When We Were Mates (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Demetra

No, it’s not Slade.

Yes it is.

Fear grabs my heart and plunges it into ice as Emris drives closer. Closer and closer until I can’t doubt it anymore. That’s my brother standing at the pack gate waiting.

No, no, no, no, no,

This is not how I wanted him to find out. I never wanted him to find out at any point in time, but this is even worse. Because if he’s here, it must be because he saw me leave with Emris. Slade has too many pack duties to be standing in front of the pack gate waiting for me. He would have called if he was just worried. So no. He waited here because he has questions.

I don’t even realize I’m just sitting in Emris’s car, trying not to move like that will somehow stop me from getting caught until Emris touches me.

“I’ll talk to him-”

“NO!” I grab his sleeve. It’s more of a claw, honestly. “Just go.”

“Go?” He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Never been a coward before, Demetra. I don’t know if you remember.”

“I know, but–you two? The both of you have never had a good conversation in my experience, and you are not about to have it now!”

Emris studies my face. He can see how scared I am. I hate that he can see it.

“Demetra, I’m not letting you handle this alone. I’m the one who took you on a date. I’m the one who pursued you-*

“My brother only knows you as the guy who abandoned me and my-“I choke it off. Emris frowns, confused. Yeah, the pregnancy part 1 buried. Moons, what if Slade’s rage–spills regrading that… Emris will learn that Amira is his via brotherly blow–up.

What if Emris finds out that way?

“Just listen to me and leave. The moment I get out of this car, I need you to drive off. Do you understand? I’m not ready to let Slade know we’re together. He’s currently stressed about something in the pack–this is not the time for it.” I squeeze his arm tighter. “Just go, Emris. Trust me,”

I make him look me in the eyes. I see the need in him…an instinct to defend me, to stay, to fight. But eventually, he nods and I release his hands.

I step out of the car, and I can see Slade coming forward.

But thankfully, Emris rides off immediately. My heart slows down just a little but before I can even reach Slade, he grabs me by the arm and spins me around to face him.

“Explain your fucking self!”

I straighten my face like there’s nothing. Like I didn’t spend the morning in Emris’s arms Like I didn’t spend last night serenading the bond between us.

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NO

10:19 am Ppp.

Chapter 78

“I work for him, you already know that. Slade.”

He jabs a finger toward the palm trees and wants me to look right there.

Slowly, I turn. There’s a security camera. Shit. Of course there’s a security camera. Why wouldn’t there be a security camera, especially after Emris broke into our pack that one time?

“I saw him come pick you up.” Slade’s voice is quiet now.

I have to find something else to say. Anything.

“And someone was sent to drop off more than a hundred shopping bags. Shopping sprees? Don’t lie to me, Demi.

“Slade-”

“You better explain!” He yells, and I flinch. “You’re letting him take you out? Getting into his car? Have you forgotten what that prick did to you? What his family did to you?”

I open my mouth. Close it. Open it again.

Would it be better if I gave him half the truth?

“Just hold on.” I raise my hands to calm him down.

“Don’t fucking tell me to hold on. Do you even realize what that bastard is doing to our pack—”

“I’m only going out with him because I needed him to divorce Elena! She spread dirty rumors about me and tried to kick Amira out of Magnus Elementary.” I pause when something clicks into place. “And what do you mean by what Emris is doing to our pack? What is he doing to your pack?”

Because Slade’s anger feels like it’s coming from somewhere else. Somewhere deeper than just hating Emris.

Slade slaps a hand to his waist, stares at me for a long second, then just starts walking away. Back toward the house.

I stare at his back, hesitation freezes my feet for half a second and then I rush through the gate and follow him. All the way into the pack house. All the way into his office.

Where Sabrina is. Surprisingly.

“Oh, Slade.” She gets up from the chair by the window. “Your aunt told me to wait for you here.” Her eyes bounce between the two of us. “Are you both… okay?”

I step out from behind Slade and come to stand in front of him.

“What is Emris doing to our pack?” My voice is focused now. “Is this the issue that’s been making the elders come in and out of the pack house almost every day for the past two weeks?”

Slade won’t meet my eyes so my heart fractures at the unknown.

Slade doesn’t understand that I need to know. He doesn’t get it…I need to know that the man I just started trusting but screwing my pack behind my back. No way I handed my heart a second chance just to get played twice. No no no.

No. It’s not possible that I’ve been foolishly wronged twice.

“It was a slip of tongue–”

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10:19 am

Chapter 78

ppp.

“Slade, please don’t lie to her” Sabrina’s voice is soft but firm. “The papers on your table say otherwise.”

I stare at her now. I don’t even know what to ask Slade anymore. I just walk to his table to see the papers.

“I’m sorry.” Sabrina’s voice follows me, “I didn’t mean to snoop, but you’ve been distant these past few days after the club—”

“I said it’s nothing!” Slade comes forward, reaching to clear everything off the table, and I feel my patience die.

I slam my hands against the wood with a snarl that rips out of my chest.

“I will not ask you again. Now!”

His hands curl into fists at his sides.

“It’s a part of our fucking territory, okay? Emris has taken it.”

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