Page 53 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate
“Since I discovered everything I’ve dedicated my life to is based on a lie.” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Since I found out I’ve been a puppet for demons for six y—”
His mouth closed in a thin line.
Too much.
Luna’s expression softened for just a moment before hardening again. “Then help me fix this. We can’t abandon them.”
“We’re not abandoning anyone,” Dominic said through gritted teeth. “We’re no help now, have you never heard the saying ‘live to fight another day?’”
He turned away before she could argue further, continuing towards the ridge where transport waited. The sound of her reluctant footsteps following him brought a small measure of relief.
The ridge dipped down to a clearing with a thin dirt road cutting through the vegetation. A black SUV idled near the forest line, its engine emitting a low hum in the silence.
Adrian had reached it before them. He leaned against the driver’s door.
“Took you long enough,” Adrian called as they approached. “I was about to take the car back. I thought the commander and his mate had learned to fly.”
“Liar,” Dominic answered, the ghost of a smile pulling at his lips despite the stress thrumming through his body. Adrian shifted his eyes to Luna, who stood just behind Dominic, arms crossed over her chest and her expression dark.
“Is she giving you trouble?”
“You know her name,” Dominic corrected before he could stop himself.
Adrian’s eyebrows shot up. “Miss Luna, then. Pleasure to finally properly introduce myself to the woman who’s turned our world upside down. At your service.” He extended his hand.
Luna hesitated before stepping forward to shake it briefly. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”
“Few of us ask for our destinies,” Adrian said, looking at her with curiosity.
“My destiny can’t be to hide.” Luna said. “The demons are using the organization to gather witches. They’re planning something big—something that requires our power and we need to stop them.
“My magic is growing stronger, not weaker. I can feel it building inside me.”
Adrian’s sharp gaze moved between them, calculating. “So it’s true…” His eyes widened slightly. “She’s your true mate.”
The words hung in the air between them. Dominic felt Luna stiffen beside him, the scent of her anxiety spiking.
“Yes, I told you as much.” The admission cost him nothing and everything at once.
“That changes things,” Adrian murmured. He pushed away from the car. “I need to get back before my absence is noticed. Good luck, Commander.” He threw a set of keys to Dominic and vanished into the trees’ shadows without saying anything further, leaving them alone with the car.
Dominic approached the driver’s side, but came to a halt when he realized Luna hadn’t followed. She remained rooted to the spot, her face a mask of mixed emotions.
“Luna,” he said, his voice weaker than he intended. “We need to go.”
“We’re just leaving them there,” she whispered gently, and the pain in her voice made his chest tighten.
“This is not the end,” he said. “But we can’t help anyone if we’re dead.”
After a long period, she nodded and moved to the passenger side, entering without looking at him. Dominic started the car and drove along the dusty road. He kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles whitened.
They drove silently for twenty minutes, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Luna would occasionally move in her seat, displaying more of her pale flesh as his sweater dropped farther down her shoulder, and Dominic’s eyes glanced at it on multiple occasions.
Focus, dammit.
His wolf raced restlessly inside him, torn between rage at her defiance and an overwhelming desire for her. Luna shifted again, this time crossing her legs. “If you’re just going to hide me away somewhere, at least tell me you have a plan for helping the others.”
“I don’t have all the answers,” he admitted. “But I know people who might. The safe house has resources—”
