Page 6 of The Alpha's Rejected Arranged Mate

Finn yanked a file from another drawer. “And they nearly killed you multiple times, in case you’ve forgotten. Not to mention Zealuv nearly taking you as his mate. Do you have any idea what he would have done to you?”

Elin jumped to her feet, her cheeks hot. “Better than you do.”

“I’m half-demon, Elin.” Finn turned to her, his eyes and voice cold. “You don’t think I know exactly what that means?”

Elin opened and closed her mouth several times. She didn’t know what to say or what response was possible after that. Finally, she shook her head. “We’re getting distracted. Let’s just get this done, okay? We don’t have to agree with each other, we just have to work.”

Finn yanked open another drawer. “You should have stayed in Bluebell Valley and helped support Mica and Tess.”

Something in his tone tipped her over the edge. Elin shot to her feet. It was bad enough that he rejected her, but then to reject her apology at the same time as rejecting her again? It was clear he didn’t want her around. Yeah, she didn’t want him around, either. But why did he have to be such a prick about it?

“What’s the big deal?” she demanded. “Why do you care whether I’m on a potentially dangerous mission or not? You don’t want me. It’s none of your business what I do with my life.”

Finn stared at her. The smolder was back in his gaze. Oh, Goddess! No, she had to hold onto her anger. She had to fight against the intensity in his eyes as he approached her. She needed to knee him between the legs or something. She couldn’t let him touch her otherwise…

His hand came up and cupped her face. It was so light and gentle that it took her breath away. The contrast to his behavior to this point sent her off-kilter.

“I said I’m not your mate, not that I don’t want you. I wouldn’t have ripped off your clothes if I didn’t want you, Elin,” he breathed. His scent washed over her.

Their mouth crashed together as he pushed her into the wall. The firmness of his body against hers causes sparks to ignite beneath her skin. Her wolf howled in joy. Elin kissed him back urgently, not caring if she came across as desperate or not. How much time did they have before Christine and Derek came back?

“Fuck,” Finn growled into her mouth. He grabbed her hip, pulling her tighter to him.

Their bodies melded together. Elin whimpered as heat flooded over her skin. She rolled her body, wanting, needing to be closer. She broke her mouth from his to kiss and lick down his neck. Goddess, but he tasted so good. Her hands greedilyexplored the muscles she knew like she’d never touched another living being.

“We can’t,” Finn said as he ground his hips into hers. “We don’t have time—don’t have protection.”

“We have mouths,” Elin argued back.

Finn let out a strangled laugh, then his hands moved. He cupped one breast in his hand as he lowered the other to her jeans. He yanked open the top button and slid his hand to cup her. Elin arched her back. One of her arms went out, searching for something to brace herself on. She caught hold of what looked like a solid statue. But as she grabbed it, it tipped away from them—and the wall just beside where Finn pushed her against slid open.

“What the?” Finn yelped.

Just like that, the mood was broken. He and Elin shared a confused glance as they stepped into the open passage. The scent of humans was heavier in here. Elin fumbled with the wall and found a switch. Lights flared on to show a steep staircase that led to a tunnel down through the earth.

“Look.” She pointed to a piece of paper taped to the wall.

Finn frowned as he read it aloud. “The rogues have beasts. We’re getting the children out. Meet you at the pack.”

He and Elin shared a startled glance. Rogues attacked the village? Withbeasts? Elin’s mind flashed to the monstrous beast-demons, with their goatlike faces full of wolf’s fangs. Were the rogues in league with demons?

Chapter 3 - Finn

Finn grabbed the files with his name on them. The printer had finished, so he gathered those papers and shoved them into one of the folders. “We’re leaving.”

Elin nodded. Her eyes were wide, and the scent of her arousal lingered in the air. Finn’s wolf huffed, annoyed that they had to stop. He shoved those feelings aside to focus on the situation. They headed for the infirmary, where Christine and Derek looked through separate filing cabinets with a heavy spark in the air.

“We have to go now,” Finn said. “The rogues have beast demons.”

Derek’s head whipped in his direction.

Christine didn’t stop her search. “There weren’t any signs of destruction in the town. If they had beast demons, would everything really be this pristine?”

“No arguing,” Finn said firmly.

Christine finally lifted her head. “Your file is incomplete. It looks like someone took something out, and I think—”

“We don’t have time.” Finn shook his head. “I have enough to start with. Elin and I found a secret passage under the orphanage and a note stating they were headed to Moon Lake. We need to get there ASAP to make sure that the children arrived safely. Our mission has changed.”

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