Page 9 of Wolf Heart

“No,” my mouth is suddenly drier than three summers ago when our river was as dry as the desserts I’d read about, “I told you that before in the forest.”

He frowns and with a disbelieving look like I’m making stuff up. Like I would choose this. Chose all the faces staring at me with Casey and his group smirking and the horrified looks from everyone else that didn’t know.

Fucking great. Everyone knows now. Except, Michael’s here now and everything will be okay. My wolf will be free and I’ll be normal like everyone else.

“I thought you were shy and that’s why you didn’t want to show me your wolf.” He drops my hand like me not being able to shift is contagious and my heart twists in my chest.

“B-But it’s different with you.” I scramble to save myself, to save this fragment of my wolf that feels like she’s whining in my chest and it makes me ache inside. “I think my wolf is waiting for you to claim us, then she’ll—”

“It doesn’t work that way.” Michael’s caring expression changes into one of shame. One I've seen way too often and my heart sinks.

“I’m telling the truth.” I try, my throat constricting. “I-I can feel her now, under the surface.” Maybe he’s right and she is shy. Which is odd for a wolf since our kind is naked in wolf form and when shifting back into our human forms.

“If you would claim me then—” And I hate how desperate I sound. Hate that this hinges on him. Hate that I have to depend on someone else and my wolf is letting me down once again.

Michael’s face converts to disgust. “You tricked me.”

“No, I didn’t… I didn’t mean to.” Tears prick my eyes and I clench my fist, my nails digging into my palms. But he’s partially right. I didn’t go out of my way to ensure he understood that I couldn’t shift. I should’ve known better. No wolf would want someone like me. A broken wolf who can’t transform no matter how hard I try.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and my voice quivers. “Please give me—give us this chance.” I thought we’d love each other forever. Mates for life. “I thought—”

“I never want to see you again.” His words hit me like a blow to my chest and I shudder from the deep pain welling up inside me. "I reject you."

I jerk like I’ve been struck and I’m back all these years of praying and hoping with nothing to show for it. Back to when I realized no matter what I did, I wasn’t going to shift.

A hysterical laugh bubbles out of my mouth. I’m damaged and no one wants me. Not my pack and now not my fated mate. No one.

“I-I—” My throat tightens and tears spill down my cheeks. Should’ve known this was too good to be true. “I’m so sorry. Please.” The words stick inside me because he turns away from me and my heart breaks. I take a step toward him and Casey walks between us.

“He should’ve known better than to try and mate with a broken wolf.” Casey snickers.

“Why don’t you bed a real wolf.” Vella saunters up to Michael and he links his arm around her waist. She lets out a mocking howl at me then laughs as they leave.

Never once does he look back at me, it’s like I don’t exist to him anymore and I feel raw and exposed and like I’m never going to heal from this.

I feel like my chest is caving in. I stand up, fighting the urge to chase after them. To beg. I’ve never wanted anything so badly as I do now.

My wolf whimpers in my chest. A whine that shakes me to my core and I know she’s going back into hiding and I don’t know if she’ll ever come this close to emerging ever again.

Hundreds of wolves gawk at me. My one chance of a mate has rejected me. No one here will even think of claiming me. Not that any of them would stir my wolf like Michael nearly did. And I cry all over again, feeling like my heart has been ripped from my chest and stomped on.

“You shouldn’t have let it go this far,” Casey says with a smug grin on his face. Then he leans over to whisper in my ear, “You’re no wolf."

I slap his face, my hand stinging and my face burning with embarrassment. The stuffy air around us becomes thick with the scent of his rage and mine. I’ve embarrassed myself by slapping him in front of the whole pack. Everyone is staring and I can only imagine how this looks to them.

“Fuck you.” I sidestep him and hurry to get out of the circle of elders.

“Juniper,” our Alpha shouts, and everyone freezes.

A trickle of alarm slides down my back.

“You are a disgrace to our pack, to our kind. You are hereby banished.” He faces away from me and one by one the others in the pack follow suit.

Darla gives me a sad smile before she joins the others while Casey gives me a smug smile before blowing a kiss and turning away.

And the other packs are following suit until there’s no one. Not even my damn, drunk mother looking at me or offering me shelter.

They’ve all rejected me. I have no one and nowhere to go.

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