Page 83 of Rejecting his Mate

As soon as the truck stops, I push the door open andclimb out. There are a few cars parked around the side of the building and an RV.

Cade is quick to get out behind me, grabbing my arm before I can rush toward the eatery. “Wait a minute. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

“You think they lured us out here to kill us with burgers and fries?”

He doesn’t appreciate my attempt at levity. “I’m just saying we need to be careful, okay?”

I huff out a breath. “Fine!”

Sawyer, Jackson, and Wyatt go through the door first while Cade and I follow. I don’t like the guys putting themselves in the line of fire, but I’m not going to argue either. I’m eager to meet my kindred.

Inside the building, the walls are clad with strips of wood, making it look like a log cabin. The ceiling has thick, dark-stained beams, and there are tables scattered around the room, some occupied. I take a moment to peer around, looking for Tessa.

I don’t see her. Maybe I should reach out through the mind link thing. I try to contact her, but I hit a block that I can’t get past no matter what I do. I can’t push the magic out. Muttering a curse under my breath, I follow the guys as they pick a table to sit at.

Cade and Sawyer flank me, facing the door so they can see trouble if it comes. “I don’t like this,” Cade murmurs.

“I hate to say it, but I’m feeling the same. Something about this is wrong.”

“Has anyone ever told you two that you have trust issues?” I say, scanning the room again.

Where is she? Maybe they are still on the road, making their way here. I refuse to believe my instincts are so off.

My wolf whimpers suddenly, whining and pawing at the ground. I glance up as the door opens in front of us. A woman with white-streaked black hair steps through, with a blond man glued to her side.

It’s Tessa.

Her eyes scan the space before they find mine. As our gazes lock, she gives me a warm smile. She whispers something to the huge wolf standing beside her, and his eyes find mine as well.

I don’t recognize him, but I go on alert anyway. He could be a hunter. I sniff the air, smelling his wolf, but Tessa—she smells different. I can smell the magic on her.

As they approach, Wyatt and Jackson stand as if they are my bodyguards. The male with them bares his teeth. “Vargr.”

Cade growls. I don’t blame him for that. The way he says it grates on me, too. Tessa steps between them, her small body no match for the three grown wolves facing each other, but she doesn’t seem afraid.

“Abel.” The blond wolf, Abel, glares at Cade, but backs down, putting his teeth away at Tessa's command. She’s going to need to teach me that trick. I can’t get Cade to do anything. When she’s sure he’s going to calm himself, she gives me her attention. “I wasn’t sure we would find you in time,” she says, a smile playing across her lips.

She’s pretty, with a dusting of freckles over hercheeks and nose and eyes nearly as green as mine. She can’t be that much older than I am, and I wonder if her first moon ceremony failed the same way mine did.

“If you’re here to kill us, I’ll warn you now, these guys don’t play fair.”

She laughs. “We really do come in peace. Can I sit?”

I gesture for her to take a seat at the table, and Wyatt grudgingly moves aside to give her space. Abel stands behind her like a guard dog. I notice the claiming mark on her neck, a deep bite in the soft fleshy part of her throat. I take a subtle inhalation. They are mated. Their scents intermingle. My fingers drift to my own claiming mark, wondering how long it will take before it starts to fade.

“It’s nice to meet you in person,” Tessa says. “How long have the hunters been on your trail?”

“Not long,” I tell her. “My chosen mate found out I was latent and decided the only way to get rid of me was to sic hunters on me.”

If that shocks her, she doesn’t show it, and I wonder what she’s been through. She peers at the claiming mark on my neck. “You’re still mated?”

“Not by choice.”

“He's the one who gave you those bruises?” Abel asks.

I glance away, not wanting to answer that. I don’t want these people to think I’m weak and that I allowed my mate to attack me, even if that is the truth.

“How do you know about Halle?” Cade demands, sitting forward in his seat. I can feel the tension rollingoff him, and I squeeze his thigh under the table, trying to calm him.

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