Page 44 of Kidnapped Rejected Mate
This table is huge, and my parents’ influence over this town is huge. Soren doesn’t want to leave Silverville, I know that, but if we decide to do this, that might be my only option for escaping the cloud of their presence in my life.
“We were over at the Roches’ last night.”
When my mother finally speaks, her voice twinkles through the space, sharp with disdain. The Roches—Caspian’s parents. If anything, his parents are probably secretly thrilled that this fell through.
“Apologizing to them for the attack on their son,” my mother adds tartly.
“The supreme was there,” Lachlan says simply. “And he oversaw the challenge. Calling it an attack is an affront to his honor. Is that what you’d like me to tell him? That you think he sat by and watched two members of his pack get into a pointless brawl?”
My mother goes quiet, making a face down at her plate, and instead, my father speaks. “Be that as it may, Lachlan, Caspian was severely hurt. He might never walk again.”
Then, to my absolute horror, Soren snorts from beside me.
“Is something about thatfunnyto you?” my mom snaps, pointing her fork in Soren’s direction. “Of course it would be, what am I saying?”
“Did they tell you their sonpissedhimself?” Soren asks, sitting up taller beside me, and the tenor of his voice sends chills down my back.
My father shakes his head, clearly affronted by the language. “That’s—”
“Shameful? I know,” Soren laughs, stabbing his fork roughly into a piece of meat and lifting it to his eyes, turning it before taking a bite. “Imagine,” he goes on, after chewing and swallowing, “setting your daughter up with a man who wouldsoilhimself if it ever came down to defending her honor.”
I’m horrified, but when I glance at Lachlan and Valerie, they’re staring at Soren with proud expressions.
“Youlisten,” Mom hisses, starting to stand from her seat.
“No,” Soren says, “youlisten. I’m the right-hand man to the supreme, and one of the best gods-damned fighters in this pack. I know that nobody on this planet is worthy of your daughter, but I’m the shifter who comes closest. Now, you can either offer us your blessing, or I can take her and walk out of this house right now.”
He reaches for my hand, and, stunned, I take it, rising to my feet, too, turning to face my parents as he voices all the things I’m too cowed to say.
“I would never try to keep Aurela from her family, but I also won’t encourage her to come back here. I know you don’t like me, and you’ve meddled with our relationship before. Thatstops now. I know you’re a businessman, Mr. Cambias, so you might want to take a second and really think this through. I may not be the son-in-law you want, but I am the only offer on the table.”
Silence hangs for a moment, all of us just a little too stunned. Then Soren stands up tall, looks at my parents, and says, “So, what will it be?”
Chapter 23 - Soren
My heart pounds in my throat as I stare down the Cambiases—Shae and Frederic, Aurela’s parents—feeling even more full of adrenaline than I did before I fought Caspian. My hands are shaking, my heart thumping in my throat, my vision growing sharper, the colors of the dining room around us standing in brilliant contrast to the man and woman standing in front of me.
Before that fight, there was no doubt in my mind that I would win. Now, though, I have no idea what her parents are going to say, and that makes everything feel out of control.
Everything, that is, except the feeling of Aurela’s hand in mine. Everything except her scent, wrapping around me. Everything but the calm, quiet, certain notion that we’re in this together, no matter what happens next.
Lachlan and Valerie watch quietly, but I watch her reach over and take his hand, something passing between them. I hope that if the Cambiases make the wrong choice right now, Lach and Val will leave with us, too. In fact, I know they will—they’ve been in this situation before, and Lach didn’t allow his parents to treat her the way they’re treating me right now.
The way they’ve been treating Aurela for far, far too long.
Through gritted teeth, Aurela’s mother says, “We’ve already lost one daughter. I will not lose another.”
It takes a second for me to parse out what she means by that, but Valerie is already standing, throwing her napkin on the table, Lachlan springing to his feet next to her.
And then I get it—Shae didn’t lose a daughter, she lost the daughter-in-law she wanted. Lachlan didn’t marry whomshe wanted him to, and her last hopes for a good addition to the family fell to Aurela.
It still blows my mind that these people would considerCaspianas a good addition. Or perhaps I’m not thinking of it from the right angle—maybe he’sexactlyperfect to join this kind of family, where reputation is everything. Where Aurela’s parents care far more about money and status than anything else, including love.
“You just don’t know what’s good for you,” Val whispers, shaking her head sadly, “do you? You might not like me, but I’m here to stay, Shae. And I won’t let my child grow up with a grandparent who won’t love them unconditionally.”
With that, Valerie turns, scoops up the carrier in which Levi is still sleeping, and marches toward the door.
“Lachlan,” Frederic warns, turning toward his son, but Lach shakes his head, flipping him off before following his wife and mate out the door.
