Page 122 of Rejecting his Mate

“She walks out of the room whenever she sees me.”

“I think if you get to the bottom of why she doesn’t want to be mated, you will be able to move forward.”

Sawyer sighs, and I hear the exhaustion in it. “You and Cade seem pretty comfy together.”

“At the risk of sounding pathetic, I don’t know how I ever lived without him.” I grab his hands in mine. “And I want you to have that with Roux. But Sawyer, I think you’re going to have to have patience with her, and stop scowling. She’s clearly been hurt, and I know how that feels. Try to take your anger out of the equation and focus on what she needs from you.”

Sawyer kisses my forehead. “My brother is a lucky son of a bitch. You’re so wise.”

“She might like you more as well if you stop moping.”

He smirks. “Thank you for the compliment.”

He leaves the threat hanging, and I smack him in the side, warning him I’m not easy prey.

Cade’s scent fills my nose before his hands wraparound me from behind, resting on my belly. “You okay?” The question is directed at his little brother.

“Better now. Your mate has a way of putting shit into perspective.”

Cade nuzzles into my neck against the claiming mark. “She’s amazing like that.”

My throat is suddenly choked. “You two are going to make me cry.”

“If he makes you cry, I’ll beat the shit out of him.”

Sawyer grunts. “Such unnecessary violence.”

Cade suddenly tightens his grip on me, and I’m not sure what he’s responding to until I hear my name yelled. I glance around at the same time as Cade and Sawyer.

Tessa is coming from the main house, already halfway down the path. The smile doesn’t slip off my face, but I let my guard up, remembering the conversation Cade and I had the previous night. I want to trust these people, but I am not certain that is a good idea until we know more about their motives.

“Morning,” I say pleasantly, despite my thoughts.

“Are you busy?” Her gaze slides toward Cade as if she expects him to attack her for asking the question.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Hester and the rest of us are about to get together. I wondered if you wanted to try to learn how to control your magic.”

I do, desperately. My magic is so out of control when I use it that I’m scared I might actually kill myself. But I don’t know if what they are teaching is for their benefit or mine.

At my hesitation, Tessa speaks again. “I know we haven’t given you much reason to trust us, but the way your magic is now is dangerous. Please come with me, even if it’s just to this one lesson.”

I glance at Cade, whose teeth are clamped so tightly together I’m worried they’ll break. “Okay,” I agree. “We’re going to need things too. There’s not much in the cabins.”

“Make a list of anything you want, and Abel will pick it up for you.”

“Where she goes, I go,” Cade tells her.

Tessa smiles at him, but I sense a little of her fear. I don’t blame her for that. Cade is a huge wolf, not to mention dangerous.

“Of course. What we are doing isn’t a secret. Anyone can come.” She turns her back to me. “Come.”

She leads us back up toward the main house after we say goodbye to Sawyer. I’m a little nervous about using my power again, considering last time I nearly blew my brains out of my eyes. As we approach the house, I see Hester sitting on the porch steps, Roux and Apryle standing in front of her.

I’m not sure what she is thinking as she takes me and Cade in, but she doesn’t say anything. “I’m glad you could join us. There is a lot I can teach you about basic control.”

She gestures to the space in front of her, indicating that I should join the others. I glance at Cade, who is watching Hester as if he expects her to leap out of her seat and end my life.

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