Page 46 of Rejected Forced Mate
I found my former Alpha and his men at the Council house, where Cal had stored them overnight. Sleeping bags were scattered on the floor, along with takeout boxes and six pissedoff wolves. Outside, Noah had guards posted, and I knew they'd tell Noah that I was there the moment I was out of earshot, so I had to make my talk with Joe quick.
"You came," Joe said, and he sounded a little relieved. "I was afraid that Noah wouldn't let you." "He's not my jailer, despite what it looks like."
Joe didn't seem convinced. "How are you feeling?" "Better," I lied, "I'll be alright."
"Are you sure? If you're sick—"
"I'm not sick," I said firmly, cutting him off. I wasn't going to confess my pregnancy right there in front of Joe and his warriors, especially considering Noah's guards were probably listening in. I wouldn't have dreamed of speaking to an Alpha so harshly before, but after spending some time as the Silvervine Luna, my perception was different. "I'm fine. I just..." The words were hard to get out, like they were stuck in my throat. "I want to go back to Brokenclaw territory with you."
Joe crossed his arms, looking me over slowly, "I'm glad to hear that, Sage, but if Noah really is your mate, it isn't going to be easy to be separated from him. If you want to stay, I won't stop you."
"I can't, Alpha...things have...changed."
My former Alpha didn't seem surprised, and he sighed. "Noah isn't going to give you up willingly. He took you against your will, so you're still my wolf as far as I'm concerned, and I will get you out of here, hell or high water. But I just want you to be sure, Sage. If you leave, I have a feeling you will never have the chance to come back again."
"I know," I said, swallowing down the lump in my throat. "But you came for me, and I want to go back home."
Joe frowned like he didn't believe me, but finally he nodded once, "Home. Alright. Then we'll head back to Brokenclaw as soon as possible."
"Thank you," I whispered, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. Tears of gratitude, but also tears of grief for what I was leaving behind. For what could have been, if things had just been a little different.
If only Richard hadn't been so close-minded. If only Noah hadn't rejected me or kidnapped me. If only Joe hadn't arrived, and I hadn't been given the choice to go back to my old pack.
There were so many factors, so many little things that had made this moment inevitable. Even though my heart was breaking, I knew it was the right thing to do.
I didn't deserve a happy ending. But the baby growing in my womb did. "Thank you, Sage. We'll go tonight, after dark."
"After dark," I agreed. "I'll meet you by the eastern border." "Like hell you will."
If my emotions hadn't been so high, I would have been able to sense Noah before he was able to catch us all off guard. He strode into the room, his face dark with fury, a few of his guards trailing him. I'd known they'd report to Noah, but I had no idea he'd show up so quickly.
Joe was quick to move, stepping between me and Noah, as if to protect me from the furious Alpha.
"Move," Noah said, and the air crackled with power. "Now." Joe didn't budge, "Back off. Sage wants to leave, so that's what's going to happen."
"No, you're not," Noah said, "And fuck you for insinuating I'd hurt my own mate. Now step aside."
Things were already starting to spiral out of control. This was the last thing I wanted to happen. Noah was supposed to be elsewhere, and I was supposed to have a little time. The dominance of the two Alphas in the air was so thick it was almost suffocating.
"Please, Noah," I said, my voice trembling. "Just go."
"You're not leaving," He told me, his voice soft but his eyes still blazing. "Not like this. Not with him."
"You don't get to make that choice," I whispered.
"I can, Sage, and I will if you force my hand." Joe growled, "You can't have her, Silvervine."
"I'm not asking for fucking permission."
"Sage gets to decide," Joe warned, his voice low, "If you try to get in my way, you're going to have a fight on your hands. And remember, even if you manage to beat me—which you won't—there will be three other Alphas on the way to take up the fight."
Noah paused for a millisecond, remembering the quad-alliance, but it didn't deter him. "Let them come, then."
I watched in horror as the Alphas locked eyes, the tension in the room skyrocketing, so intense that my skin rose in goosebumps.
"Stop!" I cried out, "Please stop. We have time to figure this out. To talk."
"There's nothing to talk through, Sage." Noah's voice was cold as he turned back to Joe, "If you're not willing to back down, then we'll fight. The winner keeps her."
