Page 44 of The Alpha's Rejected Arranged Mate

Both Mica and Tess laughed. Mica inquired after Echo, Hayden, and Ryder. They were doing well. Bluebell Valley was doing well, too. Denzel was picking up his head on his own. There were no further demon attacks in the area, and Blayke had managed to take down a full-grown beast demon on his own, and he dragged the carcass back to town to prove it.

Talking with Mica and Tess had the desired effect. The tension she’d been holding drained away. When she yawned after every sentence, Mica suggested she nap. Elin sleepily agreed. A shiver ran down her spine as soon as she was alone in the silence again. What if…?

Just as she was considering getting up and maybe taking a shower, there was a soft knock, and Finn came into the room.

“Am I disturbing you?” he asked as she pushed herself up.

“No. I’m glad you’re here.”

Finn smiled as he came to the bed. He lay beside her and wrapped his arms around her. The warmth of his presence made her sleepy once more. His next words, though, made her breath catch in her lungs. “We have another lead. I’ll be heading out soon.”

Elin reached for him, tugging him closer. “Why do you have to go every time? Why can’t Derek head the missions?”

“Derek isn’t the Alpha.” Finn pressed his nose against her neck and inhaled deeply. “If it’s any consolation, I don’t think this is his palace. It’s an abandoned rogue camp. I doubt anything will actually turn up, but… well, we have to pursue every lead.”

Finn’s phone started to ring. Elin glared at it. Who was interrupting them? She craned her neck and was surprised to see Hayden’s name flash on the screen before Finn answered.

“Hayden,” Finn greeted. “You’re on speakerphone, and Elin is here.”

“Oh. Hello, Elin,” Hayden said, sounding a little surprised.

In the background, Mica’s voice called out. “You’re supposed to be napping!”

Elin giggled.

“I’m sure she knows how to take care of herself,” Hayden answered, exasperated. “Finn. We have the military support you requested. They’ll arrive in two or three days.”

“That long?” Finn grimaced. “I’ve got a mission that can’t wait.”

Hayden barked out a laugh. “Sorry, we can’t make the military move any faster. But if you have to get moving, then get moving. You’ve got to trust your Alpha instinct.”

There was a sudden rush of noise, and then Mica’s voice came through: “And Elin, you trust your Luna instinct, and don’t be afraid to tell your mate if he’s wrong.”

“Oh, no problems there,” Elin joked.

“Good. Because part of being a Luna means putting your foot down when you need to.”

Finn groaned. “I guess I need to take this call outside so I can actually talk with Hayden.”

Elin grinned at him as he left. She made herself comfortable as she waited for his return. The military was sending people. Good. That meant they’d have more help to end this whole thing. It also meant they would get the meds Christine was looking for, and that meant that the surgery to give her baby protection might actually be able to happen.

Finn came back shortly and retook his place on the bed. Elin melted into him, sighing as his strong arms wound around her. He seemed stiffer this time, though.

“Do you think I’m wrong?” Finn asked. “Is that why Mica thought she had to add that?”

Elin hesitated. “I… I wish I could say that. I wish I could suggest you stay with me instead of running off after Dukiel. But the truth is, I think you’re doing exactly what you have to. I’m just worried about you.”

“Worried?” Finn repeated, sounding surprised.

“You know my dad died when I was young. And my mother died when I was a teenager. I don’t even know what killed her. Just that she… died,” Elin said slowly. Was this too much to tell him? Parents were a tricky subject, missing ones all the more so. “I was lonely growing up. I can’t remember having any friends at all. Except Mica. I was never an outcast, but I was always on the fringes. People didn’t care enough about me to make me an outcast.”

Finn stroked her arms lightly. “I suppose I can see that. Nobody came to your aid when Monroe tried to take you as a mate.”

“Nobody except Mica. And that was even after I was terrible to her. I treated her so badly… I was trying to join with the crowd, trying to prove I was one of them.” Elin shook her head as tears came to her eyes. “I was a coward.”

“But Mica forgave you.”

Elin leaned her cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “Yes. She forgave me.”

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