Page 118 of The Wild Wolf's Rejected Mate

Justus narrows his eyes, like he’s weighing the idea anyway. “My mate won’t mind if I killhim,” Justus says, jerking his chin at Leith. “Will yours?”

“You can try,” Leith says, squaring up as he drops his hand from where he was pressing it to his neck like a tourniquet.

Justus’s wolf replies to Leith with a desultory snarl, but Justus’s attention stays on Killian. Leith is a huge, strong male, an alpha from a long line of alphas, but the balance of power is clear. Every single wolf gathered in this clearing is looking at Killian—and Justus.

I’m used to everyone deferring to Killian—he’d accept nothing else—but I’d never understood until this moment that Justus is as dangerous, as strong, as pure born alpha as Killian. Justus may not carry himself that way, or avail himself of the privileges, or even call himself Alpha, but wolvesknowthe best among them, they look to that wolf when push comes to shove, and right now, every Last Pack eye is on my mate.

And my thoughtful, judicious, even-tempered mate is looking at Leith Munroe like he’s going to rip out his beating heart and eat it.

If he does it, the Salt Mountain wolves will fight back. It’ll be a bloodbath. I can’t let this happen.

This is my pack. This is happening because of me. It’s up to me to defuse the situation.

Me, Annie Murphy.

Shit.

I take a step forward, clear my throat, straighten my spine, and open my mouth.

Run!

“You have to leave,” I say to Killian.

Hide!

“And take them with you.” I jerk my head toward the Salt Mountain wolves.

In my head, everyone holds their breath. Annie spoke to the alpha.Shetoldhimwhat to do. The world must surely end.

In reality, the Last Pack wolves rumble, backing me up.

“Are you sure, Annie?” Killian says.

Justus snarls. It’s my turn to squeeze his hand.

“Yes. I belong here.” The crackling scent thickens in the air, and I know the words are more than true. They’re a stake, a claim, a kind of magic. I wasn’t stolen. I was stolenfrom, but I can take things back. My peace, my place, my power.

My voice.

“This is my home,” I say. “This is my mate.”

I twine my fingers with Justus’s, and his mouth widens in a gap-toothed, bloody smile.

In all my life, I’ve never seen a male so happy.

EPILOGUE

JUSTUS

My perfect,beautiful mate does not like surprises, so she knows exactly where we’re going as we trot through the woods that run along the human highway. At first, I was sad that I couldn’t spring this visit on her, but I love watching her wolf get more and more excited the closer we get to Chapel Bell. Her short little legs are moving so fast, I almost don’t have to slow my pace.

Alroy, Griff, and Diantha don’t have my patience, so they’re several yards ahead of us. Poor Griff has to be the buffer between them, and he keeps getting caught in the crossfire when their wolves decide to break the monotony by sniping at each other.

I was worried that Annie would be too nervous to venture this far from camp, but she gets more confident every day. I’m pretty sure that’s because when we were out for a walk two months ago, she saw me take out two ferals that were encroaching on our territory to the north, so even though Killian and I pretty much fought to a draw, she knows I can handle any other comers.

She says she’s more confident because she’s been talking to her “pecking voice.” I don’t quite understand the whole thing.She explained it one night when we were snuggling in the den after sampling Mabli’s new batch of moonshine.

Apparently, there’s a voice inside her that warns her of possible threats, and she is adamant that the voice is not her wolf. Two voices in your head seems like overkill, but I’m not complaining. She’s everything to me. The more alert my mate is to danger, the better I sleep.

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