Page 35 of Rejected Bullied Mate

Samson paused, and I saw it—the moment the argument shifted, the moment he caught something in my scent, something I’d been desperately trying to hide.

Shit.

The heat was worse now. So much worse. I’d kept it at bay for years, suffering through it alone, forcing myself to endure it without relief. But now, standing here with him, his scent wrapping around me like a damn vice, it was unbearable.

I had to have him, or I was going to die. I couldn't let myself have him, because that might kill me, too.

His nostrils flared, his entire body going tense.

“Kiera,” he said slowly, his voice dropping into something low and dangerous.

I turned away from him, forcing myself to breathe through the crushing need clawing at my insides. This couldn’t be happening. I would not let this happen.

“I want to go back to my cottage,” I blurted out, my hands shaking with the effort it took to keep my distance. “Away from the pack. Away from you.” It was only a half-truth, but I was fumbling around for any subject that would piss him off enough that he would forget whatever trace of my heat he could smell on the wind.

Samson’s brows furrowed, his confusion cutting through the sharp edges of his irritation. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I crossed my arms over my chest, needing some kind of barrier between us. “I never asked for any of this. I was fine on my own before you dragged me back here.”

“Fine? You call barely surviving, hiding all the different parts of yourself, fine?"

"Yes!" My scream was too loud, too raw, and I hated it. "Because at least I was free! I didn't have to justify myself to you or anyone else."

"You're not a prisoner, Kiera." Samson stalked a circle around me, nostrils flaring, "But I think you're hiding something from me, aren't you?"

A lie formed at my lips, but I found I couldn't do it. I couldn't outright deny my heat right to his face. Instead, I went with, "Fuck you."

His eyes narrowed. "Maybe I should fuck you, Kiera. Is that what you want? Are you hungry for my knot, Omega?"

His words broke me down, and I could already feel the slickness forming between my legs at the thought of his knot. "Samson, I—"

He stepped closer, so close I could smell the spice of his scent. He lifted a hand, brushing the backs of his knuckles against my cheek. I tried to jerk away, but his other hand wrapped around my waist, holding me in place.

"You're burning up for me, aren't you?" he asked, his voice low and rough. "That's what this is all about."

"Please—"

I might have let him fuck me right there on the picnic blanket. Hell, I might have begged for it. But I would never know, because the wind shifted, and instead of the cloying scent of my heat in the air, we both scented something much more ominous.

Fear skittered down my spine. We weren't alone.

Figures burst from the treeline, dark and swift. I barely had time to react before Samson was in front of me. His body tensed like a shield, a deep growl rumbling from his chest.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice deadly calm.

But the fight had already begun.

Chapter 14 - Samson

I could barely register the movement before the first figure lunged, a black blur, two more close behind it. I'd already positioned myself between them and Kiera, and I struck out, sending the first attacker stumbling back into the other two. I tried to grab him, to expose his face, but he rolled away. No identifying marks. No scents that made sense. Just... shadows.

The urge to shift pulled at me, but I didn't want to lose the ability to speak to my mate as the fight raged on. Three against one would be impossible for most men, but I wasn't most men. I was an Alpha.

I dodged another lunge from one of them, then ducked beneath a blow from the second. Kiera was still behind me, her fear a potent scent in the air, and it was all I could do not to spin around and check on her. I had to trust that she was okay, because I had to focus.

My wolf pushed at my skin, trying to break free. We could fight better if we shifted, but I couldn't risk letting myself get distracted by the pain of the change. Not until I knew what these assholes wanted.

"You're going to have to do better than that," I taunted, my voice low and deadly. "Come on, is this all you've got?"

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