The Guardian's Bond(9)
Tommy turned, slamming the water bottle onto the wall, shattering the plastic, water exploding everywhere. “I can’t help it. She’s home and I want my mate.”
“I know.” Laying his hand on Tommy’s shoulder Galen turned him. “We need to get this settled before the full moon or else you’ll be going for her and she won’t know why until you’re in the middle of a frantic mating. Drake knows this as well, Tommy. He’s hoping that it being the last day Barrett is here will move things along, but you need to step back. Barrett sees you as a threat, someone in his way to Livi, and that puts you in danger.”
Tommy’s gaze narrowed. “What have the seers seen?”
“We didn’t hear it from the seers, we heard it from Livi. When you entered the store the other day, she sensed bad mind-set coming from Barrett toward you. He thinks we’re all human and that Drake and Kalana are not Livi’s real parents. But if you get in his way of taking Livi down…he’ll kill you.”
“I need to keep her safe.”
“Peter will be shadowing Livi. You need to keep yourself away from her before you force a shift. You know if a forced shift occurs to protect a mate you will not go wolf mode, you’ll go Were. And with you so close to a rut, we don’t want to chance that happening.”
“Yeah.” Running his hand over the top of his head, he turned. “Fine, I understand, but I don’t like it.”
“I know. Now go get ready for roll call.”
Tommy slunk over to his desk and sat there. What the hell. It wasn’t his fault she came home and his senses were busting out. He wanted his mate. He’d waited long enough and now she was close enough to put his wolf in an all out seek and mate mode, and hell, if he went Were-mode to protect her, they’d be putting the Hunter in a body bag instead of a cell. “Christ.”
“Don’t worry man, I’ll keep an eye on Livi for you,” Peter said as he sat at the desk across from Tommy.”
“I know you will, I just don’t like not having her in my sight, especially tonight.”
“I understand, but you have to remember Livi is a Guardian. She has more power than any of us, except for Mari Beven. She can take care of herself, Tommy.”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “I know, but I still don’t like it.”
Peter chuckled. “We need to get this finished with quickly so you can take her as your life mate.”
“Tell me about it,” Tommy replied, rising when his dad announced everyone to roll call.
“Thanks for the mess, wolf boy,” Trilla called out.
Tommy turned to the smiling water nymph as she lowered her hand over the large puddle of water he’d created on the floor when he’d smashed the bottle. “Sorry, Trilla.”
“Yeah sure, get outta here before I give you a puppy bath.”
* * * *
Livi smiled as Barrett led her on one of the paths in the forest. “We better hurry up if you want to show me something, the bus will be coming soon.”
“Damn, it’s getting dark. I can’t remember where I saw it,” Barrett said, stopping.
“If you tell me what it is, I may be able to help. I grew up here.”
“How long have you lived here, Livi?”
Livi shrugged her shoulders as he turned and met his gaze. “Since I was eight.”
“And you’ve never seen anything strange going on here?”
“Well yeah,” she snorted. “It’s a damn tourist town. The locals try to make it interesting.”
“Really?” he asked bringing her closer.
“Yeah, it gets pretty boring around here otherwise.” Livi smiled as he lowered his head. She steeled herself not to punch the shit out of him when his lips touched hers softly. “You know,” she whispered backing away. “You are leaving, and I…I don’t do one night stands, Barrett.”
“So why all the teasing since I’ve been here?”
“Well you might have decided to stay.”
“Yeah, not going to happen and I think you knew it.”
“Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
“You’re beautiful, Livi.” Twirling a length of her black hair around his finger, he met her gaze. “But I know you’re hiding something.”
“Aren’t we all, Barrett?”
“Why were you at my window last night?”
Livi smiled. “Really, you’re seriously going to ask me that?”
“Yes.”
Livi noticed the change in his stance as his lips lowered to hers again. “I wanted to knock on your door, but, well…I chickened out.”
“Do you know? Did you hear my conversation last night?”