Page 33 of Rust the Rejected
The vision of the male wolf shifter in the Everglades reminds me I don’t want to face the madness of not having a mate. It’s even worse when the mate is fated and they spend time together. The pain of being apart from Natalie for those three days after she rejected me would seem like a tap compared to the gut-busting punch of absolute denial now. She’s embedded under my skin as much as my serum would be under hers—inseparable. It would be like me ripping my own heart out.
I think about Jagger and Dylan. Sure, they had drama with securing their fated mates. But in the end, they made it. Hell, Dylan didn’t even believe in fated mates before he met Sasha. He scoffed at the rest of us. Now he’s happily mated, and I’m in agony. Fuck!
At this point, I need some advice. I have to talk this shit out with them. Find out what they did and if it will help me with Natalie.
Thus, I keep a straight face as she scans it. While she’s in the spa, I plan to call Jagger and Dylan. Gain their perspectives. Help a brother out…
“I’m sure. Besides, you deserve a bit of pampering. Unless, of course, you don’t mind a female rubbing all over my naked body with warm oil as she leans her breasts—”
“GRRR! Donotfinish that sentence, Rust Ingolf!”
Natalie’s eyes blaze as she snarls. Her wolf flicks across her features. Fists form at her sides.
Hmmm. Perhaps she does care. Her possessiveness makes my cock harden. But I ignore it. Time out, Rust.
“Well, then, enjoy,” I say as I usher her to the cabin’s door. “I’ll be by the pool.”
I drop a kiss on the crown of her head as we part ways at the elevator. She hesitates and glances up at me with her eyebrows drawn together. I spin her around and spank her ass twice. She yelps and hops into the elevator. I wait until the door closes, then jog up the stairs to the pool deck.
I grab a couple of bottles of water from the Viking built-in beverage center on my way to a sunbed. As I flop down, I pull my mobile from the pocket of my board shorts. I sent a text message earlier, so they expect my call. The FaceTime app rings, and Jagger answers right away. I tell him to hold on while I add Dylan to the video call.
“Okay, so how can we help the Love Doctor?” He asks with a smirk.
Jagger chuckles, then adds, “Oh, don’t tease him, D. He called for help, and we’ll give it to him without flack.”
I nod my thanks to Jagger as I sip from a bottle. Is it too early for aquavit? I sure could use something stronger than water for this conversation. Laughter bubbles from my mouth.
“Private jokes, or what?” Dylan asks with a cocked eyebrow.
“Yeah. On me for having to ask you Mr. Doesn’t Believe in Fated Mates for advice on my fated mate. Oh, the irony.”
They join in on my laughter. Then Jagger sits up.
“Not all of us can roll around heaven all day. I have a company to run and a meeting in half an hour. So, what’s up?”
They listen intently without interruption while I fill them in on my concerns. When I finish, I gulp the rest of the water. Jagger speaks first.
“To answer your question if it’s worth the torture, yes. You know the shit Sage and I went through, and it involved more than us. Like Sage, Natalie is an independent female who’s used to taking care of herself. Be patient. Imagine coming home to her every night and waking up with her in your arms. I’d walk through Hell for my Sage.”
Dylan nods.
“You’re right. I denied the truth of fated mates for years. Then I walked into that diner in New York City, and my knees buckled. Me, the toughest of us, MMA cage fighter brought to his knees by a she-wolf a foot shorter than me. When it happens, bro, it happens. And I wouldn’t change a damn thing about it. Except for the drama with the fuckers who kidnapped her.”
He ends on a growl as his amber eyes flash with his wolf.
I consider their words as I stare at the Florida Keys along the Atlantic Ocean.Moonbeamreaches Big Pine Key in a few hours. Back to the cottage for the last week of our alone time. I hope for more. But will accept what Natalie offers so as not to force her. Her reaction to another female with me proves Natalie has grown attached to me. I’ll take it as a win.
I thank Jagger and Dylan. We shoot the shit until Jagger’s meeting. Before we hang up, they wish me luck. I shake my head.
“Yeah, well, we’ll see. If she doesn’t give in, I’ll go primal and take what’s mine.”
Jagger shakes his head as Dylan snorts. They know it’s all bravado.
Time to cool off. I toss the mobile on the sunbed and yank my t-shirt over my head. I stride to the pool and dive in.
* * *
Natalie
