Page 8 of Betrayed Mate

Briar tugged me to her side as though she wanted to remind me that I wasn’t alone. “We’re fine. Em sensed Ryker, but I didn’t notice a thing.”

“I’m just thankful nothing happened.” Mom shivered.

Trying to push the hurt away, I straightened. “The Grimstone pack is now only four people. It’s not like they could do anything to our pack of a hundred and five.” Our pack was strong despite what Reid had proclaimed.

“Don’t underestimate them.” Mom frowned. “They were the second strongest of us all. That’s one of the reasons they guarded the entire royal pack. If Ryker and his friends had been there when the attack happened, and he’d survived, several packs would probably be in favor of him taking the crown, especially since he was so close to the princess. There were rumors they might have been fated mates.”

I rolled my shoulders. “I should help with the search.” I yawned, exhaustion catching up to me, and sagged against our round, dark maple kitchen table, which was near the door.

“You would’ve had a huge day even if the end weren’t so…” Mom trailed off, looking up at the ceiling for answers. “Startling.”

I laughed. That was a horrible word to use to describe what happened, but I appreciated her efforts. “Mom, let’s call it what it truly was. A disaster. I just—” A sob lodged in my throat, and I swallowed it. I didn’t want to break down again. I’d cried more tonight than I had in my entire life. Fate had screwed me with Reid. I’d never let anyone have that much influence over me before, which made me feel worthless. Like something was wrong with me.

“Why don’t you give it a minute for your dad and the scouts to finish?” Mom pressed her lips together. “And if all is well, then you take a shower and try to get some rest.” She glanced at my feet.

I followed her gaze. They were caked in dirt, and I feared looking at my reflection in the mirror again. The woman I’d seen this afternoon and hadn’t recognized was the complete oppositeof me now. But the thought of taking a hot shower and soothing my swollen eyes and pounding head did sound like a dream. “Okay.”

The two of them stared at me, making me feel as if I were under a microscope. My skin crawled like it had earlier. I sighed. “Well, let me go grab my stuff so as soon as the coast is clear, I can take a shower.”

With that, I went back to my room. All my life, I’d tried to be strong. I was the firstborn of the pack alpha, and my two goals since I could remember were to make Dad proud and to one day own my own bakery. Both had always felt attainable, but not tonight. I’d already failed at the most important—making my father proud.

Nothing seems amiss,Dad linked with the entire pack.If Grimstone was stalking the area, he must have been curious about us. I’ll stay out with the scouts tonight, and we’ll alert everyone immediately if anything odd happens.

Just as quickly as the pack links had warmed, they went back to their normal temperature.

I linked with only Dad.Do you need me to join the watch?My throat tightened as I awaited his answer.

I’ll take it tonight. You need your rest. You can help out tomorrow night instead. I don’t want to let our guard down for several days. After what happened tonight, we need to stay on high alert in case someone does cause problems.

I could breathe once again. He wasn’t treating me differently. I hadn’t even realized that I’d been worried Reid’s rejection would impact how he viewed me. I should’ve known better.Okay, but if that changes—

You’ll be the first to know. I promise. You’re still the strongest wolf in the pack after me.

At the validation, my eyes burned with tears once again.I love you, Dad.

I love you, too. And nothing will ever change that.

Wiping the moisture from my cheeks, I snagged a pair of maroon shorts and a black shirt from my closet and headed down the hall to the bathroom.

I stayed in the shower until the hot water ran lukewarm. Then I managed to drag myself out, change into my pajamas, and go to my room. A part of me worried that I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out within seconds.

The next morning, I refused to hide in my room. Instead, I put on what—if she were still alive—my grams would’ve called my big-girl britches and showed up for work, even though I wasn’t on the schedule. It worked out well because someone had called in sick, so I worked from five in the morning until five that evening when the bakery doors closed. I even tried to stay longer to help clean up, but my boss pushed me out the door, saying I’d been there long enough.

On my way home, I forced myself to look every pack member I came across in the eye. Each one had concern etched on their face, but I smiled and tried to pretend that everything was okay. That my world hadn’t changed despite everything inside me feeling strange.

Last night, I’d dreamed of the way my connection to Reid had seemed to both provide comfort and unnerve me. That would’ve been fixed if we’d completed our bond.

These repeated intrusive thoughts wouldn’t accomplish anything but to drive me crazy. A fated mate hadn’t been meant for me.

At home, I crashed for several hours.

My alarm buzzed, startling me from yet another dream of Reid, though this one was different. In this version, Reid didn’t reject me, but right before we would have completed the bond, he morphed into Ryker as he bent down to claim me. Waking up, my whole body felt disappointed, and the sensation of having my heart ripped out debilitated me.

I sat up in bed, gripping my white shirt over my heart as if that would keep the organ from imploding in misery. Tears clouded my eyes, but I blinked them back. I had a task to do, and I needed my senses to be on high alert.

Shoving off the maroon sheets, I stood and stretched, needing to feel the burn in my muscles. I rolled my shoulders back, getting limber so shifting would be easier.

Someone knocked on my door, and Briar linked,I heard your alarm, so I’m assuming it’s time for us to join Garret, Carol, and the other scouts.

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