“This isn’t about Noah.”
It killed me that he was right. All the people that were supposed to be there for me left me without a second thought. But not him. Kingston had always been there. Waiting for me to change my mind. Waiting for me to choose him. Maybe he’d be the one person I really could count on.
I had to shove the thought away, not ready for the tidal wave of emotions that crashed into me right along with it.
“I want to do this on my own. Or at least try. So, what do I need to do?”
He sighed, defeated by my stubbornness. “Close your eyes and ask her to take over.”
So I did. I wouldn’t admit—even now—that he was helping me. I closed my eyes and she was there, ready for her moment. He was right; the pain wasn’t so bad this time. It was more of a hard stretch rather than the cracking of bones.
My senses sharpened as my body rearranged itself. Kingston was everywhere, overwhelming me. The pounding of his pulse as he stared down at me was loud in my ears, thrumming hot and wild. And as I watched, he joined me, seamlessly transitioning from man to beast. It was beautiful and breathtaking.
All the conflicted feelings I had about him fell to the wayside in this form. As a wolf, the only thing I saw when I looked at him was my mate.
Kingston nuzzled me and then gave me a gentle shove with his head, herding me in the direction he wanted me to go.
Play.
Chase.
Run.
I nipped at him. He might think he was the Alpha, but I was the one in control. He could try to lead, but if he wanted me to follow, he’d have to catch me first.
It’s all welland good to run through the woods as a wolf. It’s another thing entirely to walk into Blackthorne Hall buck naked with blood, cum, and dirt smeared all over you. I was just thankful it was still early morning and most of the students would be sleeping it off after a night of partying.
Kingston strode down the hallway with a proud smile, dick swinging, completely unfazed. Fucking asshole. Not that there was a whole lot to be embarrassed about when your body looked likethat.
Stop looking. He doesn’t need any more of an ego boost.
I tore my focus from the swinging appendage and headed up the stairs, knowing full well my ass was in his face.
He leaned forward, biting one cheek just hard enough to sting but not enough to leave a mark. I hoped. And fuck if it didn’t set off more of those little flutters.
I whirled around, digging my finger into his chest. “Behave.”
“Make me.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t, Sunshine.” He was all wolfish charm and arrogance, which only annoyed me further.
“Go away.”
“Never.”
Brimming with frustration, I shook my head and continued up the stairs. I reached the landing on the second floor and headed for the final set of steps that would take me home where I belonged. But he gripped my hand and tugged me toward the doorway that would take us out of the stairwell.
“Come on. You’re coming with me.”
“What? No. Just because my wolf let you fuck me doesn’t me I’m suddenly going to live with you in your man cave, Kingston.”
“Yeah, you are.”
“No. I’m not.”
“Fine, I’ll arrange for us to move into mated pair housing. It’s really not fair to my roommate to subject him to me railing you every night anyway.”