Page 66 of Rejecting his Mate

“From where?”

“Hospitals exist, Halle.”

“And they know how to treat vargr, do they?” I’m being obnoxious, but I can’t stop myself. Jackson’s life is important.

“We’d have figured it out!” He tears his hands through his hair, his body vibrating with rage. “You don’t sacrifice yourself for anyone, you understand? This isn’t what your gift is for.”

The fact he sees this part of me as a gift and not a curse eases some of the tension in my body. There’s no judgment there. He’s not going to spit in my face or remove my link to the others because he thinks I’m a danger to his pack.

Jackson turns to glance at me. “For what it’s worth, I’m grateful you saved my ass.”

I give him a warm smile before shooting Cade a smug one. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“But I do agree with Cade. Next time, you don’t risk yourself for me.”

My happy mood seeps out of me. “You too?” I glance between the four of them. “I did what I had to,and I don’t regret a single moment of it. You're still here, and that’s what we should be focusing on.”

Sawyer holds his hands up. “Hey, I didn’t say I wanted Jackson to be gone, but you do need to come up with a better strategy for showing off your powers. You can’t almost kill yourself every time you try to help someone.”

He’s right but also wrong. Why is my life worth more than someone else’s?

I rub my hands together, needing something to do with them as tension grows inside the truck. “I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving.”

“Find somewhere for us to stop,” Cade tells Wyatt.

It’s about five minutes before we see a few buildings off the highway that look like restaurants. Wyatt turns off and guides the truck into a free spot in the parking lot.

I lean forward to peer through the windshield. There’s a diner and a few restaurants that I heard about on TV shows. As soon as the truck stops, we all get out. My legs are still a little shaky, and my ribs ache, but I try to hide the fact. I don’t want to worry Cade.

Cade leads us over to the diner, and we follow like his entourage. Once inside, I can’t stop smiling. This place is awesome. There are booths lining the wall along the window, big enough to sit three on each side, though we’re going to struggle to do that with the bulk of these wolves.

The decor is stainless steel with ice cream-colored walls, one in pale green, another in pastel pink, and thelast a light brown. There’s a jukebox near the counter with stools lining it.

I can smell burgers and onions, as well as something sweet baking. I take in a noseful of scent, relishing in its deliciousness. It reminds me of Sunday afternoons when some of the pack would make cakes and treats for the rest of the week.

We follow Cade over to one of the empty booths. Before I can do anything about it, he guides me onto the bench so I’m sitting nearest the window and he slides in next to me. Wyatt and Jackson sit on the other side, while Sawyer pulls up a chair and perches on the end. I notice Cade has a direct line of sight to the door. Is he expecting trouble? Does he think my old pack will find us this fast?

Or the hunters…

A shiver rolls up my spine at that thought. They sound like bad news, and knowing Dalton put them on our trail makes me want to punch him in the nuts.

As I sit there, pressed between the wall and Cade’s huge frame, I find my gaze roaming around the diner.

I’ve seen them on TV shows; I didn’t think they really existed, though. Even the salt and pepper shakers are themed. Absently, I twist the nearest between my fingers as I take in a family near the door. They seem happy, laughing at whatever joke was spoken between them.

An ugly feeling slides through me. Jealousy. I’ve never had that with my mom and my dad, and I never will. I hate it.

Cade’s hand slips onto my thigh, making my bodyheat instantly. How does he do that? How does his touch soothe me?

“You okay?” He keeps his voice low, making sure only I hear him. If the others are listening, they don’t show it.

I nod, letting a smile play on my lips. “I just wonder what my life might have been like if I hadn't lost my parents.”

He rubs circles on my thigh. “If they’re anything like you, they would have been good people.”

I grunt. “They probably would have been a disappointment, lying to me about what I really am. Just like Adeline.”

The bitterness in my voice makes me wince. I don’t want to have this anger, this vitriol inside me, but it burns fiercely. I’m pissed she kept so much from me, even as I’m afraid for her. The two warring emotions are slowly gnawing away at me, piece by piece.

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