Page 13 of The Wolf's Pregnant Rejected Mate

“No. But we’ve got the talismans now, and we’re working on ways to improve it,” he said, then, his eyebrows knit together, he added, “And we’ll be implementing more ways for the pack to protect themselves, too. The talismans are only good against the aura demons; they don’t stop beast demons from attacking you or—”

Tess held up a hand. “That’s enough information right now. I need to process what you’ve already told me.”

She wandered away from him, shaking her head slowly. Knowing this made the situation feel even more dangerous. The wooden floor was rough beneath her feet as she paced back and forth. It was all catching up to her. Even the memories of how she’d grabbed that possessed wolf by the throat made her feel sick. What if she’d killed him when it was still possible to exorcize the demon?

“I’m not built for this,” she finally groaned. “None of it. We’re not even supposed to know about the demons, are we?”

“People generally don’t believe in them. It’s not a matter of not being allowed to know,” Ryder said.

“You’ve lost people, though. It hasn’t always been just the eight of you in the team.” It wasn’t a question.

Ryder’s dark blue eyes darkened further with whatever memories lingered. “Yes. We’ve lost people to possession. But thanks to you and Mica’s efforts with those ancient texts, we’ve found the talisman. We’ve found more ways to fight against the demons.”

“But you don’t know how effective it is.”

“So?” Ryder shrugged. “What’s important is that it works now. In the last year, the demons have tried to get Blayke and Maverick. They used the Demon Seed against us. And it’s all been rebuffed, thanks to these talismans.”

He lifted his shirt, showing her a strip of skin just above his hip. A faint scar ran down the center of a slightly raised area. If he hadn’t pointed it out, Tess wouldn’t have noticed it. She studied the spot in the dim light. It was a slight circular area, no bigger than the nail of her little finger. When she reached out to touch the spot, Ryder drew back.

“I remember finding the part of the book that talked about the talismans,” Tess murmured. “I didn’t know that you had started using them. I thought it was going to be for the pack, not the team.”

Ryder lowered his shirt again. He looked out the window and let out a soft breath. “They’re gone.”

Tess closed her eyes and thanked the Moon Goddess. “So, we need to leave before they come back, right?”

“No. We stay until someone comes for us.”

“But if they’re gone—”

Ryder gave her a look that made her argument die in her throat.

Right. Just because they weren’t in sight didn’t mean they weren’t watching. It was easily a trap; the demons could be waiting just out of sight. If she and Ryder tried to leave, they could easily be overwhelmed, so it was just more waiting.

A surge of defiance swept through her, catching her off guard. It wasn’t right! Why did this have to happen? Why should she feel so helpless, so trapped? The world was so huge, and yet she’d stayed in this tiny pack in this tiny part of the world. She’d had small dreams, and even those dreams were too big for her to grasp.

As she gazed at Ryder, a thought occurred to her. There was one dream that she could potentially see through.

Here in this tiny cabin, there was something she could ask for.

Her lungs tightened, but a sense of calm washed through her. She toyed with the knot that held the blanket in place. “I’m sick of trying to be proper.”

Ryder turned to her. “What?”

“I want what I want, and I’m going to have it. At least, I’m going to ask for it,” she said, tripping over her own thoughts.

“I don’t understand.”

Tess strode forward, stopping just shy of him. “I want to fight to protect the pack. I’m tired of trying to be the proper she-wolf. I’m tired of feeling like I’ll always fall short of expectations. I’m so, so sick of feeling like I’m worthless. Maybe I’m not a proper she-wolf. But I can’t sit helpless on the sidelines anymore. I need to do more.”

Ryder stared at her, baffled. It was the most emotion she’d seen in him for a long, long time.

And here it came. The most damning part of her confession. Tess lifted her chin, not letting herself be ashamed. “And I want to have sex. I want that experience. So…” Her courage fled. What if he laughed in her face? He’d rejected her once; what was to stop him from—

Ryder’s arms were around her before she knew what was happening. He pulled her against his hard body and pressed his mouth to hers. He teased her lips open. Tess’s wolf howled as heat flared through her body. She tangled her hands into his hair as she kissed him back.

Chapter 8 - Ryder

Ah, fuck me!Ryder massaged Tess’s tongue with his, fighting to do what he knew he needed.

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