Page 13 of Riding with the Rejected Wolf

“You’re telling me you're fated to a human?”

“Yeah, brother. Scent doesn’t lie.”

He lets out a low whistle. “Well, it’s not unheard of. We’ve got a couple of human mates in the pack already.”

“I know that. It’s just…unexpected. I thought that when I was rejected, then that was it. I’d never have that fated connection.”

“Seems the gods of fate decided to give you a second chance, brother. I’m happy for you. When are you bringing her home?”

"Home? I don't think that's happening anytime soon." I run a hand through my hair, frustration building inside me. "She doesn’t even know I’m a shifter yet.”

“Yikes. You’d better tell her soon. You know that bond is going to give her some crazy ass dreams, and your wolf isn’t gonna stay put come the full moon.”

“I know. And she’s close to figuring it out herself, believe me. But I just need to let her know the threat of Henry is over before I confuse her with the whole shifter thing.” I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

“OK,” Kade says after a short pause. “What do you need from us?”

“I need him gone,” I say, my voice low. “Permanently. He’s got resources, connections. We need to make it look like an animal attack. Clean, no traces back to us.”

Kade’s silent for a moment. “You know the Pack’s got your back. I’ll get a few of the guys on it. We’ll track him down, make sure he’s not a problem anymore.”

“Thanks, brother. Let me know when it’s done.” I hang up, feeling a mix of relief and tension. It’s not the first time we’ve needed to make someone disappear, but this feels different. This is for Mika. My mate. This is personal.

I head over to the local store to pick up some groceries. Mika needs more than just my protection; she needs to know she’s not alone anymore. I grab a few essentials—bread, milk, eggs, some fresh fruit and a new bag of rice—and pay the cashier, who gives me a curious glance but says nothing. Small towns are like that; everyone knows everyone else’s business, but they also know when to keep their mouths shut, especially when someone walks in wearing a Devil’s Pack MC cut.

As I hike back up to the cabin, I can’t help but think about last night. The kiss, the way she looked at me, the way I felt when I held her. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way about someone, and it scares the hell out of me because I don’t think my heart or my wolf could take being rejected again. That kind of thing isn’t like some regular breakup between humans where one was in love but the other wasn’t. No. Being rejected by a fated mate is a soul-tearing experience that could leave even the strongest shifter scarred for life.

But I can't bring myself to dwell on the potential consequences right now. All that matters is now is keeping Mika safe and showing her that she can trust me. The rest we can build up to.

When I reach the cabin, she’s sitting on the porch, her eyes widening as she sees the bags in my hands. “You brought groceries?”

“Figured you could use a few things,” I say, setting the bags down and giving her a small smile as she takes a peek inside.

“You bought me rice?”

I laugh, shrugging my shoulders. “I know it's not the most exciting thing, but I couldn’t have you eating something you picked up off the floor.”

She smiles back at me, looking genuinely touched by my gesture. "Thank you," she says, getting up to carry the groceries inside.

“I’ve got it,” I say, quickly grabbing the bag and following her inside. She thanks me again when I set it on the counter, and when she starts putting the items away, I add, “The boys are handling things with Henry.”

She freezes. “That was fast.”

“I called them this morning. They’ll let me know when he’s no longer a threat to you.”

Mika looks up at me, her brows furrowing. “What are they going to do?”

“It’s better if you don’t know,” I say, my tone firm but gentle.

“I see,” she says, before she continues to put the groceries away. I watch her for a few moments before I clear my throat and thumb toward the door.

“I should probably go. Leave you to it.”

“Wait.”

I turn back to face her, my brows raised in question. She hesitates for a moment before stepping out of the kitchen and moving so she’s standing just before me. So close that if I reach out my hand slightly, I’ll be able to touch her. But I force myself to stay still.

“About last night…”

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