Page 61 of The Wolf's Pregnant Rejected Mate

“Come in,” she called, expecting Elin.

To her surprise, Ryder stepped through the door. He wore loose-fitting clothes, but the bulk underneath them indicated the bandage layers.

“You shouldn’t be up and around,” Tess said, half sitting up. Then, she added, “Come get into bed with me.”

Ryder lifted one of his eyebrows as he carefully walked to the foot of the bed. “Are you—”

“If you ask me if I’m sure, I’ll beat your ass. Get in,” Tess ordered, throwing back the blankets.

Ryder laughed. He slid into the bed next to her and sank into the pillows with a groan. His eyes shut. “I’ve been put on hiatus for my Beta duties.”

Tess’s eyes widened. “Hayden doesn’t blame you, does he?”

“No. It’s until I’m healed,” Ryder clarified. He reached for her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. Their foreheads touched, his eyes still closed. “I’m so sorry that I put you in danger.”

Tess kissed his nose. “It wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad you’re back with me.”

Ryder sighed. “It's going to take more than your forgiveness for me to forgive myself.”

She studied his exhausted face. Stubble was starting to grow on his chin, and his dark brown hair was messy but damp from the rain. The sharp line of his jaw and cheekbones made her ache, wanting to kiss him all over.

“There is something I need to ask,” she murmured, feeling suddenly shy.

Ryder opened his eyes, and she averted her gaze, her cheeks going hot.

“What is it?” he asked gently.

Tess worried her lip between her teeth before she exclaimed, “Were you telling the truth? When you said you loved me?”

Ryder’s hands tightened on her. “I was. Because I do, Tess. I love you. And I… I can’t tell you how much I regret rejecting you that day when you asked me to be your mate. I tried my best to forget about you, but I couldn’t. The guilt of it has eaten me up inside. I loved you then, even if I didn’t let myself believe it.”

Warmth sped through Tess’s chest, soft and glowed like a nightlight. She kissed him lightly. “We weren’t ready. It was the wrong time.”’

“I still could have been nicer about it. I could have explained my feelings.”

Tess shook her head. “I could have, too. I didn’t tell you why I was asking. I never explained since then, either. I just let myself stew in anger, blaming you for something you had no part in.”

Ryder winced. “Monroe, you mean.”

“Yeah,” Tess said softly.

“I didn’t put the pieces together until after our time at the cabin,” Ryder said, shaking his head. “I don’t know why I didn’t see it. But I understand now why you seemed so desperate that day. And I’m sorry, Tess. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

Tess shook her head. “It’s the past, Ryder. I’m done blaming you. You couldn’t know. Although…” She took a deep breath. “It was painful, seeing as you rejected me despite promising we would be mates.”

Ryder’s eyebrows furrowed. “When did I do that?”

“I was five. You were seven. We were on the playground, and I was braiding flowers for my doll.”

“I don’t remember that.”

Tess laughed softly and shook her head. “I don’t blame you. It was rather random, and it wasn’t like we spent a lot of time together.”

Ryder traced patterns on her skin, sighing. “I’m still sorry that I hurt you.”

“I’m sorry, too. When you said we’d be mates after I told you I was pregnant, I thought you were only doing it because I was pregnant. I thought it wasn’t for me but for the baby’s sake. I know how hard it was for you to be raised in a pack that looks down on single mothers.”

“I could have worded that better,” Ryder admitted with a wry smile.

---