Page 2 of The Wolf's Pregnant Rejected Mate

Though she thought that was a blessing in disguise. Once she was no longer a trophy in Monroe’s eyes, he let her rejection rest and turned his eyes to someone else.

But Ryder had never apologized to her. Never even acknowledged that he’d been a reason for her to become an outcast in the first place.

“Hey!”

Tess stopped and turned. Ryder, now wearing jeans and a tight T-shirt that showed off the planes of his muscles, stalked toward her. His musky scent overwhelmed the lingering odor of blood.

“Don’t start pouting at me,” Ryder said, pointing a finger at her. “I can take care of myself, Tess. You don’t get to act like a fucking child just because I told you no.”

Tess backed a step. Her wolf growled, making her want to shout back. She bit back on that urge. “I’m not pouting. I have work to get done. It’s almost time for the baby to wake up, and I’m sure he’ll need a diaper change.”

“Not pouting? You could have fooled me,” Ryder snapped.

Hayden stepped between them. He put a hand on Ryder’s chest and shoved him back a step. “Enough. Tess is trying to disengage. It’s in a she-wolf’s nature to take care of injuries; you have no right to be angry at her for following her instincts.”

Tess fought back a triumphant grin. “Exactly. If anyone is acting like a child, it’s you.”’

“Tess,” Mica groaned.

Ryder pushed past Hayden. “You’re going to say that when you’re tossing your fucking hair and stamping your little foot.”

“I didn’t stamp my foot! And stop swearing at me, you Neanderthal!” Tess said.

Her foot stamped on the floor before she caught what she was doing.

Hayden seized Ryder by the back of the shirt and hauled him back. “Get out. I’m not going to have someone with your temper around my son.”

“My temper?” Ryder gestured at Tess. “And what about her temper? She’s the one who—”

“I said get out,” Hayden repeated. His voice was low, flat.

Tess ran a hand through her hair. Where did this argument even come from? She sidestepped around the Alpha. “I’ll leave. You have important business about getting all our possessed packmates back.”

She didn’t want to be around Ryder, and with her current agitation, she wouldn’t do much good as a nanny anyway. Little Denzel would pick up on the tension and refuse to settle. Mica opened her mouth but nodded when Tess shot her a pleading glance.

“I can handle the rest of the day,” she said.

“Thank you,” Tess murmured.

Why had Ryder reacted like that? Tess headed home, tension still tightening her muscles. Once she was back at her little house, the one she shared with Mica’s former best friend, Elin, she found she couldn’t stand sitting around. Elin was sitting on the couch, eating ice cream, which reminded Tess too much of the times she had done the same.

“If Mica asks after me, I’m going for a run,” she muttered, grabbing her backpack.

While nudity might not be a big deal in the pack, Tess didn’t like being naked in front of people. So, she always took a pack with her into the forest to keep her clothes dry and clean while she was in her wolf form.

The forest was cool and crisp. Tess left her clothes at a big oak as she trotted along a familiar path, her black paws padding against the spongy ground. She didn’t push herself, instead setting a steady pace. The underbrush snagged against her fur, but she welcomed all the sensations of the forest. It was better than continually dwelling on Ryder and this fight.

Not that she could stop dwelling. Was it really such a bad thing that she had offered her help? Or was this something deeper? Did Ryder think her concern for him was because she had hoped he’d change his mind about rejecting her?

If it was, he needn’t bother. Even if Ryder suddenly declared his love for her, she’d tell him to shove it.

Probably.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, so certain that the area right beside the town was safe, she didn’t notice them. Not until she came into a freshly-cleared circle. Strange symbols were etched into the ground, and a half-dozen wolves stood around the circle. Three more appeared behind her, fur on end, growling as they approached.

Tess stumbled away from them, her breath catching in her throat. She knew these wolves—they were victims of the demons, ones that hadn’t yet been saved.

Moon Goddess, protect me!she prayed, bolting to the left. Teeth clamped down on her hind leg, biting hard. The wolf started to drag her back toward the circle.Someone save me!

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