Page 66 of Rejected Mate

Fagua held out her hands and blasted the nearest wolf with magic. It yelped and skidded to the side but didn't stop attacking.

"Oh my God!" Fagua paled, her eyes wide.

"What is it?"

But there was no time to ask. Fagua's mom grimaced, her attention on Winter and Sky. She was going to kill them.

"No!" Fagua's cry ripped through my heart.

Briefly, her eyes met mine before she was running away from me and between my brothers.

Black magic spiraled in the air. Fagua's power connected with her mother's and lightning flashed between them. But Fagua's arms were shaking, trying to keep whatever curse this was from hurting anyone. Her legs buckled and I didn't hesitate.

I launched myself up into the air, tackling the magic head on. Acid burrowed into me and I crumbled, smacking into the cement with a bone-jarring crunch.

* * *

Fagua

"Husk!" I screamed his name, my throat raw. "No, no!" I watched in horror, feeling like I couldn't breathe, as Husk leapt between me and my mother's magic. He crumpled to the street with blood pouring from his head.

I didn't wait. Didn't hesitate. I don't even remember moving, but I was at his side, cradling his head. Tears spilled down my face. He sacrificed himself to save me, to save his brothers. All of the animosity and jealousy I felt from him vanished. All his past transgressions, my anger, vanished. None of that seemed important any more.

My chest felt like it was cracking open.

Rage and despair slammed into me. I glared up at my mother, who took a step back. Her hand trembled as she covered her mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Fagua. I-I didn’t mean—"

Winter snarled at her, stalking closer while Sky whined and pushed against Husk's shoulder with his wolf nose.

"Leave her," I said, my voice so hoarse it hurt. "This is between her and me." Gently, I laid Husk's head down. Blood coated my pants, but I didn't care.

"I-I had to do this, Fagua. For your father. He's our alpha.Youralpha."

"No." I stood up, my legs shaking from the magic I was gathering up. "Husk is my alpha. And Winter and Sky."

Margie, my elementary teacher, raised her hackles as she faced me. My next-door neighbor, Bill, who always had a piece of candy for us kids running across his law, bared his teeth.

I didn't know what kind of hold my father had on everyone here, but it was clear to me now that it wasn't natural. And whatever it was, I was going to break it.

23

Sky

Sparks danced around Fagua as she took a step closer to her mother. My wolf shuddered as the power rolled off her in waves. The other wolves felt it too because they snarled and howled, shaking their heads and scampering backward.

Husk was on the ground, unconscious, but he was too far for me to check on him. Winter and I had our own issues with wolves surrounding us and Fagua's mother able to use magic.

The power around Fagua grew thicker. Her eyes were as bright as two fiery coals. The heat of her magic seared through the air.

"What is taking so long?" Fagua's father barked. "Kill all the wolves except our daughter."

"You're not worthy of being an alpha," Fagua spat. "You're not even a wolf; you're a monster."

"A monster who has saved us."

"At what cost?" Fagua gestured to her mother. "She—you killed my mate."

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