Page 69 of Rejected Mate

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Istaredoutthetinted window of the idling limo, my eyes on the castle. The gray stone had turned pinkish in the twilight. Flags snapped on the ramparts as the night descended around us. How long had it been since I’d sat in a car similar to this with my family? A week? Yes, almost exactly a week, yet it seemed like a month or more. But today I’d get to go home, if only for a few hours. I’d get to see them again.

The limo seats were comfortable and the air from the vent was cool, but that didn’t quell the throb coming from my hands. They were tucked into my lap like injured birds. Carefully, I unfolded one, then the other.

Five fingers each. Raw pinkish skin on both palms. They worked to hold and grasp things, but they didn’t feel… right.

My shifter form had healed my destroyed hands. I’d been unconscious through most of it, waking only to howl with the pain that threatened to consume me. I’d only been able to stay conscious for a few moments, which I counted as a blessing, but each time I came to, Ares was there. He’d sat beside me as I shuddered and thrashed, fighting the agony that wanted to take me under. He’d stroked my fur and whispered with kindness.

If I ever suspected that he hated my wolf form, all those doubts disappeared after those moments.

That had been a day ago and my hands were healed, or so they said. As I stared down at them, I wondered if they would ever be the same. There was little left of what I’d called hands when the game had finished, so what I saw before me… was it really me? I’d had calluses and a few scars, but they were gone now. Could I even call these new things mine? I guessed with time, I would.

But I couldn’t ruminate on trivial things like that when I had much bigger fish to fry. I was about to go home, the thing I’d wanted ever since arriving at this castle. However, now I was apprehensive. Was my grandfather still alive? And if he was, what did he think about my performance? Had I made my family proud? Was I doing enough to save our pack?

Laurel’s screams were one of the things I did remember during the time after the challenge. Not only had I beaten her, but her perfect hands had also turned into raw meat to match my own. The rage in her scream let me know she was still someone to keep close tabs on. She told me she wanted to exact revenge, and I didn’t doubt her.

The contest was down to me, Laurel, Nanette, and Loba. I did not fail to notice that my allies had been sent home while I was unconscious, healing. Violet, Justice, and even Silvia were gone, and I was now outnumbered. It meant only one thing. I had to be ready to fight all of them.

The limo door opening drew my attention to the figure sliding onto the leather seat beside me.

“Ares,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

He smiled. He was dressed in an expensive suit, his hair slicked back and his face clean-shaven. He smelled of musky cologne that made me want to bury my nose in his neck. I had to give it to him, the man knew how to dress to impress. My heart—and other parts of my body—warmed at the sight of him.

“You didn’t think I’d let you travel alone.” He arched an eyebrow.

“I thought there would be cameras.” I glanced out the window, looking for the crew that was always lurking around, hiding in dark corners with their all-seeing eyes.

Ares shook his head. “This is a sensitive trip. I… We thought it was best to leave the cameras out of it.”

I regarded him, wondering if he had made this special arrangement for me himself. Either way, I was grateful.

“Thanks,” I said. “It’s nice of you to come. I didn’t think William would let me travel alone,” I replied.

He nodded, his smile dying. “Speaking of William…”

The door opened again and Ares’s father figure slid into the vehicle.

Oh.

“Hello Wren,” he said, a bored look on his face. “Where exactly are we headed?”

I thought they would send guards with me. This was unexpected. I glanced gratefully at Ares. It would have been torture going with William alone.

“East. The mountains,” I replied, still trying to get over the realization that they were coming to my house. “I’ll give you the address when we get closer.”

William narrowed his eyes, but didn’t protest. Instead, he used his cane to pound on the divider between our sitting area and the driver’s.

The limo’s engine gave a gentle purr, and we were off. The castle receded in the distance, and a host of strange emotions I couldn’t understand swelled in my chest.

“What’s your family like?” Ares said, clearly trying to keep the peace.

“My family? Well…” I thought of how they might react to my chaperones. They’d never been fond of vampires, and now a group of them had kidnapped their kin and forced some shady arrangement on them. Would there be a fight? What would I do if that happened?

Ares watched me intently as I ruminated.

So patient. It was a great quality in a partner. A partner?!Sheesh. I was gettingwayahead of myself.

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