Page 24 of Wolf's Rejected Mate

A deep silence fell between us, shame blanketing the both of us and sucking the air from the room. Abby cleared her throat as I struggled to find words.

“I never expected you to be my concubine,” I rasped, unable to look at her.

How could I tell her that the idea of living for an eternity without her was worse than death itself and that I had to let her go? I’d explained it all back then, but it seemed like the bitterness hadn’t subsided from Abby’s view even after all these centuries. As a mortal, she would have been long dead. Even as a shifter, she didn’t have many more years left. I was still bound to live far too long after her.

Gods, I shouldn’t be putting her through this again. I really am an asshole.

“You never told me how you ended up back here in the first place,” she pressed. “If you hadn’t come with the intention of stirring up shit and you really, truly didn’t remember any of this until right now.”

“I didn’t!”

Abby’s brow arched skeptically.

“Because that’s how it’s starting to look to me, and Orson won’t stand for it. And I won’t let you.”

I scoffed loudly, crossing my arms over my chest again.

“I’d like to see anyone stop me if that’s my intention,” I retorted. “It’s a damn good thing I did come back. Pario City is still mine. I built it with my hands, and it will go back into my hands.”

The fight in her diminished slightly, and worry crossed her face.

“That might be true, Elijah, but this isn’t the same place you left. Even you’re not so stubborn that you’d burn down a good thing out of spite, would you?”

“Is it a good thing?”

“It’s thriving,” Abby insisted.

Frustration shot through me. The realization that Abby was siding with my underling, the man who had stolen my empire from under my nose, was enraging.

“It’s still mine!” I barked, thinking of Seven Rock and the pittance I’d left behind. I would have resigned entirely to my fate for eternity if not for that mysterious postcard.

I studied Abby covertly, wondering if she could have had anything to do with it, but her shock at seeing me had been genuine. My presence made her distinctly uncomfortable. Someone else had summoned me back. Someone thought I needed to reclaim my city.

“Don’t be rash,” Abby urged. “What are you going to do?”

The adrenaline was beginning to wear down slightly, and I realized she was right. Although Orson and I had last seen one another on good terms, I had no reason to believe my unexpected arrival would be received with a welcome parade. He would not want to see me, knowing that I would want rights to my empire. I would need to plan properly if I wanted this to be successful. Right now, I didn’t know the first thing about the inner workings of the Verity Gang in Pario City.

“Well?” Abby pressed when I didn’t respond.

“Don’t tell Orson I’m here.”

She paled at the request. “He’s my boss,” she reminded me shakily.

Like I could have forgotten that part.

“I know. I’m not asking you to lie. I’m asking you not to mention me,” I replied slowly, remembering how deep her sense of loyalty ran. I subtly moved closer, watching her stiffen but her cheeks pinken.

“You did bring me here,” I added slowly. “What do you think he’s going to say when he hears that?”

Abby’s cheeks turned opaque. “Are you threatening me?”

“I’m asking you to give me some time to figure shit out, Abby,” I growled.

Her full mouth tucked into a fine, unforgiving line.

“Fine,” she agreed tersely. “But only if you promise to stay in here.”

I flashed her a charming smile. “Are you really going to make me stay in here all by myself?” I asked slyly. “There aren’t even any windows.”

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