Page 43 of Rejecting his Mate

His words floor me. I had no idea how we wereviewed by outsiders, but seeing how fast my pack turned on me, I can understand why they would be wary.

Sawyer casts a glance at his brother, accusation in his expression, even if there is a smile playing on his lips.

I want to ask more, but that sick feeling persists. I sink back into the seat, holding a hand to my roiling stomach, willing it to calm down.

“Are you scared Klaus and Dalton might retaliate?”

Both Cade and Sawyer scoff at my words.

“Klaus is no match for one vargr, let alone four of us,” Sawyer says. “Don’t worry. We’ll protect you.”

Cade speaks next. “He won’t risk coming, especially not now that he’s three wolves down.”

“You killed three?” Sawyer whistles, seemingly impressed.

“I should have killed four,” Cade mutters.

Killing Dalton would have solved our little mating bond issue, but Cade has already fought enough of my monsters for me. I can’t ask him to murder my ex as well.

“Well, aren’t you bloodthirsty,” Sawyer says.

“He’s not going to give Halle up! He knows the only way to sever the bond is to kill her.”

“I’m guessing he’s not personable enough to be on good terms with a witch.” Sawyer blows out a dramatic breath. “Which means we have to find one first.”

“Halle… I think she is one.”

Sawyer’s head snaps in Cade’s direction at the same time as my eyes lift to his in the mirror. “She’s a wolf.”

“Halle healed me. In the woods.”

Sawyer twists to look at me and sniffs. “You don’tsmell like a witch. They smell funky.” He draws another noseful of air in, his brows drawn together. “All I smell is wolf,” he says to Cade this time. “And… wait, there is something. Very faint. What is that?”

“She’s got witch in her,” Cade presses. “Your dad was a Beauford, meaning he was likely a wolf. What about your mom? Any chance she could have been a witch?”

I ignore the ice pick of pain that slices between my ribs at the mention of my mother. I wish I could remember anything about her, but there is nothing there. Just a void. “I don’t know.”

“What do you remember about her?” Sawyer presses.

That pain is getting stronger. “Nothing.”

“What about her parents?” Sawyer asks.

I curl my fingers into fists. “I don’t know!” I snap. “I have no memory of her!”

The truck falls silent, but I can sense the weight of judgment from the front. Cade glances in the rearview mirror at me. “She died when you were young?”

“I really don’t know,” I say, rubbing a hand over my temple. “Adeline says she died when I was eight, just before I came to the pack, but I have no memories before that day.”

“What happened?” It is Sawyer who poses this question. A lump forms in my throat.

“I don’t know. My aunt told me it was a car accident. Mom veered off the road and through a barrier. We ended up in the river, and I drowned. They brought me back, of course, but the lack of oxygen screwed withmy memories. I don’t remember it happening, and I don’t remember anything before it. My first memory is being in Adeline’s truck outside a big house.”

Even as I speak the words, I feel their weight. I never questioned Adeline on their truth, but now I’m wondering if I should have. My aunt knew I wasn’t going to shift at the first moon ceremony. That’s why she was being weird. She tried to tell me what I was in the woods, but there hadn’t been time.

Maybe I’ll never know now.

“And you believe that story?” Sawyer cocks his brow.

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