Chapter 14: Chapter Fourteen

Axel

Axel scanned the crowd, knowing he could sense her but not knowing where she sat. They were beating the opposing team, twenty-one to seven. Axel noticed they had no wolves on their team, and as Claire mentioned, it was unfair. But he'd grown up with lessons on how to hide his nature.

How to hide his wolf and extra senses. It'd become second nature to suppress it.

By the time the third quarter ended, he found her sitting in the top left side of the bleachers with Cat. If Cat hadn't been screaming and waving around a foam finger, he probably wouldn't have pinpointed Claire so easily. But Cat stuck out like a sore thumb.

He'd spent most of the game concocting a way to get out of the dreaded party. Axel didn't understand why she wanted to go anyway, since the last attempt at a party went so well. It took everything in him to keep his wolf secured inside that night, and he needed to keep it that way.

If the university or any of the students, besides his mate, found out about him, he'd be in trouble with his pack and his father.

When the clock finally ran out, the hometown side of the field erupted into cheers. A sea of white and green flashed in excitement, drawing Axel's wolf in with them. It felt different having college fans than back home.

This wasn't some small-town school with parents in the stands. It was alumni, faculty, and the surrounding town. It had Axel's adrenaline coursing through his blood.

Coach Bear huddled them all together in a congratulatory huddle and released them to go to the field house to change. The vibe in the air was heavy with excitement and full of adrenaline.

Axel watched the flow of people leaving the stands, knowing he couldn't see Claire with such a dense crowd. He'd told her to meet him at the field house, so he figured she'd do as he asked.

As long as her friend didn't talk her out of it. She seemed day to Claire's night, and eccentric to say the least, but he was glad she had a friend since he'd been the reason she didn't have one before.

He hurried to shower and change into the clothes he brought. When he grabbed his towel from his duffle, he heard some of the guys talking about going to the party.

Tibbs and Cash were orchestrating the hype and trying to talk everyone into going. Except Axel, it appeared.

Jaxton tossed a dirty towel at the back of Axel's head. "You coming tonight, Davers?"

Axel gave him a small glance over his shoulder. "Yeah, I might show up for a bit."

Cash chuckled from the other side of the showers. "Oh, I'm sure he's coming with his little friend Claire. Turns out Davers is a cock block."

Axel felt his spine stiffen, but he ignored it and shoved more of his belongings into his duffle.

"He told me he didn't know the blonde—Claire Summers—and turns out, he knows her alright. Looks like well enough to get a drink tossed in his face and then have lunch with her the next day."

"Claire Summers?" Matt said.

Axel closed his eyes, remembering that Matt was a grade above him in school, which explained why they didn't know each other well. But well enough for him to remember Claire.

"Axel used to bully the hell out of Claire," he chuckled. "What happened, Axel? Did you finally figure out your feelings?"

Axel shoved his duffle bag down and turned to face the team. Some were still getting dressed while others stood around in their towels, snickering like tenth grade boys.

"I want everyone to listen. Claire Summers is off limits to anyone on this team or this college. She's with me, and I'll rip anyone's throat out that touches her. You got it?" he asked.

Cash put his palms out and wiggled his fingers. "I’m shaking, Davers. Looks to me like Claire could do better than her high school bully, don't you think?"

He's taunting you, his wolf whispered. Rip his throat out.

Axel wanted to. He wanted to run ramped over Cash's face and stomp him into the ground, but it wasn't the time, or place. "I think that's up for Claire to decide," Axel said.

Cash smiled, as if Axel tossed out some type of bet for him to take as bait, but Axel silently dared him to make a move on Claire.

Axel would show him to pick on the next kid that secretly threatened his position on the team.

Axel wasn't an average guy, and Cash would soon find that out. Axel snatched his duffle and walked through the crowd of boys, bumping Cash's shoulder on the way out. The night air hit his skin, and he took a deep breath.

Claire was near. He could smell her and hear her soft chuckle.

He found her near his truck, standing with Cat, the moonlight shining a path against her smooth white skin and illuminating her face. Axel couldn’t understand why he'd never noticed how pretty she was before finding out that she was his mate.

"Well," Cat said noticing him first, folding her arms over her T-shirt. "Look who it is … Axel Whiplash Davers."

I don't like her, his wolf mumbled.

"Me either," he mumbled back.

Claire turned and looked over at him. "Hey. Good game," she said. "A lot different than high school, huh?"

Axel stopped beside her. "A lot different, but it's nice. The hype is bigger here for sure."

Claire nodded. "So, are you ready to go?"

Axel mentally sighed but nodded and scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, about that. I wanted to talk to you really quick."

She gestured for him to go on, but he glanced over at Cat who seemed very interested in their conversation. "Alone."

Cat narrowed her eyes. "Whatever," she said, holding her palm out. "Give me the keys, and I'll wait in the truck."

Axel dug them out of his pocket and waited for her to shut the door behind her. "Listen, I've had words with Cash again, and I want you to promise me that you won't be alone with him … ever."

Claire tilted her head as if she tried to understand something. "Axel … I want you to tell me something," she said softly, her voice caressing his skin like velvet. "Why do you care who I interact with?"

The truth was on the tip of his tongue. His wolf nudged him to tell, but he wanted her to like him without knowing about their bond. Axel looked down at her hopeful face and lied. "I'm not sure who the lycan is yet, Claire. I don't want you alone with anyone."

Claire lost eye contact but nodded. "You're right. Good thinking. Are you ready to go?" she asked, jabbing her finger over her shoulder. But she didn't give him a chance to answer; she walked toward his truck and climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door behind her.

Axel didn't lie and say he understood everything about girls, but he knew she looked disappointed, and that was a start.

Axel drove the two gabbing girls toward the party off-campus. It was at a cheerleader's summer lake house owned by her parents. It was huge, out in the boonies, with a giant lake and moonlight glistening against the water.

Cat jumped out and interlaced Claire's fingers with hers, tugging her toward the front porch. Axel kept on their heels as the dense population of people thickened, and the thumping bass of the music vibrated his insides.

They stopped in the kitchen where Cat poured them both a cup of beer from the keg and gestured for her to come to the dancefloor.

Claire laughed and shook her head. Axel watched Claire's mouthed, "No." Cat waved her off, and made her way into the sea of people.

Claire nursed her drink, and Axel took the liberty of finding a spot next to her on the island in the kitchen. "You wanted to party. Why aren't you partying?" he leaned in and whispered.

Cat smiled and looked up at him over the ridge of her cup. "Isn't this partying? Showing up and drinking? You tell me, Mr. Popular. You went to parties, not me."

Axel shrugged. "This is about it. Other than dancing and hooking up."

A blush crawled up her neck and rested against her cheeks. "Do you dance?" she asked.

Axel took a drink to buy himself some time. "Depends."

"On what?"

"If I'm drunk enough," he chuckled.

"Are you?"

Axel looked down, his wolf threatening to shift and ruin his reputation if he didn't dance with her. "No," he said, putting down his drink. "But I'm here to make sure no other person gets too close and this lycan attacks you, so what kind of bodyguard would I be if didn't give you a dance or two?"

Claire clapped her hands and tossed her drink down the sink. It felt unreal following her toward the sway of dancing students.

The music was fast, and Claire swayed her hips to a rhythm that quickened Axel's pulse. Claire looked carefree, her gaze steady on his, and her moves deliberate. He swallowed down his angst, and reached forward, touching his palm against her waist and pulling her close.

The movement shocked her, but she didn't resist. Her gaze widened, and her mouth opened in a slight breath that stopped his own. Claire's palm came forward, and she rested it against his chest, and he knew she could feel the racing of his heart.

They locked eyes, and every hair on Axel's body stood up, burning him all over. Axel tightened his fingertips into her pant loops and tugged her flush with him.

Claire's mouth was a hairbreadth's away for his, driving him closer to tasting his mate for the first time when the lights went off, darkening the living room as everyone booed and laughed.

Axel pulled Claire even closer, lowering his mouth to the shell of her ear. "Don't let go."

"Why," she asked in a breathy tone.

"I smell lycan."