Midnight Kisses (Shifter Island #1) - Leia Stone Page 0,84

wolf.

‘Mate.’ He nuzzled me again and then nipped at me playfully. ‘Run.’

He darted into the darkness, and I chased after him.

The next morning, I woke and ran through my usual routine. Hair in a messy low bun to cover my neck mark, ignore Nolan and hide my mate marks from him as I grabbed breakfast, and then time to head over to Nell.

After crossing the foyer of our dorm, I wrenched the door open and gasped, stumbling to a stop, face-to-back with Rage. Even before he turned, I knew who he was. How exactly? No clue.

More importantly, why was he here?

His black shirt hugged his broad shoulders, dipped around his biceps, and tapered at his waist, accentuating not only his physique but also his wealth. No way those shirts were standard issue.

Out of habit, I snaked my left hand behind my back to hide my mate mark and then rolled my eyes. How ironic would that be? That I could be hiding my marks in front of my actual mate.

He pivoted and stared down at me, saying nothing.

I stared right back.

My breathing grew more shallow the longer we stood there, him exuding rugged sexiness like spilling a bottle of pheromones. I licked my lips, and his gaze dropped.

I needed out of here pronto or I’d forget how much I hated him. I did still hate him, right?

Yes! I hated all of them. A little. Every Midnight prince held the secret that could set me free. After last night’s “training session,” it was clear they all knew which one of them was my mate, and like a loyal band of siblings, they told me nothing. Which pissed me off.

“Can I help you with something, Rage?” I snarled.

He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “Why are you mad?”

Glaring at him, I snapped, “I didn’t say I was mad. I asked you if you needed something.”

“But you’re angry.” He continued to stare down at me, and his expression shifted from scrutiny to pride as his chin jutted and nostrils flared. Crossing his arms over his chest, he filled the small portico, blocking my path. “Why won’t you tell me why you’re angry?” he asked.

“You already know.” My gaze dropped to his fingers, bare of any marks. Of course.

When he said nothing, only swallowed hard, I pressed on. “It’s just…”

I pursed my lips, stopping my pathetic plea. I wouldn’t chase a mate who didn’t want me. Either him or Justice, I wasn’t going to beg. I was done and changing course. I wanted nothing more than to get away from here, away from his impenetrable gaze. “Why are you here, Rage?”

He shifted his body weight as if anticipating an attack. “I came to tell you thanks.”

I was 71.5% sure what he meant, but that 28.5% wanted confirmation.

“Thanks for what?”

“For saving my mom.” His voice grew softer as he continued. “The potion you got saved her life. She … she’s totally fine.”

Relief washed through me. “Good. Your mom is cool. She’s kind, and it’s clear she cares about the students. All of us.”

Rage tightened his jaw and swallowed hard. “What does that mean?”

“It means I didn’t do it just for you, Rage.” I leaned closer, and my voice grew sharp. “I did it for Honor and Noble and all of us at the school—but mostly … I did it for her. Since your despicable, lame-ass uncle won’t even fight to protect his own wife.”

How could the king slink away in fear and leave his wife to be kidnapped and assaulted? I would never bow to that asshole. Ever.

His pulse feathered in his neck, and even if he didn’t understand the insinuation, he knew I meant the dig to sting. Crouching to meet me at eye level, he snarled. “You have no idea—”

“Well, if I don’t know something,” I hissed. “It’s only because no one bothered to clue me in. You treat me like a pariah—”

“Yeah. That’s only because Crescent Clan doesn’t have the best record for loyalty.”

What. The. Hell? This again? My jaw dropped, and I sucked in a breath, trying to rein in my fury. He did not just say that.

“I am so over your ignorance. Stay right there!” I whirled back through the doorway and raced to my room, hands shaking. Grabbing the top yearbook, I flipped through the pages until I found one of the pictures of my uncle with his arm around Rage’s dad. Then, I stormed back down the stairs, still incensed, through the foyer and