Chapter 48

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My eyes go wide as I gasp, spinning to see Alvez walking down the hall, completely nonchalant. But that was no ghost, sneaking an intimate touch when my brother’s back was turned.

“What is it?” Rafe asks, turning towards me.

“Sorry, I uh–just saw a spider,” 1 murmur. “Really big one.”

“Gross,” Jesse says, a shiver running through him. I grin at him, because Jesse hates spiders.

“Yeah, let’s get out of here,” Rafe says, nodding towards the elevator at the end of the hall. “Ari and I have to have a chat after all.”

“Really?” Jesse gasps as we step into the elevator. “What about!? Do I get to come. too?”

“No,” Rafe says, slinging an arm around my shoulders and glaring over at our cousin. “Siblings only for this one.”

Jesse hangs his head back as the elevator lifts us swiftly into the air. “That’s so unfair,” he groans. “Come on, I’m basically a sibling – our dads our brothers, our moms are sisters! Genetically, I’m pretty much the same

“Don’t be weird,” Rafe says, glancing over at Jesse with his brows knit as the elevator door opens and we start down the hall.

Jesse continues to complain all the way into the room but Rafe ignores him and I laugh, because Jesse can be such a baby when he doesn’t get his way. But eventually Jesse flops, defeated and depressed to be deprived of the gossip, onto his bed as Rafe pushes me towards the bathroom.

“Rafe, you can pee alone,” I mutter, tossing my chemistry book onto my bed as I

  1. go.

“This is about secrecy not bodily functions,” he murmurs, shutting the door behind him and leaning back on it. “Which I’d think would be something you appreciated, considering this is a conversation about your mate. So?” He raises an eyebrow at me. “Spill.”

I sigh, closing the lid to the toilet and sitting down on it, taking off my cap and

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Chapter 48

taking a moment to massage my sore scalp under its tight braid. Rafe listens quietly and carefully as I tell him everything about Jackson about his apology in the bathroom that allowed me to see a different side of him, my impulsive invitation to breakfast, and then about his waiting to go into his obstacle course. with me, and the hint and the help he gave.

at the floor with his

to me because he does sense a connection. between

to the floor a bit. “It’s all just so weird, Ari,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “I don’t know how to

I say, but I smile at my brother because it feels nice to be able

a right to get to know your mate,” he murmurs, “that’s important. But there’s so much at risk. And he did seriously try to hurt you, which makes me very wary to let him

to hurt me again. Honestly, if anything, it feels like his instincts are

protect you?” Rafe asks, looking up at me. “I mean, that makes sense…the way dad protects mom feels just like a part of who he

to dad and

Jackson? I…just

And Luca?

prancing gleefully at the thought of them. And

12.02

Chapter 48

Tu Mar

the rump. She spins in a circle and then trots off,

right,” Rafe sighs, hanging his head a little with a big sigh. “I’ll try to be nicer. Though it will

but a knock comes

pee somewhere else, Jesse,” Rafe says, his

the advice, Rafe,” Jesse replies, dry, “but actually our uniforms

Rafe gets to his feet too, but

heading for it. “I want to take a

did to my uniform to make it fit better. Rafe starts to strip

the wrist and tugs me out of the bathroom, snicking the door shut behind me. “You have a guest, Mr. Clark,” he says, his voice half devious and half angry. “Who is asking for

eyes go wide as I follow Jesse’s gesturing hand towards there door, where I burst into a grin to see the seamstress here in the flesh, a black

me, “I’m so happy to see you! I made some

him,” I say, flapping a hand in his direction as I take the box from her hands and head for my nook. “Come over here! Thank

and I stop

at my cousin a little as

of…figured it out yesterday.”

Chapter 48

face as she looks between my cousin and me. “Oh,

groans, covering his face with his hands and turning away from me, his—- shoulders shaking a little bit. “You can’t do this shit to me and

to me as I put the

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