Page 23 of Forsaking His Mate

As much as my wolf wants me to do that, I won’t. I am an alpha’s daughter and I don’t plead with anyone.

I lift my chin, trying to salvage the tattered remains of my dignity.

“What can I do around here to keep busy?”

Hester stares at me as if she’s waiting for me to break. If I were alone, I might, but her presence keeps me strong. I won’t show anyone that I’m dying inside.

“For now, let’s just get you settled in. We need to get you some clothes and supplies. Make a list of what you want.”

I frown at her. “I don’t have any money.”

I fled with nothing.

“You’re here under my care, Tessa. You’ll be looked after.”

I’m grateful for that, but I want to pull my own weight. I don’t want to be a burden. “Thank you. What do we do all day?”

“Train.”

Visions of cheesy ‘80s movies with fight scene montages drift through my thoughts.

“Train?”

“Your magic is like a muscle that needs to be exercised. The girls do different lessons every day to learn to control their gifts.”

I’m grateful training doesn’t involve doing a gazillion sit-ups.

“I can get better at vision walking?”

“You are only beginning to scratch the surface of what you can do. With practice, you could be able to see further into the future. You may even be able to interact with it, as I did in your vision.”

I had no idea my gifts could be enhanced, but knowing this, I’m eager to learn more. “When do we start?”

Hester smiles. “Let’s just take a breath. Today, we’re going to get you settled into your cabin and get youoriented. The sanctuary perimeter doesn’t span far and you need to be aware of where it ends.”

My eyes drift to the window that overlooks the back of the house and the cabins beyond, wondering how far it goes. Is the lake included in the perimeter? How about the trees surrounding the house?

I flinch as a wave of want washes over me. I can sense he’s out there, waiting. I can’t get a lock on his emotions, but I get a sense of anger through our weak mating bond, the one that was supposed to become stronger with time, but I don’t know what happens when it gets rejected. Will he fade from my awareness in time, or will he remain tucked away in a dark corner of my mind, urging me to submit to him even though he does not want that? My gut churns, bile climbing up my throat to pool in my mouth. I swallow it down, trying to ignore the empty pit in my stomach.

“Abel…” I say his name softly, unable to stop the word from spilling out.

“He lives on the compound,” Hester admits. “I’m sorry. I know that’s going to be hard for you, but I don’t want to lose either of you. I’ll give you the cabin farthest from his.”

Hard? Try impossible. My wolf is already pawing at the ground with him this far away from me. How will I be able to deal with him closer? I can still smell his lingering scent in the kitchen, and it’s making my pussy throb with need. I’m wet and I hate my body for responding to him like this. I’m trying to focus on something, anything, but him.

“I can’t stay in the house?”

Hester considers it for a moment. “The house is not a permanent stop. Everyone has a cabin,” she says finally. “You need your space.”

I can’t decide if she’s forcing me out there in the hope that Abel will change his mind, or if she genuinely wants the house empty.

“I need to stay away from Abel,” I say.

“I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”

It has to be, because being around him is going to tear me apart.

I clear my throat, trying to calm myself down. “Which cabin’s mine?”

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