Page 46 of Because You Rejected Me

Chapter Twenty-Five: Matt

I was the first to wake the next morning. But then again, I hardly slept. After being kidnapped and nearly murdered the night before, sleep was a bit beyond me. I’d spent most of the night running through the past three weeks of my life, starting with the day the Alpha caught me with his son.

Betrayal was the only word that came close to what I was feeling. Not just by the Alpha’s son for throwing me under the bus, but from the Alpha himself as well. It was one thing to be upset. It was another to order a hit on another werewolf. Packs were supposed to be family, a bond that was everlasting. He’d not only kicked me out because of an obvious lie, but tried to have me wiped off the face of the planet. It was the most insane thing I’d ever heard of. My life felt like some sort of bad Netflix movie.

And now that I’d survived, I had to spend the rest of my life wondering if the Alpha took things into his own hands, or if it was a joint effort with his son or even my parents. I had no idea who all was involved in this plot to literally kill me. Being taken out for who I was or who I slept with felt like a blast from the past, the one that most of us wanted to forget.

Even lying there, safe in my own bed, I felt my skin begin to crawl. What if they came back? What if they went after Ace? Would someone be as brazen as this last guy was and try to run me over? Or would the Alpha get the warning and decide it wasn’t worth the trouble?

I didn’t have an answer to any of those questions. Anxiety rippled through my body as I twisted my hands in the comforter, drawing it up closer to my face. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of me, especially not Ace. He’d been my knight in shining armor more than once now, and I was starting to get worried that it would get him into trouble eventually. If my old Alpha didn’t stop coming after me, it could mean Ace’s life. And they knew where I was now. It felt like only a matter of time until someone else showed up to finish the job.

My thoughts were spiraling, pushing me deeper and deeper into despair. Even with the sun shining through my window and the safety of the hotel around me, I felt like someone was watching me. One thought stood out stark and clear amongst the rest.

Ace couldn’t be hurt because of me.

He was my mate and I loved him. So, in order to keep him safe, I needed to go. That was the only obvious choice.

Throwing the blankets aside, I swung my legs out of bed and crossed the room, grabbing my empty backpack from the desk in the corner. I didn’t own much, so it only took me a couple of minutes to pack. It was much fuller than it had been when I came to Shifter Grove. Not only that but there was an easy hundred dollars in my pocket, thanks to Sam and Ace. It was enough to get me out of here. Although, I had no idea where I’d go. It wasn’t like there was another hotel for rogue wolves. This was the only one I knew of. Then again, I didn’t have to go somewhere. I could just shift and head deep into the woods, my backpack strap in my mouth. Maybe being a hermit would suit me. I definitely wouldn’t be found.

But I’d figure that out later. I got dressed, threw the bag over my shoulder, and grabbed my key from the table. Once I snuck down the back stairs, I’d leave it in the kitchen, taking the back door so nobody noticed me leaving. Five blocks would get me out of town, and I could grab a few supplies on the way out. After that, it would be just me and the open road.

And loneliness.

I snuck down the hallway to the back stairs, taking them all the way down to the kitchens. At the far end of the kitchen, I stopped for a moment, realizing the walk-in cooler was sitting right there. Sam wouldn’t mind if I took an apple or something, and I was starving. Ducking inside, I pocketed two apples and a bottle of water. When I stepped back out, I placed my key on the stainless-steel bench running the length of the kitchen.

And I froze.

I stood there, unable to make my feet go, as I looked over the kitchen. There, at the end of the counter, was the place where Ace called me his mate for the first time. It was the same place we’d shared several meals together, laughed, and began to fall in love. Tears rose to my eyes at the thought of leaving it all behind. I reached out, running my hand along the back of the chair where Ace always sat, remembering how he always hung his black cowboy hat over the back of it while he ate.

“Going somewhere?”

Looking up, my heart skipped a beat as I saw Sam standing at the other end of the kitchen, his arms crossed over his chest. He had an eyebrow lifted in my direction and I had a feeling he already knew what was going on.

“I can’t let Ace get hurt because of me,” I said, my voice shaking. “Or you. Or anyone else for that matter.” I shook my head, trying to fight back tears. “I… I have to go.”

“I understand,” Sam said, catching me off guard. “Do you at least want breakfast before you go?”

I stared at him, my mouth hanging open slightly.

“Look,” Sam said, heading my direction. “I get it. You’re scared. It’s natural that you’d want to run. Everyone runs when they think they’re being hunted.”

“You… You’re not going to try to stop me?”

“I run a hotel for strays. Everyone leaves when they think it’s the right time. It’s not my place to say when they come or when they go. I’m just here to support.” He gestured to the chair that Ace always sat in. “Take a seat. I’ll at least send you off with a full stomach.”

Unable to think of a way to turn him down, I took a seat in my chair, leaving Ace’s empty. Sam made his way around the kitchen and to the cooler, collecting supplies and piling them in front of me.

“Farmer’s omelet okay?” he asked. “I’ll do some hashbrowns for you too.”

“Sure…”

Sam went to work. He took pans down, turned on the stove, and got things cooking without saying a word. Hashbrowns went into one pan, the hot oil sizzling as they began to brown. Meanwhile, Sam cracked eggs and chopped vegetables. Ace’s vegetables.

“So where are you gonna go?” he asked nonchalantly. “You must have a plan.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I think I’m just gonna shift and head through the state forest. Maybe I’ll find some old, abandoned place I can shack up for a while.”

Sam nodded. “A shelter is a good start. What will you eat?”

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