Page 32 of Rejected Mate

Sky closed the distance between us. "Give him time. You'll see how you and he are mates just like us."

"No." I shook my head. "I can't do this."

He smiled at me, a soft smile that let me know he understood. "I'll talk to him. Maybe together we can figure something out."

"This isn't going to work." I lifted my chin. "No matter how much you and Winter want this, Husk and I don't."

"You don't know that." He frowned, pulling me into his arms.

I sagged against him. "Yes, I do."

"Just spend some time with Husk. Alone." He rubbed my lower back, pressing me against his erection. "You've never done that, have you?"

"No," I confessed. "Not since he locked me up in the penthouse my first night here."

He chuckled. "Yeah. Well, Husk is about as stubborn as you are."

"Husk hates me." I leaned back, looking up into Sky's gorgeous face. "He doesn't even want me."

"How do you know?" He traced my bottom lip. "Maybe he's scared, deep down."

Sky's words hit me in the middle and I knew I was guilty of fear too. "So, I have to give in to him?" I blanched at the thought.

"No, but you have to give him a chance. He's as much a prisoner to this as you are." He kissed my mouth. "Spend time with him. Get to know him without prejudice from either of you. Look into his eyes, Fagua. You'll see that he's your mate."

"He won't change his mind." I pulled away from Sky and crossed my arms, shaking my head. "And I don't think I can either. I know what I feel and what I don't feel."

Sky touched my face, gently pushing my hair behind my ear.

"This isn't fair. I'm not ready to love three people." I sucked in a breath, wanting to say that I could never love Husk, but I held back. They knew how I felt.

"He's your mate. Just as we are." Sky's eyes were stormy and I knew he didn't agree with me.

I sighed, dropping my arms and letting them fall to my sides.

"Meet him halfway." Sky waited for my response.

I looked up into Sky's green eyes, willing him to understand. I wasn't some puppet to be manipulated.

"Just give it a chance, love." He reached out and grabbed my hand.

"He doesn't want a mate." I shook my head. "He's too broken to care about anyone but himself."

"That may be true, but you're the only one who can show him he's wrong." Sky gave me a pleading look. "Don't let your mate die because you're afraid."

"He doesn't want me," I insist again.

"I think you're wrong." Sky cupped my cheek and I leaned into his touch. "I want to spend my life with you. I'm willing to give you time to get to know Husk. And I know Winter feels the same way. You're ours, Fagua."

Winter ran back into the living room. "Husk is okay. He's out of the coma and the doctor gave him something to help him cope with the pain for now."

"That's great." I wished the news would loosen the tightness in my chest, but it didn’t.

"But rogue wolves attacked the hospital. They killed Doc and a few others."

I pressed my hands to my throat, backing out of Sky's arms. "My father's?" I asked in a hoarse voice.

"I'm afraid so."

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