Page 132 of Rejecting his Mate

“I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I want to have pups with Abel and not be scared that hunters are going to steal my children.”

My heart squeezes. I want that too with Cade, but as things stand, we can’t bring young into this shit.

“I want to help too,” Jackson says. “I mean… I know I can’t do the magic shit, but I still want to bring these fuckers down.”

Keeping his eyes on Roux, Sawyer says, “I’m not going anywhere.” He wouldn’t, not while his mate is here.He doesn’t say it, but he doesn’t need to. I hear those unspoken words clearly.

“Me neither,” Cade says.

Wyatt blows out a breath, and I hold mine. It will hurt Cade if his cousin leaves, but I understand if he wants to. This shit is going to get dangerous, and it’s not really his fight. “I think you’re all insane, but—I’ve followed Cade and Sawyer everywhere. I guess I’m staying.”

Hester’s mouth curves into a smile as she holds out her hands at her sides. Apryle takes one side while Roux gets the other. Tessa grabs Roux’s hand, and I slip mine into Tessa’s.

Connected like this, I feel the swirl of power grow between the five of us. I close my eyes, pulling my magic to the surface and directing it where I need it.Hester speaks the words, though what she’s saying I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I feel the power swell and push out from us.

I struggle to hold my magic where I need it, the pressure making my head throb in time with my heartbeat.Roux whimpers, but I focus on controlling my emotions and keeping calm like Hester has been showing us.

The snap of magic through the air as the wardscome back to life nearly knocks me off my feet. It is only Tessa’s grip on me that keeps me upright.

I open my eyes and expect to see everything is different, but nothing has changed other than the power thrumming around us, which is strong and reassuring.

“Done?” Cade’s expression is concerned as he steps toward me.

“Yeah,” I say before slipping into his arms and wrapping myself around his waist.

“We’re safe now?” Tessa asks.

“For now,” Hester agrees. “I’m going to clean up the house. Those sons of bitches made a mess.”

“I’ll help,” Apryle says.

The others disperse, and I watch Sawyer step up to Roux, but she steps around him, heading toward her cabin.

Cade squeezes me. “Not your business,” he tells me, kissing the side of my head.

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

He pulls me away toward our cabin. As soon as we’re inside, he grabs a shirt and sweater before slipping into his boots.

“Where are you going?”

For a moment, I don’t think he’s going to answer, but then he says, “To burn the dead.”

“Fuck,” I murmur, my head spinning.

Dalton is lying among them, his body ripped apart. “Are there many?”

“Enough,” he hedges.

“I’ll help.”

“No. I want you to stay here and let me take care of this.”

I want to argue, but I can see there is little point. Cade has decided this is how it’s going to be, and I’m not sure I have the stomach to bury the remains of chewed-up hunters.

“Okay.” He kisses me, his mouth soft and warm. When he pulls back, I feel the weight of everything on my shoulders. Cade is here because of me. The guys are here because of Cade. If anything happens to them… “It’s still not too late to run,” I joke, but I’m really giving him an out.

“I’m not going anywhere. You and I are in this to the bitter fucking end, Halle. Whatever that might be. I love you.”

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