Page 14 of The Alpha's Bullied Mate

“Echo.”

Mica stiffened. “What does my mother have to do with this?”

“This sickness that she’s been going through? It’s because of the demons. If my team and I can’t remove the influence of demons in the area, she will die.” Hayden’s voice was hard, his expression unmoving.

Mica searched for any sign that he was lying. A chill stole down her spine. He was completely serious. So if she didn’t go through with this… Her shoulders started to slump, so she purposefully squared them. Even if she didn’t have a choice with this mating, there were other things she could take control of.

“To be true mates, we need to consummate the mating,” she said.

He nodded.

“If I go through with this, then we will consummate. But I will never have sex with you again. You won’t ever touch me.” Mica lifted her chin, her heart hammering. What would he say? How would he react?

To her surprise, his expression didn’t change at all. “Very well. If that is what you need to agree, then that is what we shall do.”

Disappointment hit her hard in the stomach. At once, she was furious with herself once more. Why should she be disappointed that he was finally respecting her decisions? This was what she wanted, right? It would protect her mother and the pack.

She turned on her heel and headed back to her room. Best to get this over with as soon as possible.

Chapter 8 - Hayden

Hayden checked his appearance in the mirror. Many men chose to sew tuxes for their mating ceremonies, but he didn’t have time for that. So, it was his old suit instead. It was out of style and a little snug across his shoulders, but it still fit him well enough. He’d slicked his black hair back, and his eyes seemed to be brighter than usual.

His wolf paced restlessly in his chest. Hayden touched just above his heart, trying to get hold of his emotions.

Mica’s words kept turning over in his mind. She had been so emphatic when she said that she’d only consummate the mating for the sake of it being made legitimate. He hadn’t considered before now that she might truly not want him as her mate any longer. Did she really take his rejection so hard all those years ago?

A knock came on the door. At Hayden’s call, Ryder entered, bringing with him the red ribbon that Hayden would tie around Mica’s wrist during the ceremony.

Good. Ryder was just the wolf he wanted to talk to. “Stay a minute.”

Ryder closed the door and folded his hands behind his back.

“I need your insight on Mica,” Hayden says. He turned to Ryder, not showing any of his own doubts. “She seems to be genuine in not wishing for me as a mate, even so far as saying she won’t let me touch her except to consummate the first time.”

“Whoa!” Ryder held up his hands, his expression twisting. “I don’t need the details of your sex life with my sister!”

Hayden strung the red ribbon between his fingers. “If she holds to it, we won’t have a sex life to share details about.”

Ryder, still looking uncomfortable, shifted from foot to foot. “I haven’t been around for as long as you have, remember? I don’t know what things have been like for her over the last few years. Is it possible she has someone else?”

“If she does, I’m sure she would have mentioned it. The man would have claimed her during the town meeting, if nothing else.”

“That’s true. Then it may be just because… well, you did do quite a number when you rejected her.” Ryder shrugged, growing twitchier. “It was very public. And if I’m being honest, unnecessary. You were… less than kind to her.”

Hayden’s eyebrows pinched together. “I wasn’t cruel to her.”

Ryder glanced at the floor, then the ceiling.

“You disagree?” Hayden growled.

“I disagree.”

Hayden tossed the ribbon to a nearby chair. “Do you protest this mating, Ryder? Do you want me to pick someone other than your sister?”

Would he really pick someone else if Ryder said yes? He was spared making that choice as Ryder slowly shook his head.

“I believe that you will be a good mate to Mica. And if she says she doesn’t want you to touch her, you won’t.” Ryder folded his arms, his frown deepening. “But I don’t think you fully understand how your rejection affected her.”

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