Page 91 of Wolf's Rejected Mate

“No, not a shifter, Elijah…” Ash released a small, disbelieving laugh. “She’s immortal. She’s just as impervious to being hurt as you are now.”

Shock rocked my body, and my hands curled around the countertop.

“What?!”

“It happens when a mate bond connects for us—for Originals. I don’t know why, but it’s the same for everyone.”

A dubious chuckle fell out of my mouth, too, but I was still skeptical.

“Are you sure, Ash?” I asked warily.

“I wouldn’t gamble with your mate’s life,” he replied curtly. “Of course I’m sure. Briar had the same metamorphosis when we bonded. Abby can’t be killed—at least not by conventional methods.”

He snorted again. “Good gods—do you mean this entire fiasco could have been avoided if you’d known this sooner?”

I couldn’t answer that, but it was information I was certainly better off for having, and I thanked my friend for giving it.

“The rest of my men will be in Pario City in the morning,” Ash told me before I could hang up and return to Abby’s side. “They’ll be awaiting your instructions.”

“I’ll be in touch to give them,” I vowed.

Tossing the cell phone aside, I looked at the guards, a grin forming on my lips. Jake and Draven gave me an odd stare, and I realized they had not seen me smile much.

“We’re going to hunt that bastard down,” I told them. “But first, I need you to clean up this mess.”

Silver entered just then, and I told the others to give him a debrief before hurrying back to the bedroom.

Abby remained fast asleep, and I resisted the urge to wake her, the eagerness to tell her the truth about herself, about us, overwhelming me.

She needs to sleep,I thought, but that didn’t stop me from tracing my fingers over the gentle curves of her body, my cock instantly responding to her nearness.

I must let her sleep,I told myself again, but all the blood racing through to my crotch was speaking a different language, and I found myself nuzzling against her cheek, willing her awake with soft, subtle kisses.

The exhaustion truly had taken its toll on her, but my hard-on was relentless, and I couldn’t bring myself to stand down, despite my concern for her. Lowering myself against Abby’s supple frame, I pushed closer, breathing softly against her.

“You really have nothing to worry about,” I rasped at her. “We’re the same, you and me, bonded and mated for eternity.”

Her eyes fluttered, and she moaned incoherently, my lips capturing the purr of her mumbling noises.

“Elijah? What’s wrong?”

“Absolutely nothing,” I whispered back.

“Is it morning?” She tried to raise her head, but I sucked her back into a kiss, twisting my hand around the base of her neck.

Her teal eyes fully opened as she pulled back.

“Elijah?”

“Shh,” I breathed. “Don’t speak.”

Pressing her hand to the glow of my arch, I slipped her t-shirt over her head. She didn’t fight me, but the look of perplexity on her face was evident.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” I lied.

“No, you’re not.”

I chuckled, leaning back in to kiss her again. Our hands joined over her head, her hands cupping into mine.

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