Page 46 of The Alpha's Rejected Mate

The brown wolf mounted the veranda. Gavin morphed into his human form. My heart stuttered as I was distracted by his tight ass, muscular thighs, and wide back, all suddenly right on display.

I forced myself to look away as he changed, demanding again, “What happened with you and Colt?”

I waited to hear how my friend was, anticipation pulsing through me.

But Gavin’s voice rumbled with aggression, “I chased him out of our woods, which he trespassed in.”

Fear and disbelief zipped through me as I realized that Colt hadfinallycome to see me… I knew that that was the only thing that could have motivated him to step into what was now deemed enemy territory by his father, only for Gavin to chase him away.

My voice hollowed out, “No. Please tell me you didn’t…”

Gavin turned around with only his jeans on. A muscle ticked in his jaw as his gaze hit me. “I did exactly what any Alpha would when an enemy strayed into his land. I attacked him.”

My heart punched my rib cage because, now that I was looking for it, I detected an undertone of blood on Gavin. My stomach churned. Colt’s blood was on him. Panic thumped through me. What if he was badly injured?

All I’d wanted for the last week was to know my friend was okay, and now Gavin hadn’t only obliterated my chances of seeing him again, but worse, he might have hurt him badly.

Alarm rang through me as I thought about how I had no way of finding out whether he was all right either. “You had no right to do that,” I accused.

Gavin clenched his hands into fists. “As Alpha of these lands, I had every right,” he fired back.

My chest deflated. “That’s not what I meant.” Disappointment swooped through my stomach. “He was only trying to check on me … and now … I won’t see him.”

For a moment, Gavin was silent, his eyes brushing over me as if considering my words. But he only said, “He wandered into enemy territory. He should be grateful I didn’t kill him.”

I recoiled, disbelief pounding through me. Gavin’s duty as Alpha seemed to be the only thing that mattered to him. He was tarring all of Dalesbloom with the same brush. I knew we were at war with them, but disbelief twisted through me… He knew Colt was important to me, and he still attacked him. And I didn’t see an ounce of remorse in his expression or voice.

The tension lay thick in the air, palpable like pressure before a downpour. Gavin continued to vibrate with an air of righteousness. He seemed blind to the fact that he’d caused me pain. I couldn’t help but compare this exchange to the tranquil morning I’d had with Muriel this morning. Unease hummed through me. Was this how it was always going to be between us?

The brief moments of intimacy we’d experienced felt like a distant dream. As I gazed at the taut lines of Gavin’s features, I contemplated this telepathic connection that existed between us as fated mated. It was supposed to make us stronger, but the bond between us only seemed to be weakening us.

The sun continued its lazy arc overhead, casting a warm glow over the river and the surrounding forest, unmoved by the desolation sweeping through me. The connection I’d felt growing between Gavin and me over the last few days felt frayed. The very essence of our bond seemed to hang between, fragile and in danger of breaking, as we stared each other down.

I turned away from Gavin, who was still rigid with unresolved anger. Hurrying to the Mundy’s cabin, I was thankful not to encounter any of them in the living room or kitchen. The solitude of my bright bedroom was what I needed. But as I lay down on the bed, clutching one of the bright honeycomb-patterned cushions to my chest, the place offered me no cheer. And, for the first time since coming to Grandbay, I wished to be back in Dalesbloom because the worry weighing on my heart for Colt might then be resolved.

Chapter 24

Gavin

Guilt ate away at me over the day. The way Billie had recoiled when I’d foolishly said the words“kill”in relation to Colt plagued me. And nothing I did could banish the devastated look Billie had given me before she’d turned her back.

I’ve seriously screwed up.

Eating humble pie wasn’t something I was particularly good at. But, as I kept replaying the hurt on her face thatI’d caused, I knew I needed to sort this out.

So, that evening, with a deep breath, I knocked on the Mundys’ cabin. Both Gretel and Oslo were on patrol duty. Aislin was out, too. I’d recruited her as part of my plan to make amends with Billie. My heart thumped in my chest as I waited for Billie to answer.

When she did, surprise flickered over her face, but her expression shuttered. The neutral one that fell over her elfin features twisted my insides.

“Aislin’s out,” she informed me, as if that was the only reason I could have called round.

My heart squeezed as her words confirmed she’d already started to build a wall between us. But the worst thing was, I knew I deserved it.

Smothering my pride down, I did what I’d come here to do. “I’m sorry about earlier, Billie,” I said sincerely. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

I took in the stunned look on her face. My lips twitched as I got the distinct impression that she didn’t think I had it in me to admit when I’d screwed up.

Fair.

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