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Chapter 43
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REJECTED MATE Chapter 44
“Playtime’s over. Sam is here and will start the lessons soon.” There were more groans. “Iz will join your lessons, too.”Whoever this Iz was seemed to have a positive effect on them as they rallied cheers around Luke before racing off. A boy lingered for a bit, looking up solemnly until Luke glanced at him.“Hey, you. What is it?”“I didn’t have my breakfast yet.”Luke’s lips quivered while he leveled the boy with a look. “Really? Well, now, we can’t have that when you are about to embark on a long day of lessons. What did you have in mind?”“Bananas. Fresh.”The boy held out his hands expectantly, orbs twinkling in excitement. Luke didn’t hesitate to pick him up and hitch him over one hip, and the two ventured away from the group of kids. She trailed after them, fascinated with the interaction as Luke led the boy through paths that didn’t have markers, where the trees and lushness seemed to go on forever. They stopped in a clearing set up as a garden, where root crops grew along wit
REJECTED MATE Chapter 45
“I did, and it’s done. It was just a quick check.” Luke tilted his head. “And I suggest not heaping questions on Maya anymore, Eric.”The other man’s back went up. Eric didn’t scowl, but only because he seemed to be fighting it. “We don’t know where she’s from and why she’s here. We don’t know who she is.”“And we are a clan who doesn’t discriminate because of those factors,” Luke shot back. “We welcome a lot of strangers here. She’s no different.”“She is different. The last two nights—”“Be careful. You protest anymore, and we are bound to think that you do not trust Angelo’s judgment.”That had the man’s mouth clamping shut, stupefied over Luke’s words. The scowl disappeared, too.“Has he not always been fair to us no matter what bullshit we give him?” Luke added. “I think we caused enough trouble as it is. We don’t need to start again now.”Guilt flared in Eric’s eyes. It became obvious that it was no longer about her, and she watched in fascination as the two brothers silently co
REJECTED MATE Chapter 46
“It’s me,” he called out softly.Silence. Then a shadow moved forward, closer to the area he scraped and stayed there, waiting expectantly. The lack of hesitation had him softening, his chest puffing out in triumph. He cleared his throat.“You were very busy today. It was nice to see. I guess you are in good condition now and…adjusting to us.”She tapped the tent in agreement. He pondered, memories resurfacing, then vanishing.“I’m also guessing that it means that incident has happened to you before; otherwise, you won’t bounce back easily.”Another tap, another confirmation. She was ready. That much he knew, but the extent was still to be determined. Quietly, Luke sifted through the multitude of questions swirling in his head.“Wolf shifter, right?”Another tap.“But something went wrong and you can’t turn now. And it’s hurting you every time the full moon comes out.”The silence made him assume she wasn’t going to answer anymore. But he was taken aback when a voice, soft and low, ca
REJECTED MATE Chapter 47
“He won’t hurt you,” he said, sure of it. “But I will stay outside.”She looked like she wanted to argue, then decided against it and retreated inside. Her disappearance felt like a punch in the gut, making him realize how much he liked looking at her. At the same time, it made him feel like a depraved soul taking advantage, so he adamantly turned around and faced the forest.From the corner of his eye, he noticed her tent lights fading away and the shuffling of items as she got ready for bed. She sighed. Sheets moved as she tossed and turned, then let out a soft exhale. It wound in his gut, a gentle trickle that held on and spread until his entire body was hard. When another sigh came out, he gritted his teeth. An ache formed. The intensity blindsided him until it dawned that it had been building for a while now.The night was torture as every sound he made had him imagining the corresponding movement, and it had him imagining how she looked. The attraction was stupid, a bad idea lur
REJECTED MATE Chapter 48
Her head snapped up. Her eyes grew dark, and her mouth opened in a wordless cry, but the teeth sharpening before his gaze and the fur sprouting from her caught his attention the most. It wasn’t just patches but the whole of her this time, growing so thick that she was coated in a sheen of silky dark gray. Bones creaked as the rest of her tried to catch up to the momentum, but there was no bursting into her beast form even when she visibly tried to get it out with all her might. She pushed, then pushed again. His hands squeezed her shoulders to stop the next.“Know your limits,” he said. “Don’t push to the point that there’s nothing left of you.”Her eyes flared. She nodded as her fingers clutched the pole tighter, effectively pressing closer to him. Maya pushed once more, a grunt flying off her lips at the effort it took. Her muscles quivered and her breath sharpened. Her fur grew even thicker as she buried her head in his neck, where he felt her mouth transform into a snout before re
REJECTED MATE Chapter 49
“Fuck. I’m sorry. I…Maya.” The husky, rough tone signaled he was just as aroused awake as he had been in his sleep. “I was having a dream. A stupid dream. It’s just…you are wet.”The baffled declaration had her startled. So did his moving fingers. When they stopped, a whimper came out of her lips before she bit the next one in and grabbed his wrist. His muscles flexed, then trembled.“Luke.”There was only a charged serenity after the whisper of his name. His arm ceased trembling and began to relax, every second of it thrumming in her veins. Then his fingers moved once more, taking away the ache as he tapped against her entrance. Her world upended when his other hand wriggled its way to the front, grazing her breast. When she arched, he cupped, the only permission he needed as his hand grew more dominant. His thumb brushed, finding the stiff peak before he rolled it between his fingers until she was shuddering.“I suppose you need this after those hours of pain,” he surmised, close to
REJECTED MATE Chapter 50
“No.” Then, “Not just them.”The memories of an innocent giggle and a deep laugh fluttered in.“A lover…no, husband,” he guessed. At her nod, his jaw clenched. He pursued her some more before his eyes widened. “A child.”It hurt hearing it from someone else, but like before, the hurt was no longer an open wound that easily bled. She nodded once more and watched him rear back as if slapped. She braced herself for the anger and was taken aback when he didn’t blow up.Luke just kept perusing as if she was a puzzle he wanted to figure out. Something clicked on his features.“Had. Not have.” His mouth parted. “You lost them.”It wasn’t a question, but she nodded, anyway. The rest lay heavy on her chest until it found its way out. “All of them.”“Shit.” He went slack. “I’m sorry.”Compassion swirled in his eyes, confusing her.“How long ago?”“Three years.”“So, you haven’t been with anyone since…?”“A mistake. I’m sorry.”The compassion was still there but toned down as he realized just ho
REJECTED MATE Chapter 51
“All Luke needs is an apology, and he’s good to go.”The casual words did nothing to Maya, but Tina went still as a stone. Then she stood and crossed her arms.“Why would she need to apologize if she’s not the one at fault?”“How would you know she’s not the one at fault?” Eric shot back.“And why would you assume she is?”Somehow, Maya got the idea that it was no longer about her as the two stood looking at each other, stubbornly latching on to their stance. Then Tina uncrossed her arms and sighed.“Are you watching this area until Reese comes back?”“Obviously.”“Fine. Have a good watch.”She stalked off after. Maya ogled in fascination as what she thought would be Eric ignoring her all the way became him staring at Tina’s back upon her retreat with what looked like longing in his eyes. The longing disappeared when he looked away, and he was back to his composure when he returned his focus to Maya.“I didn’t mean to make you the culprit. But my brother isn’t the type to avoid someon
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