Chapter 17: Chapter Sixteen

DAX

~“Is our mate okay?”~ my wolf queried anxiously. ~“Go check on her. Get up!”~

I squeezed my eyes shut, attempting to block out my wolf’s frantic concern. He’d been in a state of panic for over an hour, ever since I’d rushed Savannah to the nurse’s office after Randi had taken too long to fetch help.

Nurse Withers had whisked her into the sterile, cold room, effectively locking us all out. Randi had sauntered over and taken a seat next to me, her hand lightly brushing against my thigh.

I kept my eyes firmly shut. “~Don’t~ touch me.”

She withdrew her hand without a word.

This whole mess had started when Randi decided to stir the pot, trying to provoke Savannah’s jealousy. And she definitely wasn’t coming to the party with us. I didn’t give a damn what my mother thought about it.

“You should probably head back to your dorm,” Braxton suggested to Randi. “We don’t need your help.”

She looked like she wanted to argue, but instead, she took his advice and left.

“Finally,” I muttered, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees. “I’m starting to get worried.” I stood up. “Maybe I should just go in there—”

Braxton held up a hand to stop me. “There’s nothing you can do right now, Dax. She’s fine. They’ll be done soon.”

Reluctantly, I sat back down, letting out a sigh. “You think she was trying to shift?” I asked.

Braxton shrugged his broad shoulders. “Not sure. I don’t know anyone who fainted from shifting. Maybe because she waited so long in her life, it was a shock to her system? It’s hard to say.”

I rubbed my hands over my face roughly. Seeing her skin turn pale, and her legs buckle beneath her, had sent fear wrapping its icy fingers around my throat.

I’d never been more terrified in my life.

“Any news on the lycans?” I asked.

Braxton huffed. “Nothing at all. It’s eerily quiet, to be honest. But we still have extra wolves on patrol every night.”

Braxton paused for a moment. “She’s going to be okay. We’re not going to let any lycans get into this university.”

I nodded, feeling a sudden urge to shift and tear the lycan’s throat out.

The door opened, and I jumped up to face them. Nurse Withers emerged with Savannah trailing behind her. The color had returned to Savannah’s face, and she gave me an embarrassed smile.

“Are you okay? How are you feeling?”

Nurse Withers held up a hand. “She’s better. I’m not exactly sure what caused her to faint, but I think she was triggered by jealousy to shift.”

Part of me was furious that Randi had caused this, part of me felt a strange sense of pride that Savannah cared enough to be jealous, and part of me was frustrated that Nurse Withers didn’t have the answers I needed.

I ran my fingers through my hair. “So what now? This is obviously ~not~ normal. And you have no idea why this is happening. What if it happens again? What if she faints and something bad happens—”

Braxton placed a calming hand on my shoulder and whispered, “Calm down, son.”

Savannah cleared her throat. “I’m fine, Daxton. I just want to go lie down.”

“She needs rest. I suggest no combat classes or ~strenuous activities~,” Nurse Withers advised, her gaze lingering on me.

The makeup she’d applied earlier had smeared off over the course of the day, revealing all my bite marks again.

Braxton mumbled something behind me, but I didn’t bother to listen. Savannah took a step towards me and stumbled against the wall. I quickly bent down and swept her into my arms.

“Are we finished here?” I asked.

Nurse Withers nodded.

I started down the hallway with Savannah in my arms. “You can put me down,” she protested.

“Not a chance,” I replied. “You almost tripped just trying to walk. I can carry you easily, and you’re going to have to deal with it.”

She chuckled and rested her head against my shoulder. “Let’s not let Randi ride with us,” she whispered.

I laughed. “She isn’t coming with us. I’ll handle it.”

We walked out into the afternoon, and I started towards the Alpha House. “Where are we going?” she asked.

“I’m taking you to my room. You’re going to stay there with me tonight.”

Savannah eyed me. “You heard Nurse Withers, no ~strenuous activities~, Daxton Allaire.”

I chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Savannah Harper. I wouldn’t call kissing and biting you strenuous for you.”

“I beg to differ. I was hot and bothered all day thinking about it.”

~“Again,”~ my wolf urged. ~“Do it again!”~

“I promise to take care of you,” I whispered. “Until you ask me any different.”

I carried Savannah all the way to the pack house, and into my room. I felt her sigh in relief when I sat her on my unmade bed, just as we had left it that morning.

“Are you hungry?”

“Absolutely not,” she replied, patting her stomach. “The lunas eat well, I’ll tell you that. Oh, should I tell Missy what’s going on?” she asked.

“I’ve already informed Missy you’ll be with me tonight.” I pulled my desk chair over and sat down in front of her. “What do you need?”

“Did you grab my cell phone when I fell?”

I fished it out from the depths of my pocket and handed it to her. She glanced at the screen, her brows furrowing in concern.

“Expecting a call from another boyfriend?” I teased, leaning back against my seat. “You don’t have one of those, do you? I don’t think I could hold myself back again.”

She chuckled lightly. “No, but I haven’t heard from my Grammy since I arrived. She hasn’t answered any of my calls, and it’s starting to worry me.

I also tried to reach the woman who saved me the night of the lycan attack, but she hasn’t returned my call.”

“Someone saved you from the attack? I didn’t realize you were there. How did you get her contact information?”

“It was left with Mrs. Jamieson. A woman named Amber. I was hoping to speak with one of them today. I just hope my Grammy didn’t fall or something… I tried to get her one of those safety alert necklaces, but she refused to wear it.”

I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, concern etching my features. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

“Up for a drive?” I asked.

Savannah’s hazel eyes met mine. “A drive where?”

I stood up and extended my hand to her. “Home.”

***

Two hours later, we pulled up in front of a quaint, one-story brick house, nestled in a suburban neighborhood with a perfectly manicured lawn. I helped Savannah out of the Jeep and locked it.

She looked nervous, her gaze darting down the street. “Your heart is racing,” I whispered. “What’s wrong?”

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s the weekend, and Trent lives two doors down.”

I glanced down the street, but didn’t dwell on it. If Trent wanted another round, I’d be more than ready this time. “Relax,” I said. “Everything is fine. Let’s go.”

Savannah led me to the front porch, pulled out her key, and unlocked the door. The silence inside the house was unsettling.

I grew up in a pack house, always surrounded by other wolves. Savannah had missed out on that.

Wolves were social creatures, and she’d never experienced that. She’d been raised by a woman who had already raised her own children.

I was determined to give Savannah a sense of family going forward. Wait until she met my mother.

“Grammy?” she called into the darkness.

A cold shiver raced down my spine, and I tightened my grip on her elbow. “Something feels off. Is it always this quiet?”

“Sometimes. She loves to read. Maybe she’s out back.” She led me through the house, past old furniture, and towards the sliding back door.

A swimming pool shimmered in the hot sun, and I caught a whiff of a familiar scent.

~Trent.~

~“It’s an old scent,”~ my wolf reassured me. ~“He isn’t here.”~

I relaxed my grip and exhaled.

“Grammy?” Savannah turned back to look at her grandmother who stood in the open sliding doors we had just passed through. She looked rigid, her gaze fixed on me.

~“The old lady doesn’t like you,”~ my wolf observed.

~“She doesn’t like us,”~ I corrected.

~“Speak for yourself,”~ he grumbled.

“Grammy, I’ve been trying to call you. Why haven’t you answered my calls?”

Her Grammy’s gaze slowly shifted from me to Savannah. “I haven’t had any missed calls.”

Savannah narrowed her eyes. “Seriously? I’ve called over twenty times. I thought something happened to you.”

“I didn’t get them, Savannah. Who is this? Where is Trent?”

Savannah glanced up at me with a worried expression. Clearly, her Grammy didn’t usually act like this, and I was concerned that my presence was the cause.

“I’m Daxton Allaire. It’s nice to meet you.” I extended my hand to her, and she reluctantly shook it.

She took a step back from me, one hand on her wrinkled chest and the other on her hip.

“Trent and I broke up,” Savannah said. “And I want to know what’s going on with you? You’re acting strange.”

Her Grammy frowned. “I need to speak with you in private, Savannah.”

Savannah gave me a look but followed her into the house. I listened to their retreating footsteps, and circled around the outside of the house to stay within earshot.

~“Nosy,”~ my wolf commented.

~“Shut up. Something is going on,”~ I retorted.

“—it’s not safe for you to be here, Savannah. You can’t bring him here.”

“Daxton? Why? You don’t even know him.”

Her Grammy stayed silent for a few moments. “I know what he is.”

Savannah gasped softly, and I could sense her unease. “So you know what I am, too?”

“Don’t come back here, Savannah. I’m begging you. Take my word for it. Don’t come back. You need to leave.”

“Grammy, you’ve known this entire time—”

“Please leave, Savannah. I’ll write you if anything goes wrong. Please leave, ~now~. I love you. Go back to school.”

Savannah’s footsteps hurried through the house. I followed them and met her at the pool. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I bit my tongue to keep from cursing out an old lady.

“We need to leave,” she whispered.

I pulled her closer, our bodies aligning perfectly. Her grandmother’s gaze met mine from the kitchen window, but she vanished before I could fully register her presence.

Savannah climbed into the passenger seat of my Jeep, her tears leaving a trail of sorrow on her cheeks. I shut my door with a firm thud and turned to her. “What was that all about?”

“I don’t know. She was so insistent that I leave. She’s always known about werewolves but she’s never reacted like this before. I’m so confused. I can’t believe this is happening.”

I started the engine, pulling us away from her childhood home and steering us towards Werewolf University. Something about her upbringing, her family, felt off, but I was determined to uncover the truth for her.

***

Savannah drifted off during the drive home, and I carried her into the Alpha House. Kayden was waiting at my door, two plates of food in his hands.

“Appreciate the food,” I said, nudging my door open with my shoulder.

“Looks like you two have had a rough couple of days,” he observed. “Did you tire her out that much?”

I gently laid her on my bed, her eyes fluttering open at the movement. “Where are we?” she mumbled, her words slurred with sleep.

Kayden chuckled. “~Damn~, Allaire. You didn’t have to leave your mark all over her like that!”

Savannah quickly covered her neck with her hand.

“Get out,” I ordered. “We don’t need your commentary, thank you.”

Kayden raised his eyebrows in a teasing manner. “~Thanks for the food, Kayden. You’re awesome for fighting off some junior to get an extra plate~.”

I playfully shoved the back of his head as he exited the room. When I turned around, Savannah was already digging into her food. “I worked up an appetite from my trip from hell.”

~I bet~. The trip hadn’t gone as I’d expected, not by a long shot. I sat down across from her. “Does your Grammy have a thing against men, or is it just me?”

Savannah swallowed her food before answering. “She’s never acted like that before. I’m guessing it has something to do with you being a wolf, which only brings up more questions for me. But I’m too tired to think about it.”

“We’ll figure it out. I promise,” I reassured her.

After we finished eating, I escorted her down the hall to the communal bathroom. I stood guard outside the entrance, ensuring no one would disturb her.

The one wolf who tried to use the bathroom was quickly redirected to another floor.

~Not on my watch~.

When she emerged, she was wearing my T-shirt, her wet hair cascading down her back.

~“Wow,”~ my wolf murmured. ~“Has it been a few days yet? She seems normal to me. I think we could engage in some strenuous activity.”~

The impure thoughts my wolf was throwing into my mind made me blush. I’d been fantasizing about Savannah daily since the alpha party.

~“Stop it,”~ I scolded. ~“This is hard enough as it is.”~

~“That’s what she said,”~ he retorted.

~“How old are you?”~ I asked, exasperated.

~“Come on. You know you want to,”~ he teased.

“Stop it,” I snapped out loud.

Savannah looked up at me, puzzled. “Stop what?” When I didn’t answer, she chuckled. “Your wolf?”

I opened my door for her. “Of course. He’s a horny jackass.”

~“Sure, blame it on me,”~ he grumbled.

***

I was awakened by the rhythm of Savannah’s heartbeat. Her fingers twitched, the movement spreading across her body like a slow-moving snake.

The small twitch in her hands traveled to her arms and then her legs. She began to thrash around in my bed as if she were being chased.

“Savannah,” I called, trying to calm her.

She slapped me, her eyes wide open but not seeing me. I held her wrists down against the bed until she stilled and realization dawned on her.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. Did I hit you?”

I released her wrists, and she reached up to cup my cheek.

I brushed her ebony hair from her face. “I’m fine. Are you okay? You were having a nightmare.”

She seemed lost in thought for a moment. “I don’t normally have nightmares. This one was… intense. I was being chased.”

I pulled her closer against me. “Chased by what, sweet girl?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it’ll come to me. I’m sorry if I woke you. I know you have class tomorrow,” she said, shifting so that her leg was nestled between mine.

“You probably don’t get good sleep with me in here either.”

I chuckled. “That’s not true. I sleep like the dead with you in here.”

“Dax,” she whispered after a few moments of silence.

“~Hmm~?”

“When will you bite me?”

~“Yes!”~ my wolf exclaimed.

I slid my palm up to her neck and tilted her face so she would look at me. “Do you know what that entails, Savannah?”

She shook her head. “Not really.”

The mere mention of marking her brought every ounce of alpha in me to the surface. I wanted to sink my teeth into her neck and claim her as mine until she was too spent to move.

I fought the urge to tighten my grip on her skin. The mere thought made my wolf pace restlessly, clawing to be let out.

“It binds us completely. I’ll bite you and you’ll bite me,” I whispered. “But it doesn’t have to happen until you’re ready.”

She nodded. “Where will you do it?” she asked in a whisper.

~She’s determined to make this difficult, isn’t she?~ I thought, leaning in to press my lips against hers, my mouth trailing a path down her throat. I paused at the spot where a mate is traditionally marked. “Here,” I murmured against her skin.

Her breath hitched in her chest. “Is that the only place you can mark me?”

I shook my head, my cheek brushing against her neck. I lowered my mouth to her chest, stopping at the peak of her nipple, and then traced a line down to her thigh. “Some wolves choose to bite here,” I whispered against her bare skin.

She clutched at the sheets beneath her, her legs beginning to tremble. “Where will you bite me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I kissed my way back up her hip bone, across her belly, and returned to her neck, positioning her petite body beneath mine. “I prefer the neck,” I confessed. “So everyone knows you’re mine.”

She closed her eyes, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “What will it look like?”

I captured her mouth with mine, positioning myself between her legs, picturing the images she was conjuring in her mind. “Everyone’s mark is different. It depends on your pack, and the bond between you and your mate. Only time will tell.”

Savannah wrapped her thigh around my waist, holding me in place. “I think you’re right,” she murmured. “Kissing and biting doesn’t seem too strenuous for me.”

I chuckled, tracing a path with my tongue up her neck. “Let’s just make sure the bites can be covered up easily.”

“Anything for my luna,” I promised, my voice a low growl.