Page 14 of Nyte's Rejected Luna

“Why don’t we get you into something a little more comfortable,” I said.

She looked down at herself. “Nyte, I’m in a tank top and sweatpants. What could be more comfortable than this?”

I grinned, “How about nothing but the sheets on this bed?” I bent down and grabbed her around her thighs, lifting her into the air and dropping her on the mattress.

She squealed and laughed, wiggling herself free of the sweatpants as I assisted her in pulling them down her legs. I leaned over her, pulling her tank top over her head. “We have till dinner time,” I whispered into her ear. “And then again after my patrol. You’ll always know just how comfortable this bed really can be.”

“It sounds like Mom overpacked my suitcase with clothes,” she laughed.

I nibbled on her earlobe, her legs wrapping around my waist. “Maybe just a little.”

Chapter seven

Paige

“I’m just going to my parents’ house. No one from the pack will follow me there or try to hurt me with a house full of witches. They’d be crazy to try.” I looked over at Nyte as I slipped my feet into a pair of sandal wedges that made my legs look five inches longer.

“And what about that werewolf who stalked you last week? Do you think he will stay away? You’re family lives close enough to the cliffs; if he is close by, he’ll catch your scent.” There was a deep growl in his voice at the mention of my potential mate—the stalker from Sunset Park. When I looked again at Nyte, there was a wild and dangerous look in his eyes.

“Okay,” I said, giving in. “I guess you can come with me. Mom would find it weird if you weren’t with me for our family dinner night anyway.”

We walked out of the room, his hand on my lower back as we descended the stairs. Some pack members glared at me; others watched us curiously. I felt every one of their eyes on me, a crawling sensation beneath prickling my skin. Nyte’s fingers twitched each time one of the males looked my way with more interest than was needed. I wondered if it was because they could sense our lack of a true bond. Were they able to smell the weak bond held only by Nyte’s mark?

I knew they could smell him on me, but was it different than how fated mates smelled? I should have thought about that before. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to do this after all.

“Nyte.” A tall male approached, his arms open wide to hug Nyte.

Nyte pulled me tighter to his side, pushing me back behind him. The movement placed him between me and the new werewolf; the man was looking between us curiously with a grin. A growl rumbled in Nyte’s chest, finally stopping the man in his tracks as he looked between us.

“Hey, don’t worry, man, I’m already attempting to win my own mate’s heart. I’m off the market; just take a whiff.” He raised his arm with a grin.

“Chase, what do you want?” Nyte growled, still gripping me possessively.

“Alpha Alexander asked me to come here. He’s worried that my branch of the pack is vulnerable.” He rolled his eyes as he said the words, turning a grin at me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Paige. I’ve heard a lot about you. Sorry, I wasn’t here to help with the vote. I’m the Alpha of the lesser branch of the Coronado Pack here in Point Loma. My packhouse is just down the road if you ever need a safe place to hang out. I know this side of the pack is a little…”

He paused, looking over my shoulder at the members of the pack still watching me. “Traditional. My side of the pack is more liberal with our beliefs. You would be safe amongst us.”

“Thank you,” I said, smiling at Chase, the second wolf who has been kind to me. “I really appreciate it.”

Nyte narrowed his eyes. “Was that why you came up to me? To offer my mate your little sanctuary?”

Chase chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I came to say hello and saw an opportunity for my mate to have someone she can relate to. That’s all.”

My eyes widened in surprise, opening my mouth to ask who exactly his mate was, but Nyte pressed against my back and pushed us forward.

“Fine, then if you’re done, we’re running late for a family gathering.”

Chase stepped out of our way and pushed his hands into his pockets with a chuckle. I looked over my shoulder at him and waved. “It was nice to meet you, Chase.”

“Likewise, Paige.” A mysterious smile spread across his lips before turning and walking further into the packhouse toward the stairs.

I frowned, looking up at Nyte as we reached his car. “Does everyone in the pack know my name already?”

“No,” he growled, opening my door. “No one in the packhouse besides Madilyn has bothered to learn your name. And before you ask, no, she didn’t tell him. I don’t know how he knows your name.”

My nerve endings started to fire up again, my heart skipping a beat. How did he know who I was?

We were quiet on the way to my parents’ house. My mind was racing with questions about Chase and how he could have known who I was. I tried to remember what the wolf from Sunset Park sounded like…what he had looked like. It had been dark that night, and I was running for dear life. I barely caught the color of his hair as his face had been shadowed, with the moonlight at his back.

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