Page 21 of Rejected Forced Mate
"Everything is already off balance. Something tells me that messing with nature any more than necessary is a bad idea."
Richard just grunted and went back to eating. And that was how most of the dinner would pass. The former Alpha rarely lifted his gaze, and when he did, it was just to argue or chastise Noah. Summer tried to help out, responding to her cousin when Richard wouldn't, but it never lasted. We seemed destined to eat in silence.
I was ridiculously relieved when the dinner finally wound to a close, and when Summer all but jumped to her feet to clear the table, I did the same, helping her carry dishes into the kitchen to escape the heavy animosity still flowing through the dining room.
Distantly, I could hear Summer speaking to me, but I gave her one-word answers, straining myself to try and hear when the two male wolves were talking about now that they had privacy. When I was finally able to make out words, my heart sank, and my suspicions proved correct.
Richard had wasted no time in voicing his displeasure about his son's choice of mate once I wasn't in the room.
"You fucked up, but we can still fix your stupid mistake if we act quickly." I heard Noah set down his glass and sigh. "And what mistake is that?"
"Don't play stupid. Mating with a witch. You're dumber than I thought if you think the pack will accept a Luna with bad blood."
Noah laughed, but the sound was hollow. "Actually, Sage has already attended to injured pack members, and they accepted her just fine."
"While you're around, sure, but I promise you that they're singing a different tune when you aren't around, son of mine," Richard coughed, and after the sound of his drinking, he continued, "They will excuse you having a passing fancy with the witch, but you need to set her aside and take a proper Luna if you want to keep their loyalty."
"She's my mate, Dad. My bonded mate."
"That bond is not as important as keeping the pack strong!" There was vitriol in Richard's voice. "Nothing is!"
I heard Noah push his chair in and stand, and when he spoke again, his voice was tight with anger. "I won't hear you insult her anymore. I've been patient because I know this is a big change for you, but Sage is my mate and my wife...and the Luna of the pack. YOUR Luna, just like she's everyone else's Luna. I'm taking her home, and if I don't hear your respect for her next time I see you, I won't bother coming to visit again. I don't care how old or feeble you become, Dad. It's no excuse."
With that, the Alpha swept into the kitchen, grabbing me by the hand.
"Dinner was great, Summer!" Noah called over his shoulder, "But we've got to head out."
"O-okay, thanks for coming!"
Noah's hand curled around my wrist tightly, and he basically dragged me out of the house. His touch was surprisingly hot; the warmth seeped into my skin and spread all the way to my core, leaving me breathless.
Then it hit me, right before we reached the car. A jolt of pain, just like the ones from before, was coming from deep inside me and making me double over. Gasping, I pulled away from him, breaking the contact.
"Sage?"
It pulsed through me once, and then twice. A warning of what was to come. I forced myself to stay calm and to stand up straight, smiling at Noah even though I really wanted to scream. "Just a cramp. I'm fine."
He didn't look convinced. "Are you sure?"
My heat was so close on the horizon, but after the disaster of a dinner, I simply couldn't face anything else. I just wanted to go to bed. "Fine. Let's go home. Please."
Chapter 11 - Noah
Well, dinner was a fucking disaster. It normally was, but this time around it was even worse than usual.
Dad was always a prick, but when he'd asked whether I was coming for our monthly dinner, he'd assured me he'd behave himself around Sage, no matter how much he detested my choice in
wife. I should have known that was a damn lie, but part of me was still desperate for the approval of my father. Some pathetic, small part of me.
Not anymore, though. I'd burn out that need for approval even if it killed me.
Sage had warmed up to me lately, but I was afraid the painful dinner would reverse all of that progress. This suspicion became even stronger when she was silent on the way home, one hand absently resting on her lower belly even though her cramp had already dissipated.
I should have made some sort of excuse, postponed the dinner until Sage and I had finally connected the way I wanted us to. If we had provided a united front to my father, maybe he would have backed down.
Probably not, if I were being honest with myself. But it would have been easier, at least. Now I wasn't sure if she hated me just as much as she did the night I kidnapped her or not. Sage wasn't exactly chatty with me on the best of days, and I wasn't going to risk asking her how she felt.
My father had gone for the throat as soon as Sage was out of earshot, cutting into me and my mate until I couldn't swallowanother drop of the bitterness he was spewing. I hated myself for even trying to be civil. But I still hated him more.
