Page 29 of Rejecting his Mate (The Wolves of Black Mountain #2)

Chapter 29

Halle

W hen I wake, I’m alone. There is a moment of fear and panic until I sense Cade through the mating bond. He is close, probably still in the cabin somewhere.

For a moment, I just lie still, staring up at the ceiling as if I can just go back to being boring little Halle.

How did things get so messed up?

The only thing I am certain about is Cade. I have never felt this way about anyone, and while it should scare me, it doesn’t.

Eventually, I force myself out of bed, knowing I will need to face the day and whatever is coming. I find Cade’s bag and get some clean clothes before heading out of the room.

I see him through the kitchen window, sitting on the porch. The smile that crosses my face isn’t fake, and I hope we can find some measure of peace here.

I go into the bathroom, take a quick shower, and brush my teeth before I pull on a clean pair of his boxers, dark gray sweatpants, and a sweater that is too big. While I’m at it, I take the chance to wash my underwear in the sink.

If we’re staying, we’re going to need to go shopping at some point. I can’t keep wearing Cade’s clothes, though he doesn’t seem to mind. He gets a weird possessive look on his face every time he sees me in his stuff.

I go to the door and step out onto the porch. There's a chill in the air this morning and a thick layer of ice on the grass that sparkles as the low winter sun catches it. It looks as if there are diamonds everywhere.

Cade glances up and gestures for me to come and sit with him. I sink onto the bench next to him, letting him wrap his arm around me, infusing me with his warmth.

“Why are you sitting out here?”

He gives me a rare smile. “I can’t work out the motives of the people here, but I do understand why they like it. It’s so quiet.”

I hold my reply, taking a moment to listen. I can hear birds in the distance, and some animals in the undergrowth of the trees that line the property, but that is all. “Very peaceful,” I agree. “I could get used to sitting on the porch like this every morning with a nice cup of coffee and maybe pancakes.”

He kisses the side of my head, and I lean into him. “You want pancakes?” Amusement laces his tone.

I shift my shoulders noncommittal. “I could eat some.”

“We’ll head up to the main house in a little while. If we’re staying here, we’re going to need things.”

“Have you spoken to Sawyer yet? ”

He pulls me tighter into his arms. “I stopped by his cabin, but Wyatt said he’d gone hunting.”

I frown. I don’t like the way he is dealing with this. “He’s not doing very well, Cade. I want to talk to him.”

“He’ll pull himself out of it. He and Roux are meant to be together, and he’s not going to just walk away from that. As much as she wants to deny him, she’s not going to be able to. A fated connection is not like a chosen one. There is no choice in the matter. I couldn’t deny you, even if I wanted to.”

“Was there a moment when you thought you might?” I asked in jest, but part of me is also serious.

“Does it seem like I’m on the fence about you?”

“No,” I grudgingly agree. “Even if you were, I’d find you and stalk you until you took pity on me.”

He snorts out a laugh before kissing the side of my head.

I see a wolf pad out of the trees, and my back tenses until Cade squeezes my side. “It's Sawyer.”

I relax a little, watching as he shifts back into his human form. I avert my gaze at his nakedness, and when I look back, he’s pulled on clothes and has a rucksack slung over his shoulder.

I move, intending to go to him, but Cade stops me. “We need to let him work this out himself.”

“That might be how you deal with your friends, but I talk to mine.”

He lets me slip out of his grasp, and I jog down the steps, making my way over to Sawyer. Gone is the playful quirk of his lips; he looks more like his brother than himself .

I stop in front of him, making him halt his steps. Despite the anger on his face, he softens his eyes. “I don’t want to talk,” he tells me.

He’s trying hard not to lose it with me, but I don’t want him to be trapped in this cycle of hate. “I’ve been rejected. I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of it. But you have to let go of all this rage building inside you. It’s not who you are, Sawyer.”

His jaw tightens as his eyes go over my head, looking at anything but me. I hate that he's suffering. I wish I could take it for him. “You got rejected by a chosen mate with a bond that was barely in place. Do think you would survive if Cade rejected you?”

“Your brother did reject me—three times.”

His brows draw together. “When?”

“Well, he tried to kiss me once and freaked out, then he did kiss me and didn’t speak to me after it, and then he did things to me in the shower and pretended like I didn’t exist. So yeah, I was rejected by my fated mate too.”

The anger on Sawyer’s face dissipates into a smug, satisfied smile. “Dirty bitch. All that time, you and my brother were sneaking around.”

I frown at him. “That’s what you took from what I said?”

He grins, and I have to admit there is some relief in seeing that look on his face. I hate seeing him so somber. “How did you bring him around?”

I didn't. “You can’t deny a true mating bond forever. It’s not possible. Cade and I would have found our way to each other some other way. Roux will come around. She won’t be able to resist the pull.”

His expression melts into one of dismay. “I don’t want her to come around. I want her to want this. I don’t want to be mated to someone who resents and hates me because she feels pressured into taking me as hers.”

I can understand that. I wouldn’t like it either. “This may be a stupid question, but have you actually tried talking to her?”

“She walks out of the room whenever she sees me.”

“I think if you get to the bottom of why she doesn’t want to be mated, you will be able to move forward.”

Sawyer sighs, and I hear the exhaustion in it. “You and Cade seem pretty comfy together.”

“At the risk of sounding pathetic, I don’t know how I ever lived without him.” I grab his hands in mine. “And I want you to have that with Roux. But Sawyer, I think you’re going to have to have patience with her, and stop scowling. She’s clearly been hurt, and I know how that feels. Try to take your anger out of the equation and focus on what she needs from you.”

Sawyer kisses my forehead. “My brother is a lucky son of a bitch. You’re so wise.”

“She might like you more as well if you stop moping.”

He smirks. “Thank you for the compliment.”

He leaves the threat hanging, and I smack him in the side, warning him I’m not easy prey.

Cade’s scent fills my nose before his hands wrap around me from behind, resting on my belly. “You okay?” The question is directed at his little brother.

“Better now. Your mate has a way of putting shit into perspective.”

Cade nuzzles into my neck against the claiming mark. “She’s amazing like that.”

My throat is suddenly choked. “You two are going to make me cry.”

“If he makes you cry, I’ll beat the shit out of him.”

Sawyer grunts. “Such unnecessary violence.”

Cade suddenly tightens his grip on me, and I’m not sure what he’s responding to until I hear my name yelled. I glance around at the same time as Cade and Sawyer.

Tessa is coming from the main house, already halfway down the path. The smile doesn’t slip off my face, but I let my guard up, remembering the conversation Cade and I had the previous night. I want to trust these people, but I am not certain that is a good idea until we know more about their motives.

“Morning,” I say pleasantly, despite my thoughts.

“Are you busy?” Her gaze slides toward Cade as if she expects him to attack her for asking the question.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Hester and the rest of us are about to get together. I wondered if you wanted to try to learn how to control your magic.”

I do, desperately. My magic is so out of control when I use it that I’m scared I might actually kill myself. But I don’t know if what they are teaching is for their benefit or mine .

At my hesitation, Tessa speaks again. “I know we haven’t given you much reason to trust us, but the way your magic is now is dangerous. Please come with me, even if it’s just to this one lesson.”

I glance at Cade, whose teeth are clamped so tightly together I’m worried they’ll break. “Okay,” I agree. “We’re going to need things too. There’s not much in the cabins.”

“Make a list of anything you want, and Abel will pick it up for you.”

“Where she goes, I go,” Cade tells her.

Tessa smiles at him, but I sense a little of her fear. I don’t blame her for that. Cade is a huge wolf, not to mention dangerous.

“Of course. What we are doing isn’t a secret. Anyone can come.” She turns her back to me. “Come.”

She leads us back up toward the main house after we say goodbye to Sawyer. I’m a little nervous about using my power again, considering last time I nearly blew my brains out of my eyes. As we approach the house, I see Hester sitting on the porch steps, Roux and Apryle standing in front of her.

I’m not sure what she is thinking as she takes me and Cade in, but she doesn’t say anything. “I’m glad you could join us. There is a lot I can teach you about basic control.”

She gestures to the space in front of her, indicating that I should join the others. I glance at Cade, who is watching Hester as if he expects her to leap out of her seat and end my life .

Sending calming vibes down the mating bond, I follow Tessa to stand in front of Hester.

“Control comes from calm. If you have that, you will be able to master your powers.”

That makes sense, so I try to find calm in my mind. “Reach inside you and find your power.”

I close my eyes and lock onto my power. It shimmers and shines inside my mind like a rare stone.

“Now, I want you to imagine a single flame.” I concentrate on Hester’s voice as I do as she asks. “Imagine that flame in your hand, the heat of it, the strength of it.”

I do, trying to focus all my attention on it. It’s hard to concentrate, and I lose sight of it several times before I manage to hold it.

“Open your eyes.”

When I do, there’s a flame on my palm. I’m so shocked to see it that it nearly winks out, but I manage to keep it there. Hester smiles. “Control comes from calm.”

“So, we just imagine things, and they happen?” I turn my hand around, the flame remaining on my palm.

“There are limits to what we can do. We are not all-powerful, and as you have seen yourself, the danger of pushing too hard can have terrible consequences, but essentially, yes.”

I look at Cade, unable to keep the smile from my face. From the moment I was unable to shift, I have felt defective and broken, as if I was worth nothing. But this—This is something. I can do magic, and if I can learn to control it, I will never be powerless again .

For the next hour, we practice different types of control, breathing, and clearing our minds. I focus, giving my all to this. I have never wanted to be so good at something before, but I am driven by the need to keep those I care about safe. I don’t know what danger is lying in wait for us, but I will be prepared for it this time.