When You Were My Mate (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Demetra.

Contd.

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Aunt Scotty shoots up from her chair, phone pressed to her ear 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.”

“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 s 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 awhile.

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

That’s not normal.”

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

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

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17:05 Sat, Apr 11 M

Chapter 68

“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. ou 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?”

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