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Chapter 18.1
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2022-11-01 17:26:15Related chapters
REJECTED MATE Chapter 18.2
I gave the man two sharp barks, and he glanced up, meeting us with eyes exactly as bright as the wolf’s.“Hello?” he said with a curious smile.His hair ran in gentle, honey-colored waves down his homespun tunic, and his beard was bushy and long. But I would recognize that face anywhere.My throat tightened, and the backs of my eyes stung with tears. It really was him.The first thing I did was close the door shut with my nose, encasing us both in what was now a darkened hut, lit only by the stove. When I turned around, Dad’s friendly features morphed into a frown. He probably thought I was some kind of freak.“What is the meaning of this?” he asked, sounding stern. It was the voice he’d used whenever he was about to give me a reprimand, but to my ears, it sounded like home.I shifted and remained on the floor, my features obscured by a curtain of honey-blonde hair, confident that Healer Iaso’s amendments hadn’t gone soul-deep, and he stepped back.“Who are you?” he whispered.I raised m
Last Updated : 2022-11-01REJECTED MATE Chapter 19
My stomach flip-flopped. My eyes locked with Dad’s. Dread tumbled through my insides likean avalanche of shit. Shit, shit shit! How the bloody hell had Griff tracked me down to this hut when he’d been surrounded by so many well-wishers?Dad raised his brow. It was his are-you-going-to-do- the-right-thing expression.I gave my head a vigorous shake and cupped my hands around his ear. “Please, don’t tell him,” I whispered in my quietest voice. “Just say she chased your wolf here and wouldn’t leave.”“Cathy,” he whispered, sounding disappointed.“Dad, please.” Dad had taught me never to whine, but today, I couldn’t help myself.If Griff discovered that I was his murderer, that I’d been stringing him along this entire time, that I had actually been working for Hades, he wouldn’t hold back. Then I’d face the wrath of two vengeful gods.Griff knocked on the door again. “Alpha Aibek.” Dad gave me a sharp nod.I tore off his tunic, shoved it into his hands, and rushed to the other side of his
Last Updated : 2022-11-01REJECTED MATE Chapter 19.1
The villagers were mostly gathered around an open mess hall similar to the one that had been set up in the Hellfire Pack’s territory. I ran past, looking for signs of the others.Griff’s wolf emerged from behind one of the grass-roofed huts and ran on my other side. He seemed happier than ever to see me, perhaps because he finally understood my relationship with the Arctic wolf. The three of us ran to the edge of the village, where Griff and the other members of the pack were exchanging hugs with Tansy and saying goodbye.“Do you know that I’d almost forgotten why we were here?” I asked Beki.She gave me two barks, which I took to mean she’d also lost track of what had happened the night before.Griff stepped out from the small huddle, and he turned to me and smiled. “Let’s go.”When we reached the other side, the sun had already set. At least that’s how it looked from within the Hellfire Pack’s dome. Fenrir and Griff stepped aside to exchange several words while his blue-haired mate sto
Last Updated : 2022-11-01REJECTED MATE Chapter 19.2
The door opened, and a black woman with long braids stood inside, dressed in the push-up bra and miniskirt Don insisted that his employees wear. Everything about her said that she was a wolf, but the recognition in her features was puzzling. I stepped back and frowned. Was she a new roommate?“Hi,” I said, my voice hesitant. “Is Larissa there?” She stepped aside. “You’d better come in.”I stepped into the caravan to find it a mess. “What’s going on?”“Larissa buggered off,” she said, her voice sharp. “Hades sent me to keep an eye on your oversized ass.”Whirling around, I met her ebony eyes. They were sharp, scornful, and oddly familiar. I leaned forward and squinted. “Marianna?”“Took you long enough to recognize me,” she said. “Wait.” I raised a palm. “Larissa couldn’t have just uppedand left. Not when we were getting so close to cracking open the Hellfire pack. Where would she go?”This new version of Marianna folded her arms across her chest and smirked. It was obvious what had
Last Updated : 2022-11-01REJECTED MATE Chapter 20
Griff’s larger body towered over mine, and for the first time in my entire existence outside of Hell, I knew what it was like to be intimidated by another wolf. I’d never seen him so angry—not even when I’d pummeled him with my fists, not even when towered over him with the lighter fluid, but I think by then he had died.Every drop of moisture in my gullet evaporated in the heat of those burning eyes, leaving me trying to pull air into my lungs and failing. Was this the moment he dragged me to Fenrir for my tongue binding? I had to act, but even Beki was cowering.“What’s happened?” I rasped, trying to sound innocent. “Where is your friend?” he snarled.It took me a few seconds for his words to filter through my panic, and I realized he was talking about Larissa. But that didn’t mean I was safe. “I went round the back to see her, but there was a new girl inside.”His eyes narrowed. “What did she say?”“Don employed her today, after Larissa disappeared with a week’s takings,” the words
Last Updated : 2022-11-02REJECTED MATE Chapter 20.1
“Boris is…” Griff hesitated. “Boris died nearly seventy years ago.”Tilting my head to the side, I feigned confusion. “Sorry, what?”“Come with me.” He strode toward the largest of the bell tents.I followed after him, my heart fluttering and not in a pleasant way. When Griff told me about Boris being a soul resurrected from Hell, I would have to ask about him. That’s when I would get another account of our story, but from the point of view of the man who hadn’t deemed me worthy of any respect, let alone compassion.Once again, I regretted not remaining with Dad in his hut. Griff’s tent was even more luxurious than mine, complete with a safari-style four-poster surrounded by thin gauze. The walls were raised, exposing its interior to the elements.Sheepskin mats covered the floor, adding to the air of comfort. At the other side of the bed was a wicker love seat that barely fitted two, and beside it was a cushioned footrest.“Sit.” He gestured at a loveseat.I remained standing and fo
Last Updated : 2022-11-02REJECTED MATE Chapter 21
I drifted in and out of sleep that night, haunted by Griff’s words. All that talk about saving his fatherfrom faeries had gotten to me, and I tried to imagine what I would do if it was Dad who had gotten himself in debt.My mind went blank. Dad simply wasn’t the type to drown his sorrows in drink or gambling or any other type of vice. If he had lost an alpha challenge, then he would go lone wolf, bide his time, and return bigger, stronger, and ready to fight his way to the top.He wasn’t anything like me.Forty years ago, I had been too blinded by rejection and rage to see straight. I’d lashed out and didn’t stop until the enforcers broke into the mansion and dragged me away. I clenched my teeth. Why hadn’t I insisted that Griff finish his story? If the situation with the faeries had been linked to the way he had treated me, perhaps I would sleep easily tonight.Footsteps sounded outside my tent as a few pack members stumbled in from a night out. Someone barked a laugh, then someone
Last Updated : 2022-11-02REJECTED MATE Chapter 21.1
The largest of the Hellhounds gave Griff a deep bark that resonated across my bones. He turned to the others and nodded, leading them all to make similar sounds of agreement.Griff turned to me. “Mount Glinda and follow me.”I strode up to the pale Hellhound, who gazed at me through adoring blue eyes. Even though it wasn’t necessary, I held out my hand for her to sniff.“Is it okay if I get on your back?” I asked her. She gave me a happy bark, which Beki returned.“All right, then.” Grabbing a handful of fur from the base of her neck, I jumped up on her back and swung my right leg over her side. In no time, I was sitting atop a creature broader than a horse and infinitely warmer. Smoke curled from the ends of her thick white fur, but she remained solid.“Do you need a blanket for the heat?” Griff asked with a frown.“No, thanks.”His eyes narrowed, but he continued toward the largest of the hounds and jumped on his back.Shit.Maybe I shouldn’t have given Griff the impression that I wa
Last Updated : 2022-11-02
Latest chapter
REJECTED MATE Epilogue
Hades was a persistent bastard who continued to attack Shifter City. He sent assassins, spies, and other Trojan horses, but Fenrir was always prepared. With the help of Loki, Ophois, and a few other lupine gods we had encountered during the past fifteen years, Midgard remained the afterlife of choice for all wolves.Our system was simple: the berserkers in the Hellfire Pack would collect the souls of those who died within Shifter City or within the Norse pack’s protected wards. Griff and I would venture out to reap any wolves who died within the Supernatural World.We didn’t even need to hide in the trunk of an Überwald to exit Shifter City. The Hellhounds we rode moved us faster than any speeding vehicle, and the magic protecting our physical forms was powerful enough to shield us from Hades and his enforcers.Griff and I stood within a white room in the Shifter Ward of Atlantis Hospital, waiting for an old she-wolf to take her last breath. We could barely see her through the crowd o
REJECTED MATE 78.3
Guests filled white seats in a large reception hall decorated to resemble a Greek temple. At its very end, Hades stood beneath an archway of mauve calla lilies and pomegranate flowers. He wore an ostentatious oxblood red frock coat with plum-colored embroidery.To his right stood a dark-haired male in a morning suit of the same color, wearing a five o’clock stubble that he probably thought made him look cool.Griff gave me a nudge. “His best man is Lucifer, King of the Seventh Faction.”My brows rose, and I scanned the groom’s side of the room. The entire Supernatural Council sat in the front seats with Captain Caria, who wore a dress for a change and sat beside a dark-haired woman whose features were equally as stern. Azriel perched on his seat behind them, looking like he’d been blackmailed into attending.Among the powerful VIPs, I recognized a dark-skinned couple in Egyptian attire who had to be Isis and Osiris, the aunt and uncle of Ophois and the rulers of the First Faction. Lok
REJECTED MATE 78.2
Several days ago, Fenrir had suggested we raid the Fifth Faction on the night of the Strawberry Moon. Now we had retrieved the wolf souls, we no longer needed to perform the heist, but my idea would be the perfect revenge.Fenrir sat behind his desk and folded his arms across his chest. He glanced from me to Griff and said, “This is completely unnecessary. After everything you’ve endured, there’s no need for you to face Hades.”Griff spoke first. “This is the least that bastard deserves. He has to learn that striking at Midgard has consequences.”“Agreed,” Fenrir said. “But I don’t want to put either of you at risk.”“It’ll be worth it to teach him not to embed curses in people’s souls,” I said. “And I also can’t wait to melt the smirk off his face when I interrupt him with his mate.”Griff snarled, remembering how Hades had infiltrated our hotel room just as we had planned to become intimate. It was time to return his gesture with one of our own.Fenrir snickered. “Fine, but doing th
REJECTED MATE 78.1
My breath turned quick and shallow, and my gaze remained fixed on what was looking to be a terrible earthquake. “Were the others too late to save the wards?”“It’s Fenrir.” Griff slung an arm around my shoulder and tucked me into his side.The distant hill split into several pieces, and the ground that comprised it tumbled away in an avalanche, revealing a mass of white that took up the landscape. My pulse quickened, but Beki made excited barks as though she was meeting an old friend.“Don’t tell me Fenrir’s the size of a blue whale,” I whispered.Griff rubbed his chin. “He once told me he couldn’t shift without destroying the village, but I didn’t completely understand what he meant until now.”Chunks of land rolled off the massive wolf as it rose onto four legs and raised his head toward the pale sky. Despite having remained underground for goodness knows how long, his fur was as pristine as Beki’s. The only difference between them apart from size was that Fenrir’s wolf had turquois
REJECTED MATE Chapter 78
Flying scorpions hovered above us, breathing plumes of fire over our heads whilst trying to re-form. The other wolf shifters tossed wet stones at the swarm, making them break into further pieces. Roars of triumph mingled with the skin-tightening clicks of armored wings, but none of that mattered. Not while Griff was standing before me and declaring he’d made a mistake.The cacophony of sounds faded into the background, and I gazed into his amber eyes. Amber eyes that shone with love and sorrow and regret. Amber eyes that I could have lost myself in for an eternity. Beki pushed herself against our bond and swooned with joy.I wasn’t quite so hopeful.How many times had I gone through this before? I needed to know that the bond wouldn’t bring up something else that would turn Griff away.“Why?” I asked. “Why did you return if it wasn’t for Fenrir?”The muscles in his handsome face tightened, and his gaze jerked to the side. “I didn’t want you to leave the island,” he said, his voice tig
REJECTED MATE 77.2
Mum rushed to our side with a bucket of water and set it on the floor. “I’ll get more.”Some of the other wolves had gathered a pile of rocks around the clearing, only to disappear and fetch more, while a few of them remained to hurl them at Snorri. Each stone that landed dented his huge scorpion body, but it did nothing to break him apart.An idea hit me upside the head. “Dad.” I gave him a nudge in the side. “Let’s try getting these stones wet.”Without another word, he walked to the pile of rocks, gathered up a pair, and dipped them in the water. I left the attackers to join him and took one from his hand.I was no expert on arthropods or any other type of shelled creature, but Dad had once told me on a hunting trip that the protective coverings around their bellies were softer than the ones at their backs.“This way.” I flicked my head toward the obelisk.The other wolf shifters continued their attacks on Snorri, making him lash out at them with his tail, but more importantly, the
REJECTED MATE 77.1
By now, the air was thick with smoke, but it was nothing compared to the brimstone of Hell. I’d lost track of the flying scorpions and continued through the trees toward the clearing.The swarm had formed the shape of a centaur-like creature, but with a scorpion body replacing that of an equine. Ten feet tall, it stood on six clawed legs with a tail as long as its spine. Hellfire glowed from its bulbous stinger, forming a line of crimson flames down its back.Its back was turned to me, but the same black carapace covered its human side, ending with a round head peppered with bristles. The creature placed a hand on the surface of the obelisk and drummed its fingers.“Urus, teimas, mannaz, othala,” said the voice of an old man. “What a clever combination. Especially when crossed with wunjo and era. Yes... yes… Fine work.”My lips tightened, and I stormed around to look the scorpion man full in the face. It was the only part of his body not covered in the black shell, and he had the sall
REJECTED MATE Chapter 77
Cold shock barreled through my system, even as my chest exploded with streams of burning scorpions. The last week flashed across my mind, filling me with a painful realization. Hades had attached the curse to the bargain Griff had made with the faeries. He’d given us days five before it took control of Griff’s body and destroyed Shifter City.We’d spent the last five days scrambling around trying to break the curse and transfer it to someone else. We had spent all that time worrying about what was inside Griff and hadn’t given a thought to what Hades might have placed in me.Fuck. Griff and I were mates. Rumpel Kracknuts had even hinted that curses could go deeper than the soul of the afflicted. I’d been too concerned with his murder of the healer to even think that he was hinting that I carried the curse.Bloody Hades had turned me into his Trojan horse, and if I couldn’t find a way to stop the swarm, it wouldn’t just mean the destruction of Midgard. It could mean the end of Shifter
REJECTED MATE 76.2
The chief enforcer snorted. “I was a few years younger, but I remember you from the academy. Even back then, I knew you were destined for greatness.”My lips formed a tight line. I didn’t need to read his mind to catch his meaning. Randel couldn’t believe that a man like Griff was capable of achieving all those things without my intervention. As a member of Fenrir’s inner circle, he would have heard about our progress, but I couldn’t let him walk away believing I had done all the work.“Franklin Griffiths is more capable than any wolf. It was his knowledge and strength that got us through our trials, not just mine.”Randel nodded and continued toward the driveway.With a sigh, I pushed open the door and walked through the empty hallway. At this time of the night everyone had gone to bed, and my footsteps echoed in the silence. Damp air filled my nostrils as I descended the darkened stairwell that led to the basement, and I pushed the door open to find Fenrir standing beside the fighti
