Page 89 of Rejecting his Mate

Then again, Dalton and I haven’t exactly worked on our relationship. Since the bond was created, we mostly ignored each other’s presence. I slept in my own bedroom, kept my distance from him, and his anger toward me, his need to control me, meant he could never truly let me in. We’ve never been a normal couple, and even after six months together, I don’t feel like our mating bond has grown stronger in any way.

As with all things, if you leave them, they will wither and die. Perhaps that is what has happened to our bond. It feels nothing like the connection I have with Cade.

I watch as the guys drop into fighting stances, ready to take on the monsters hunting me. I don’t want any of them to get hurt trying to save me, but we are out of options.

Even if we drove away now, we would not get far. So, as much as I don’t like this plan, I don’t see what other choice we have.

Stand and fight.

Flee and die.

What a decision.

I stand behind the other tau wolves, feeling the power swirling inside them. I’d never felt magic, and certainly not like this. The air is heavy with its force, and I wish I were able to help. I feel so useless.

I don’t have wolf strength, and I don’t have access to my magic, either. I am more of a hindrance than anything else, but if Hester can unlock my magic, maybe I can be something more.

The cars stop in front of us, and one of the doors opens. People start to pile out, and I notice they're not carrying guns, even though they probably have them inside the truck. They expected to fight in their wolf forms or that I would come in willingly.

The guy at the front is tall and stacked, his frame suggesting he is definitely wolf, and even if it didn’t, his scent does.

He scans us as a group, and I can see the delight as he realizes he has not only one hybrid, but four.

“Like Christmas came early,” he says, his accent thick. “Where in the hell have all of you been hiding?”

My pulse is racing so fast and hard that I feel iteverywhere. Some of the other hunters are out of the trucks, loading guns, ready for whatever happens after this change of plans.

I glance at the restaurant, wondering if the people inside are watching the showdown. The first rule of being a wolf shifter is that the human world can’t know about us. A mass shootout seems like a good way to make humans aware.

It won’t matter, though, because the hunters will kill everyone inside that building.

As soon as the thought enters my head, I know I’m right. No one is going to be left as witness to what happens here. The place is so remote it is unlikely the truth will ever be discovered.

Not only have I brought the guys into my mess, but now I have handed over the lives of the three tau wolves, Tessa’s mate, and a bunch of innocent human bystanders. Maybe I should just give it up already. I would do it, but something inside me tells me that won’t protect anyone. These hunters came to destroy, and that’s exactly what they are going to do.

“Walk away while you still can,” Hester tells him.

“Yes, run away, little pup,” Apryle adds, goading him. I’m not sure that is the best course of action, but the hunter merely smirks.

“Those are mighty big threats considering we outnumber you.”

“If you think we need numbers,” Tessa says, “then you know nothing about us.”

The three of them start chanting under their breath, and I feel the power growing in the air. I glance up,almost expecting to see a ball of it over their heads, but there's nothing there.

I don’t think the hunter can see it either because he still smirking, and if he realized how much power the three of them are gathering, he would run for his fucking life. He stands there, oblivious to what I can sense.

“Do you think you can beat us with a little chanting?” He scoffs. “Come quietly and without fuss. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

“Yes, because you look so accommodating with the military-grade vehicles and your little band of soldiers,” Sawyer’s sarcasm has my lips lifting at the corners.

“No one is going anywhere.” Cade smiles, but it is not a nice smile. There is malice behind his eyes that should scare the hunter.

“It’s been a while since I came across a vargr. I’d ask how you got caught up in this, but I don’t care. My only task is to take the females. The rest of you can leave.”

“You’re assuming we’re going to allowyouto leave,” Abel says.

The wolf hunter tilts his head to the side as if considering his next course of action. The others are still chanting, and the power is growing with every passing second.

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