at hiding what she’s thinking. It’s adorable, but I’m pretty sure she’d stab me for calling her that. It might be worth it, though.

Speaking of shanking me, I wondered if Izzy had been body snatched when she ran over and crashed into me. Her tiny arms banding around me in a hug caught me off guard. When she whispered that she’d stab me if I told anyone, I barely held back my laugh. At least I knew it was, in fact, my sunshine.

She probably didn’t mean for us to hear her whisper to Bishop about her nightmare. With our enhanced hearing—perks of wolfing out—we could all hear what Izzy said. I have the urge to hug her again, but I doubt she’d be open to it.

That’s okay. I’m an expert at slowly wearing down people until they have no choice other than to accept my affection. Just look at Cain. I only get punched twenty-five percent of the time when I try to hug the guy. That’s a huge improvement.

Izzy sighs before spinning to face us. As she’s mid-spin, she stops and looks at something over Bishop’s shoulder. From where I’m standing, it looks like she’s staring at three girls who are giving her death glares. I wonder what the fuck their problem is. “Fuck me six ways to Sunday,” she says with a groan.

That’s certainly an image my dick didn’t need. I can’t get the thought of fucking Izzy over and over out of my mind. Now, I’m hard. Cool, cool. Not awkward at all. “Gladly,” I respond, knowing that’s not what she meant.