Semua Bab TRUE MATE REJECTED: Bab 31 - Bab 40

My neck and cheeks heat up. “I told Warrick that Ama said it was stupid, and he said, ‘Ama’s a bitch,’ and that I should do it if it makes me happy. So he bought if for me.”The laugh comes bubbling out of Callan then, and I relax, feeling good that I made him happy, too. For weeks, I’ve been halfway in a daze of grief over Mama and Axel. It’s nice to finally feel like I can smile again without bursting into tears. And the thing that gives me these little nuggets of happiness is making them happy. Well, that, and the little things they do to make me happy.Callan brings me a wildflower or a fresh rabbit after a hunt. Ethan says I’m doing good even when I mix up the words for things he’s shown me or forget to put soap in the laundry. Warrick said I should be happy, and he gave me three new experiences today—being queen of a motorcycle, going to a cold store, and getting food fast. And they all eat the food I make for dinner even when I burn it, or it tastes strange because I don’t know

LunaThe triplets go off to a new job installing wires the next day after a quiet breakfast. I make dinner, but hardly anyone speaks through the meal. For some reason, I find myself thinking of this one time when I caught my foot in Virginia Creeper vines while a gator was eyeing me for its supper. Mama was having one of her funny feelings that day, so she was hiding in the house, sure that wolves were going to come for us. But we had to eat, so I went out anyway. I knew there were no wolves in the swamp, even if she didn’t.I shifted and raced into the woods, hoping for a lucky day and a fast catch. But then I got caught in the vines. I shifted back in a flash, used my fingers to free myself, and ran before the gator could grab me. That night, I headed home empty-handed to find Mama with a knife in her hand, ready to slit my throat because she thought I was one of the wolves, come to murder her.Tonight feels almost as tense.I cooked the swamp rabbits that were in Callan’s traps tod

I open the cabinet and pull out the sack with the stuff Warrick bought. Ethan rifles through it before pulling out the razors and shaving cream with a triumphant grin. “I’d better teach you to use these,” he says. “Wouldn’t want you to cut yourself, after all.”He crouches, retrieves the package the razor came in and rips it open. Running his thumb over the blade, he hisses when it slices his skin and a drop of blood appears., too?”“Oh, no,” I cry. “Are you okay?”He chuckles and sucks his thumb into his mouth. “Does it hurt?” I ask. “What if you cut me“Not a chance, pup,” he says, pointing to the tub. “Take off your clothes and get in.”I slide the soft cotton from my torso as he turns on the hot water. Water streams from the spigot, but he doesn’t pull out the metal device that makes it shoot out the showerhead. Instead, he inserts something in the drain, and water fills the tub.His gaze rakes my entire body, and he groans like he’s in pain. “Are you okay?” I ask. “Is it your thum

LunaI hurry around the kitchen trying to get something together that looks like I was making dinner before Callan and Warrick got home. They tromp into the house in their heavy work boots and grab beers from the fridge. My spine is stiff as I throw some wild lettuce and meat in a frying pan. I don’t like keeping things from them, but I don’t want Ethan to get in trouble, and I definitely want more of whatever he gave me today in the tub.Callan and Warrick plunk their beers down on the table, the legs of their chairs scraping the floor as they drag them back and drop into them. Ethan strolls in like there’s not a secret in the world, grabs a beer, and joins them at the table.“Would you look at us,” he says, popping the tab on his beer so it lets out a hiss. “Taking a load off while a fine woman makes us dinner. Never thought I’d see the day.”“I’ve made dinner before,” I say.“I feel downright domesticated,” Warrick says. I catch him watching me funny, and I quickly turn my back.“W

LunaThe familiar sight of Axel’s house sends another shock of pain through me. I wonder when the waves of hurt will stop crashing over me, taking me by surprise. On his porch, Axel shifts back to a man. He seemed so big when I first saw him, but after a month with the triplets, he no longer looks like a giant. He’s strong and muscular and tall, but he’s also lean and tight where they are bulging walls of muscle.I stay in my wolf form. I don’t trust him—or myself. My wolf soul still cries for him to be ours, even after what he did.He sighs and opens the door, gesturing for me to enter. I pad inside and scent the floor and the air. His house is so much cleaner than the triplets,’ even now that we clean it every few days. But I prefer the smell of dirt and forest that we track into the dirty cabin over the clean, old smell of Axel’s house. I also don’t care for the scent of Ama that lingers.“It’s late,” Axel says with a sigh. “You can make yourself comfortable in the guest room. Unle