Page 31 of My Broken Mate

Still confused, I can only nod before digging out the sheet of paper I printed out for him.

Remy has a serious expression on his face while he looks through my schedule and scribbles down some more notes in his notebook. I keep staring at him while he does so, taking in his long eyelashes and his perfectly smooth skin, all the while trying to figure out what’s going on. I have accidentally—or not so accidentally—brushed over his hand while handing him my schedule, but couldn’t feel any tingles.

Marise, what’s going on? We are mates, aren’t we?

No doubt, she says.He is our mate. A pause.Or at least I think he is.

That doesn’t sound too convincing!

I don’t know, Kat.It’s weird. I smelled him, I felt it, but now—

You don’t feel it anymore?

No, I do, but in a very washed-out way. The smell is barely there.

But if we are mates, why…I pause.Why doesn’t he react?

I don’t know. I am trying to reach his wolf, but he doesn’t respond. It’s almost like he is buried deep in his mind.

Do you think they don’t want us? Maybe that’s the issue. They come from old money and a very influential family. I… I am beneath him.

No,she growls. You are not beneath him. I won’t accept that as a reason. Let’s keep trying and find out what’s going on! Something feels off. At this point, I am not even sure if what I am feeling is real. Let’s keep digging.

“Do you want something to eat?” I ask him, trying to shove my thoughts aside.

Remy raises his eyes, looking at me first, then at the plate of cookies I am showing him. He smiles politely, but his eyes are devoid of any emotions, as is his face. I am reminded of what Ayden told me about how distant he is. “No, thank you,” he says. He isn’t really impolite, but he certainly isn’t making an effort either.

My heart sinks, but I am not ready to give up. “They are self-made,” I say with what I hope is a warm smile.

“I am sure they taste fantastic,” he says, but doesn’t make any effort to try one of them. Instead, he returns to ignoring me and looks through my schedule. “Alright,” he says. “Here, I put together a doable plan for you. Let’s not go overboard and instead focus on the most important dates and goals. You have a small exam coming up, and there is one class you need to hand in a paper for. I think it would be best to focus on that first.”

He really is all business. Part of me is thankful for his help, but the other part is so utterly confused. Doesn’t he feel anything at all? Does he truly not want me? My heart breaks at the thought.But then, why would he want me? People in general don’t want me, not like that. They might like me, hang out with me, but they don’twantme. They never do.

Remy clears his throat.

“Sorry,” I hurry to say, trying to focus again. “My head’s just full of thoughts.”

Remy nods, but I have no idea if he truly understands. I try to read his expression, but it’s so closed off. When he looks at me, there is no recognition, nothing that indicates he knows we are mates.

“What happened?” he finally asks me. “That you missed so many classes?” There is a hint of curiosity behind his otherwise perfectly closed-off façade. It makes me even more eager to answer honestly.

“I guess I partied too much,” I admit. "Or, I don't know, procrastinated."

“Party?” Remy asks with a confused expression.

Oh, dear, I forgot I am talking to the most serious person in the universe. “Well,” I explain, deciding to go for a joke. I can’t with this guy’s dark eyes and the way he looks at me with this unreadable expression. I need to lighten the atmosphere, somehow. “When you meet your friends and hang out with them. And have fun!”

Remy pulls his gaze away all of a sudden. “I know the meaning of the word party,” he explains quietly, and much to his surprise, I feel a bit bad all of a sudden. I was just trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. Usually, I hit the right tone. Where did I go wrong this time?

“I didn’t mean to say,” I blurt out, “that you don’t party, or don’t have any friends, or…” Fucking shit, what the hell am I saying now? This is making matters worse! Before I can dig my grave even deeper, I decide to offer him more information. “It’s honestly not all to it. My brother challenged the old alphaaround the time I finished high school. I was everywhere else with my thoughts than at school. Then everything changed, new freedom and all, and I suddenly had opportunities. People invited me out and I was just so happy about it. I missed some classes and had difficulties catching up, and then shoved that problem to another day and another day…and another day.”

“I am surprised,” Remy admits. His somewhat uncertain expression is gone again, and back is his stoic one. “I didn’t expect you to be so honest.”

“You thought I would lie to you?” I ask.

“Of course,” Remy answers. “I think a lot of people would lie.”

I shrug. “I hate liars. Everyone knows the truth anyway, why should I hide it? Clearly, you aren’t stupid and know enough already to look through any lie I could tell.”