Chapter 24 - Now official

Jude

I hated having to leave my mate after walking her to class; I didn’t want to go, and Rosie laughed lightly at my reluctance while rubbing my shoulder absentmindedly in a way that made my wolf purr.

“We’ll see each other after class,” she whispered, and I grumbled about the distance and how I didn’t want to go to practice, and didn’t want to leave her at all.

Rosie sat in her seat and placed her bag on the desk, then looked around the not-so-empty classroom and gestured for me to bend down. I bent, and she pecked my cheek quickly, then whipped her head away, her face already turning pink.

Then she mumbled under her breath, “Be good,” like she didn’t just put me in a chokehold with that innocent kiss.

How could she say something like that and expect me to just leave?

I stared at her reddened cheeks and smiled before patting her hair gently and forcing myself to leave for the arena, already counting down the minutes until I could see her again.

I felt my mood elevated beyond reason, whistling as I walked to the locker room and changed into my practice outfit. I laced up my skates with quick efficient movements and grabbed my stick before skating out onto the ice, my body humming with energy.

As I got to the rink I saw River already skating with a puck while the goalie and other team members warmed up, and I skated over to join them. River immediately came up beside me and nudged me with his shoulder.

“Your face is glowing, lucky bastard,” River said and I flicked my head away while stealing the puck from him with a smirk.

“When you get your mate, you’ll understand,” I said tauntingly and passed the puck back to him hard.

“Ouch, that hurt bro,” River whined dramatically and I chuckled.

We continued the drill for a couple of minutes before the coach arrived.

“I see you boys are here already,” the coach clapped his hands while calling us together, and smiled approvingly when his eyes met mine.

Young alpha, you’re here today, he mindlinked and I nodded respectfully.

The coach turned to address the whole team. “I’ll be happy if you guys put more effort in today. The new season is starting in a few weeks, so be prepared to crush the opponent.” The team cheered and banged their sticks against the ice.

“Now, let’s start with laps.”

After hours of skating drills and playing one-on-one scrimmages, the coach finally released us and I quickly headed for the showers, already thinking about getting back to Rosie.

River ran after me. “Where are you going in such a rush?”

“To my mate,” I responded in a ‘duh’ tone that made it obvious.

River scrunched his face in mock disgust. “Well, go on with your mate-y thing then. I’m not jealous,” he hollered after me but I just grinned.

When I was done showering and changing, I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed straight for the library where I knew she’d be waiting for me. I knew eating wasn’t permitted in the library but I still stopped by the cafeteria and bought her favorite chips, the ones she’d mentioned liking that one time weeks ago.

I jogged to the library, couldn’t wait to see her, inhale her heavenly scent, and latch onto it as my wolf demanded.

I walked into the library and headed to our usual spot on the second floor, then paused mid-step when I saw her with her head down on the table. She was sleeping and I smiled, my chest warming at the sight while I walked quietly to her and took the seat beside hers.

I tilted my head and just watched her for a long moment, watching how her nose flared slightly with each breath and how her lips were parted just a bit. My throat bobbed because I wanted to swallow those lips like I had last night but that would make me a creep, watching her sleep and stealing kisses.

I studied her lashes, dark against her cheeks and hiding the blue eyes that always seemed to drown me whenever she looked at me. A strand of hair fell across her face and I gently brushed it back with the pad of my thumb, careful not to wake her while my eyes traced the beautiful freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks.

My eyes roamed over them and I tried to count them, raising my finger to touch the one beside her cheek when her eyes suddenly flew open and I froze, my finger suspended in the air and my eyes widening at being caught.

She blinked repeatedly, disoriented from sleep, then that beautiful smile graced her lips and my heart squeezed. “What are you doing?” she asked and her voice was hoarse from sleep and somehow even more beautiful and I felt my heart shimmer in my chest.

God, she was so beautiful.

I pulled my hand back bashfully and cleared my throat. “There was... dirt,” I trailed off lamely while placing my hands at my sides, feeling like an idiot.

Rosie laughed, the sound soft and sleepy, then moved her head closer to me and closed her eyes again. “Then remove the dirt,” she said simply.

I couldn’t help it, my throat bobbing and blood thrumming under my skin from the streak of submissiveness and willingness she showed me. My wolf roared with happiness because our mate wanted us, trusted us, and was giving herself to us.

I leaned in and kissed her.

A gasp escaped her lips and her eyes flew open, wide and shocked and her cheeks immediately flamed red.

“That wasn’t dirt,” she stuttered while her hands came up to touch her lips.

“Are we together now?” The words blurted out before I could stop them, the question that had been eating me up since last night because I needed to know I wasn’t the only one feeling this, that I wasn’t ahead of myself, that she wanted this too.

Rosie blushed so deeply that my wolf preened with pride and satisfaction. She nodded softly, shyly, and my heart soared.

My nose flared with the desire to devour her lips again but I swallowed it down, needing to hear the words. “That means you’re my girlfriend now?”

She bit her lip and nodded again, her cheeks still pink and her eyes sparkling. “Yes,” she whispered and the word sent electricity through my entire body.

“Say it,” I said quietly, needing to hear her claim it, claim me.

“I’m your girlfriend,” Rosie said and her voice was soft yet firm and I felt like my chest would explode from happiness.

“And I’m your boyfriend,” I confirmed while reaching out to tuck that same strand of hair behind her ear again, letting my fingers linger on her cheek.

“Yes,” she breathed and leaned into my touch and I had never felt more complete in my entire life.

My mate. My girlfriend. Mine.

I kissed her again, slower this time, savoring it, and she made this small sound in the back of her throat that drove my wolf wild. When I pulled back we were both breathing hard and her lips were swollen and her eyes were dazed.

“I got you chips,” I said stupidly, remembering the bag I’d dropped on the table and she laughed, and boy, that sound was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard.

“Whoa,” she awed, her eyes twinkling.

I hummed, liking the warm gaze from her.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the library with her studying and me pretending to study but mostly just watching her, sneaking kisses when no one was looking, holding her hand under the table, and feeling happier than I’d ever been.

She was my girlfriend now.

Mine.

Now, it remains how I would explain the wolf thingy to her.

God, make it easy.