Page 29 of The Wolf's Pregnant Rejected Mate

Tess glanced at the baby. His eyes were firmly shut, but his angelic little face relaxed. He looked like a perfect mix of Hayden and Mica—absolutely adorable.

“I think he’s sleeping,” Tess answered. “Do you want to hold him?”

Mica shook her head. “No, let’s let him sleep. I need to talk with you anyway.”

Tess’s heart dropped, but she nodded. She transferred Denzel to the crib, and then she and Mica crept from the nursery. Mica’s expression was soft as she led Tess down to the parlor, where she did her business. Once inside, she closed the door softly.

“How are you doing?” she asked.

Tess shrugged. “My leg is nearly healed up.”

“That’s not what I’m asking about, and you know it.” Mica brushed her red hair over her shoulder. “I told myself I wouldn’t intervene—”

“Mica, please.”

“But,” Mica continued, “I need to know. Did you ever tell Ryder what was happening when you asked him to be your mate?”

“No. It doesn’t matter,” Tess said, looking away.

Mica’s gaze was steady, but she thankfully didn’t continue that line of questioning. “I’ve been working with Elin to go through the texts. Hayden wants to see if the protections can be used as tattoos,” she said. “We’re not finding anything that indicates one way or another. Will you have time to start going through things as well?”

“Of course,” Tess agreed readily, but her nose twisted. “Just so long as I don’t have to work with Elin.”

Elin hadn’t been staying at the house since they returned from the mountain. No doubt she was worried about what Tess would do after ratting her out. Tess’s hands clenched into fists.

“There will be times when you have to be in the same room,” Mica said slowly.

“Don’t expect me to be friendly. She’s a gossiping little rat. I can’t understand why you tolerate her. If it were me, I’d kick her out of the pack,” Tess snorted. Her wolf growled, tail swishing in agreement.

Mica frowned at her. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not you.”

“After everything she did—”

“Enough, Tess.” Mica held her hand up toward Tess. “I understand that you’re angry and have every reason to be. Elin shouldn’t have told anyone what happened between you and Ryder. And if you need an apology to work civilly with her, then I will make sure that happens. But this pack has a way of turning its women against each other, and that is just as dangerous as the demons.”

“So I should just forgive her?” Tess demanded incredulously.

Mica shook her head. “I didn’t say that. But to treat her like she’s the problem instead of the traditions of the pack isn’t going to help, Tess. I’m just asking that you don’t treat her like an outcast. I don’t want this pack to continue the same toxic behaviors it had under Monroe.”

Tess nodded reluctantly. She understood where Mica was coming from with that… but Mica was also a much more forgiving woman than she was.

“I’ll work with her,” Tess said reluctantly. “For your sake.”

But if she said anything about Tess and Ryder, all bets were off.Especially, Tess thought,if she asks why Ryder hasn’t spoken to me since that confrontation with my parents.

Chapter 16 - Ryder

Ryder wasn’t sure that Tess still wanted to train with him, but he asked her a few days after her release from the clinic. She ought to be healed up enough now. Tess was just coming off a long day of nannying but reaffirmed her desire to learn how to fight. He expected her to bring up the incident with Lenard, but she seemed determined to ignore it.

The next afternoon, they met in Echo’s backyard. Ryder lived with his mother for the time being; he was busy enough that he didn’t have the time to search for a new home for himself. Besides, he liked being around for Echo’s sake. Though she had almost fully recovered from the demon possession, she was getting older. Some things were more difficult for her than they had once been.

It was a large yard, fenced in at all sides, with a shed in the far corner. The patchy grass was soft underfoot as Ryder and Tess faced each other.

“We’ll start in human form so I can give you quick feedback,” Ryder told her. He ignored the happy snorts his wolf kept doing. “First, let’s go through some warmup exercises.”

He led her through jumping jacks, lunges, and other movements to warm up the joints. Afterward, he started her on basic kicks and punches. Though she was well coordinated, she was awkward with the blows and held herself back. Before every strike, she paused, and it was clear she was taking stock of everything before she made her first move.

“You’re overthinking,” Ryder told her. “Your body knows what it’s doing. Let yourself go on instinct. Like you did in the cabin.”

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