Damon
Chapter 8
I should have known those little assholes would run right over to my brothers and rat me out. It wasn’t even twenty minutes since I had kicked them out that Chase, Brett, and Chad came strolling in with worried expressions. Worse, they’d brought Jenna.
“It’s time for a little intervention here,” Chase said, patting the chair and then pushing me down into it when I got close.
“Don’t,” I warned him. “I’m really not in the mood.”
“You’re always in a mood though,” Brett said, trying to be funny.
“They’re just worried about you, Damon. We all are,” Jenna said. Her kindness cracked my shell just a little.
“I’m not trying to be a dick. I’m really not. I’m just dealing with something right now,” I told them honestly.
“We see that. But you don’t have to go through it alone. We all miss Matt, Damon,” Chad said.
I shook my head. “This isn’t about Matt. It’s not. This is different. I don’t even know how to explain it to you guys. Just trust me when I say I’m dealing with it as best as I can.”
“You’re spending too much time alone,” Chase told me.
“Well, I’m starting back to work this week, so I’ll be busy and really won’t have much free time, or alone time.”
I was hoping that would satisfy them, and it helped, but they insisted we all hang out and watch a movie. I wasn’t in the mood, but I didn’t want to continue being harassed by them either. So I stayed. I even had a little fun.
The rest of the weekend the three of them stayed glued to me. They went for runs when I did. They followed me to the cafeteria for meals. It was kind of pathetic, but it also helped soothe my wolf by giving us the companionship we needed. Still, my wolf was depressed, and his feelings continued to affect me.
I was glad when Monday rolled around and I could lose myself in school and work, and I could finally lose my babysitters. This time I braced myself for my second class. I felt the tingles in my spine, but I was ready. When Tyler’s scent hit me, I braced for it, and my wolf’s reaction was easier to handle. I was slowly getting control over him.
There was a fraternity meeting that night, but I begged off and they didn’t give me much shit for it. I knew most of my brothers were going to vote against Tyler. He wouldn’t even be allowed to pledge. I felt a little guilty about that, and yet I couldn’t control what his mere presence did to me.
On Tuesday I slept in, my first class of the day was later in the morning, Italian 101. The class was a joke, but the new recruits never failed to amuse me. It was always a group of guys out to impress the ladies, and a few girls with aspirations to travel across the countryside after college. None were truly interested in learning my native tongue, but they entertained me year after year with their butchered attempts to speak it.
Professor Vinny tried to encourage each of them, but it was usually a dying cause. Those rare International Relations majors who actually chose Italian for their focal language were the ones he had me work closely with and tutor. I already knew from talking to him that I only had one this semester. That worked for me. I got paid the same regardless.
The second I walked into class, the tingles started. “Son of a bitch,” I swore under my breath. I hesitated at the door waiting for my wolf to surge, but he didn’t. He was calm, content, and happier than I’d felt him since before Matt’s death. It almost freaked me out even more than the aggression.
“Benvenuto, Damon!” the Professor exclaimed turning all eyes towards me.
I gave a small wave and headed for the front of the class. As I passed by the front row, I heard a sharp intake of breath and turned towards the sound. My eyes met a pair of deep brown pools swirling with confusion.
Mine, my wolf spoke into my head.
I froze, just staring at the girl. She had dark hair that shined red, styled in dreadlocks and pulled back into a ponytail. But it was her eyes that captivated me. I took a deep breath, sniffing the air. It was a very potent version of the smell that kept haunting me and driving my wolf to the brink of insanity. Mate. I had a mate?
“Class, this is Damon Rossi and he’ll be assisting with the class throughout the semester. If you have any trouble or require additional assistance, Mr. Rossi is the man for you.” My eyes flew to meet the girl’s whose grew impossibly wider.
My mouth was dry and I couldn’t pry my eyes away from hers, but I managed a smile and waved to the room. A few took notice of my infatuation, so I tried to rein in my shock and relax. Fat chance, but I tried. I forced myself to finally look away. Anywhere, but in her direction for the remainder of the class as Vinny went through some basic words and had the class repeating them back.
He moved through the text quickly, and they were further ahead than I’d expected for it only being the fifth class of the semester. The moment he ended, I was ready to sprint out the door. I needed to pace, and I needed to catch the girl before she disappeared on me.
Just as I was about to run for the door, Vinny called me over to talk. I chanced a look around and saw her packing up as fast as she could. I wondered if she was as freaked out by this as I was. My mate? A true mate? I never dreamed that was a possibility for me.
“You okay, son?” he asked, sounding concerned.
“Yeah, just a very strange morning,” I snickered to myself. It was definitely that.
“Okay, well, I want you to meet the student I was telling you about. We only have the one International Relations student this year, but I think you two will get along well. She’s also a wolf shifter and quite bright. Not like the two you had last year.” He gave me a silly face. We both knew the two I had tutored the year before were not there to actually learn anything. “I think this one genuinely wants to learn Italian, which is a very refreshing change of pace.”
Out of the corner of my eye I could see my mate stand and start to head for the door. She seemed in a hurry to get out of there and my wolf wanted to cry out to her to stay.
Professor held up a hand. “Miss Begay, if you have a moment please.”
The girl stopped. Her back stiffened and she turned to face us. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. My mate was the girl he was talking about? I took a moment to observe beyond the eyes that sucked me in like I’d fallen into an unknown abyss. She was hot. I was sure I’d never get tired of looking at her.
And her scent, as she walked past, trying her best to ignore me as the air sizzled between us, was the most intoxicating thing I’d ever experienced. I knew that smell. It was on the punk Tyler. It had been on my brothers that night when they’d made the dweebs bring a dog to the house.
My wolf growled in my head. Had someone brought her as a dog? I’d kill him. Everything was clear in my head. It wasn’t the kid’s scent driving my wolf mad—it was hers on any other male. But why was my mate’s scent on so many of my brothers?
“Karis, I’d like to formally introduce you to Damon. He’s going to be your tutor for the semester, and likely for as long as you’re in the Italian program. Trust me when I say you’re in good hands. I’ve studied the language much of my life, but there’s a certain benefit to having a native fluent to assist you, especially in these early stages. Damon, this is Karis Begay, your new protégée.”
There was an awkward silence as we stared at each other once again. “Hi,” I managed in a strained voice.
Vinny quirked an eyebrow at me. “Well then, unless you have another class to get to Miss Begay, I suggest you and Damon sit down and work out your schedule for at least the next few weeks. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another class arriving.”
Looking up I saw students flowing in. I recognized all of them. They were taking their third year and didn’t much need my help anymore, though I’d tutored nearly all of them at some point in their time at the ARC.
“Hey Damon,” some said, and I gave a wave.
“D-man, when are the D.O.G.s throwing another party?”
And other comments came my way as I waved, nodded, and said hello to several others as I followed Karis out of the room. Once outside she turned so abruptly that she ran smack into my chest. The feel of her against my body set every nerve on end in the best way possible. My body came alive and I had a primal desire to mark her right there for all to see.
She sucked in a deep breath and took a step back. The space between us did nothing to tame my desires.
“Um, look. This is nice of you to do and all, but I think I’ll be fine this semester without tutoring,” she said, unable to even look me in the eye. There was an unexpected sting to her rejection.
I smirked, enjoying her frustration. It was cute. “Professor Vinny is very adamant on this requirement for any International Relations major. Are you an IR major, Karis?” I asked, loving the feel of her name rolling off my tongue.
“Yes, I am.”
“Great, then you’re pretty much stuck with me. I’m an IR major too. If you need help with any other classes, all you have to do is ask,” I said, loving it when she squirmed at the thought.
I wasn’t sure what I expected would happen when I met my true mate. Well, I never really imagined it would happen, so I supposed I’d never given any thought to it. I could see she was nervous, maybe even scared, but I was okay with that. I like the feisty, defiant side of her trying to dismiss me, but I also loved a good chase. Now that I knew my wolf and I weren’t completely losing it, I was ready for a good hunt, and I knew without a doubt she’d be worth it.
“Do you have plans for lunch?” I asked.
“N-no,” she stuttered, and I cut her off before she could add anything further.
“Great, I’m starving. Let’s go,” I said placing my hand on her lower back and possessively leaving it there. I relaxed and smiled bigger when she didn’t brush me off.
Feeling her nerves and fearing she’d run from me, I opted for the café, which was the closest place with food and probably the most crowded. I hadn’t set foot in there since school started, so our arrival drew a bit more attention than I’d hoped. I smiled and politely said hello to a dozen or more people as I guided Karis around, filling up a tray for the two of us.
My wolf was happy and calm. He liked that I was caring for our mate, and that made me feel really good too. When we finally got through the line she stomped towards the first available table and dropped her things with a huff. She was cute when she was irritated.
I kept it professional and forced her to work me into her schedule for the next four weeks. At least that guaranteed she couldn’t completely run away from me.
When we were done eating, she crossed her arms over her chest. I couldn’t help but look down at the way her breasts perked up as if calling my name. She blushed but didn’t change her position. She was a spitfire. The thought of how responsive she’d be in my bed made me hard. I squirmed in my seat trying to hide what she was doing to me.