Page 79 of Rejecting his Mate

Cade glances up at his brother before he sucks in a noseful of air. His eyes flare wide. “No. What did you do?”

“Help me up.”

Cade lifts me onto my feet, still holding my biceps as I wobble slightly.

“How did you do that?” Sawyer demands. “I can’t smell you at all and I don’t know who you are, but that face isn’t yours.”

I hold my hand out to Wyatt. “Keys.”

He doesn’t move to give them to me, his gaze going to his cousin as if I need Cade’s approval. “Uh…”

“We don’t have a lot of time. I don’t know how long this will hold. So give me the keys.”

Wyatt digs in his pocket and fishes them out, handing them to me. “You even know how to drive?”

I shift my shoulders. “Piece of cake.”

Kyle showed me once, letting me drive around the grounds of the pack territory. From what I remember, all you have to do is remember which pedals stop the car and which make it go. I don’t remember it being hard, but I’ve only done it once.

“Wait here. I’ll come back to you.”

As I turn to walk away, Cade grabs my wrist, stopping me. His eyes scan my face, and I wonder what he’s thinking. My heart pounds, and my pulse flutters as he dips his head and presses a kiss to my mouth. I may look different, but our wolves still know each other. He knows me.

I curl my toes inside my sneakers, clinging to his shoulders as I kiss him back. Every inch of my body feels alive and lit up like a firework display.

I want to grind against him, fill that ache inside me that he seems to cause, but there isn’t time. He pulls away all too fast, and I can see the war within his eyes. “If you’re not back in five minutes, I’m coming to find you.”

I give him a half smile. “I’d expect nothing less.”

Then I turn and jog back in the direction of the restaurant and where we left the car.

Chapter 19

Halle

Ikeep my head low as I make my way across the street, even though my face is not mine. My heart feels as if it is in my throat. I have no idea how long I can hold the magic, so I pick up my pace, rounding the corner and heading toward main street.

I have to do this. If I don’t, we are all going to die in this town, and I can’t allow that to happen. It doesn’t stop the nerves from rolling through me. I can only hope the magic holds long enough to mask my scent while I get the truck.

I do not know about the scope of my magic and what I’m able to do, but it feels as if I’m only scratching the surface. The block that exists inside my mind stops me from accessing what I need to, allowing me only a taste.

As I turn the corner, my skin prickles, and awareness fills me. I risk glancing up and see two hunters are standing across the street from the restaurant. My steps almost falter, fear clutching me. I’m going to have towalk past them to get the truck. It is parked on the opposite side of the street, giving them a direct line of sight to me.

My wolf is silent, and I’m not sure if that is a good sign. I take a steadying breath, trying to calm my racing heart, and then with confidence I don’t feel, I walk toward the truck.

I keep an eye on the hunters with my peripheral vision. They seem to be in a heated discussion, probably wondering how we slipped from under them. I turn my head to the side, hiding my face as much as I can.

I can see the truck getting closer, and I start to believe I might make it.

I’m just a regular local, going back to my truck. Nothing to see here.

As I reach the back end of the truck, another group of hunters steps out of the restaurant. I almost stop walking, my feet nearly faltering, but somehow, I force myself to keep going.

I’m surprised they can’t hear my heart rattling in my chest. My skin feels clammy and terror climbs up my spine, wrapping its claws around my throat.

They are all wearing the same combat pants and jacket, a uniform for killing. I don’t focus on that, instead getting the key ready in my hand as I approach the door. My hands shake as I slide the key into the lock and twist it.

They are not paying me any attention—at least, I don’t think they are. I haven’t dared look up.

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