Page 123 of Rejecting his Mate

Sending calming vibes down the mating bond, I follow Tessa to stand in front of Hester.

“Control comes from calm. If you have that, you will be able to master your powers.”

That makes sense, so I try to find calm in my mind. “Reach inside you and find your power.”

I close my eyes and lock onto my power. It shimmers and shines inside my mind like a rare stone.

“Now, I want you to imagine a single flame.” I concentrate on Hester’s voice as I do as she asks. “Imagine that flame in your hand, the heat of it, the strength of it.”

I do, trying to focus all my attention on it. It’s hard to concentrate, and I lose sight of it several times before I manage to hold it.

“Open your eyes.”

When I do, there’s a flame on my palm. I’m so shocked to see it that it nearly winks out, but I manage to keep it there. Hester smiles. “Control comes from calm.”

“So, we just imagine things, and they happen?” I turn my hand around, the flame remaining on my palm.

“There are limits to what we can do. We are not all-powerful, and as you have seen yourself, the danger of pushing too hard can have terrible consequences, but essentially, yes.”

I look at Cade, unable to keep the smile from my face. From the moment I was unable to shift, I have felt defective and broken, as if I was worth nothing. But this—This is something. I can do magic, and if I can learn to control it, I will never be powerless again.

For the next hour, we practice different types of control, breathing, and clearing our minds. I focus, giving my all to this. I have never wanted to be so good at something before, but I am driven by the need to keep those I care about safe. I don’t know what danger is lying in wait for us, but I will be prepared for it this time.

Chapter 30

Halle

For the next two weeks, Cade and I build a life for ourselves in the sanctuary, even despite our misgivings. Where else can we go? Maybe I could recreate the wards Hester has here, but I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I can do with my magic. The lessons are daily, and they exhaust me, but I understand myself better now, and that is because of Hester. She hasn’t demanded anything from us, and all the doubts I had faded into the background. I am sure Hester does have an agenda, but even if she is raising tau walls to stand against hunters, I’m not sure I blame her. We were hunted for a short time, and it was terrifying. The memories I recovered of my mom show we were on the run for at least a month.

So, things may not be perfect here, but it’s as close to it as we are going to get. Considering what our life could be, this doesn’t seem so bad.

I’m sitting on the porch, looking out over the other cabins. Darkness has shrouded everything in shadow,and although the lights lining the path chase some of it away, it seems as if things are moving behind the buildings.

I ignore it, telling myself we are safe here because Hester has made it that way.

Cade comes to the door, leaning against the frame and watching me.I’ve noticed he does this more and more, and I can’t say I don’t like it. It’s as if he has to stop for a moment and just drink me in. The greedy look in his eyes makes my pussy throb every time he does it.

“When you’re done being a stalker, come and sit with me.”

“I’ll never be done with you.” He says this even as he moves toward me and sinks onto the bench next to me. It is icy, the air chilled, so I pull the blanket I have wrapped around my legs over him too. Not that he needs it; Cade is always warm.

He glances out over the dark, and I wonder if he is sensing the same unease I am. “Are you happy?”

The question surprises me. “Of course. Are you?”

He lifts my hand from under the blanket, pressing his lips to my knuckles. “I would be happy with you wherever we were, but I just wondered if you felt the same.”

In the past few days, some more memories have come back, but not the important ones, the ones I really want to dig into. I am desperate to talk to my aunt, but I won’t endanger us by travelling anywhere near my old pack and my old mate.

I wonder if Dalton felt the moment our matingbond was ripped out of me, or is he oblivious to the fact I am no longer his?

There are so many things I want to know, but not enough to leave the sanctuary.

I stare at our joined hands, his much bigger one overshadowing mine. “I’m happy,” I assure him. “Before you, I was existing. Now, I’m living. I’m learning to control my gifts, the guys are settling in, well, except your brother. He’s still avoiding everything.”

Cade kisses my temple, and I melt against him, unable to help myself. “Sawyer will be okay,” he promises, but I’m not so sure.

His brother is proud, but he is a good wolf. Roux’s dismissal makes me feel pissed. She won’t even talk to him, even though he has tried so hard to break through her hardened walls. Even though I’ve tried to talk to her, whatever she has been through in the past has made it impossible for her to listen, and I don’t want to push her too hard. I know what trauma feels like.

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