Page 59 of Rejected Mate

He kissed her forehead. "Yes. I've got the keys here in my pocket." He fished them out and handed them to her. "Want to go see our new home?"

"It's going to be so fun." She pulled on his hand.

Her father looked over his shoulder at Husk. "I can't pay you back for what you've done."

"Yes, you can." He lifted his chin toward Elizabeth. "You take care of her like she's a precious diamond. If I ever hear that you're slacking, I'll rip your throat out."

The man gulped and ran up the stairs with his daughter.

"Husk," the words clogged my throat and I couldn't get them out.

"We'll have to take a rain check on our marathon." He gave me a crooked smile. "There's still some things I need to get settled for Elizabeth and her dad."

I nodded and he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling out his cell phone.

For a long time, I stared at him, unbelieving what I had witnessed. I had never seen him this way. So I left him to his phone calls and headed up to the penthouse as I contemplated the day.

I guess I was wrong. Husk had a heart and it wasn't buried as deep as I thought it was.

21

Fagua

All too soon, Sky kissed my shoulder to rouse me from sleep. It was still pitch-black outside, but instead of groaning and snuggling down into the covers, I leapt out of bed. My nerves raked my insides as I quickly showered and dressed. My hands shook as I brushed out my hair.

As much as I knew this was the right thing to do, going against my father and the pack wasn't going to be easy.

My entire life, I thought he was a great alpha. Now I'd seen why he'd kept me in SmallHeath like a cage. Used my mom's magic to keep me trapped. How I'd wanted to go to Vegas ever since I was a teenager, except every time I got to the limits of our small town, I had an overwhelming desire to hurry back home.

It had been him keeping me where he wanted me. Until Keith. A human who had snuck into our town, paid by Winter, Sky, and Husk, to get me out.

I hadn't thought it odd when he asked me to marry him and I said yes. I'd never been so impetuous in my entire life. We had a slam-dunk wedding in Vegas. But later on, I discovered he'd done that to try and get more money out of Husk, Sky, and Winter. Keith hadn't really loved me and hadn't even told me the necklace he gave me was from them, something to help block my mom's power over me not being able to leave town.

I let out a breath and put the hairbrush on the counter. My magic was flaking out and I just had to hold it together until we faced off with my dad. Being with Husk had recharged me.

"I'll be fine," I told my reflection.

"Ready?" Winter called from the bedroom doorway.

I nodded, not trusting my voice at the moment. My stomach was tying itself in knots, but this had to be done. We had to stop my dad before he hurt anyone else.

Winter tugged me out of the bathroom and kissed me. "It'll be okay."

I was going to meet my dad.

I was going to try to convince him to stop.

I had no idea how.

But it was too late to run.

"Time to face the music," I said, trying to joke and ease the tension pressing on my chest.

"Don't think too much about it," Sky said. "Just trust your instincts."

Sky's hand covered mine and squeezed.

I turned my hand and laced our fingers together.

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