Page 19 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

“Good morning, friends,” he greeted. He did a double-take at Cliff. “Well, we haven’t seen you around these parts since I told you to stay away.”

Cliff puffed up. “Actually, I’m glad to see you this morning, Sir.”

Bill looked pleasantly surprised by the professional way Cliff had just addressed him. “I see someone was sent to boarding school.”

“My Alpha, Hector Shaw, sends his regards on behalf of the Silverfang Creeks’ previous Alpha, Adrian Lott.”

Pale as he was, Bill turned pink in the cheeks with amusement. His clean-shaven face was sporting the worst smile yet. I didn’t want to look at him, but I knew ignoring him would be considered a social slight. Our Alpha had an unpredictable wrath, and Sydney was already scared enough.

Cliff breathed deeply like he was going to square up but then took a knee. “I humbly request your audience to ask for Robyn’s hand as my wife—and my mate.”

The three Muscleheads behind Bill traded curious glances. I thought I saw one of them smirk, but that had to be atrick of the light because Bill never allowed people around him to have emotions. Anything less than furious domination wasn’t acceptable. That was when I noticed the way their eyes danced with inky black threads made of wispy silk.

Oh, no,I thought with horror.Not them, too.

Bill stepped toward Cliff, who was still prostrating himself. Though Bill carried an air of sophistication, I could see the typical clumsiness of possession in him. His upper lip curled, making his voice sound like it had a heavier drawl. His limp was subtle but obvious for someone who knew he never sprained his ankle in his life. There were black eyes, of course, which happened in every possession, but a lot of individual possessions had tell-tale signs, too, like the ones with Bill.

“You think I can forget how dirty you did us?” Bill asked. “No, I can’t forgive you. I won’t hear another word.”

The moment I opened my mouth, Bill was at my throat, holding my shoulders tightly with a sinister smirk on his face. Mischief flashed in his eyes. On him, that looked dreadful. “Where are you going, Darling?”

“I just think you should hear him out.”

“I’m not hearing a damn word about an Alpha who doesn’t care,” he said without losing his smile—but the sharpness of his voice made me flinch. “Clifton isn’t welcome here. He’s not allowed to see you. Understand?”

I started to speak when I heard Cliff get to his feet. He clapped his hands together as though he were shaking off dust—or maybe it was flour. “I’ll leave. We’ll talk later, Robyn.”

Bill turned to face Cliff without leaving my side. He stayed close enough for me to feel the heat wavering off the surface of his skin without touching me. That was another sign of ourAlpha being possessed. He constantly had a fever even though he didn’t look sick.

“Sure,” I managed to say. “Here, take my number…”

After trading contact information, I walked Cliff to the door. Sydney came with us, clutching my hand as we stood in the doorway and waved at Cliff.

“Mommy, is the funny man coming back?” she asked me in a low voice.

I caught Bill’s ominous glare with his black eyes glossed over like onyx stones.

I gulped. “No—” I forced a smile, “—but we can always go to him.”

Chapter 7 - Cliff

My mind was still spinning when I shut the motel door. I’d never felt furious the way I did when Bill tried to ban me from seeing Robyn.Again. Three years ago, he’d said as much, but it was less threatening—and it hadn’t come from a possessive demon. As I paced the small room decorated with standard salmon pink wallpaper, Navy blue carpet, and damask bedding, I recalled the glassy eyes and rugged voice.

Bill looked terrible. His skin was pulled taut over his face, his mouth hung open on the right side, and he had a limp that he seemed keen on hiding. The possession had brought a battle with hell to his body, and it seemed like hell was winning. I hadn’t cared much about the guy in the past whenever I did my deliveries, but he was important to Adrian. And anyone important to Adrian was important to me.

I scrubbed the back of my head. “Does Robyn think he’s important?”

That was a bigger issue I couldn’t determine. Sydney had lost her lust for life as soon as Bill and his buddies walked inside, so it was unmistakable to guess her opinion of the possessed Alpha. Robyn, though, had frozen up like a rabbit that had spotted a wolf. Not caught. Not bitten.

Just seen.

Never in my life had I witnessed a creature give up that easily in front of a predator. That meant something else was going on inside the Wildtooth Tails. I had to find out what it was.

I paced past the divider separating the room from a lush antique bathroom. The clawfoot tub attracted my attention, drawing me to it, where I turned on the hot water—andonlythehot water. Steam emanated from the ceramic as the tub filled with liquid. My pocket vibrated.

A momentary distraction was just what I needed. I took my phone out of my pocket in time for it to buzz again. Once I unlocked my phone, I smelled a hint of black licorice and pepper. I spun around.Robyn.

My buzzing phone brought me back to reality. Two new texts had arrived—both from Robyn. I opened them instantly and read them like I had spent the past eight minutes waiting for her to message me. Had I been subconsciously doing that?

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