Page 63 of Rejected Mate

Without waiting to ask the guards, I turned and pulled open the door.

The remaining female contestants were circled around two figures in the center of the room. One was standing and one was sitting. From their postures, it was clear that the person in the chair was under attack.

Blond hair swung as the standing woman started up again. “If you think I won’t do something about your betrayal, Violet, you don’t know me and my family very well.”

Laurel. I should have known.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you want me to do.” Violet shrunk lower in the chair, looking as if she wished she could melt into it.

Laurel took a step toward her, looking like she might strike her.

I stormed in, my voice preceding me. “Enough!”

Every head turned in my direction.

Laurel’s eyes widened and then narrowed. “You.”

“That’s right. Me. Step away from Violet or I will make you.”

Laurel turned toward me, her hands forming into fists. Quietly, Loba and Nanette slid behind her. Everyone else watched with rapt attention.

“Your lap dogs don’t scare me,” I said, jutting my chin toward them. “You don’t, either.”

Laurel cocked her head as a smirk slid up her makeup-covered face. “You would do well to be scared, little wolf. I know a secret about you… and your family.”

My blood ran cold. “Keep my family out of this.”

Her vile smile spread wider. “Your poor grandfather… our beloved Supreme Alpha... It’ll be so sad when he dies. And, from what I hear, that could be any time now. And then the Grimhowls will have their day. There’s no one good enough to take that Alpha necklace. The old ways are dead.”

“Shut up!”

For a very long time, there had been a Supreme Alpha to rule the western packs and keep the peace. Before that, packs had constantly fought for control, nearly exterminating our kind. The Alpha necklace had been our salvation, and its wielder the conciliatory force. Did Laurel really want us to go back to murdering each other?

What was worse… she wasn’t wrong about the Grimhowls having their day. My father did not want to become Supreme Alpha and me… I was too young. But my grandfather was supposed to live for a long time still. He couldn’t die. Would not.

Rage burned hot and bright behind my eyes. I wanted to tear her throat out. I wanted to rip out her hair and hang her with it. I took a step towards her, my limbs shaking with the desire to shred her to pieces.

“Wren,” Violet said, getting up. “Don’t. She’s trying to make you lose it. She wants you to get kicked out. She was talking about it before you got here.”

Seething, I turned my gaze to Violet. Her brown doe eyes pleaded with me.

She was right. Tearing Laurel apart might feel good at the moment, but it wouldn’t get me any closer to seeing my grandfather again, and it could make William decide I was too much trouble. If I was kicked out of the game, I could see my family, but then Laurel would solidify her position and possibly take Ares from me.

From me?! Like he was mine to own?

I had no idea where that possessive feeling had come from, but I didn’t have time to contemplate that. I had to focus on Laurel and the fact that I couldn’t let her win.

Taking deep breaths, I relaxed my fists and met Laurel’s smug gaze with a bone-chilling glare of my own. “Get out of this room now while you are still able.”

Laurel laughed. “So hostile. I was just trying to be helpful. Oh, well. We all know the Ravenmoons are losing it. Come on, girls.” She nodded towards the door. Nanette and Loba followed.

Once they were gone, the other girls started to filter out too. The show was over, so they’d lost interest. Violet, alone, sat where she was until the rest of them were gone.

“Oh, Wren. What are we going to do?” she asked, staring at the closed door.

We? Sure, I’d forgiven her for the betrayal, but I wasn’t sure we were awe.

“What was Laurel saying to you?” I asked.

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