Page 94 of Rejecting his Mate

“I understand. Rest. There will be plenty of time for questions when we reach safety.”

I cut the connection between our minds and grit my teeth. As necessary as it was to remove that binding, the way it was done was not.

I feel Abel through the mating bond, his support, and his love for me. He reaches across, placing his hand on my thigh. I love how his strong grip on me makes mefeel, the ownership it conveys. And he does own me. I am his in every way imaginable.

I place my hand over his, taking his warmth and love. It calms my mind in a way nothing else can. I never understood the way the mating bond worked until Abel and I found each other.

Fated mates are a once-in-a-lifetime event, and yet we were both in the right place at the right time. A million to one. I want to nuzzle into his side, wrap my arm around him, and enjoy his presence, but there isn’t space in the front of the car for me to do that.

“I know you think what I did was cruel,” Hester speaks. “Leaving her as she was would be worse. Her magic was already breaking through. It was only a matter of time before it happened on its own, without anyone there who would have known what she was and what she needed.”

As much as I understand that, I still think we could have handled it better. “She’s fragile. She’s never known who she is, and now she’s being overwhelmed by eight years’ worth of memories. I just think we could have pulled that out of her carefully, let her digest bits at a time.”

Hester sighs. I respect her, like her even. She is the reason Abel and I were able to get over our issues with his moon sickness. But it does worry me that sometimes she doesn’t think about the long-term effects of what she does. I have no doubt there will be more hybrids coming to us. We need to learn to do better for them.

“A binding can’t be removed inch by inch.” There is no anger in her voice as she speaks, but there is perhapsa small amount of frustration. “The witch who did it originally put a band-aid over Halle’s magic. There was no option other than ripping it straight off. We’ll help her with whatever she needs, but if we hadn’t let her be who she is, we would be no better than the assholes who did it to her.”

None of us speak for the rest of the journey, lost in our own thoughts.

When Abel turns into the track that leads to the main house, I feel a hint of relief to be safe again. I feel the moment we pass through the wards, the way the magic wavers for a moment to let us pass. It makes my entire body relax.

I glance behind, making sure the other truck is still following. It is, though a lot slower as if they are expecting danger. I don’t blame them for being suspicious. Anyone would be.

Abel parks in front of the garage, their truck pulling up beside us. Everyone climbs out, and my gaze seeks out Halle, trying to discern what state she is in.

The wolf who has been at her side comes straight for her, even though he is standing there with blood on his shoulder. We’ll need to look at that and see if we can patch it up. Wolves are hardier than humans, especially vargr, but they are still prone to infection.

Despite how tired she looks, Halle slides under his armpit, dragging his arm around her shoulder in an attempt to help him walk. One of the other wolves tries to take over, but she bats him away.

Hester is right about the link between them. It is faint, dampened down, but it is there. I have neverknown a wolf to be mated and yet connected to another. Usually, when pack magic is used to tie two chosen mates together, their love grows, creating an unbreakable bond.

As far as I know, the only way to remove a mating bond is using the same magic that created it in the first place, but while alphas know how to put a mating bond into place, they don’t know how to remove one. Only witches know that secret.

Halle and Cade are an anomaly. When I look at these two, I see a connection so deep I refuse to believe they are not mates, but they aren’t joined that way.

I stare at them, watching their interactions. The way they touch each other and have to be in each other's space every second is the same as with fated mates. It is how I am with Abel.

When we are apart, it is as if I have lost half of myself. Halle and Cade do this without even realizing it.

I wonder how damaged her mating bond with the other wolf is for her wolf to have turned to Cade, and if that was what allowed him to catch her wolf’s attention in the first place.

Hester comes around the front of the truck, a smile on her face. “Welcome to the sanctuary.”

Their eyes are everywhere, taking in the house, the cabins beyond, and the lake in front of the mountains. There’s a beautiful tranquility about this little slice of Montana. I was able to find peace myself here and forgive my sins. Members of my pack died getting me to safety. I know my father lives only because I asked Abel to check in when he was doing a supply run.

I miss him every day. My father knew what I was. I was different enough to be on the radar of dangerous wolves, but he still treated me with love and affection. He was my father to the very end. And I know it probably pains him knowing I am out here without his protection.

I wish I were able to tell him I am happy and that I am settled in my life with my mate and my coven, one that is about to grow.

“Let’s get him inside and take a look at that wound.”

From the looks of it, they’ve patched it as best as they could in the back of the truck, but I can imagine the pain he must be feeling.

The vargr wolves huddle together, exchanging glances. There is still a lack of trust between us, which I understand. We came out of nowhere, expecting them to follow us. I hope we can somehow ease the tension they are feeling.

Cade slides his hand into Halle’s, which tells me he has no intention of letting go of her.

“Come inside. We could all do with some caffeine.” I turn to walk up the porch steps, expecting no one to follow, but they do.

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