Page 32 of Baseball and Shifters

Now that we’re alone, I stare at the wolf in front of me. He’s still growling at Trent’s retreating form with his hackles raised, but despite the seriousness of the situation, I can’t help but admire him. He’s strong, and terrifying, and for some reason, protective ofme.No one has ever stood up for me the way he just did. I should thank him for running Trent off, but when he turns his head and pins me with crystal blue eyes, I lose all ability to speak.

So much is hidden in those haunted eyes. A wriggling feeling that I know the man behind this wolf nags at me. I don’t have time to consider all the possibilities before he shutters them and runs back into the forest. With him out of sight, I can finally breathe again.

Shaking my head, I run back to the dorm before either of them change their minds and come back for me. Unfortunately, thelobby isn’t empty. I feel eyes on me as I walk through to my elevator and fidget with my gloves. Before I get there, a girl stops me.

“I love your tiger tattoo! Where’d you get it done? Your artist isamazing!”

“I- Uh…” I stammer as my hand flies to my neck, instinctively going to my new mark. “Sorry. I gotta go.”

She frowns as I run past her and stab the call button for the elevator.

When I burst through the front door of our dorm, three sets of eyes land on me.

“You guys have to help me cover this,” I blurt.

They all gasp as they get their first look at my tiger mate’s mark. Maya’s eyes fly wide, Aubree claps a hand over her mouth, and Dallas’s jaw drops in disbelief.

“What’s that?” Maya says.

“You get marks? That’s so unfair! I want marks!” Aubree whines.

“Why do you want to cover it, Rach?” Dallas asks.

Ugh. I knew I’d have to tell them eventually. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.

Sighing, I look to Maya first. “They’re mate marks. Apparently kitsunes get them when they bond with their mate. Something my father never bothered to tell me,” I mutter under my breath.

“Wait,they’re? As in, you have more than one?” Aubree squeals.

Whining to myself, I plop down into the soft cushions of the couch.

“I have two,” I murmur.

“Lucas we know about. Who’s the new one?” Dallas asks as she leans over to get a better look at the mark on my neck. “Ohhh. A tiger. Do we know any tigers?”

She looks at Aubree and Maya, both of whom have shit-eating grins plastered on their faces.

“Oh, we definitely know a tiger,” Aubree smirks.

“Who?” Dallas whines, clearly displeased with being left out.

“Bastian,” Maya and Aubree say together.

“Hot guy from class that keeps trying to talk to her?”

“Yup.” Aubree says, popping her p.

“And captain of the baseball team,” Maya adds gleefully

“I hate you all,” I mumble.

“Okay, so you have two mates. They’re both hot and clearly into you. What’s the big deal?” Dallas questions.

Taking a deep breath, I prepare to reveal my inner shame. “The big deal is having four mates makes me a whore. My father-”

“Hold on a damn minute,” Dallas cuts me off. “Where the hell do you get that having four mates makes you a whore?”

She looks like she’s ready to kill the moment I give the word. Her fierceness eases the ache in my heart from my father’s coldness.

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