Page 79 of The Enforcer’s Rejected Mate (Red River Rejected Mates #1)

Chapter

Fifty-Seven

CORDELIA

T hey caught Keiran pretty quick. I guess he tried to jump through a window and didn’t quite clear it.

Ronan was the one who dragged him back through it.

He’s locked away in one of the Oak Fast cells now along with his parents and the Moonshadow Alpha, Luna and Bella.

Ronan said I never have to see him again and I’m taking him up on the offer.

Whatever happens to Keiran isn’t my business. Not anymore.

When we were able to sort everything out at the police station Clover and Piper were right there. The sight of my friends bruised but smiling brought me to tears. They’d come for me just like the rest of the pack I thought had wanted me gone.

I really got that wrong when I ran.

“I’m so sorry! I’m sorry, Cordy. Can you forgive me?” Clover launches herself at me and Piper is right there beside her.

“We went to find you but they took you before we could get to you. This is our fault. We should have been faster.”

I shake my head and hold my friends closer.

“No, it’s my fault too. I shouldn’t have run.

I was too fast,” I joke and the three of us laugh shakily.

They hold my hands while Ronan and Maud enter the room and it’s like everything is right in the world.

There’s another woman with them and she looks so much like Maud, I know she’s Jazzy.

Maud holds her arms out to me and I run to her. “Maud!”

“I told you to write, young lady.”

I duck my head. “I’m sorry. I was so busy, I didn’t even think to get back here to do it.”

“We’ll work on your time management skills,” she tells me and brushes my hair back from my face. “You made quite an impression on the town folk though. They helped us find you, even took down a few of these Moonshadow Enforcers.”

I blink in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah, those three in particular.” She points back towards the crashed car and I laugh when I see Jenny getting out of it with Carla and Gus.

Gus looks particularly dizzy getting out of the backseat.

I raise a hand and wave to them and get enthusiastic waves back even with Carla having to hold Gus up.

“They’re friends,” I tell her.

“Very good ones. We wouldn’t have been able to find the place as fast as we did without them. Thorne charged ahead like any good mate trying to save his, but that left the rest of us without an oar to paddle so to speak until they stepped in and directed us this way.”

“How did they know?”

“They saw Keiran enter the police station earlier today. They recognized him from the bus and knew if he was here, it was bad for you. They were looking out for you.”

“They’re good friends. The best.”

Maud hugs me tight. “I’m so very happy you found your way in the world, Cordelia. I knew you would once you left Frostclaw. Thank you for proving me right.”

I can’t stop the tears so I don’t even try. I hug her tight. “Thank you for loving me when no one else did.”

“Oh sweet girl, you were always loved by more than me. You were always loved by this pack. The only difference is now you know it.”

She’s right, just like she always is.

Ronan arranges for there to be a clean up effort and a free remodel to the police station due to what Piper is calling Brawlapalooza .

I don’t get where she came up with the name but I like it.

She and Piper spend the night with me in my cottage that night.

I’m not surprised when Clover looks out the window and taps the glass. I felt Thorne coming for a while now.

“I was wondering when he’d show up,” she says and waves at Thorne. “Should we invite him in? She asks.

“I don’t know…let me check.” I go to the door and out to Thorne. He’s sitting on the porch leaning back on his hands and looking up at the stars. I sit down beside him and nudge his shoulder with mine.

“They want to know if you want to come in,” I tell him.

He smiles and looks down at me. The moonlight bathes him and like it always does, shows me just how beautiful my mate is. “I’m fine out here, sweetling. You go in and enjoy yourself tonight because you’re mine after this. Tomorrow night especially.” He drops his head quickly and kisses my forehead.

My breath catches. I didn’t expect the kiss or what he said but I’m happy with both. He drops his head and presses his nose to my hair, inhaling deeply.

I frown. I hope I don’t smell like Keiran anymore. I took three showers to scrub every last trace of him off of me.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, sweetling. Go inside for me?”

I wrap my arms around him and kiss him back. “Deal. I love you.”

“I love you more.”

I go back inside with Clover and Piper, secure and surrounded by the love always meant for me in more ways than I can count.