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2024-10-29 19:42:56Alpha Tate’s POV
Lowering my eyes to look at Colin, who looks utterly bemused as he pulls his eyes away from the balcony, I give him a pointed look, then walk past him towards the packhouse.
I don’t care what he says about her, she is strange, and always was strange.
And there is no way that she turned hot in the seven years since I last saw her. I don’t believe him.
She was frumpy. Pale. Greasy hair. Always scowling and looking miserable.
I don’t need a frumpy, depressed mate.
And I don’t need some freak who rolls around on the balcony…
My lips twitch upward at the memory of her feet, toes pointed upward, rolling away, like being rolled up in a carpet.
So freaking weird.
Even if she does have that amazing scent…I rejected her.
But she didn’t reject you.
Minor detail.
I can easily rectify that whenever I want.
I’m an Alpha. I need to be with someone like Sarah…
Damn it.
The memory makes my hands curl into fists at my side.
How could she leave me for a freaking human after I rejected my mate for her?
He was balding for god’s sakes!
Rubbing the side of my face, I turn around to look at Colin, who instantly drops his phone.
“She doesn’t have to go to training.”
He nods and lifts his phone up again, his fingers moving quickly as he types.
For some reason, the fact that he has her phone number and is currently texting her irks me.
But that’s ridiculous.
Residual mate bond crap that will go away when I have the girl reject me back.
Colin lowers the phone, looking distant.
“Hey, do you mind if I skip training as well?”
I raise my eyebrows at him, crossing my arms over my chest.
“It’s just…it can’t be easy for Kit to be back here. Especially…” He trails off.
I stare at him.
Why is everyone around me going soft?
This girl is nothing to us. She abandoned the pack.
The only reason I even allowed her to come back was because I could feel how happy her sister made my Beta.
Stupidly happy.
A happiness like I have never felt before.
But honestly, his mate is gorgeous, so I get it.
He got lucky. Unlike me.
I sure as hell didn’t feel the same way when I mated with…that girl.
I mean, yeah, I felt a pull…I felt an attraction even though she wasn’t attractive…
Shifting my weight, I jerk my chin at Colin and turn on my heel.
Whatever. One missed practice won’t hurt.
“Just this one.”
“Got it!”
“But then she has to get over it. She can’t just mope around if she stays. She gets treated the same way as everyone else. You can’t feel sorry for her.”
Colin hesitates behind me.
“Okay. I won’t feel sorry for her. But if I were interested in her…”
I swivel back around.
He has got to be kidding me.
“You have better taste than that!”
“I keep telling you, she looks good now! Let me show you-”
I block him out.
I don’t want to see her.
I don’t care too.
“Whatever. If you want to go for it, go for it.”
Colin looks unsure.
“I feel like you should see her before you make that decision.”
My lips curl into a snarl.
He throws up his hands in surrender and takes a step back.
“Sorry! Got it. You aren’t interested.”
“The whole pack can fuck her for all I care. I have standards.”
I turn around.
“Thought you did to.”
Colin remains quiet.
After taking a few steps, I realize that he isn’t behind me.
“Oh, um…since I’m not going to training, I was going to go on up and check on Kit. Help her get…settled.”
This shouldn’t bother me.
It doesn’t bother me.
But ten minutes later, standing in front of the training center with my arms crossed, I take my mood out on my pack as I bark orders for them to push harder.
It doesn’t help that they are all thinking about Jody and Cami…and her.
Everyone is wondering if now that Sarah is gone, if I will go after my mate.
My rejected mate.
The fools.
I’m an Alpha.
I don’t go back on my word.
What I say, is final.
I will never change my mind.
“Drop and give me another hundred!”
I will work them until they are too tired to even think about her or me or my ex anymore.
Bab terkait
From Rejection to Desire 6
Kit’s POVWhere did these clothes come from?Like, whose job is it to run to the mall and pick out clothes for random people?Shuffling through the closet full of brand-new, expensive clothes, tags still on, I can’t help but be impressed.These are so much better than my clothes.They can just throw my stuff in the dumpster after I’ve seen these.Smiling, I pull out a simple black sundress.Not sure there is a reason to dress up, but might as well, right?I’m pulling the straps over my shoulder when there is a knock on the door.I’m halfway across the room to answer it when I notice the towel still wrapped around my head.Yanking it off, I run my fingers through it as I pull open the door.“Hey.”“Hey, Colin.”Colin’s eyes dart down to take in my dress.“That looks nice.”“Thanks.”Still running my fingers through my damp hair, I step further into the room, he follows, closing the door behind him.“So…”I grin and shrug.“Yeah.”He returns the grin.“At least it was entertaining.”I l
From Rejection to Desire 7
Alpha Tate’s POVWatching Colin kissing her from the window of my office, I go through an assortment of emotions.Pushing the anger and resentment aside, I try to feel happy for him.He needs some action.I don’t care if it’s with her.Good for him.I try to turn away, but instead, I step closer to the window, my face nearly pressed against the glass as I try to see what she looks like, but Colin is blocking her from view.The only reason that I know it is her in the first place is because of her scent.It almost smells different though…almost…lighter. Oddly enough, happier.Is this because of Colin?He deepens the kiss, pulling her against his body.Fuck!My fist pounds the wall by the window without me realizing and I extract it from the large hole it created, glancing at the figures on the lawn to see if they heard the noise.Apparently, they didn’t.Maybe I need to get laid.There hasn’t been anyone since Sarah…and even when she was here…Sighing, I rub my forehead.Even when she
From Rejection to Desire 8
Alpha Tate’s POVSlamming my bedroom door shut, I slap my palm against it and hang my head.What was that?What the hell was that?I rejected her.I shouldn’t be feeling this way about her.She shouldn’t be so…so beautiful. Sexy. Soft. Enticing.So fucking desirable.Clutching my hand into a fist, I pound the door with it and push off it.Now that I know what her lips taste like, how her touch sets me on fire, I can’t not be with her again.We didn’t even fully explore each other yet.No.I will have her again.But once I have my fun, I will let her reject me back.Even if she is hot now, she still abandoned the pack all those years ago.She abandoned me.She’s too weak to be a Luna.A true Luna would have stayed, even with my rejection.She would have stayed for the pack.My stomach clenches as I remember that day, how hard I worked to hold in the pain from doing the unnatural act of rejecting my mate.How Sarah’s gentle strokes did nothing to soothe me.How my body had ached to go t
From Rejection to Desire 9
Alpha Tate’s POVFeeling smug, I grip my hair as I hurry down the main staircase.It’s nice to know that I can make Kit desire me, to throw herself at me.What isn’t nice, is her obstinance.I can’t have that.I have worked too hard to make this pack strong.Unbeatable.We don’t need another massacre like that one that took out my parents and so many other of my friends, family, and pack members.Yanking open the door to the training center, Colin instantly tries to catch my eye, dodging a high kick, and jogging over to me.“So?”His concerned look gets under my skin.She isn’t his to be concerned over.Feeling annoyed, I recall him asking permission to pursue her yesterday, insisting that I see her before giving it to him…and I refused.Now I will look like an even bigger ass, or a complete fool, if I go back on it.Or even worse than that…weak.“She’s on her way.”Colin looks relieved as he follows me toward the front of the center while I scan the room, watching everyone’s progress
From Rejection to Desire 10
Kit’s POVSniffing, I internally curse that arrogant son of a bitch.To hell with this place!I’m not staying.I don’t care what Cami says.I haven’t even seen her since we got here!She didn’t even care enough to text me since we got here, let alone check on how I’m dealing with being back in the place that I hate so much.Might as well accept the fact that I have lost her forever.That I am completely and utterly alone now.A tiny sob escapes and I cover my mouth with both my hands.No!I won’t give that jackass the satisfaction!“Kit, I’m so sorry…I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”“I do!” I cringe at how wobbly my voice sounds. “He is a complete jerk, always has been, and always will be! He hasn’t changed one bit!”I look over my shoulder at Colin, who opens his mouth, but then closes it in a thin smile and leans the side of his head against mine.“I’m sorry.”“Whatever.”I sniff again and grab my upper arms.“I’m leaving.”“What?”Colin pulls my shoulders back and steps in fro
From Rejection to Desire 11
Kit’s POVFlopping face first onto the bed with a groan of despair, I leave my arms and legs spread exactly where they landed.Seeing Cami and Jody so madly into each other just makes it so much clearer exactly what I missed out with my own mate bond.I can’t ever imagine Alpha Tate standing there all puppy-eyed with a heart-shaped pillow covering his goods…even though the thought of it does make me give a muffled laugh against my comforter.Just replaying that entire scene with Alpha Tate and I versus Cami and Jody is comical.Alpha Tate is too brooding and grumpy to be so enamored. And I can’t ever imagine myself sticking my lower lip out in that pouty fashion that Cami does.Sighing, I roll over onto my back.But at least they are happy.Whereas I am quite miserable.There’s a soft knock on the door and for a moment, I think that it must be Cami, finally dragging herself away from Jody, but that’s not her scent.“Come in.”Grabbing a pillow, I use it to cover my face before the doo
From Rejection to Desire 12
Kit’s POV“Hey…morning sunshine.”Squinting through heavy eyelids, I see Colin grinning at me, holding up a cup of coffee.“When did you get here?”“About three minutes ago.”Struggling upright and leaning against the headboard, I gratefully take the hot coffee from him with both hands.“I thought that you were going to come back after your shift last night?”“You know, you really should check your phone more often.”I grin guiltily as I sip the drink that he brought me.Colin watches me, resting his hand on the bed beside my legs so that his body is laying across mine.“Apparently there was a small pack of rogues in the vicinity and Alpha Tate wanted me to stay on patrol until it was all clear.”I pause, the mug nearly touching my mouth.Uh huh.Sure…Colin lifts his shoulder.“It happens. Especially as the pack’s only healer.”I reach down and put my hand over Colins, who turns his hand over so that he can twist his fingers between mine.“So…are we going to training today?”I nearly
From Rejection to Desire 13
Alpha Tate’s POVColin is my friend.My closest friend since we were old enough to walk and talk.But right now, with my mate sitting in his lap while he fondles her, I want nothing more than to yank him up by his stupid blonde hair and rip his throat out.She needs a little extra attention…He’s giving her that alright.My hands clenched into fists at my side, a low growl escapes and a group of sweaty chicks strolling leisurely away from the training center look back at me curiously.Damn it.I was doing perfectly fine until she came back.Why did Jody have to mate with her sister?Shaking my head, I grab my shirt and pull it over my head, feeling the ladies sudden desire for me as I do so.Jody always said I could have any woman that I wanted in the pack, or in the nearby town.I probably could.But I just can’t bring myself to.None of them are as beautiful as Sarah was.Or stir something unfamiliar inside of me like Kit…Shaking my head again to get rid of that thought, I take off
Bab terbaru
From Rejection to Desire 40
Kit’s POV“This was a great idea! It’s so much fun! I’m glad that we are doing this.”Cami smiles at me over her shoulder as she jogs along the path winding through the woods, her high pony swinging behind her.“Yeah…so fun!”Two steps behind her, I frown as thoughts of Tate pop into my head, again. This time it’s how hot his grin was as he looked down at me just after he got me to climax for the second time this morning.My foot catches on a root and I trip, nearly face planting before clumsily righting myself again.Cami glances back.“What happened?”“Tripped. I’m fine.”Actually…“Cami, can we stop?”I slow to a walk and wipe the sweat off my forehead.Cami jogs in place as she spins around to look at me, clearly wanting to protest, but then nods and throws her arms into a stretch over her head.“Okay, so we will take a stretch break, then keep going? If we head back now, that’s only ten miles total.”Only ten miles?Sighing, I flop onto the grass and prop my back against a thick
From Rejection to Desire 39
Alpha Tate’s POV“Be safe out there and good luck. Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”Jody frowns at me as he shakes my hand.“No, you stay. Keep the pack alert and ready for another attack, just in case.”Jody nods solemnly.Turning to go, I hesitate and turn back toward him, glancing around to make sure no one is listening.“Kit is excused from training today. Cami as well. Perhaps she can keep Kit distracted while I am away?”Jody looks confused, but nods his consent.“Sure…” He tilts his head to study me curiously, opening his mouth to ask about something that I really don’t want to go into right now, so I cut him off.“Thanks. I’ll keep in contact.”Noticing the dismissal for what it is, Jody steps back and holds out his hand for Cami, who is standing a few feet away on the porch, and she hurries to attach herself to his side.With a final glance at the packhouse where I just left my mate, who finally seems to be open to giving me a true chance, I can’t help but to f
From Rejection to Desire 38
Kit’s POV“I don’t want to, I really don’t want to leave you, but I have to go…”Tate kisses my neck and gives me a squeeze as he rolls away from my side with a heavy sigh.Nodding silently, I admire how the muscles from his shoulders all the way down to his calves seem to flex tantalizingly as he strolls to his dresser to pull out clothes.Even after nearly an hour of nonstop, magical bliss, I feel like if he crawled back into bed, I’d already be down for another round…The mate bond is quite insatiable. His arms already inside his shirt, Tate turns to grin at me before he tugs it over his head and, much to my disappointment, covers his perfect torso with it.“Hopefully I won’t be gone long. Feel free to stay right there and wait for me if you want.”Sitting into an upright position, tucking the blanket around my chest, I start to grin back at him, then frown, the full reality of what he is leaving to do hits me.Rescue his kidnapped ex…because they thought she was my mate’s Luna.“
From Rejection to Desire 37
Kit’s POVOh god.The moment that Tate’s lips connect with mine, I know there’s no stopping this time.No.This time I am going to let myself feel, without any reservations, exactly what this mate bond is made of.Because if I am truly honest with myself, I want this. I want to feel this. To know this. Even if it is for the one time only.Running my palms up Tate’s muscular chest, I tug his shoulders so that he leans closer, gasping as his own hand slips around my waist, palm flat on the bare skin of my back. At the same time, he grabs under my thigh with the other to hook it around his hip and hoist me up onto the cold counter.He exhales my name before he pushes my lips apart with his tongue and pulls me tighter against him.His lips taste so good…they mold perfectly against my own…but now I want more than a goodbye kiss. I need more.Lowering my hands, I hook my fingers into his waistband and tug so that they slip off his hips and fall soundlessly to the floor, his thick rod spring
From Rejection to Desire 36
Kit’s POV“Good morning, beautiful.”Smiling as Colin kisses my cheek, I reach behind me to run my fingers through his hair, giving it an affectionate tug to guide his lips to my neck.His hand slips down my side to grip my hip under the blanket.Rolling onto my back in response, I spread my knees and wiggle against him.Colin chuckles and teases me with his fingers.“You didn’t get enough last night?”“I always want more.”His eyes flash lustfully as he slides on top of me, holding himself, his arm muscles bulging in a tantalizing way.I run my finger down his chest, his abs, and nearly to his morning wood when he says something that makes me pause.“From me, right?”“What?”“You always want more from me, right? Not from…someone else?”“Colin!”His words make me feel self-conscious and a bit hurt, especially after the amazing night we had last night, so I awkwardly cross my arms over my bare breasts.He grimaces and rolls so that he collapses beside me.“Sorry, didn’t mean to kill th
From Rejection to Desire 35
Colin’s POVI start to pull away from Kit, but she doesn’t seem ready to let go since she mumbles breathily, ‘not yet’ against my lips.Lifting higher on her toes, she grabs my hair and tugs me close again.As much as I want to embrace her, carry her upstairs to bed and forget all about tonight while I explore every inch of her body with my tongue, I have to take care of something first.I kiss her back, but after only a few seconds, I grab her hands from my hair, kiss her forehead reassuringly, then pull Kit against my side as I look at Tate.“I’ve done all I can for tonight. We are in need of more supplies, and soon, or we could be in big trouble if we have another attack. There’s about half a dozen staying in the healing center overnight.”Kit must notice the faint smear of blood on my cheek, she tries to wipe it off like I had hastily tried to in the mirror I passed in the hall on the way here, but it’s dried on.Her hand still on my cheek, she tilts my face towards hers and gives
From Rejection to Desire 34
Alpha Tate’s POVEyeing the piece of paper in Lacey’s hand, I finally take it from her, carefully unfolding it while Lacey holds her breath.“You can go, Lacey.”She doesn’t immediately go, and I can tell she is hunting for an invite to spend the night together, but I have other things, more pressing things, to tend to.“Thank you.”Spinning on her heels, she exits.Taking a deep breath, I inhale Kit’s comforting scent and read the note.We have your mate. If you want her back, surrender your pack to us by midnight tomorrow or she dies.Dropping the note onto the desk, I rub my temples.It would be almost laughable if it didn’t make a new worry grip my very soul.This, this right here is just another reason why I couldn’t ever be with Kit.Even though this pack is just a bunch of morons, had they not been, it could be Kit that they have right now instead of Sarah.But they got it wrong. They thought the woman who was acting as my Luna for years was my mate.They have no idea that my r
From Rejection to Desire 33
Thirty minutes later, I tug a blanket around my shoulders as I look out the window, unable to see anything in the dark but a few feet of lawn.“Anything?”Shaking my head, I step away and move to the chair across from Cami, where she has a thick blanket tucked around her and is holding a mug of tea, black lines from mascara on her cheeks.“But that’s bad! We haven’t heard anything! They could be…”“Stop. They are fine. Don’t get all worked up over nothing.”Cami looks uncertainly into the fireplace, and I pick up my own mug, but don’t drink it.It’s one thing to give advice, a totally other thing to follow that advice yourself.How could I not be worried?Obviously, something is wrong.Intrusive thoughts race one by one through my mind.“Kit.”I meet Cami’s eyes, her lips tremble.“What if we finally find happiness only to immediately lose it…just like we lost mom and dad.”“This is nothing like that. It’s fine. Don’t…don’t think like that.”Cami doesn’t look convinced as she turns ba
From Rejection to Desire 32
Alpha Tate’s POVGlancing darkly at the closet door rattling in a rhythmic pattern, I decide it’s time to call it a night.In the morning, I will let Kit reject me back.I was fooling myself to even think that she might ever want to be with me.There is no way to earn her love like she has for Colin, who never damaged her like I did.To hear the way that she explained how she truly feels about me…a resistant attraction that she despises, and how she not only adores, but loves and desires to be with Colin and only him…I cannot put her through that torment anymore.She deserves happiness. Even if it isn’t with me.And I don’t deserve my mate at all after what I have done to her.Slamming my bedroom door shut, I consider working out, getting all the frustration out.But that doesn’t seem enough.Maybe more alcohol?There isn’t enough in this giant house to make me forget how I feel about Kit.My eyes fall on my bed.Perhaps that is the distraction I need, but not Sarah.Never her.Not af
