The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,7
forget these classes are online.”
“So you’re just here because you’re mateless?”
“Yep.”
“Since when?”
“All my life.”
I gave him a flat look, which only amused him further.
“I mean, how long have you been attending classes with no other purpose than to be around the females?”
He looked at me thoughtfully.
“It was the summer after you arrived. I’d had the brilliant idea that, if I finished all my work, they’d give me my mark, and I could spend a few years traveling the world. Apparently, single wolves aren’t allowed to travel.”
“I’m so sorry, Fenris. I hadn’t realized how trapped you were.”
He shrugged.
“It’s not so bad. I just needed to adjust my thinking.”
I didn’t see how that could make his situation any better, and he chuckled at my skeptical expression.
“Instead of thinking of myself as trapped, I consider myself in charge.”
I snorted.
“I’m serious. The pack leaders are worried about me finding a mate, so they order pack runs. To keep things interesting, I’ve turned them into games of hide-and-seek. The girls are less disappointed when nothing happens since they’re having fun. The pack leaders don’t say anything because I’m spending time with the girls like they want. But even though I’m doing what they want, I’m not really. You know?”
I slowly nodded, seeing what he meant.
“You should try it. Adira might give you orders, but you’re the one who decides how to carry them out.”
I thought of Adira’s not so subtle order to go to the Roost nightly.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
“You have a lot you’re thinking about. I can’t wait to talk about all of it in Self-Discovery.”
“Like you haven’t been talking about it enough?” Eugene said with a bland glance at Fenris while he stood by Yanet.
The dwarf rolled her eyes at us. “Some of us are actually trying to learn here.”
A flush crept into my cheeks, and I murmured a quick apology before picking up my tablet.
Fenris relaxed into his chair and seemed to lose himself in his thoughts. As much as I tried not to do the same, I kept going back to what he’d said. Everyone was always trying to get me to do what they wanted. The more I fought it, the more they pushed. Adira wanted me to start hanging out at the Roost. How could I do that my way? I loved the music and hanging out with Ash—
A heaviness settled in my chest. Why was I thinking of appeasing Adira instead of getting out there and finding Ashlyn? Because, for a selfish moment, I’d forgotten. I hoped that wherever Ashlyn was, she was safe and unharmed. The thought of her shivering and hungry as she wandered the expanse of Uttira ate at me.
“You okay?” Fenris asked softly.
“Yeah. Fine.”
The bell rang, saving me from further explanation. We walked in silence to Self-Discovery and found LuAnn waiting at the door. She stopped us from filing in with the other students.
“Good morning, Eliana. Adira has modified room 11B for you. Fenris, Adira would like you to accompany Eliana on her self-discovery for as long as you’re able.” The bell rang again, and the last student hurried in around us. “I’ll check on you both in a bit.”
My stomach sank as LuAnn closed the door, leaving Fenris and me in the hall. I could only imagine how Adira modified the room for me.
“Come on,” he said. “I still want to hear about that smell.”
I cringed and continued down the hall toward our assigned room.
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“An answer like that is only going to make me more curious.”
“You’ll survive your curiosity.”
He gave me a speculative look then opened the door for me.
“I thought my curiosity was going to kill me.”
Distracted by the current topic, I managed several steps into the room before the décor registered. The space looked nothing like a classroom and everything like a dominatrix’s bedroom.
The scent of Fenris’s ever-present lust wrapped around me so tightly that I jumped when the door closed with a gentle click. I could taste his sweetness through the skunk flavor lingering in my mouth and fought to breathe through my growing panic. My hands shook, and my hunger roared to life, clawing at my insides.
Oblivious to my struggle, Fenris walked around me and went to the bed.
“I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that our pocket pool playing pixie paid you another visit,” he said as he began pulling the red, silk top sheet off the round bed.