Page 90 of Rejected Mate

They sat me in the alcove with vampire guards to watch me. When I’d shifted back to my human form, they threw me ill-fitting clothes but offered me no water to drink or clean myself. They spared me no kindness or compassion, though I expected none.

It doesn’t matter,I thought.Ares will understand. Once I explain things, he’ll get it. Laurel gave me no choice, and her wounds weren’t even that bad. I wasn’t going to kill her. I’d been letting up when they tased me.

Plus, I won. I am supposed to be able to claim my match.

My parents would back me up. The other wolves too. People would understand once I explained.

Yet, my legs wouldn’t stop shaking as doubt sank claws deep into my heart.

When they finally told me it was time for me to go back up, I stood on limbs I wasn’t sure would hold me.

This time, when I walked up the steps and into the arena, the crowd was all still there, still in their seats, but now they looked on in utter silence. There was no cheering, only a mixture of apprehension and disgust. Didn’t they know this was whatWereduellemwas? What had they been expecting? Had William told them something about me while I’d been sequestered underground?

Despite the burdensome ambiance and my disheveled attire, I held my head up high. I had won the contest. That had to count for something.

I found my parents’ faces and focused on them. I just needed to make it through these last few minutes.It was over. I’d won.

Ahead, a set of gates opened. William, Ares, and a few vampire guards walked out and headed for me. They were dressed in their finest suits, as always. For the first time since coming to the games, I wished for a ball gown, or at least something clean and well-fitting.I looked like a dirty, disheveled mess. Like a wild thing.

They stopped when they were within arm’s reach. I stared at Ares, so achingly handsome in his suit, freshly shaven with no hair out of place. I wanted him to look at me, say something, but he kept his eyes on the ground.

I reminded myself that this was all part of the game. When we were alone together, it would all be like before. I longed to wrap my arms around him and inhale his cologne. I wanted to hear him tell me he had my back, no matter what.

Instead of that happening, William held up a microphone and addressed the crowd.

“Thank you all for coming to the last contest of this year’s Mating Games. We appreciate your cooperation and cannot wait for the alliance between vampires and shifters to grow. To that end, we will now announce the first shifter and werewolf couple, the pair to symbolize all we will build together.”

His smile did not meet his eyes as he turned to me. “Wren, you fought fiercely and for that, you should be proud. You have shown you are a strong and powerful leader.”

I nodded.

He met my gaze and tipped his head to me. Then he turned to Ares. “And now I turn the mic over to Ares, my son.”

Hisson?

“Thank you, William,” he said, his voice even as he spoke into the mic. “We are happy to announce this year’s Mating Games were successful. I have made a match with someone who is strong, graceful, and beautiful. Someone who would never take advantage of others. Someone with integrity.”

His eyes locked on mine.

I smiled.

He didn’t smile back.

Instead, he turned away from me. “The mate I chose is… Laurel Grimhowl.”

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