Page 39 of The Alpha's Rejected Mate

He huffed a laugh. “Milk and sugar?”

“Just milk,” I answered.

He got out the milk and let me add it myself. I was very aware of his gaze brushing me. He took a drink of his black coffee, and I took a sip of my own, more for something to do than anything.

Edginess beat through me, and I wondered whether coffee had been a bad idea. But I forced myself to stop overthinking things. I said I’d dropped in for a social call. I needed to actually talk to him, didn’t I?

“Aislin just took me up to Sandbank Bay,” I said. “It’s gorgeous up there.”

The tension around his mouth eased, and he asked, “Did you stop in Ridge Bay?”

I shook my head. “No, we didn’t stop until we got back. Then we went for a swim.” He nodded, but I noticed the way his eyes wandered downward, skating over my form and creating an eddy of heat through me.

Jeesh, just from his gaze alone.

I remembered Aislin’s words from earlier, “…he needs a distraction.” That, paired with the way he’d just looked at me, gave me the courage to set down my coffee and step closer to him. My heart hammered as it always did when I was near him. He looked up, alertness prickling through every line of his body as I said, “You should come with me next time.” I fixed my eyes decisively on his.

“I came to see you, Gavin,” I said. “Not get more information.”

His hazel stare bore into me. I traced the flecks of gold and green within them. The colors made me think of light dappling the leaves of the forest. Gavin licked his lips, and as my eyes centered on his mouth, heat zinged between my legs.

Mesmerized, I swayed before him, not wanting toeverleave his sphere.

And sweet Vana, he answered my prayers as he drew my chin up and his mouth crashed against mine. This time, his kiss was harder. The hunger I felt fueling him matched my own. He tasted of coffee, deep, dark, and sensuous. My heart felt like it wanted to leap out of my chest. Scratch that. It wanted to stay right here, near him. With each of his kisses, my body hummed with satisfaction and heat.

Gavin’s strong hand went around the nape of my neck. His possessive grip sent the memory of how he’d touched me thenight in the clearing when he’d claimed me as part of Grandbay Pack. Except this time, I was thrilled that he was claiming me as his.

His other hand fell to my waist, bringing me closer to him. My hands were marveling at the taut muscles of his shoulder blades and back. I moaned as I melted against the hard wall of his chest, feeling my nipples pebble as I wanted more of him. I wanted to go further than we’d gone yet. Excitement zipped through me. I wondered whether he’d pull me into the bedroom, feeling sure with the fervor of his kisses that that’s where things were going.Hopingthat’s where it was going.

A hurried knock sounded on the cabin door. My heart plummeted.

As Gavin pulled away, his lips swollen, my pleasure-addled brain could only think how appealing he looked. Satisfaction swirled through me as he looked as reluctant to break away from me. But his hands fell away, leaving me needy and wanting for a second time.

I followed him into the living room. He answered the door.

Oslo, his Beta’s voice sounded, “A letter just came from Dalesbloom. It’s official. They’ve terminated our alliance.”

Chapter 20

Gavin

Oslo’s announcement hit me like a sledgehammer. The end of the alliance meant one thing: war was coming to Grandbay.

I took the letter from my Beta, barely able to take in the few short lines of David’s script over the page.

I didn’t regret what had happened between my pack and the Dalesbloomers. How could I when any other alternative would mean that the beautiful woman standing next to me, who IwishedI was still kissing, would be their prisoner?

But that aside, this was still a blow. Despite what had happened in the clearing the night I’d claimed Billie as part of Grandbay, I’d hoped that David wouldn’t be so quick to officially terminate our alliance.

Of course, it was what my gut had been telling me. It’s what I had been dreading ever since the forensic evidence confirmed that Catrina had taken Joseph’s life, which pointed toward the fact that she was going for Muriel’s horn. An official termination of the alliance with Dalesbloom was inevitable.

I looked at my Beta’s stalwart expression. His brown eyes were the same shade as his daughter, Aislin’s, but tended towardseriousness. His trimmed dark-brown beard was scattered with the first grays, just like his hair.

Quashing down my despondency, I pulled myself together and said, “Oslo, get two sentinels on the borders of Pine Creek. I want you to schedule it so that we have two wolves patrolling the border at all times. We’ve got to be forewarned of any attack.”

“Yes, Alpha,” he said, heading out and shutting the door behind him.

My chest constricted. I swept my hands through my hair, turning around to put the offending letter down on the table.

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