Page 44 of Claiming His Rejected Mate

Ian shrugs, his expression unreadable. “It still is. Just...with supervision.”

Kieran begins to move through the crowd, his steps purposeful and his gaze never leaving mine. The people around him part instinctively, sensing the authority he carries like a second skin.

Ayana squeezes my arm. “Good luck, babe.”

She disappears into the crowd, leaving me standing there as Kieran stops a few feet away.

“What are you doing here?” I demand, crossing my arms over my chest.

He doesn’t answer immediately, his eyes sweeping over me before meeting my gaze. “You’re supposed to be under supervision. I’m making sure that’s enforced.”

I laugh, the sound bitter. “Ian’s doing just fine. You didn’t need to show up.”

His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t take the bait. “I can be wherever I want to be without your permission.”

“What’s the point of letting me out if you’re just going to follow me around like a shadow?”

“Because I don’t trust you,” he says simply, his voice low but firm.

“I don’t care if you trust me,” I say, stepping closer. “I’m not yours to control, Kieran.”

His eyes darken, the bond between us humming with tension. “You’re in my territory. That means you follow my rules.”

I glare at him, my hands curling into fists. “And what if I don’t?”

There’s a tease in my voice, and I know he can sense it. I smile wickedly, watching him react to me.

He steps back, his presence still lingering like a storm cloud as he disappears into the crowd. Ayana reappears behind me and I jump, startled.

She raises an eyebrow, sipping her drink. “You’ve got him wound up tight.”

I exhale, the tension in my chest easing slightly. “I didn’t ask him to come.”

She grins. “Maybe not. But he’s here, and that says a lot.”

I shake my head, the chaos of the club feeling less like freedom and more like a cage.

The bass pounds through the club, a relentless rhythm that thrums through my chest and drowns out my thoughts. Bodies press close together on the dance floor, their movements a blur of heat and energy under flashing lights. I lose myself in the chaos, letting the music drown out the storm that’s been brewing inside me since Kieran’s appearance.

I know he’s still here. His presence is impossible to ignore, like adark shadow hovering at the edge of the room. I can feel his eyes on me, a weight that makes my skin prickle and my wolf pace restlessly.

But I refuse to give him the satisfaction of looking his way. Instead, I let Ayana shove me toward the center of the floor, her grin mischievous as she pulls me into the crowd.

“Relax,” she says, her voice barely audible over the music. “You’re here to have fun, remember?”

I force a smile, trying to shake off the tension coiled in my chest. A man steps into my path, his smile wide and confident as he starts to move in sync with me. His hands hover just close enough to be suggestive, and the smell of cheap cologne mingles with the alcohol on his breath.

I don’t like it, but I let it happen. I let him think he’s got my attention because I know Kieran is watching.

My wolf growls, her displeasure simmering beneath my skin. The man leans closer, his voice slurred as he tries to say something over the music. I don’t hear him, don’t care enough to try.

Instead, I glance around the room, pretending I’m looking for Ayana, but really searching for the storm I know is brewing.

And then I see him.

Kieran stands at the edge of the dance floor, his sharp blue eyes locked on me. His expression is unreadable, but the tension in his posture is unmistakable.

For a moment, our gazes collide, and the air between us seems to hum with electricity. Then he starts moving, his steps purposeful as he cuts through the crowd like a predator stalking its prey.

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