The Wolf Warrior {Book 3}

Thirteen

The rumble of my stomach is not one of hunger.

He is next to me, my mate. He is here and all I can think about is the safety of the human across from me.

Chase kissed my forehead when we arrived as his fingers skim over my cheek and for a moment I think that he will ask about the bruise.

"So," Chase cuts into his potato, "You two have been spending a lot of time together?" It sounds more like a statement rather than a question.

"Well?" Nate shrugs as he eyes me.

"Not precisely," I take a bite of my fried chicken. I shrug as I emphasize my chewing.

Chase would not want me to choke, right?

"Something to drink?" Chase offers and I nod.

"Water please," Nate grins as Chase walks to the fridge.

Is he mad? Nate mouths at me.

I don't know, I mouth in return.

"Water? You sure you don't want a beer instead," narrowing my eyes I glance at Chase as he weighs the water and beer in his hands.

"I don't drink anymore," Nate chuckles, "sorry about that."

Chase opens his beer as he hands Nate his water then he turns to me and opens my Dr. Pepper. The fizz goes down too fast making my throat tingle. 

"How're your classes going?" Chase concentrates on Nate. 

"We have been swamped with all the reading that the professor has assigned." I chime in as Nate relaxes.

"What is the reading about?" He counters.

Jesus, Chase, cut us some slack.

I pick at my chicken trying to keep busy. Chase knows how to make it the way that I like it, golden and crispy. 

"Seems like you have a lot of questions about our class maybe you should have signed up for it," Nate states rather nonchalantly. 

Biting down on my drumstick I eye them cautiously.

"Is there room?" Chase challenges.

Oh, there is no more room. School is the only place that I can be myself. 

"No," I choke out as the chicken scrapes the inside of my throat. A coughing fit then ensues as I grip the table and try to get into my lungs. Tears welp up as the chicken slowly goes down.

"Melody," Nate's worried stare is blocked by Chase as he moves to me.

"Breathe," Chase pats me back and I heave in a heavy breath. Breathe. He told me to breathe. What did he think I was trying to do?

"Thanks," I sip on my soda trying to make the chicken go down faster.

Nate and Chase take a seat as silence falls upon us for a moment. Nate's fork scrapes his plate as he fidgets in his seat. 

"Mel," Chase takes a seat once again, "what's going on?"

"Nothing," I start but Chase is no longer looking at me.

"Talk?" He orders Nate.

"I'm not involved in her extracurricular activities," Nate spills out without a fight.

"What extracurricular activities?" Chase's eyes move between Nate and me.

"I joined a sports team," I don't do sports. Everyone knows this.

"Oh really," Chase's interest is piqued.

"I-I-" I have no idea what to say.

"She watches me practice," Nate interferes.