Page 37 of Semi-Rejected Life

“I know,” he nodded. “Wolves like me are supposed to be brave… but I’ve been a coward my whole life. It drives my father crazy. I won’t confront anyone, whether it’s good or bad. And saying what’s on my mind… well, it’s like pulling teeth.”

“I thought you didn’t care about me. That’s why I went out with that other guy.”

“And then I ruined that too…” He shook his head. “Talk about bad timing on finding my bravery. That one blew up in my face.”

I couldn’t help feeling suddenly guilty. “I’m sorry I’ve been so mean to you this past week. I… I was really upset, but it wasn’t right of me to take it out on you.”

“No,” he sighed. “I get it. You had every right to make me feel bad for what I did. It was unacceptable.” A small smirk came to his lips. “And if I’m being honest, the groveling was kind of fun. I’ve never gotten to experience a relationship from that angle before. I… I sort of like not being the one in charge.”

“Needed a break from being an Alpha once in a while?”

“Yeah. I guess I did.”

We smiled at one another. However, mine quickly faded. I picked up my glass, draining the last of the wine before putting it back down.

“Do you know how I ended up here in Shifter Grover?”

River shook his head.

“I was a pretty special kid, or at least that’s how my parents made me feel. I was always ahead in my classes, I was a big reader from a young age, and I never got in trouble. Being an only child, they doted on me quite a bit and made me feel like I was the light in their lives. That I was special.” I let out a long sigh. “So… when I told them I wanted a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend, I thought they’d support me without question…”

There was a long pause as a stone formed in the pit of my stomach.

“What did they do?”

“They kicked me out,” I replied, my voice hitching. “At fourteen. No clothes, no money, no nothing. I ran to my best friend’s house, a human girl, and told her what happened. That very night her parents took me in, saying I could stay there for a while. But, eventually, the welcome wore out, and I had to move onto a different friend. I hopped from home to home until I finished high school. I’d spent every last spare moment working to save up money because I was still living within a mile or two of the parents that abandoned me.” I paused for a moment, wiping the tears from my eyes. “But I made one last mistake before I came here to Shifter Grove. I went back to see them. To prove to them that I was capable of getting along on my own.”

River reached out, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Did they hurt you?”

“I didn’t even talk to them,” I sniffled. “When I got there, I saw their smiling faces through the living room window. They’d had another child while I was away and he was just learning to walk on his own.” I looked up at River, feeling the tears flow down my cheeks. “I meant so little to them that they replaced me the moment I left. There’s a brother out there that doesn’t even know I exist and probably never will.” I wiped my face angrily, irritated with my own emotions that I thought I’d gotten over a long time ago. “And so that’s why I got so angry when you told me you liked me but weren’t going to stay. It just… It was like the universe delivered this perfect, beautiful boy to me just to prove that I wasn’t special again.”

River didn’t say anything. Instead he reached out and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug.

“You’re special to me,” he said softly. “You were from the first moment I met you. I’m sorry if I made you feel otherwise, but I promise I’ll never do that again. You’re my mate and I’m going to take care of you in any way that I can.”

I pulled back, fixing my gaze on those deep blue eyes of his. “Even when you go home at the end of the month?”

He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. “I… I’m gonna try,” he replied at last. “I want to try to figure it out and make things work. I just… I know what I have to do, but I don’t know if I’m brave enough to do it.”

“I’ll help you if I can,” I replied. “Whatever you need, just tell me.”

“Give me time,” was all he said. “I want to be with you.”

My heart swelled in my chest, my body filling with warmth and affection. “I want to be with you too.”

Chapter Eighteen: River

“So,” I heard behind me as I tried to sneak through the back door of the hotel the next morning. “I see you’re not staying here very often anymore.”

I turned around to see Sam standing in the kitchen, staring at me with his arms crossed.

“Uh… am I required to?” I asked, trying not to look like I was sneaking. “I figured I could just come and go as I wanted to.”

“Oh, you can,” he said. There was a smirk pulling at his lips. “But I don’t allow anyone to sneak around with my wolves, regardless of whether they’re paying customers or not.”

“I’m not sure what you mean…”

“Don’t bother lying. I already know what’s going on.”

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