All Chapters of TRUE MATE REJECTED: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

She sighs the way she always does when I rebuff her affection. “You know,” she begins, licking her lips. “If you’d take a mate, you’d be the strongest wolf in southeast territory. No one would fuck with our pack.”“This again.” I tromp to the porch steps and lower myself onto them, with my booted feet two steps down.The air outside is sultry and thick, like clotted cream, bringing instant sweat to my limbs and neck. Holding my head in my hands, I consider her words. Of course I need a mate. I’m already thirty, for fucks’ sake. I should have mated years ago when I became Alpha of the Jacksonville pack. I just haven’t found the right partner. Holding out hope for a True Mate is a romantic notion that I should have outgrown a long time ago. A True Mate is like a soul mate to a human. It’s a wonderful thing, but you don’t waste your life waiting for one to show up. True Mates are rare. Most of the other Alphas in the country don’t have them. They chose partners who were strong, cunning,

That’s my name.I like the sound of it hissing across the water and into the mossy trees, like a secret only the swamp knows.“I’m coming, Mama,” I shout as I sprint through the boggy landscape. If Mama took care of me growing up, that slowly changed after I came of age until now our roles have reversed. I take care of Mama now. So that’s what I gotta do right now, when she’s shrieking like a panther. Pushing through the underbrush, shoving aside branches, I come face to face with a terrifying sight.A panther is attacking my mother’s human form.I don’t think about it. I pitch the fish into the glade, shift into my wolfskin, and launch my body at the big cat. It drops Mama to fight back. Success! My canine teeth snarl and snap, trying to get purchase on the feline’s neck. I manage to sink my teeth into the puma and rip some of the skin from muscle with several mighty shakes of my head.It’s enough. The panther lets out an ear-shattering snarl and turns tail. As it takes off into the

“Why do you need all these buildings if you don’t live in them?”“You’re literally dumber than a rock,” Ama says. “We choose to live in the real world. The real world has stores.”“I’ve never been to a store,” I say, feeling a little tendril of excitement growing inside me.“Shocking,” Ama says. “Seeing as how you’re basically a bog hag who knows nothing except how to wrestle alligators and catch fish. Nowstop asking so many questions. You’re making my head hurt.”Despite her nastiness, I let the first smile I’ve felt all day form on my face. Things are bad, but that doesn’t mean there’s not good in the world. Mama never let me come to town, even when she went to get supplies every few seasons. She said it wasn’t safe. But I don’t feel scared today. The cars are a little intimidating, but they seem to follow predictable patterns when I watch them on the road, and I think I can escape them if I stay out of their way, like Ama said.I’m too busy marveling at all the newness around me t

It’s not an option. Though we haven’t formed the True Mate bond, that comes before even my Second.“Enough!” I growl, and both werewolves still.That’s a good sign. Luna recognizes my stature as an Alpha, even though she hasn’t been bonded with the pack, which means she’s submissive. And she might be diminutive, but she’s tough… Although I’mnot sure what kind of person just shifts in broad daylight and attacks another person with no provocation.The females shift back to human. Both of them now sport a few scrapes, but they’re intact for the most part. They’re also naked, their clothes lying in tatters on the floorboards. I’ve seen all my wolves without clothes before and after hunts, so nudity is hardly notable, but damn… Maybe it’s because she’s my True Mate, but seeing Luna for the first time makes my cock jerk inside my jeans like I’m the damn teenager. But I don’t have time to admire my new mate because there’s always another fucking fire to put out around here.The shewolves sc

I whirl to face her. “That is not behaving,” I growl in a deadly voice. “You are going to meet my pack—your pack. If you give them a chance, they’ll welcome you with warmth and hospitality. Can you stop with the suspicion and give them the benefit of the doubt?”She glares at me, extends her hand, and stiffens. I take her hand and lead her across the sandy clearing. Everyone is waiting, watching my new mate, a wolf they’ve never met. No one even knew she existed, since we don’t hunt in panther territory, where her mother retreated after leaving the pack eighteen years ago.The rest of the pack—Adolfa, Lobo, Borris, Bleddyn, Chann, Trixie, and the others—form a half-circle.“Jacksonville Pack,” I announce in a loud, clear voice. “Meet my True Mate, Luna.”I draw her hand toward my lips, intending to kiss her knuckles. When I feel her resistance, I flash her a warning glare. She relents, but I doubt the effect looks exceptionally loving. When I glance at my packmates, some give me sympa