Page 23 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

“I guess that’s true.”

She frowned hard, lowering her gaze to the motel carpet. “I might have a big family, but that doesn’t mean I have a lot of support.” She abruptly looked into my eyes, blinked pointedly, and whispered, “You win.”

It didn’t feel much like victory. Something that should have been a nostalgic game for us had turned into a warped nightmare scene. I didn’t like how it felt to see her dragged out. She was tired. She was running out of options. I had to do something before it was too late.

“Guys,” Hector said, reminding me that I was holding my phone, “you two are mates. You have the power to make that bond stronger—and then that bond will give you power.”

I focused on Robyn, who was mindlessly picking at her lower lip.

Hector sighed loudly, filling the speaker with static for a moment. “From there, I think the only way to help Bill is by challenging him for the position of Alpha.”

My stomach flopped. “Dude, what the actual fu—?”

“No,” Robyn snapped. “That’s a bad idea.”

“Do you have any better ideas?” Hector asked, a hint of irritation in his voice. “I can’t say that you do, Robyn. I’m sorry to say that. If Bill is following you around and keeping tabs on you, then you can’t just leave. That’ll make a bigger issue that we won’t be able to control.”

I reached for Robyn’s hand, gently running my thumb along the ridges of her knuckles. Her brows knotted up as she gave me her attention, slowly slumping into her seat.

“Cliff,” Hector said, inspiring me to lean toward the phone, “after you challenge him, you need to dig around. Ask questions. See if anyone knows anything. During the fight is when Bill is going to be the most vulnerable.”

I nodded. “Got it, Alpha.”

Robyn faced the phone. “What about me? What can I do?”

“Help him look for information. Break down some walls with Bill and try to get close to him without risking your safety—or that of your family.”

She squeezed my hand. “I can do that.”

“Do we need a witch for this?” I asked. “Can Faye come up here?”

“Faye is predisposed,” Hector replied, “but that’s why I want you to dig for information. If you can find the demon’s name, then you won’t need to get a witch to do the exorcism. You can do it yourself.”

“And if I end up killing Bill?”

Hector sniffed and then sighed. “Then, you become the next Alpha of the Wildtooth Tails.”

I must have stared at Robyn for a good, long while as I tried to navigate that response. It was a logical answer. Iknewit was the most logical set of events to unfold after winning a challenge like that. But couldn’t someone else step in after I completed my mission?

I bowed my head. “I don’t think I’m ready for that responsibility.”

“We don’t really get to pick stuff like that,” Hector explained with a little humor in his voice. “Trust me, it’s not that bad.”

“That’s what you think.” I snorted. “You have a witch as a mate.”

Hector must have said something clever because he laughed after saying it, but I didn’t hear it. I didn’t hear much of anything when I noticed how Robyn was looking at me.

Affectionately.

Full of hope.

Her eyes sparkled with their usual sunflower yellow, a delectable honey lit within with miniature suns. If I wasn’t mistaken, it looked like Robynwantedme to become the next Alpha. And not just any Alpha, either.

HerAlpha.

I held her hand loosely as I tuned back into what Hector was saying: “…the throat. Just go for the throat. Remember your manners and training.”

“Right. Because being courteous while killing someone issoimportant.”

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