Page 146 of A Broody Mate for the Human

We start jogging at a rather slow pace from the pack house towards the park and then further to the adjacent forest. I already know I’ll be dying in this training session, but no pain, no gain! “Why are you training, Annie?” I pant.

“As the luna, I need to stay fit,” she tells me. “I’m not a huge fighter, but I try to work on my stamina, and I also train regularly with Liam and his father, Elden.”

“You’re so dedicated to everything you do,” Jazz says, sounding impressed.

“Jazz had a little crush on you,” Ari teases, laughing and jumping out of the way when Jazz runs up to her to kick her.

“Don’t worry, Jazz.” I grin. “I had a crush on Annie, too, and I’m gay as fuck.”

“Stop it, everyone.” Annie chuckles. “Or I’ll tell the alpha that you’re all lusting over his mate.”

“Wait a moment,” Ari complains. “I haven’t lusted over you at all!”

“Oh, so you don’t find me attractive?” Annie asks, pretending to be sad.

“Does that strategy work on the alpha?” Ari asks with a grin.

Annie smiles innocently. “Every time.”

While the two of them start talking about their plans for the day, I jog alongside Jazz. “You’re a witch, Jazz?”

“Yes, but still in training,” she explains. “I’ve also just started to study at university.”

Oh, she is pretty young. I wasn’t aware. “What are you studying?”

“Psychology.” She smiles brightly, revealing her perfect white teeth. “I thought together with my witchcraft, it would come in handy to understand people a bit better.”

“Then you might be in one of my classes,” I exclaim. “I majored in psychology and will start as an assistant soon.”

“Oh, that’s so cool!” Jazz beams.

“Don’t hesitate to ask me anything you need,” I offer her. “I can help you anytime.”

“Dave’s been a very diligent student, actually,” Annie points out. “He has partied hard but also studied hard.”

“Did you have to mention my wild years?” I grin.

Annie smiles brightly. “It was you who forced me to attend this welcome party where I met Liam.”

“See, I’m the perfect wingman.”

We soon all fall into silence again as the path leads us up a hill. I can already feel a stitch to my side, panting heavier. Ari reduces the pace without commenting on my overall shitty stamina.

Thank you, Dave,Ari links me out of the blue. I wonder when I’ll ever get used to random people mind-linking me.

What for?

Jazz has been pretty down because her best friend left for Paris to be with her mate a couple of months ago,she explains.She doesn’t show it, but I know she is crestfallen that Valerie isn’t here anymore. She is normally a lot more bubbly.

Don’t worry, I will look out for her. But a fun and kind person like her for sure has plenty of friends.

Oh, she does.Ari sounds gentle, the tone of her voice warm.Her other friends are still here. Marilou, for example, is one of her friends, and Aurelia, Liam’s sister. But Valerie has been her closest one, and they were like sisters.

I nod knowingly. I would feel devastated if Annie or Ella left the country and moved so far away.She will love it at campus,I reassure her.We are a great department, and the professors are very good and fair. I’ll make sure she has a good time there.

Thank you, Dave. It means a lot to me.

“Goddess.” Raffy sits down next to me, groaning in pain. “I feel every bone in my body.”