Page 21 of The Alpha's Rejected Mate

“You know the Eastpeak leader prefers to keep his own company,” he justified. “I’m sure he’d prefer to keep him and his people separate from our concerns. Perhaps this is better as something that you and I take on together,” he pressed.

Everettdidprefer to maintain his distance, but I knew whether he was part of Mythguard or not, he’d want to know about something as serious as a unicorn and that this clan called the Inkscales was hunting her.

One thing was for sure: twice now, I’d scented or found the dragons in Dalesbloom territory. It wasn’t the place to ensure Muriel’s safety. And the fact that David seemed so eager to exert his influence on me by alluding to the close ties between our packs only deepened my suspicion about the Dalesbloom leader.

Something I didn’t beat around the bush about now, locking my gaze with his, I said, “Dalesbloom wouldn’t be a particularly safe place for a unicorn,” I said, “given that this is the second time in recent days I’ve scented and now encountered dragons in the area.”

David shrugged, his tone nonchalant. “Dragons are a natural part of the Black Canyon area,” he said.

I clenched my jaw. Heknewthat four years ago, dragons had been responsible for my parents’ deaths. Dragons may be a “natural” part of Black Canyon, but I’d made it crystal clear that I didn’t want anything to do with them. The fact that he was acting as if their appearance was no big deal had mistrust slinking over me. For the first time, despite my years of having a solid relationship and months of what I’d call friendship with the Dalesbloom Alpha, I thought I saw the first glimmer of what I’d heard others whisper about. In the cold glint in his eye, the proud tilt of his chin, and in the blasé tone he’d just used when talking to me aboutdragons, I sensed an arrogance and apathy that I’d failed to pick up on until now.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I readied myself to confront him about his disregard for my stance on the dragons. Silence hung heavily between us, and I felt the charged atmosphere as we took each other’s measure.

The tension broke as a rap sounded on the door. I hadn’t yet answered, but Catrina pushed open the door. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “But we should really be getting Billie home soon, Dad.”

My gaze softened as it swept over Catrina. At least there wassomeonein the Hexen household who had considered how Billie was feeling after being injured.

“Right you are, Cat,” David said. His cool gaze found its way briefly back to me, and he said, “Just keep me informed about this business with the unicorn, okay, Gavin?”

I nodded, and something clenched in my gut and warned me about David’s interest in Muriel.

Catrina lingered in the doorway for a moment as her dad swept out past her. “It’s good to see you,” she said. A moment later, she added, “I’ve missed you.”

Despite the softening I’d felt toward her at her mention of Billie, I didn’t know how I felt about seeing her. Dressed in a soft cashmere sweater and jeans, she looked as well put together as ever. Her long black hair spilled down her shoulders in a silky curtain, and she looked at me hopefully. But as I observed her, Billie’s words from earlier skittered through my head,“All my clothes are Catrina’s hand-me-downs.”

I shook away the memory. Everything had been too much of a whirlwind since the night of the Moondream. And now, after our rescuing Billie and Muriel in the clearing tonight, the last thing I wanted to do was have an in-depth discussion with Catrina. Even more than that, I knew it was important not to say anything that would give Catrina false hope about us. I didn’t know where we stood right now. But I needed a clear head for when we broached that subject. Now wasn’t the time.

“It’s good to see you too, Catrina,” I said, but quickly added, “You were right though. It’s late. We’ll talk another time, okay?”

Her blue stare darkened for a moment, and she reminded me, in that moment, of the glimmer of something that had alighted in her father’s eye earlier. She plastered on a smile. “Sure, Gavin. We’ll talk soon. Night.” She whipped out the door, her black hair swishing.

Then, thank Vana, my cabin was finally my own.

As David’s truck pulled away, relief spread through me that the first meeting with all the Hexens … and Billie was over. My stomach squeezed at the thought of the sandy-brown-haired woman, but I didn’t get to think about it long as yet another knock rapped on my cabin.

I went to the door, hoping that whoever it was, I could keep this short.

As I opened the door, I took in Helen, our healer on the doorstep. She’d already checked my wound for the night when we’d gotten back. Then I realized her bag was still under the coffee table.

“Hey Helen, here for your bag?” I said, already going to the coffee table to retrieve it.

Thank Vana, there are still simple exchanges.

But I counted my blessings too soon because no sooner had I grabbed the bag and turned around, then I noticed Helen had come in and shut the door. She was worrying her lip, usually something she did when she was concerned about a packmate’s healing.

But if anyone deserved to unburden herself, it was our healer, who so frequently put the packs’ needs before her own.

“Is something weighing on you?” I asked her gently.

She shook her head and laughed. “Sometimes you are so like Martin, you know? Your father was just as perceptive.”

Warmth stirred through me, and I waited for her to share whatever was on her mind.

“I’d almost decided not to say anything,” she explained, a little flustered. “You know, sometimes, I feel my lack of experience, having not been born to the pack, you know?”

Helen had been an untransformed human when her mate Matthew had dreamed of her in his Moondream. She’d been a nurse at a hospital in Denver where Matthew had been treated. But since she and Matthew had gotten together and he’d introduced her to our community and lands, she’d been our pack healer. She’d built upon all her medical expertise by learning about Vana’s magic, which became open to her once she was initiated as our healer.

I knew she’d always studied and practiced hard with her magic. There was no reason for her to doubt herself.

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