Page 72 of His Rejected Mate

Instead of leading her to her parents’ house, we continued playing and moving in the direction of my unofficial pack lands that Kira’s dad had granted us years ago. My house was there, along with several others—remnants of an abandoned neighborhood the Eleventh Pack didn’t use anymore. Kira’sfather had given us the land not only because it was unused, but also because it was as far from the other home sites as possible.

My pack was tolerated, notbeloved—at least, not by most. Even Kira’s father’s hospitality only ran so far. We didn’t mind, though. A home was what you made it.

When we reached the wooded front yard of my house, I shifted back. Kira did the same and gazed around at the place. My nearest neighbor was August, but his house was nearly two hundred yards to the east and hidden in the trees.

“No wonder we stopped using this settlement,” Kira said. “It’s in the middle of nowhere.”

“It’s quiet, and I can commune with nature,” I said with a smile.

“Commune with nature? Really?”

“All the trees and shade help with the electric bill, too. That’s the main attraction,” I said with a shrug.

“That sounds more like it. You know, I’ve rarely visited this area. I think I’ve only been to your house once or twice when I was looking for Kolton.” She shook her head. “My own pack lands, and there are still areas I haven’t explored.”

“There’s lots to see.” I opened the front door and waved her inside. “Come on in.”

The house had that musty scent that developed when it had been closed up for a while, as though the home itself had begun to forget you and taken on its own scent. I started opening windows to air the place out.

“I’d like you to sleep here with me,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Kira chuckled. “Wow. You get right to the point, don’t you?”

“All I mean is, I got used to you sleeping beside me in Haven. Last night was lonely.” I shrugged helplessly.

Kira had spent last evening in her childhood room while I’d come home. I’d tossed and turned most of the night, wantingKira’s warmth beside me. I didnotwant to spend tonight in the same way.

Kira’s smile faded. “Yeah. I barely slept last night without you next to me.”

She moved around, studying the few items I’d decorated the place with—a painting of a rising moon, pictures of me and Kolton when we were teenagers, photos of me with my unofficial pack mates. Kira stopped in front of the display case and fingered the medals I’d received in the Tranquility Ops. Watching her move about my home, touching my things and looking so comfortable doing it, turned me on more than it should have.

Kira glanced at me as I walked over, gasping when I pulled her in for a kiss. She pressed herself against me, holding me tight as my tongue slipped past her lips.

After a few moments, I broke the kiss, but kept my lips a breath away from hers. “You telling Jayson to go fuck himself was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen you do.”

“Really?” Mischief glimmered in her eyes. “I’m pretty sure you’ve seen me do some naughty things.”

“True. Still, I wish you’d told him off years ago. You always deserved someone better.”

Kira gazed into my eyes for a few seconds, her expression turning thoughtful. “Did you mean what you said in Haven? About not bothering to find ourrealfated mates? Staying together? Choosing each other?”

“I meant every word of it.” I laughed. “I’ve been choosing you for years. I just never admitted it to myself. I don’t regret a moment of it, though. Not even when you drove me crazy.”

Kira’s face broke into a smile, and she slid her hands up my back. “I think it’s the same for me. I’ve been choosing you, and now I see the truth was buried under all the shit in my head all this time. I kept pushing you away when all I really wanted wasto admit to myself I wanted you close.” She gazed deep into my eyes. “Wyatt, I want to be with you forever. No matter what we’re up against.”

She kissed me, but just as suddenly, she tensed and pulled away.

“You thought of something,” I said.

“I can’t help but think about what Kolton said. About you becoming his brother-in-law. It was…unexpected.”

“Does that upset you?”

“No, I just…we don’t have to make a permanent claim on each other to be with each other, right? We can belong to each other without the other stuff. I know it’s a big commitment.”

Putting a hand to her cheek, I looked into her eyes. “I want a permanent claim. We’re together now, and I don’t doubt my feelings. I never will.” I kissed her again, tenderly this time. “I want it all. I want Kolton as my brother-in-law. I want your family to be mine. I want to claim you and have a mating ceremony—the whole nine yards. As long as you want that, too.”

Her eyes grew misty, and she nodded her head fervently. “I want it, too. I want you.”

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