Page 14 of Rejected By Blood (Mated in Silence 2)

And now that I thought about it, Sierra probably was too.

I knew that now, but had they recognized the wolf deep inside me? If so, they’d never indicated as much. In fact, they’d made a real effort to keep me at arm’s length, except for Christie of course.

I missed her. I wanted to talk to her. More than my family even. She’d been my best friend. Could she still be? When people became couples, or more, they tended to fall away from their single friends. Not that Christie had done that to me, exactly. We’d still seen one another at school, had lunch once in a while…

But it wasn’t the same. Now that I was art of a couple or a trio? I didn’t think it was a menage since I thought that meant all three were involved with each other. Or were they? I didn’t know and didn’t want to ask anyone locally because that was hitting to close to home.

The time before I came here felt shrouded in fog, and sometimes it was hard to remember specifics, but I was fairly sure I hadn’t been Mr. Supportive on the topic. Maybe if I had been I’d have learned something and been better prepared for what was going on in my life--in our life--now. So that’s where I was when Jerad found me. Lost in thought, confused as hell, and creating what could only be described as toothpicks out of a mighty tree trunk. And the question I was responding with was yet another summons to the alpha’s office.

“What did I do now?” Because of course being called to visit the great man felt like nothing more or less than being called to the principal’s office. And that never happened because a person did something amazing like, cut enough wood for five packs or fix up the shack my mate was relegated to for no reason she’d ever been able to figure out. “I am in the middle of something here.”

“I see that.” Jerad was probably more annoyed at having to come find me than anything. The beta never exerted himself if the could avoid it. “But I don’t think the Alpha will find that a good excuse for not coming as he orders.”

“Orders,” I grumbled. “Always orders. Is that what being a wolf is about because my wolf seems to disagree.”

The rumble deep inside me represented concurred.

But Jerad didn’t need to say anything more. I slung my axe in the holster I’d made for the purpose and strode toward the alpha’s house. Whatever had displeased him, waiting for me to show up wouldn’t help.

And standing outside his office, waiting to be admitted while the rumble of his voice on the phone was not helping my mood either. Finally, as I was considering leaving, the door jerked open and he was standing there, glaring at me.

“It took you long enough,” he bit out, waving me in. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

I did not mention who had actually been waiting for whom. I’d been a shifter just about long enough to know better. “Sorry, Alpha.” I moved to stand by a guest chair, the protocol dictating that I not sit until invited.

The alpha moved around his desk and sat then barked at me, “Take a seat. I called you here because something alarming happened today. One of the females was taking some food to Magda when she was accosted by a stranger.”

I sat, but remained straight-backed, wondering why he thought this affected me and afraid I knew. “Accosted? Did he harm her?”

“No, he was looking for your mate. He called her Callista, just like the others, but this one looked dangerous He had a stun gun on his belt and flexible cuffs dangling from his hand. I think this problem is getting bigger.”

Oh hell. I agreed.

Chapter Fourteen

There were things that happened when you found your mate. I knew it. Shane knew it. Dean knew it, but things were so tense that I couldn’t even think straight.

Plus, Dean hadn’t really accepted my new mating. If he did, it would’ve given me and Shane some time alone.

I desperately wanted some time alone with my new mate.

“Hey, where are you going?” Dean asked me. Shane was puttering around outside, something about making me some flower beds around the cabin. Honestly, I thought he was just making up excuses not to leave me alone--or to wait for a chance for Dean to leave.

Maybe both.

To gather herbs. Some for Magda and some for us. Why?I was sure my scribble revealed my attitude about him helicoptering. He had been like that for days. I knew he had met with the alpha and also that someone was snooping around, apparently after me by mistake, but I wasn’t going to live in fear just because of some deranged person.

Also, there was this harem situation.

I was stretched out as far as I could go. Strangers lurking around and attacking my friend--Dean and Shane not speaking and acting like everything was peachy--whatever weirdo was calling me Callista--all of it.

I just needed to breathe.

And yeah, to mate with my second mate. I was going to snap soon.

“I’ll come with you. It’s been a while since we took a walk together.”

My fault? I wanted to ask whose fault it was but was overthinking the who/whose part of the sentence. Anyway, I was a little pissed at him. He was hovering in a way he hadn’t before. I rolled my eyes.

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