Page 14 of Rejecting his Mate (The Wolves of Black Mountain #2)

Chapter 14

Halle

W yatt and Sawyer are patching Jackson up when I finally find the courage to go inside the motel room. My hands are trembling, my whole body too, and I do my best to hide it from the others.

There was something in Cade’s words that made me want to explore more with him, but I don’t think he’s ready for that, or willing, though I see him fighting against this—whatever this is. I understand his hesitation to act upon whatever feelings we’re both having for each other.

I am mated.

As much as I want to pretend that isn’t the case, I can’t. I don’t feel Dalton in my head when we’re this far apart, but I know the moment he is close, I will feel him again. If he touches my mark, I will be helpless to stop my body from reacting to him.

That thought makes me sick to my stomach, but it is the reality of the situation. Dalton owns me until that mark is removed, and from what I’ve been told, finding a witch to do it is next to impossible.

The best thing to do is to pretend the conversation outside didn’t happen, that Cade hasn't given me a grain of hope of something more. He dropped that truth bomb and then walked away, something I notice he’s good at doing.

I slip inside the room, hoping no one will notice me, but I feel Cade’s gaze as soon as I click the door shut behind me. The pull I feel to him isn’t right, but it’s undeniable. I never felt that for a single moment with Dalton, other than when he was touching the mark. He forced me to want him by using biology against me.

I ignore Cade and focus on Sawyer, who has a medical kit open on the bed next to Jackson. The room is small, with two queen-sized beds. I doubt we’ll be staying here too long. It’d be too risky, but if we are, it’s going to be cozy.

I don’t want to think about where everyone is sleeping. As long as I’m nowhere near Cade, I’ll be fine.

I go into the bathroom, needing breathing space. When I’m finished, I move to the basin and do a double take as I catch my reflection in the mirror. My face is a mess, as is my throat. There are horizontal bruises lining my skin—Dalton’s fingerprints, I realize.

Asshole.

My eyes are still bloodshot. The whites are completely overshadowed by the speckled red that has seeped in. It’s a cool effect, one that makes me look demonic. My ribs aren’t as painful as they were initially, making me think they’re bruised, not cracked or broken.

Fucking Dalton.

I hate that I let myself get pushed into that relationship. Even when Adeline and Klaus were encouraging it, I had doubts. I knew deep down that Dalton was not a good fit for me, but it is how things are done.

No one holds out for their fated mate, so I never held hope of finding mine, but I naively believed we could be happy, like the other pairs in our pack.

Ellie and Alaric were besotted with each other. I wanted that. Call me a romantic, but I need that connection with a mate.

As our relationship progressed, it was clear things were never going to improve. Dalton is blinded by his need to continue his family legacy, and I couldn’t care less about that. My father being a Beauford doesn’t mean shit to me.

I would rather have him here than his fucking family name, one that doesn’t count for shit. Not when there’s something different about you.

I stare at my reflection, trying to see something beneath the surface that suggests this. Cade is convinced I am part witch, as is Sawyer, but I’ve never used magic until I healed Cade. Why am I suddenly able to do small things like that?

I tilt my head, looking at the claiming mark. The bite in my skin is already starting to fade, but I hate it. I want it gone.

I reach inside myself, trying to find that spark of magic I hope exists within me. It’s like trying to catch steam, and I can’t grab on to anything long enough to make a spark of magic as I did when I healed Cade.

I try again. I want Dalton removed from my mind, from my life. If we can’t find a witch willing to do this, I might be my only hope.

Nothing happens.

I reach again, and my head violently throbs. Gripping the edge of the basin, I try to breathe through the pain.

When it finally subsides, all I feel is annoyed.

What’s the point of supposedly being part witch if my magic is just as broken as my wolf side?

As I stare at myself, my vision suddenly wobbles. I blink, trying to clear the haziness. It doesn’t work, so I blink more rapidly.

My head snaps forward, and I’m in a vehicle, looking out the windshield. There are wolves in front of it, standing on the road, their teeth bared and their stances unfriendly. I grip the basin as the vision, memory—whatever it is—washes over me.

Then I hear her voice. “Hold on tight, baby.”

I try to grasp it, to hold on to whatever this is, but it slips through my fingers.

Pain slams through my head, and I drop to my knees, the tiles jarring my bones. Fisting my hands over the side of my head, I try to control the pain as it lances through me. I can hardly breathe and it pains me to even try. Her voice rings in my head, and I try to keep hold of it.

“Halle!” Someone pats my face as if trying to rouse me from a deep sleep. “Come back to me, little wolf. ”

I shutter my eyes frantically, trying to clear my vision, and after a moment, Cade’s watery face comes into focus.

All I can hear is my breathing, ragged and heavy as I try to calm my racing heart. We’re on the bathroom floor, leaning against the tub. The cold floor seeps through my clothes, making my legs feel numb, but my skin is hot where Cade’s arms are wrapped around me.

“What—” I whimper as I try to pull out of his grip, but he doesn’t allow me to. He holds me like he’s made of steel.

“What happened?”

“I saw my mom again.”

“Another memory?” He sounds concerned by this.

My brain feels fuzzy and wrong. I nod. “It’s like I’m getting snapshots of the past, but I don't remember the things I’m seeing. Why are these memories coming out now? I’d never seen anything before.”

Still holding me in his arms, he stands. I grip his neck, but I know he’s never going to drop me. I breathe in his scent, taking comfort from him as he walks us back into the main room.

Sawyer and Wyatt both glance up as we enter, but neither of them says anything as Cade lowers me onto the other bed. The fact Sawyer holds his tongue surprises me. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word quiet.

“Nothing to say?” I ask.

He shifts his shoulders. “Not this time. Though you look like hell, Halle.”

I smirk. There’s the Sawyer I’ve come to know. “You think you look any better?”

He snorts. “Where’d you find this one? Can we put her back?”

“Both of you be quiet,” Cade says, but there’s no heat in his words. All his focus is on me. “Do you need anything?”

“What I need is for you to quit coddling me,” I complain.

“This isn’t coddling.”

“What would you call it then?” I demand, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. My ribs protest at the movement, which makes me wince, and Cade’s eyes narrow.

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m okay,” I assure him, even though it’s a lie. I’m hurting everywhere. Dalton has a lead foot.

“You say that, but your words don’t match your body language. Every time you move, you wince, every time you breathe in too deep, your chest hurts. Your voice sounds wrong, and I can tell you’re finding it hard to swallow. So yeah, I’m taking care of you, and if you don’t like that or if you think I’m coddling you, then too fucking bad.”

My heart stutters. Did he really just say all that?

Sawyer is pulling his lips between his teeth as if he’s trying not to laugh, while Wyatt seems perplexed by the whole situation.

“Okay,” I say softly. “Coddle away.”

Cade clears his throat and gives his brother and cousin his attention. The smirk is still on Sawyer’s face, but Wyatt seems a little more subdued.

He goes to one of the bags and pulls out a sweater, handing it to me. My shirt is mud-stained, and there are fresh blood stains on it.

Nakedness doesn’t faze me, but for some reason, I turn my back as I try to lift my tee over my head. I barely raise my arms to my shoulders when I realize I’m not going to be able to do it. My ribs hurt too much.

Cade pulls me away from the others, out of their sight, before he grabs the hem of my tee, making my eyes flare as he pulls it over my head. Instinctively, I want to cover my body, even though I’m wearing a camisole underneath and a bra. He redresses me in his sweater like I’m a pup, guiding my arms in. I watch his face the entire time, my heart thudding so loudly I’m sure he must be able to hear it beating.

“How’s Jackson doing?” Cade turns to his brother when he’s finished dressing me. I stand still, unable to move.

Sawyer’s smile fades. He doesn’t say anything, but the grim look on his face is answer enough.

Cold fills my chest and belly, spreading through my body like icy poison. He’s going to die.

Because of me, Jackson’s life is going to end.

My heart squeezes, and moisture beads on the back of my neck. This is my fault, and I have to fix it.

I push off the bed, wobbling a little as I do. I’m exhausted and in pain, but I can’t sit here and watch Jackson die.

I barely make two steps before Cade stops me, grabbing my wrist. “Don’t.”

Glaring up at him, I give him all the defiance I can muster.

“Don’t what? Help him?” I appreciate his concern, but protecting me shouldn’t come at the cost of Jackson’s life.

“Give more of yourself than you have.”

“He’s bleeding to death because of me.”

Cade shakes his head. Stubborn asshole. “No, he’s there because of the choices your former pack made and because I sent him out there to scout. This has nothing to do with you.”

“Stop trying to protect me from everything!” I shove his chest, but he doesn’t move. “I’m not a kid, Cade. I don’t need you to save me.”

“That’s not what I’m trying to do.”

“Isn’t it? Actions have consequences. My actions put Jackson in that bed, bleeding and dying. I may have the power to fix that, and I’m going to try.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” he admits.

“Have a little faith in me,” I say, giving him a lopsided smile.

Reluctantly, he lets go of my wrist, and I round the end of the bed to sink next to Jackson.

His skin is gray, and there is sweat beaded on his lip. Sawyer and Wyatt have covered his nakedness with the blanket from the truck, but his torso is covered in bandages, a few of which are already stained red.

Jackson’s glassy eyes find mine, and I see the fear in them. He knows he’s dying. I take his hand in mine. “ I’m going to save you,” I promise, even though I have no idea how to do it.

“I don’t… blame you for this,” he assures me, his words thick and slurred.

It doesn’t matter if he blames me or not; I blame myself.

Ignoring his attempt at forgiveness, I close my eyes and focus on finding the power inside me. I try to locate the same thing I used to fix Cade, but there’s nothing there.

The pounding in my head is, though.

I try to ignore it and dig deeper. I’m not sure if it will help, but I open my hands, letting them hover just a little above his body.

Come on, Halle.

I urge myself to do whatever will bring that power out.

I find the wall inside my mind. It’s a big ugly block, and I know I need whatever is behind it.I probe at its edges, trying to find a weakness, but the pain in my head is getting worse. I try to hold back my whimper, but it slips out.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Cade grabs my hands, trying to pull them away.

As soon as he touches me, it feels as if I’m hit with a bolt of electricity. My head snaps back, and my eyes fly open. The ceiling overhead is staring down at me, but I’m not focused on that. Part of the block crumbles, and power rushes from the hole left behind.

My body thrums and sings as it is pushed out of my hands and into Jackson’s body.

I don’t see lights or glowing, but I know the wounds are knitting together. Heat burns through my palms, and the magic swirling through me is almost too much to bear. My head is pounding, the agony almost too much, but I focus on fixing Jackson, hyperaware of every one of his wounds—external and internal.

When they are all mostly healed, exhaustion creeps over me. I slump to the side, and Cade holds my shoulders in place, stopping me from sliding off the edge of the bed. I lose control of the power, feeling it slipping through my fingers before it winks out, but I can sense it inside me, a small nugget of magic glowing and thrumming in my mind.

There is a strange comfort in its presence as if a lost piece of me has been put back in place.

Cade holds me tight as Sawyer peels back one of the bandages on Jackson’s torso. I watch through heavy eyes, noting the skin is smooth. There is no sign of a bite or scratch. There’s no injury at all.

Sawyer’s gaze raises to his brother’s.

“She’s a fucking magician.”

“He’ll be okay now,” I push the words through my lips, which seem glued together. I’m so tired I want to sleep for a week.

“You’ve got a little…” Sawyer points under his nose and frowns.

Before I can figure out what that means, Cade grabs my face and turns me toward him. “Shit,” he mutters.

I don’t know what is happening, but Sawyer grabs a tissue from the box on the nightstand and hands it to me. I reach out a shaky hand to take it, my limbs not reacting as fast as I would like since my brain feels like cotton candy, and Cade snags it before I can.

Carefully and with a gentleness a wolf his size shouldn’t possess, he wipes under my nose. I feel something there, pooling on the dip over my lip.

When he pulls the tissue away, I’m surprised to see bright red blood staining the white material.

Did I break my mind?

Why is my nose bleeding?

“Don’t do that again,” Cade warns before I can ask any questions.

I glare at him or try to. “You’re not the boss of me,” I murmur, my eyes heavy. I want to sleep and take an aspirin. “Don’t suppose you have any painkillers in your magic bag?”

Sawyer’s expression tells me he’s not impressed with my actions either. “I think your sense is dribbling out of your nose. What were you thinking doing that? You have no idea what you can do. You could have obliterated your mind.”

While that sounds like a terrifying prospect, I shrug slightly. “Worth it if he lives.”

“Your lack of self-preservation scares me,” Sawyer says.

“No more magic until we figure out its limitations,” Cade says.

I don’t agree with him, so I say nothing. He seems to take my silence as an understanding between us, but I’m not doing what any of them tell me to do. This was too big for me, but I didn’t feel this bad after healing Cade, so I just need to be smarter and work slower. Maybe magic works like muscles, and I just need to make sure I build my stamina up before trying to run a marathon.

Jackson’s eyes fly open, and he sucks in a breath as if his lungs needed that air. Everyone turns to him, waiting to see what will happen. I saved him, and that feels amazing. I smile a little, leaning my head against Cade’s chest. I can hear his heart thumping a steady beat, and it seems as if mine matches his beat, only mine feels like it’s trying to jump out of my throat.

“What… what happened?” His confusion breaks my heart.

“You’re okay now,” I tell him, trying to keep my eyes open.

“Yeah, he is, but you’re not.” Cade scoops me into his arms and walks me over to the other bed. Slowly and like I’m the most precious thing in the world, he lowers me onto the mattress. “Rest.”

“What are you going to do?”

He licks his lips. “I’m gonna find a witch.”