Page 46 of Rejected Mate

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Timetogetup,miss.”

Maurica’s voice cut through the fog of my dreams as a light clicked on above my head.

I groaned and rolled over, pulling a pillow over my eyes. I’d been dreaming of home, of my grandfather, and I didn’t want to leave it.

“Five more minutes.”

“You need to get up.” Maurica’s footsteps approached the bed. Soon, my warm, soft blanket was being tugged back.

“Why does everyone keep doing this to me?” I moaned tiredly.

Squinting against the overhead light, I gazed out the bedroom window to see another sunset flooding the gardens with shadows. Day Four. Or ratherNightFour.

Four days a prisoner. Four days away from my family. My heart ached as my thoughts went to the darkest recesses of my mind. What if my grandfather was already dead?

I rubbed my face with my hands and tried not to worry.

“What’s on the docket today? Or tonight, rather?” I said as I watched Maurica set the breakfast tray on the table by the window.

She shrugged. “The males seem busy and excited about something, but we don’t get to know the schedule. We just know the clothes you’re supposed to wear.”

“And what am I supposed to wear?” I asked, dreading the answer. What kind of torture disguised in fabric would be thrust upon me now?

She nodded to the dresser. The outfit’s fabric was practical, stretchy, and lightweight.

“More physical games?” I asked.

“It appears so. Either that or they like the looks of you in tight pants.”

I snorted. “Probably some of both.”

Another physical challenge. Maybe this time I could avoid screwing it up. But then I remembered Ares was pissed at me. He’d gone on a date with Laurel. Maybe it was too late. Maybe they were already paired together. The thought made my heart ache in a way I didn’t understand, but there was only one thing I could do about it.

I needed to kick everyone’s ass today. For my grandfather.

If I were the fastest, the strongest, the best match, it would be hard for Ares to pick Laurel. William might insist he pick me. And we all knew Ares was the strongest candidate. That was what Grandfather had asked of me, and that was what I would give him, no matter how ridiculous this all seemed. I couldn’t blow it this time. Ares choosing someone else was one thing. But if he picked Laurel, that would be a disaster. It would strengthen her pack’s position and would put my pack in greater jeopardy.

Pulling the covers back, I stood up and stretched. My body felt good. Strong. Well-rested.

I was ready. Laurel had better watch her back.

Giving Maurica the morning off, I got dressed in record time and pulled my hair into a ponytail. I didn’t venture into the common room like normal. Instead, I spent time stretching and warming up in my room. The sting of Violet’s betrayal was still raw. I thought she was my friend, my only friend, but I’d been wrong. Anger and sadness mingled together when I walked past her bedroom door, which was shut. She was avoiding me as much as I was her.

What would I say to her if I saw her? Would I bitch her out? Would I simply tell her how hurt I was? Would she try to apologize? Would I believe her?

I didn’t have time to worry about her, though. The stakes were too high.

Feeling antsy, I made the guards take me to the garden early. I could keep warming up and assessing the situation while also avoiding Violet.

Once we were through the patio doors and into the garden, I could see it all clearly. The large rectangular field looked much different this time. Instead of barrels, there were two identical wooden obstacle courses built side-by-side. They reminded me of courses the human military used to train soldiers. There were climbing areas, hurdles, ramps, and places to shimmy under. There was a high ropes course and lots of high places to fall from and break my neck. It would be hard, dirty work, but it wasn’t impossible. Much easier than navigating the politics of this insane situation.

As I glanced around, one of the guards grunted, “Don’t even think of taking off. Here.” He put the metal cuff on my wrist just as they had before.

Of course, they would trap us here. They weren’t as stupid as they looked.

“Checking out the lay of the land?” a female voice asked.

---