Page 21 of Rejected Pregnant Mate

Both of us laughed, and I reached over to take her hand again, squeezing tight. This was definitely the right call. Being with Kiera was a million times more healing than running with Scott's pack, and now I had an idea of what to do besides hide away in the guest room.

By mid-morning, I'd helped Kiera clean up in the kitchen, and the bond between Scott and I was starting to burn. I needed some fresh air before I went to find my mate and ease the ache inside of me. I hugged Kiera goodbye and headed for the treeline, where I shifted and took off on a much more relaxed run than earlier.

The tug of the bond was growing more powerful by the minute, but there was something else I wanted to do before I returned to Scotts. My paws tore across the land as I veered towards the edge of town, ignoring the ache just behind my ribs. There was still that underlying darkness to the bond and the pain it caused me, but I just didn't know enough about the spell to be able to pinpoint what that meant.

I was still having trouble admitting to myself how catastrophic that spell had been, and how inexperienced I was with magic. I was going to be paying for that dumb mistake for a while.

I shifted back behind a row of trees near town, stepping onto the sidewalk and following Kiera's directions to the new coffee shop. I had a spring in my step after talking to her, and I wanted to take advantage of the motivation while I still had it.

The building was nestled between a bookstore and an organic grocery, the windows bright and clean. A sign hung outside that read 'Howler's Coffee,' and below that, "Grand Opening Soon!'. I peeked through the glass to see pale wood floors and counters with a plethora of seating. It was a cozy little shop, and I imagined how nice it would be to spend a lazy afternoon here, reading and sipping on a hot drink.

I spotted the front desk near the entrance, so I stepped inside, the bell above the door jingling cheerily. The door was unlocked, but once I was inside, I saw that it was totally empty, and started to worry that I was trespassing.

"Hello?" I called, before hearing footsteps from the back. I turned to greet the person, but when he pushed through the kitchen doors, my face fell immediately.

"You're early," Scott said, wiping his hands on a towel. He was dressed for physical labor in old jeans and a worn white t-shirt, and the contrast from his usual expensively tailored clothes had my heart pounding in my chest. "I haven't even put the hiring sign out yet."

"I—" I swallowed, everything starting to come together in my mind. I didn't know how I didn't consider the possibility, but of course this place belonged to Scott, just like the other coffee shop in town. I'd come to get away from my Scott-related problems, and ran right into the man himself. "You own this place, don't you?"

My voice was resigned, but Scott just laughed, tossing his towel onto the counter. "I just bought it. So, want an application, Omega?"

Chapter 8 - Scott

Nayeli had gone from excited to pissed off in a minute. It was quite a thing to witness. As mad as she was, I still liked teasing her. Her expression made it look like she'd discovered an underground crime ring instead of a coffee shop.

I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms. "You looked a lot more excited about this place five minutes ago. What happened? The lighting? The vibe?"

"The ownership," she muttered. "I was looking for a job, not another place to be under your thumb."

That irked me a little. "I've given you plenty of space since the wedding, Nayeli." I grinned. "If you don't think you can handle the job, just say so."

She huffed. "Of course, I can handle it!"

I came closer to her, and she gave me a little shove to get me out of her space. It should have pissed me off, but instead her fire turned me on. "Hey, you should be nicer to the guy you want a job from."

"You're the one being rude," she spat, and I couldn't help but laugh. She was always so feisty, especially when she was pissed off.

"So... you want to apply for the position?" I asked, trying to keep my voice as casual as possible.

She glanced around the shop, considering it. "How many days a week do you need someone?"

I shrugged. "I've got some staff coming over from the other shop to start the store out, but I'd like some help on weekends." I gave her a wink. "What do you say? Want to work here?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Don't make this weird."

I chuckled, "Impossible. This entire thing is weird," I came forward again, and this time, I didn't let her push me away. "But I think you kind of like it. Do you like it when I make you feel...off balance, Omega?"

Nayeli pressed her lips together, as if she were afraid of what might slip out if she wasn't careful. I loved seeing that look in her eyes, the way she couldn't keep the blush off her face. The way she had to try so hard to stay away from me.

I knew she wanted me.

"This isn't fair," she whispered.

I was too close to her now, our bodies only inches apart. "What isn't?"

Her chest heaved, and I could smell the need coming off of her. "I wanted you so much during my first heat, and all I got from you was a single kiss. Now that I've finally come to terms with the fact that you're never going to want me as a mate, you're putting off all these signals that you've changed your mind. It's just not fair."

I couldn't deny any of what she said, and I was sure she could tell by my face.

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