Page 41 of Rejected Bullied Mate

Surprise rippled through me, and I gaped at Curt. I didn't expect Samson to tell them anything, let alone stick up for me. He hated these guys.

Pete finally spoke up, his voice low. "You didn't deserve it. And we're sorry."

I studied Pete for a long moment, watching as he clenched his jaw, waiting for me to either accept or reject his apology. I remembered the last time I'd spoken to him, when he'd been cruel, so much like the others, but there was something different in his eyes now.

He looked ashamed.

"It's okay," I finally said, shaking my head. "Just get the hell out of here before I have to explain to Samson why I'm hanging out in the woods with my former bullies. Please."

Pete nodded quickly, helping Francine to her feet. Curt took her other side, and they continued on down the path, heading toward town. I watched them go, frowning slightly.

I didn't want to admit it, but Samson's talk with them had clearly worked. My Alpha wasn't just talking about change. He was working towards it. It was something I never thought I'd live to see.

Maybe there was hope for the Saltfangs after all.

***

Healing Francine had given me a second wind, and it wasn't until two hours later that Samson found me. I was hyper-aware of him, and even with my eyes closed, I could sense that he was near. We had barely spoken since we slept together, and having him so close was wildly distracting. When I felt him and smelled his scent, my mind immediately went back to the feeling of him inside me, and how uncontrollable my need had been for him.

It was embarrassing, but even worse was that I wanted more.

"Hey, what are you doing?" He asked, stopping short when he saw me.

I didn't answer for a moment, focusing on my task. I'd finally managed to tap into the pack bond, and I was holding it steady. It was a small thing, but it felt like a victory. "I'm practicing. Like you wanted me to."

Samson frowned. "You should take a break."

"I'm fine," I told him, closing my eyes. The bond was strong now, and I could feel all of my packmates, like we were all connected by an invisible thread.

I expected him to argue like usual and try to force me to stop for the time being, but instead, he settled on the ground next to me, close enough that our knees were touching. "Alright, if you're going to be stubborn, let me help you at least."

Flustered, the hold I had on the pack bonds slipped through my fingers, and I felt the urge to scream. I held it back, though, and gritted out the words, "How can you help me? You've never helped me before. Why now?"

He didn't answer right away, and I opened my eyes to look at him. he was watching me. "I want to do things differently now," he said finally, reaching out to take my hands. "I want to be a better leader to our pack and a better mate to you."

I snorted, trying to pull my hands away, but he held fast. "I mean it, Kiera. I know that I haven't always been a good Alpha to you, but I want to change that. Look...I helped pull Kit through the change. I could do the same for you."

The idea of being forced through the shift made me shudder with revulsion. I remembered the pain of it and the feeling of being trapped inside my own body. I couldn't do that again. "No," I said sharply, pulling away. "I'll figure this out on my own."

Samson frowned, "I wouldn't drag you through it like I did with him. It would be more like me holding your hand as we walked through it together, you know what I mean?"

I was still suspicious, but having a guiding hand didn't sound so bad. "And you could really help me? You wouldn't just make it worse?"

"I helped Kit, didn't I?" He pointed out, "Look, Kiera, I know I've been a dick, but the connection between us, especially after last night, is powerful." He held out his large hand, palm up, "If it becomes too much, you can always let go."

To say I was taken off guard was an understatement. If Samson wanted to, he could hold me down and force me through the shift, and I wouldn't have a bit of say in it. But here he was, offering a helping hand and promising we could stop if I wanted to. He was like a stranger wearing the skin of the Alpha that had broken my heart so long ago. Except that pushy, dominant Samson was still there, he was just willing to compromise, at least a little bit, for me.

I eyed his hand, and then his face. His eyes pleading with me to let him in, to trust him. "Alright," I said softly. "Let's try it."

A smile broke out on his face, and he took my hands. "Good, now take a deep breath and close your eyes."

I did as he instructed, shutting my eyes tight. It was quiet. The only sounds around us were the birds and the gentle breeze rustling the leaves.

"Focus on your breathing," Samson murmured, squeezing my hands. "Feel the air enter your lungs, and then let it out slowly."

I let out a shaky breath, focusing on the pack bonds. They were strong, pulsing with power, like a steady heartbeat.

I could feel all of my packmates, their emotions clear and sharp. There was Samson, right in front of me, a powerful presence, steady and sure. There was Nayeli, a bright spot of light, and Kit, who radiated happiness and innocence. And then there were the others, each with their own unique signature.

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