Page 30 of Rejected Pregnant Mate

"I just don't feel like I fit in anywhere right now," I admitted quietly. "I'm not a Saltfang anymore, but Shadowbay doesn't feel like a pack to me yet. And Scott...I waffle between wanting to kiss him and wanting to slap him."

Gwen laughed. "You make marriage sound so romantic."

Kiera was a little more serious. "You don't have to be anyone but you, Nayeli. And you always have a place you belong, right here with us."

Her words made my throat tight, and I took a long drink of champagne to hide it.

They didn't say much for some time after that, just flanking me with their quiet support. For those minutes, I was able to forget how complicated everything was, and let myself believe I was leaving here with them, and heading back to my old apartment.

It was a comforting thought...that was immediately followed by the thought that I'd miss Scott.

***

Eventually, our drinks ran dry, and I volunteered to go get refills. There was a large figure standing in front of the bar, and I cleared my throat after he took an extraordinarily long time to move.

The man turned around, revealing Joe Longwood. I smiled up at him—Joe was the closest thing that Samson had to a friend, and while he was a flirt, he was also a calm and caring Alpha. He hadn't made the change to the women-are-equal pack rules like Samson had, but he was a work in progress.

"Hello, Mrs. Shadowbay," he greeted. "I heard you work at this fine establishment."

"I do," I told him, reaching behind him to grab another glass.

"Then I'll have to make a special visit to see my favorite girl, hm?"

From anyone else, that comment would have gotten them my fist in their teeth, but Joe was different. I knew good and well that he wasn't interested in me like that, but he was also one of the only men I knew who could raise my confidence with a single perfectly placed compliment.

"You do that. Maybe we can get together and talk about all the changes Samson's pack has been going through."

"If you're talking about equality, then I think that's great, but things take time." He looked over his shoulder at where Gwen and Kiera were sitting. "Although it seems to be working for Samson so far."

I grinned. "It sure does. I'm proud of him."

We talked for a while after I gave Gwen and Kiera a wave to let them know I was doing alright. Joe had been nothing but nice to me, and he was always a great conversation partner. His flirtations were annoying, but he didn't mean anything by them.

In the middle of a conversation about my new favorite show, I saw Joe glance at something over my shoulder and frown. Curious, I turned to look in the same direction.

And that's when I saw her.

It was one of Joe's packmates, tall and lithe, with a dress that barely reached the back of her thighs. She was talking to Scott—my Scott!—and her fingers were brushing his sleeve as she leaned in much too close to be appropriate.

My stomach twisted, a hot, irrational flare of jealousy shot through me. For a second, I was sure I was going to shatter the champagne glass in my grip.

I didn't even notice that Joe was watching me until he bumped his shoulder into mine. "Easy there, tiger. I'm sure they're just talking."

I blinked up at him. "What?"

He grinned, a dimple showing in his left cheek. "You're looking a little possessive there, kid. That little growl in your throat was very territorial."

I gasped, and my hand flew to my throat. "I didnotgrowl!"

"Whatever you say."

I huffed, but I wasn't really annoyed with Joe. Flirting was like breathing to him, and at least he was providing a distraction from the unwelcome jealousy clawing inside my chest. I glanced back at Scott, unable to help myself. He'd taken a step back from the woman and looked like he was trying to find a way out of the conversation, but simply knowing that she'd been so close to him had my blood hot. My wolf paced under my skin, unhappy.

Joe leaned down and whispered in my ear, "See? Possessive."

I turned to tell him to shut up, but before I could speak a word, Scott was there. He'd moved so fast to get to my side thathe'd pushed a few people out of the way, and when I looked up at him, his jaw was tight, and I could see the veins sticking out in his neck.

Holy shit. He was pissed.

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