Page 73 of The Enforcer’s Rejected Mate (Red River Rejected Mates #1)

Chapter

Fifty-Two

CORDELIA

W hen I run out of the meeting hall I don’t have a direction in mind.

Part of me screams to run home, but where is that?

I don’t have a home. The cottage has my things and I know I’ll have to go there eventually but right now, I can’t.

I’ll lose it. I’ll shatter into a million pieces so small the pieces would be sand.

No, I can’t go home.

If I go home, I know Thorne will eventually show up.

He’s decent enough to try to talk to me about Cassidy.

The ring on her finger sparkles and shines in my memory.

So bright that it could be the midday sun.

Tears roll down my cheeks. I don’t bother to stop to wipe them, I just keep running.

I pass a few stragglers on my way down. A few of them call out to me about where I’m going and if everything is okay, but I don’t answer them.

They won’t care what’s wrong with me once they are under Cassidy’s poisonous spell.

I burst out of the Keep and sprint through the courtyard.

“Hey! Cordelia, where are you going?” I turn to see Thorne’s second-in-command, Lucian. He’s a few feet away. What the hells? It’s then I realize he’s running alongside me.

I turn away and don’t answer him.

“Cordelia, the silent treatment sucks between friends.”

“We’re not friends.”

“Not with that attitude we’re not.” I pick up my speed. I’ve outrun Thorne before, I think I can take Lucian. “You’re really going to ignore me?”

I don’t answer him, just keep going, so does he. “Fine, I’ll run with you for a while. It’s not like I haven’t just run half this territory anyways. What’s one more run?”

I duck my head and focus on the switchbacks in front of me. My eyes water when I remember how happy I was walking up them this afternoon with my basket full of mushrooms. I’d been planning the dinner I was going to wow Thorne with. The only thing on my mind was what it would be like when I saw him.

Well, now I knew. It was torture.

“So what’s up with the run? Just needed some air?”

I keep my head down. Just because I’m crying doesn’t mean I need Lucian to comment on it. I should know better, though. The alpha sees it even with me turning my head away from him.

“What’s wrong?”

There’s nowhere to go. One switchback leads up back to the Keep or forward into another switchback.

I power ahead. I’m dead set on not saying another word and for a while I succeed.

Mostly because Lucian isn’t pushing talking, which I’m thankful for.

It’s nice to run with someone. Wolves are social creatures and there’s comfort in running in step with Lucian while I’m falling apart.

It’s when we reach the meadow that he speaks again.

“Gonna tell me what’s wrong now? I mean, that’s the second time we’ve hit those switchbacks together. We definitely bonded, right?”

I roll my eyes at him. “Nothing. Nothing is wrong and I’m not bonded to anyone or anything.”

“Lies.”

“Why do you care?” I snap. I’m not a mean person. I don’t snap at people, or maybe that’s who I used to be before tonight. Before every part of me that insisted on fighting for something better got kicked in the teeth again. Maybe I do snap at people when they ask me what’s wrong.

“Because you’re pack.”

I huff out a bitter laugh. ‘I’m not.”

“That’s news to me. Ronan know about that?

” he asks and my heart hurts. Ronan. I wanted to get to know the alpha.

He knew my mother. Loved her. I thought…

well, it doesn’t matter what I thought it could be like living where he was.

It’s not like he’s my father. But he is the closest thing to it I’ve ever come face-to-face with. It would have been nice to know him.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Does it matter if Thorne knows?”

I lose the battle to cry silently. A sob wracks my body and I have to slow down. Just hearing his name from someone else’s mouth is enough to kill me. I can feel him through our bond. He’s there. He’s angry. I don’t even want to stop and think about why he’s angry at me.

I stop running and face Lucian. “Listen, I don’t know what you think you know about me and Thorne but you’re wrong. Now, please, just leave me alone.”

The Defender sighs and runs his hands through his hair. “Sorry, can’t do that. I don’t know what happened but I do know I’m not letting you go alone. Thorne would never forgive me.”

“He wouldn’t care. He’d be glad I’m gone.”

Lucian tilts his head. “We talking about the same Thorne? Broody? Man of few words? RBF for like 99% of the world?”

I blink. “What’s an RBF?”

“Oh you sweet summer child.”

I roll my eyes and stomp away from him. I’m not running, though. It just seems silly with Lucian easily keeping pace. I take a deep breath and walk out into the meadow. It’s quiet, only the sound of wind blowing through the grass and the chirping of crickets breaks up our steps.

“Lucian, just go back. I’m fine. You don’t need to get dragged into any of this.”

“I’m staying.” He holds up his hands as we walk. “You don’t want to be caught out here anyways. The ferals-”

I wave him off. “I know, I know. The ferals will get me. Big deal. Maybe it would be better if they did.”

Lucian looks out at the meadow and shakes his head.

“You wouldn’t say that if you came face to face with the king of the ferals.

We call him the Red River Reaver. He’s a monster.

Not even I would want to run into him. I’m pretty sure even Thorne is scared of him.

” He gives me a sidelong look that tells me he’s probably fibbing but I still look around the meadow because what if he isn’t?

“You’re lying. There’s no such thing as the Red River Reaver.”

“There is too. You keep running around here long and you’ll find him. Can’t have that so I’m staying right here with you.”

“I’m fine,” I lie and glare at him. “I’m not falling for your tricks.”

“Don’t give me the stink eye. I don’t make the rules.”

“What? You’re literally the one deciding you want to stay.”

Lucian laughs, or at least it starts as a laugh. He opens his mouth and it’s all wrong. Like his breath got caught in his throat. He grabs his stomach and groans.

“Lucian?” I might have been trying to get rid of him before but something is wrong.

My healer instinct kicks in and I rush forward to catch him when he staggers forward.

He’s too heavy though and when he falls, I can’t hold him up for long.

I have to let him go and he hits the ground with a thump.

I drop to my knees beside him. “Lucian? Can you hear me? What’s wrong?

” I push at his hands and see what he was trying to grab at.

A tranquilizer dart. I rip it from his stomach and throw it to the side. “Lucian, get up, we have to go. Now.”

I don’t know who would shoot him but I know whoever it is has ill intent. There’s no reason for them to be here in Red River lands and shooting Lucian. This is bad.

“Lucian, please. Get up.” I shake him but he’s out cold. His head lolls to the side when I try to pick him up.

“Hells,” I whisper and grab him under his armpits.

If I move fast enough maybe I can drag him into the copse of trees by the switchbacks.

I can…I don’t know what I’ll do then but it’s a start, so I start dragging him.

I try to keep an eye out around the meadow for whoever shot Lucian, but I miss the figure moving low through the grass.

When I see them they’re too close to do anything but stand and face them.

“He should have listened to you,” Keiran says with a sigh. He’s got a rifle over one shoulder.

“What the hells are you doing here? Are you crazy?”

He laughs. “You know what? Funny you should ask because yeah, I kind of am, Cordy. It’s all your fault, you stupid bitch.” He turns and waves an arm at the meadow. “Come on out. I got her.”

I watch in horrified silence as a dozen figures rise from the grass and start towards us. I see the glint of rifles in their hands. They were waiting for me. Oh no. I led Lucian right into a trap. I’m so stupid.

“What are you talking about? Why are you here?” I drag Lucian back another inch.

I do the math as I move the alpha. I’m fighting a losing battle.

I’m not getting away from Keiran if I keep trying to bring Lucian with me.

I have to leave him and even so…I can’t.

I let his arms go and drop into a defensive position.

I’ll shift. I have a better shot at holding Keiran off if I lose my skin, but I only feel my wolf start to take hold when he raises his rifle and shoots me.

I scream and fall back. After being shot by an actual bullet, It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would.

I don’t go out as fast as Lucian does. I fight to sit up and manage to get up on an arm right as Keiran drops to a knee beside me. He reaches out and strokes my cheek. I try to slap his hand away but he just bats my hand down.

“Do you know what you’ve put me through? Huh? Do you?” I fall back on the ground when he grabs my chin and forces me to look up at him. I used to think Keiran was beautiful. Now he just looks disgusting to me. Grotesque.

I try to turn away from him. “G’way.” It’s hard to speak. I can feel my body slipping further away from my control. I can’t lift my arm anymore.

“Oh, I’ll go but you’re coming with me, baby.” He leans down and kisses me. I muster up the last of my strength and bite his bottom lip. I feel my teeth cut right through his flesh and when Keiran backhands me it doesn’t wipe the smile off my face like I know he wants.

“You fucking whore.”

I try to tell him he’s a fucking ass but it’s just a garbled fkshdkkttt.

He moves away from me and snaps his fingers at the others that came with him. “Grab her. Throw her in the back of the truck. I’m done with this fucking back water hell hole.”

I’m grabbed by the arms and thrown over someone’s shoulder. I lift my head and even though I know I can’t see it from where I am, I still try to see Thorne’s Embrace. I black out searching for it.