When We Were Mates (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 183

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183

Luna Demetra.

I have already unclipped the seatbelt of Emris‘ porche…right after Derisha showed us our sleeping kids on video call.

“Really? No kisses for big Alpha daddy?”

“Emris. I am wet and sticky.”

“Shhh. That’s how I like it.”

He comes across from the driver’s seat and kisses me at six in the morning in the parking lot outside the dorm. I chuckle at his stupid joke.

This wolf had me up at four am.

Four in the morning. He texted me and I met him at the edge of the woods and he made me run…not jog, not warm up, run laps of a circuit he apparently designed overnight, and then when I thought the running portion was concluding. He shifted into his wolf form and started chasing me. I knew it was Emris.

I knew the whole time it was him but I ran for

my life anyway.

Let’s not even talk about the way he barked every time I slowed down.

And then my brother–in–law, Silver showed up with a cup of coffee and Emris dragged him into it. I couldn’t even keep up with them. Every time I thought I had an opening, one of them was already there, blocking, countering, reading my moves before I made them.

I lasted longer than I expected. I did not last long enough.

I’m chuckling against Emris’s mouth thinking about it and he pulls back and looks at my face.

“You did well today.” Emris says it seriously, not as comfort. “You waved all my hits. It took Silver and me five full minutes to get hands on you…that’s not nothing.” He kisses me again. Shorter this time.

I blush through the exhaustion and I think about getting back to the pack one day and not being the Luna who needs constant protecting might actually be possible.

“I’ll see you later if your fellow professor doesn’t kill me with her jealousy first. Maybe ask her why she’s so jealous of me?”

He tries not to smile.

But I’m serious. I don’t know what else to call it other than jealousy. Laura has been acting that way toward me since the moment I arrived, and she doesn’t even know that I’m Emris’s mate. His wife. The mother of his children.

If she knew that? Would she just kill me?

“I won’t be with you for her class. So just… do nothing. She’s a trybrid and we have a short patience circuit-”

“Right.” I push the door open and he gets out too to watch me walk into the dorm.

I look back at him one more time from the doors and I smile because simply seeing him makes my day better.

Lolly is still horizontal and completely asleep when I get in.

I turn the shower on hot and stand under it until the cold from the four AM start leaves my shoulders, until the tension from the running and the sparring goes somewhere, I wash my hair properly, work the conditioner through it, and stand with my eyes closed and let the water do its job.

Out. Blow dry. Robe. One hour before class.

I set an alarm and tuck myself in and I sleep and it is the best forty–five minutes I’ve had all week.

Lolly, Wren, and I walk into Laura’s class together.

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Except it’s not a classroom. It’s the basketball court. Wide. Open. The bleachers are pulled out, but there are no chairs. No desks. No board. Just a massive empty space with high ceilings and echoey walls.

As we’re getting filled in…students are pouring in from every entrance, clustering in groups, and everyone is asking the same question. Where’s the board? Where do we sit? What is this?

“What is she planning?” Wren asks.

“Probably something that’s gonna piss off Demetra.” Lolly mutters.

Then Laura walks in wearing a black shirt and a tighter pencil skirt. The kind of skirt that looks like it was painted on. If something were to break out right now, would she be able to run in that?

I snicker. Thinking about how funny that’s gonna look.

Then I see she’s not the only one coming into the class. She’s got two professors at her side. I recognize the one with brown hair…he was in the conference room when they were talking about expelling me. The other one is older,

I also see Cassie walking along like she belongs in the faculty section.

Really?

“Everyone.”

Laura’s voice fills the court and three hundred conversations die.

“You are gathered here for the beginning of Mascots.”

MASCOTS!?

Everyone is whispering to each other and I’m just as startled to hear it. There was no prior notice of Mascots at any point in time previously. So why would there be one right now!?

It literally makes no sense. The obvious point must be that Laura just thought about doing this after what I said to her yesterday. After I told her that her world was ugly and she fit right in.

What is this? Payback? Everyone is still arguing with each other. Students are crying…one dude is outrightly sobbing. Another one is having a panic attack. Someone is shaking their head over and over, muttering no no

no no.

Absolutely no one in their right mind was ready for this.

And Laura’s eyes land on me with a warm welcome.

“As you know, Mascots runs for a full week. There was no prior notice this time but that’s intentional. A wolf who can only perform when prepared is not ready for Dragon Class. When I call your name, step into the center of the court. And as usual, Dragon Class members who wish to test that contestant may step forward too.”

“On the first of your list. We have Demetra Pride. Step into the middle of the court and get ready to spar.”

My throat goes dry. My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my temples. The floor suddenly looks very far

away.

“Don’t.” Wren grabs my arm. “Demetra, don’t.”

Lolly shakes her head at me too but I know if I don’t go, that means I’m automatically chickening out. Getting stepped down to Fox Class. All the way to the bottom.

But I’m an Alpha’s daughter.

I truly, truly belong in Dragon Class.

The fear in my mind is one: Cassie’s claws at my throat. Two: my wig falls off and everyone sees my white

hair, and there goes my identity. Three: I have to do this for my daughter. Amira is already a White Omega at a little age, and she’s next in line to be heiress of the Black Covenant Pack.

If I don’t do this…what legacy am I leaving for her?

“She seems afraid-”

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I walk forward and the smile on Laura’s face widens.

So this is her idea of punishment. Set up Mascot when she’s sure Emris isn’t going to be there and leave me to the wolves.

And by wolves, I mean Cassie.

Because Cassie steps forward before the Dragon Class wolf who would like to test the contestant is even called. She rolls her shoulders and cracks her neck.

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