Page 31 of Rejecting his Mate

I hear the growl he makes low in his throat. “I never said you were either of those things.”

“You don’t have to. I can hear it in your tone, but believe me, it’s unnecessary. Plenty of others have told me that. My pack hates me. They spit at me and call me names. Why should you be any different? Why don’t you shift and go on ahead; I’ll catch up.”

His jaw works in a way that shows his irritation. “They spit at you?”

I snort. “Like you wouldn’t do the same. Why are you even sticking around? Go brood somewhere else. I’ll manage on my own.”

“I didn’t save your life to let you die now.”

I turn around, stepping up to him and getting in his face. He’s huge both as a wolf and in human form, and although I’m five foot eight, I still have to tip my neck to look up at him. “Whydidyou save my life?”

“I’m asking myself that question repeatedly right now,” he mutters. “No more questions. Walk.”

I narrow my eyes before I focus on his naked back as he strides ahead.

I don’t know where we’re going, but he stops next toa big rock and an uprooted tree that is leaning on an angle.

Bending down, he uncovers a bag and unzips it. I cock a brow. “You spend a lot of time in these woods?” I ask. He must if he has clothes hidden here.

“What I do isn’t your business.”

“It is when you’ve been watching me like a creeper.”

He glances over his shoulder, his fingertips pressing into the dirt in front of him to keep him steady. “Good thing I was.”

I don’t argue. I can’t. It was a miracle he was there.

I’m suddenly distracted as he dresses. Those thickly corded muscles in his neck almost give me palpitations. There’s no denying Cade is attractive and that I’m attracted to him, but he’s arrogant, and that is annoying.

“Where are we going?” I demand.

“I’m going to get you out of the woods, and then where you go is up to you.”

“You’re going to leave me?” I ask, horrified at the prospect.

“Trust me, Halle. It’s better for you if I’m not in your life.”

“Then why keep coming to visit?”

He doesn’t answer.

Son of a—

He grabs my arm, urging me forward. “Come on. It’s about another four miles to the edge of the trees.”

For a while, neither of us talk. I concentrate on walking and taking shallow breaths to avoid the pain. Every step seems harder.

My feet drag, my eyes try to close even as I walk, and I’m trying hard to keep myself from fainting. Acid burns through my legs, and I’m wobbling.

I try to focus on Cade’s back, but I’m staggering like I’ve had too much to drink.

“What pack are you from?” I ask, needing something to concentrate on that isn’t the pain I’m in.

“What makes you think I belong to one?” he says without turning around. He hasn’t looked at me for a while now, as if he can ignore my presence completely.

“So, you’re a lone wolf?” I blink, trying to clear the haze from my vision. It doesn’t work. There are spots of fuzziness occluding my sight that won’t disappear no matter what I do.

“Didn’t say that.” He stops, and I nearly slam into him. When his hands reach out to steady me, his eyes are blazing. “Why did you choose that fucker?”

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