Page 30 of Rejected By the Alpha King

“Marsh. You’re here. In Wisteria Woods.”

There was no caution in her voice. No indication that she saw him as a threat, but her entire body had frozen. It did nothing to ease the tension inside of me.

“It’s as good a place as any to call home,” he said, still friendly as he looked at me. “Who is your companion?”

We studied each other, but I knew that for him, it wasn’t the first time seeing me. He’d been following us for half a day and had either concluded that I wasn’t powerful enough to be a threat or his need to talk to Anna was great enough to risk.

I had a feeling it was the former. It was difficult, but I sucked in my power as much as I could. He, on the other hand, let his ooze out. He was strong. Cocky, too. Most shifters would be wary in a place like this, but he was nothing but confident. He thought he had some power here.

I wanted to shred his pretty little face to pieces.

Instead, I waited to see what Anna would do. Killing him now would be easier but also draw too much attention.

“Saul, this is an old friend for my father,’ Anna said steadily. “Marsh, this is Saul. He’s my mate.”

14

Anna

I may have said it in passing before, but it was the first time I’d ever introduced Jax as my mate.

To his credit, he didn’t blink an eye. Not at the fake name or the confession of our relationship. Not even to the revelation that Marsh was a friend of my father’s.

A good friend.

“A mate! Look at you! Dirk’s sweet little girl all grown up,” Marsh said with a mischievous glint in his eye. “A mate of Anna’s is definitely a friend of mine. I’m sure you have her well in hand. My little Anna used to be such a hellion.”

My stomach turned, but I just laughed with him. To show even a little hint of distress would only give him more ammunition, and it was too late to signal to Jax to kill him so we could be on our way. There was something about Marsh I didn’t like. Why was he so at ease chatting out in the open?

“She’s under control,” Jax said mildly.

“I have no doubt. Why don’t you join me at my place, and we’ll catch up?”

I tried to look regretful as I shook my head. “I’m afraid we’re just passing through.

Maybe on my way back.”

Immediately, I realized my mistake. I’d spoken out of turn. I hadn’t even looked at Jax.

Marsh picked up on it immediately and raised an eyebrow. “Unfortunately, I have to insist. There were reports of a group of wolves trying to enter my territory. I sent a group out to survey and none of them have returned yet. Dirk, rest his soul, would never forgive me if I let something happen to you. I assume you’re meeting with the witches again?”

He was fishing for information and luring us back to his place. Unfortunately, I could only do one of those things. This time, I looked at Jax, and he nodded his head. “I don’t even think I knew the witches could have visitors,” I laughed forcefully. “No, we’re just taking a shortcut, but it’s better to be safe than sorry here. I appreciate the warning.”

“I can handle a couple of wolves,” Jax said flatly as he glared at Marsh. Was it my imagination or did he look jealous?

“I’m sure you can, but this was more than a couple,” Marsh said easily. “I know a safe place for you to stay tonight, and I’d love to catch up with sweet little Anna here.”

He followed it up with a wink, and my stomach turned. I was just about to find an excuse to leave when Jax’s arms circled my waist. “I’m sure she’d love to catch up.”

The last thing I wanted was Jax to hear Marsh’s stories, but I couldn’t see a way out.

Neither, apparently, could Jax. Or maybe he really did want information about my past.

I was interested in what Marsh was doing here. He was like my father. Too much like him, and I didn’t see him hiding out in a place like this without good reason.

We followed Marsh back to a small cabin. It looked like it had been built recently, but that didn’t mean Marsh built it. He’d always been fairly lazy, so it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that he’d taken it by force.

“Anna grew up in a place just like this. In fact, I thought of her as soon as I laid eyes on it. Knew how much she’d love it,” Marsh said as he opened the door. “She and her daddy always knew how to make their place so cozy and inviting. Did you ever meet him, Saul?”

---