Page 8 of Rejected Mate

"And when I get back, I'm punching both of you for leaving Fagua alone," Husk grumbled as he sat on the couch, then cringed, his face turning ashen. "Either of you fucking do that again and I'll rip your throats out."

"We need to leave," Sky said, and he and Winter helped pull Husk to his feet.

While Winter and Sky carried Husk out to Sky's car, I cleaned up the broken bottle and beer that had spilled all over the floor. I busied myself with making sure every sliver of glass was gone. Anything to keep myself from thinking about how this was my fault. How I was supposed to mate with all three alphas to keep the curse from killing them?

It had nearly gutted me when I saw how weak Sky was after this had happened to him. I didn't think I could stomach it happening again.

Except Husk and I had a rocky history already. He was the one who locked me in the penthouse when I'd first come up here with the three of them. I'd insulted him without meaning to and he went all caveman on me.

All those weeks ago, I'd connected with Winter. We had a lot in common. But then Sky was in a coma because of the curse.

Now Husk. I was the only one who could break the curse by being with all three wolves.

I finished cleaning and found the living room in shambles with Winter stacking pieces of the broken coffee table out of the way.

As I watched him pick up the aftermath of the fight, I thought of Mayia. She'd risked being torn apart to warn me about the wolves, getting here only minutes before they broke in. If it wasn't for her, I'd have been taken by surprise. I shuddered at the thought.

I snatched up a torn, bloody pillow from the floor and tossed it in the discard pile.

Winter let out a puff of air and threw a broken piece of the banister into the pile.

"Are you okay?" I asked. His shoulders were hunched and he wasn't making eye contact with me.

"No." He inhaled sharply, then turned and looked at me. "Husk is right. You could've been hurt and we were out looking for his sorry ass."

"Nothing happened." I sighed.

"Don't you understand?" He pulled me to his chest and hugged me, breathing in my scent. "They could've taken you. Hurt you. I-I don't know what I would have done if I had returned to find you gone."

I leaned into his embrace. "He's not going to stop." I glance up into Winter's sapphire eyes. "My father. He'll keep sending wolves to collect me." The words burned like acid in the back of my throat. And with Husk fighting off the curse, it was just the three of us against hordes that would do anything my father asked for the right price.

"You're ours.Mine." He kissed me possessively, leaving no doubt in my heart, mind, and soul that we were fated mates. But then I was with Sky too and apparently Husk. I pushed my thoughts aside from anyone and anything except for the here and now. Being in Winter’s arms felt like heaven.

My hands clenched his shirt, holding on as we lost ourselves in the kiss.

With a groan, Winter pulled back. "We'll figure something out."

He held me against him, his fingers digging into the back of my shirt. "We'll leave tonight. Go to the country, somewhere they can't track us."

"No." I shook my head. "That won't stop him. Even if you had a private island, he'd find a way to reach us." My words were bitter but true. As long as my father was alpha, I'd never be safe. He ruled our pack with an iron fist. And he'd kill anyone who stood in his way. I'd seen the proof of that in the trunk of a car when I'd gone back home a few weeks ago. My stomach clenched.

My father couldn't be trusted, and he'd hurt Winter and Sky and even Husk despite the fact he and I hadn't bonded. The fact the potential was there would be enough reason for my father.

I squeezed my eyes shut until Winter's knuckles brushed underneath my chin, lifting my face until I met his eyes.

"Promise me you will have one of us with you at all times." He swiped his thumb across my bottom lip, waiting for my answer.

"Okay." I gave him a small smile, but my heart was heavy. I had no idea what I would do if my father's paid goons took me from here. Or how I'd be able to breathe or live if something happened to any of my men.

"I won't lose you." Winter's eyes were hard, determined.

"You won't." It was a vow I wanted to keep, but I had no guarantees. I reached up and kissed him. My entire world seemed to crumble around me, but I held on. I wouldn't lose. I couldn't. I loved them too much.

I would find a way to break Husk from this curse. And I would find a way to save all of us from my father.

"We'll figure out a plan after Husk gets back on his feet," Winter said. "I know he's been an ass to you, but he's a good man. He'll be okay."

"I know." I pressed my cheek to his chest and listened to the slow, steady beat of his heart, letting his warmth wrap around me.

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