Page 47 of Rejected Bullied Mate

I did as I was told, feeling like I was a teenager being sent to my room. Not that it was a bad thing to be near Kiera. If anything, she was the only thing in the world that could get me to stop fighting with Scott.

The second we were inside, Kiera closed the door behind us, turned on her heel, and glared at me. "What the hell?"

I held up my coffee-filled hands in surrender. "Kiera, I swear I'm not trying to fight with Scott, I just—"

"No," she interrupted, "I don't give a shit if you want to fight Scott. What the hell are you doing here?" She was annoyed, but the twitching of her lips told me she was also fighting a smile. "Didn't you get enough of me last night?"

"Not even close." The words were out before I could think about it, and I almost winced. There was no need to be so blunt. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

Her face softened. "Oh, Samson..."

"And to bring you coffee," I added hastily. I didn't want her pity, even though I knew she didn't mean it that way. "I wasn't sure if you'd gotten enough sleep last night."

She raised an eyebrow. "Was that your plan? Wear me out until I can't move and hope I stay home from work?" She plucked the cup from my hand and took a sip. "Good try. Too bad I'm a professional."

I grinned. "Can't blame me for trying."

Kiera sighed, but her eyes were sparkling. "You're so lucky you're cute. Come on, I'll show you around."

Just like that, Scott was out of my mind, and every ounce of me was laser-focused on the woman next to me.

"Where do you want to start?" she asked as we walked into the main part of the shop.

"How about right here?" I asked, grabbing her around the waist and running my thumb over her lower lip. The few people in the shop turned around and pretended like we were invisible, but Kiera flushed bright red anyway.

"One quick kiss," she hissed, "Before you get me fired."

"No promises," I murmured, but I did as I was told and kissed her. I wanted nothing more than to lay her out on one of the tables and fuck her until she was screaming my name, but I couldn't do that here. It would be hard enough for her to work after last night.

Instead, I reluctantly released her. "Now, how about that tour?"

Chapter 19 - Kiera

The museum was bustling with people, a weird but oddly fitting birthday venue for Nayeli, who was turning 2. Glass artifact cases lined the walls, but in the center of the main hall, a small dancefloor was laid down, surrounded by tables and buffets of finger foods. The crowd was a mixed bag—pack members, Nayeli’s nerdy human friends, and a few academics who probably hadn’t expected a shifter gathering in their quiet institution.

I watched as Nayeli flitted from one exhibit to another, talking to her guests, totally in her element. She was dressed like a curvy, gorgeous disco ball, her dress covered in silver sequins, and was the true life of the party. I was happy for her. Exhausted after the week I'd just had, but happy.

I sipped at my flute of punch, adjusted my own much more subtle, deep green sundress, and waited for the party girl to make her way over to me. I'd already congratulated her on the evening, and she was too busy being social to pay me much attention. That was okay. I'd never been as social as Nayeli, and even though we'd become real friends, I was content to watch her and enjoy the atmosphere.

When she finally made it over, I hugged her, handing her the rest of my punch when I saw her fanning herself from all the rushing around she'd been doing. "Having a good time?" I asked, grinning. "It's a pretty awesome party."

"Thanks," she said, beaming at me. "Samson really outdid himself this time."

"Samson?" I repeated. "Samson planned this party?"

"Yep." She fanned herself some more. "He asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, and I told him to surprise me. It's been a long time since I've gone out, you know, and it was so sweet of him." She leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "You'll never believe what else he did."

"What?" I asked, even though I had a feeling I already knew what she was going to say.

"He's been helping all the pack members. Bringing together different people, making sure packmates of all ranks interact. He’s been working to unite everyone, no matter their hierarchy. And it’s working.”

"Really?" I asked. Nayeli nodded excitedly. "Wow. That's...wow." I didn't know what to say. My mind was still spinning from the fact that Samson had put all this together for Nayeli. As if it weren't enough that he'd stood up for me in front of his entire pack, now he was doing this?

I needed to talk to him. I'd thought that our night together was just a one-time thing, a way to satisfy my heat and get it over with, but if he was continuing to be sweet to me, and continuing to make real changes with the Saltfangs that just so happened to line up with what I wanted from the pack...maybe there was more going on between Samson and I than I thought.

"Hey, I'll see you later," I said, squeezing Nayeli's shoulder, "I need to go find Samson."

She grinned. "Good luck. I think I saw him going outside."

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