Page 29 of Wrong Mate

He shook his head. “You shouldn’t be apologizing. The truth is, I have no right to claim you as my own, do I?” he asked.

“Don’t do that,” she said.

“How can I not? It’s true. Everyone knows it.” He ran fingers through his hair. “Let’s get to the cabin.”

Leah followed beside him and he didn’t like her being close without touching her. She smelled likebear, which he hated, and he grabbed her hand, pulling her in close, hoping his scent would wash over her and mask the disgusting hint of bear.

“I know what you’re doing.”

“Then shut up and allow me to do it.”

Chapter Seven

Leah knew she shouldn’t be happy that Killian was jealous, but she was. There was nothing to be jealous about at all. Mystic was like a brother to her, and she cared about him deeply, but that was it. There was no unrequited love, no longing, nothing. They’d been best friends for a lifetime. They had even admitted that the thought of mating with each other was sickening.

Killian didn’t know that. He was jealous. A mate who rejected her was jealous. She loved that.

“You know he hates my guts because I’m touching you.”Mystic had whispered those words to her, but she hadn’t believed him. Why would she when Killian made it abundantly clear after their super-secret mission that she was to go back to her coven and he’d return to his pack, not mated.

She rubbed at her chest, hating the spark of pain from the constant overflowing feeling of rejection. Leah knew sheshould be over it by now, but it seemed no matter what she did, she was always going to feel that sting.

“Here it is,” Killian said, breaking into her thoughts.

Her parents had stayed at the cabin many times. It was one the bears saved for visitors.

They stepped inside the cabin and Killian reached out to flick on the light. She knew Charlie hired cleaners to come in every week to keep it nice and tidy. There were no cobwebs or any sign of dust.

“Nice,” Killian said.

She chuckled. “Charlie likes to keep things neat and clean.”

“I can see that.”

“You’ve not met Charlie until tonight?” Leah asked.

“I’ve no reason to run into a bunch of bears.”

“Do you keep yourself locked away within your pack?”

“When you have come face to face with death, survived, anddealt in wars, you come to realize the value of sticking to your piece of land, and not leaving it.” Killian shrugged. “It changes you, and when you’ve got a pack to keep alive, safety becomes more important than proving oneself.”

“I know you have alreadyproven yourself, Killian,” she said. “I’ve read many tales of your battles.”

And she had also gone to Lucinda and demanded she tell her everything there was to know about him. Yep, rejected by the very man, and still wanting to learn every single detail about him. She was a fucking pussy. At least when it came to him.

She wouldn’tallow anyone else to treat her this way. Just Killian. Her mate. A man she had a little obsession over. The whole coven knew of it. Even Mystic could tell she was.

“I did what Ihad to do for my pack.”

Leah stared into his eyes, as he looked right backat her. She didn’t know what was going on, but she offered him a smile.

“I, er, I’m going to go for a shower. I kind of stink a bit.”

She moved past him and she wanted to stop,reach out, to touch him, to just feel him, but she didn’t. She kept moving, heading into the shower. Closing the door, she pressed her hands on the edge of the counter and closed her eyes.

“What is troubling you?”

Leah gasped and turned around to find Lucinda there.

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