Page 5 of Rejecting his Mate

She forces a smile and stands. “Just know, whatever happens, I will always love you.” Her voice is thick, the emotion making my gut churn uncomfortably.

“I love you too, Mama,” I say, meaning every word. For so long, it has just been the two of us, and part of me resents this woman, this stranger, for getting between that, even if she is kin.

Mama smiles, but the sadness remains in her eyes. “You won’t understand why this has to happen, but I hope one day you can forgive me.” Those vague words make little sense to me. Why would I need to forgive her? “You’re special, Halle. You were born special.” Her tongue darts out to wet her dry lips. “People will tell you that you’re not, but they’re wrong. You are an incredible gift to this world.”

My brows draw down. “I don’t understand,” I admit, a hint of a sob catching in my throat.

“It’s okay, baby. You don’t need to.” She straightens and wipes her face with her fingers. “This is your aunt, Adeline. She’s your father’s sister.”

Mama’s never talked about my daddy, so my gaze snaps toward the woman who is his kin. As I scan her face, I try to imagine her with male features, wondering if that’s what he looks like. “Am I going to meet him?” I ask, my voice small and filled with a mix of fear and excitement.

“No, baby. Your dad is… um… not with Adeline.” I wantto ask questions, find out where he could be, but Mama steers me toward my aunt. “She’s going to take care of you.”

I don’t understand what ‘take care of you’ means, but from the way Mama is acting, I can sense it’s not a good thing.

Stepping back, I clutch Teddy to my chest. “No.”

Mama blows out a breath. “Be a brave girl.”

I should, but I can’t. I throw my arms around her, clinging to her waist, my head pressed against her body. “No, Mama. I want to stay with you.”

Mama runs her fingers through my hair, soothing me like she does when I’m trying to sleep. “It’s only for a short time. We’ll be back together before you know it.”

I can sense the lie in her tone, but I don’t know why she’s lying to me.

“Mama.” My voice cracks, and she swallows hard.

“I love you. Now go.” Her hand on my back, she pushes me toward Adeline. I want to dig my heels in, resist, refuse to move, but I do nothing.

I glance back at Mama as Adeline straightens her spine. “Come on. We need to leave and quickly before those hunters find us.”

Hunters…

A shiver travels up my spine, making my neck tight as it settles around my nape. I want to ask questions, but Adeline grabs my hand and tugs me toward the door. I stumble, trying to glance back at Mama, a cry escaping my mouth.

I see her turning away as if she can’t bear to watch me leave while Adeline drags me out of the room andinto the cold air. It’s daytime now, though I have no idea what time it is.

The car she sits me in is nicer than anything Mama has driven before, with leather seats and the scent of fresh linen filling the space. Closing the door, Adeline moves around to the driver’s side and climbs in as I stare at the motel room where I left Mama.

I’m never going to see her again.

That thought drifts across my mind and makes my chest tighten as if bands are wrapped around my ribs.

Glancing toward Adeline as she starts the truck up, I cling to Teddy. “Where are we going?” I ask.

“To someone who can help,” is her answer.

As she drives out of the parking lot, I twist in my seat to look out the back window. Mama is standing in the doorway, watching us drive away. The last thing I see before we turn the corner is her dropping to her knees and burying her head in her hands.

I face forward, my heart hurting. I don’t want to see Mama sad or suffering, and I don’t want to be the reason for it. Somehow, I know I am, though. I caused this—whatever this is.

The silence in the cab is stifling, but I don’t break it, and Adeline does not talk to me, either. There are no offers of comfort or reassurance, and for the first time in my life, I feel alone, despite the animal inside my mind.

I stare out the window, watching the landscape pass us by, trying to stifle the sob that wants to escape my mouth. Crying won’t fix anything, but I want to let go of the emotions strangling me. There’s a hollowness blooming inside my chest that I can’t disperse.

Eventually, I speak. “Do you know where my daddy is?”

Adeline stiffens, her chin lifting slightly. “What did Kinsley tell you about him?”

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