Page 25 of Rejecting his Mate

Adeline’s face is ashen as I finish speaking. “You have to leave. Get as far away as you can from him. He won’t be able to sense you once you’re a distance away.”

I’m not sure I have the strength to run, but I let her help me to my feet. As soon as I’m standing, I wobble, my vision rolling. My wolf whimpers and I send soothing waves to her. I need her focused.

“I was leaving anyway. Klaus took the pack bond from me.”

Her expression is sad. “I know. I felt it the moment he did and rushed back to the house. He wouldn’t tell me where you were, but I could scent you.”

I throw my arms around her, ignoring the pain that slices through my body. “I didn’t think I’d get to say goodbye.”

“I’m glad we have.” Adeline kisses my forehead and closes her eyes. “I should never have brought you here.”

My brows come together. “You couldn’t have known I’d be latent.”

The guilt that ripples across her face makes my spine straighten. “I’m sorry, Halle. I… suspected. I just… I hoped you would be the exception, not the rule.”

I don’t know what she’s talking about, but an uglyfeeling is spreading through my body. “I don’t understand.”

Adeline glances over her shoulder at a still-unconscious Dalton before returning her attention to me. “I don’t have time to go through it properly, but your mama loved you dearly. She sacrificed everything so you would be safe.” Pain stabs through my chest at the mention of my mom.

“Why?”

She licks her lips, moistening them before she speaks. “Because your mama was different, and so are you.” She takes my face between her hands. “You’re special, Halle. I wish I had more time to explain things.”

“What am I?” I demand. There are so many questions rolling around my head.

“Your father tried to protect you both, but all he gave you was borrowed time. They came for your mom, and I had no choice but to do what I did. They would have killed you.”

What did she do? Dalton groans, shifting on the ground, cutting off the questions I'm dying to ask.

“Go!” Adeline shoves me. “Run and don’t stop.”

I stumble away from her as Dalton moves again. “I love you,” I whisper.

Adeline’s eyes brim with tears. “I love you too.”

Giving my aunt one final look so I can memorize her face, I turn and flee into the trees. I’m still light-headed, but I push through it, moving as fast as I can. My legs are jellied, but I don’t stop moving, no matter what comes into my path.

I stagger over a fallen branch, nearly falling on myface, but right myself at the last moment. I need to keep moving.

I suck lungfuls of air past my bruised throat as my legs pump. What I really want to do is lie down and sleep. My eyes are gritty and burning, swallowing is painful, and breathing is excruciating.

I don’t stop.

Death lies behind me, life ahead, and I desperately want to live. Branches slice my arms as I race through the trees and undergrowth. Stones catch my footing, slowing me down, but I keep going, too scared to stop, even though every inch of me hurts.

A howl fills the air, and I stumble to a halt, twisting and looking behind me. It didn’t sound close, but I know it is Dalton.

I recognize his wolf.

What did he do to Adeline? Is she safe?

Did he hurt her?

My gut fills with bile even as the mating bond urges me to go to him. It’s a pull that is hard to ignore, like a rope between us that he’s tugging on his end.

No, fuck him. I’m not going near that bastard.

I stagger forward, away from Dalton, and deeper into the trees. I’ve never been this far from pack lands. Nothing is familiar and I don’t know where my path leads. What if there is just an endless forest? What if I’ve turned around somehow and I’m going back toward the pack?

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