Page 47 of The Alpha's Rejected Arranged Mate

“But just know this, my son,” Dukiel said pleasantly, waving a lazy hand toward the door. “If I can’t have you as my host, I’ll take your son. And the mother will most certainly die in the process.”

Chapter 22 - Elin

Where the fuck was he?

Why didn’t he tell her they had found Dukiel’s fucking palace?

Why did he insist on treating her like she wasn’t good enough or strong enough … or was it that he didn’t trust her anymore? That she was some sort of leak that Dukiel could spy on because of these damn nightmares she was having?

As soon as Derek returned to the town, he grabbed a bunch of fresh warriors and chased out into the forest again. Elin had seen the commotion from her room, but it wasn’t until Christine had come to make sure she stayed in bed that she had learned what happened. Finn was still out there. He’d been separated from the others, and Dukiel had him in his grasp. Would she ever get him back?

“Fucker,” she seethed because anger was easier to feel than this gut-wrenching fear. “Why couldn’t you have at least prepared me for… for…”

Losing you.

How did Mica do this? How did she endure the fear of Hayden going out and never coming back? How did Tess? Elin hadn’t thought about it before. How did one handle this constant stress that they might end up a young widowed mother?

Her hands started to shake, so she left the window and went to the desk. The gun Christine had procured for her sat there in pieces. Elin practiced putting it together, timing herself. She didn’t like the idea of a loaded gun sitting around the house, but she also needed to be able to defend herself at a moment’s notice. Back in Bluebell Valley, the demons had recently startedto learn how to circumvent the salt barriers—though they couldn’t pass over them, they could still touch the pipes the salt was stuffed into.

Not to mention the whole unpossessed rogues serving Dukiel thing. They could come into town without worrying about salt.

She got the gun armed and ready in ten seconds. Good. Oh, the shifters might think it was a dishonorable thing, but what the fuck did honor matter? She wasn’t a fighter, and this weapon was the only way she’d be able to protect herself and her baby.

Sighing, Elin took the weapon apart again. One more time. Maybe she could make it quicker.

A knock came on the door. Elin paused. “Who is it?”

“Rosemary. Finn has returned.”

Relief washed through Elin. She grabbed her jacket and stuffed her arms through as she headed for the door. Rosemary looked shocked when she yanked open the door.

“You need to be on bed rest,” Rosemary said.

“I need my mate.” Elin pushed past her, one arm around her belly to keep it from jiggling too much. She was out of breath by the time she got outside and was relieved to see Rosemary had driven there. Finn was being held in the clinic; Derek stood outside the door while the warriors looked anxiously on.

“Luna.” Derek bowed to her. “Shouldn’t you be—”

“Is he hurt?” Elin asked anxiously.

Derek shook his head.

Elin closed her eyes, thanking the Moon Goddess for her mercy. She sagged inward, the sudden release of tension makingher feel slightly dizzy. Straightening again, she stepped forward. “I want to see him.”

One of the warriors made a protesting noise. “Luna, it’s too risky. He might be possessed. The demon held him for so long—”

“Was he able to get over the salt barriers?” Elin asked.

Derek nodded.

“And the talismans are still in place?”

“Yes,” Derek said again. “He’s not showing signs of possession. I thought we could do an exorcism just in case.”

Elin shook her head impatiently. “There’s no need for that. If he’s not affected by salt, he’s not possessed. Let me through.”

Derek’s eyebrows arched toward his hairline, but he stepped aside. Good. She wasn’t in the mood for arguing with anyone. She was saving that for her stupid mate who went on a death mission without telling her.

She was ready to be all fired up and ready for verbal bloodshed when she stepped into the room. But the instant she saw Finn sitting on the edge of the examination bed, his hands twisted in his lap and a haunted look in his blue eyes, every bit of anger fled from her. Elin’s breath caught in her lungs, and it took everything in her not to collapse to the floor, sobbing with relief.

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