When We Were Mates (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Demetra.

Contd.

Aunt Scotty shoots up from her chair, phone pressed to her car like she’s gossiping the information. She didn’t think she would see so she screams when suddenly, I’m there

All my cousins turn at once!

“Turn off the TV, Maddie!” Aunt Scotty yells dramatically. “Turn it off now!”

I close my eyes for a second. “It’s fine. It doesn’t bother me.”

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“It doesn’t?” Eden raises an eyebrow but I catch the edge underneath. He’s the one who caught me pressed against a tree with Emris’s hands on me. He knows exactly how “unbothered” I am.

“It doesn’t.” I say firmer this time.

“I told you we shouldn’t be watching this here!” Emma shrieks, throwing a pillow at Tiffany’s head.

“She said it’s fine!”

“How can we be sure she’s fine? How can we be sure she’s not just saying she’s fine because she thinks she’s supposed to say she’s fine?”

“Well what do you want her to do, cry?”

“Nobody said anything about crying! I’m just saying maybe we shouldn’t be watching her ex–mate’s divorce announcement on full volume like it’s a game show!”

“Ex–mate? He’s not her ex–mate. He’s her mate. That’s literally the problem.”

“All of you, stop!” I raise my hands at them. “Why wouldn’t I be fine?”

“Exactly.” Eden says. “It’s not good news or bad news, right? I mean… we all know you hate him. So of course you don’t care.”

He’s not asking. He’s testing. Making sure I’m not seeing this as an opening but remember every reason I walked away in the first place.

“You know what, I’m going to go have some breakfast.”

I turn and there’s Slade. Moving fast with a group of elders trailing, they are arguing so hard I can see veins bulging in their necks. What the hell is going on? Is there something happening within the pack?

“Slade?” I call his name and he waves the elders off with a sharp motion before turning to face me. His expression is wrecked like he hasn’t slept in a week. Dark circles carve shadows under his eyes, his jaw is tight enough to crack teeth, and there’s a tension in his shoulders that looks like it’s been living there for a while.

“What’s going on?” I glance at the elders retreating down the hallway. “The elders have been at the pack

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Chapter 68

house consecutively. That’s not normal.”

He just shoves his hands into his hair, messing it up even more than it already was.

“Slade.” I step closer. “Look, I know since Amira’s birthday we’ve been… well, not talking and I don’t like that. You’ve been acting strange, what’s going on with you?”

“I’m not keeping malice with you Demetra. You’re my little sister”

“And you’re like a little brother.” I frown at him.

“I’m just doing a lot.”

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. It’s already being handled as we speak.”

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“I didn’t ask if it was being handled, Slade. We used to talk about everything and now you’re being all Alpha with me like I’m some pack member who needs to be managed.” I snort, watching his face.

“Dammit, I want to ask if you like Sabrina. How your date went. You brought her home after the club, what happened? But instead I’m standing here wondering why you look like you’re about to go to war. Is this about that territory fight with the Black Covenant Pack?”

“No. That’s resolved. That land is ours and will always be ours.”

Slade says it with so much certainty that for a second, I wonder why he’s being defensive. But then his hands land on my shoulders, and his grip is a little too firm like he’s steadying himself or holding me in place so I don’t ask more questions.

“So Emiris…” I hesitate. “I mean, the Alpha of the Black Covenant Pack just left our territory alone?

“Yeah.”

I chew on that for a moment. Is it because Emris is busy chasing me? I look back

up at Slade.

“Um, so-”

“Can we talk later?” He’s already glancing over his shoulder. “The elders are waiting for me in my office.”

“Alpha.” Robin appears at the end of the hallway so we both turn. “The game starts at 5 p.m.”

I blink.

“Game? Wow, so much for being busy. You are scheduled to play football with the other Alphas?”

“Demetra, I-”

“It’s fine, Slade.” I laugh softly, pressing my palm flat against his chest. “I’m not upset. Alphas should get to have fun too. I’m not going to hold you hostage. You’ve had a busy week, so go. Just… make sure you talk to me, okay?”

“Of course.” He pulls me into a hug that’s tighter than usual. His hand cups the back of my head like he’s saying goodbye for a minute or bracing for something I don’t know about. But I don’t sit on it too long. I

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let him go, watch him and Robin disappear down the hall.

Then my phone buzzes in my hand.

I glance down and my whole face lights up before I can stop it.

From the nickname stated in the message, I can already tell it’s Emris that sent it.

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“Hi Demi. My eternal mate. Do me the bloody honors to take you out tomorrow at 12pm. Shopping first. Then dinner, somewhere the sun takes its time setting and when the stars begin to align, I’m going to look at you and tell you every thought I’ve had since I lost you.”

“Demi, give me this date to tell you everything about the nights I woke up reaching for you. The mornings I forgot you weren’t there. The way your name has been the only prayer I’ve known how to speak. And lastly, a chance to prove that the moon goddess put your name in my bones before I knew how to earn it. Let me be yours tomorrow. The way you have always, always been mine.”

I hide my phone against my chest once I’m done reading. My heart is thumping and before I’ve even texted back, I know I’m going. Just this one date. Just one.