The Rejected Mate-Jessie

le of macabre shadows. Days have gone past, and she wandered without much hold on life, her heart still shattered by Cade

followed her like a second skin. Jessie hadn't eaten in days, the strength rapidly d

ssa's triumphant smile. There had been no reprieve from their torment, no

he world spun as she hit the forest floor, her vision going dark. She barely had the strength to

ts of consciousness started t

an you

s lids quivered, her vision much too blurry to outline the figure crouch

time in days,

her head, and despite her weakness,

yes, trying to rid herself of the cloud of confusion that surrounded her, and felt her body still sore from days of

ent, and that was when she saw him-sitting by the fi

id, his voice sending

round him, thick with power that oozed in waves from every fiber. His eyes seemed to be some deep

I?" Jessie croake

bed, his eyes softening as he stared at her. "My name is Alpha Lucas Greyso

mething about Lucas felt different. His presence didn't suffocate her like Cade's had. He was powerful, yes

he shame of her rejection seared through her, but she co

jaw clenched. "Your mate?

ears. "He chose my half-sister as his Lu

yes softened as he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from Jessie's face. Hi

all the firmness in his tone. You are strong. I can s

as a challenge to breathe. She felt an inexplicable pull toward him, the connecti

acing. The pull she felt, the warmth, the safety-it all fit no

whispered, her

d even more. "Yes. I felt it the mome

h her whirling chaotic emotions. Could she really trust this new bond after everything she had b

his thumb tracing soothing circles over the back of her knuc

softly against hers. It was a gentle, tentative kiss, as if he gave her the option to pull aw

fort-of Lucas's presence. He drew her closer, his arms wrapping around her like a shield agai

the glacial mass that seemed to have settled over her heart. Yet, even sheltered as she was within the circle of his embrace, the memor

the scars of Jessie's past still lingered-on the inside, wher

night as they lay in his bed, his fingers

y. She wanted to be okay, to believe this new life with Lucas, her second c

ection had hollowed her out, how with every passed moment in the company of Lucas hi

earth and powerful-swathed her, smoothing the tumult within. His lips grazed her

, Jessie," he whispered.

d to have that faith that this time, it would be different. But trust wasn't so

Lucas's pack. The pain of Cade's rejection was still there, yet no

about the fact that her first mate had refused her. There were those in the pack who looked upon

secret of how much he despi

e it known he did not think she was meant to be a part of their pack. He had openly questioned Lucas's decision to

had been called away to settle a border dispute, leaving her to attend to the pack's duties

anding there, his arms cross

g here," he spat,

d tall, her eyes locked on his. "Lucas is my mate," she s

u were rejected by your first mate for a reason, and n

tried to bury. She fisted her hands, her nails clinging

he repeated, thoug

don't deserve him," he growled. "And I'll do whate

or to the pack house burst open and Luc

etween Jessie and Darius. "You wil

tep back, his lips curling into a snarl. "I

ponsibility. And Jessie is my mate. If you

two men locked in a silent battle of wills. But

ered before turning t

m, Lucas turned to Jessie, his exp

really belong in Lucas's pack took hold, and she couldn't let go of the sneaking suspi

belong here, Jessie," he said softly, as if reading

the cold that had settled inside her. But even as she rested her head

out into the darkness. Lucas had finally fallen asleep, exhausted from trying to de

eetops. Jessie closed her eyes and inhaled the silence of

art st

a

ond the treeline, barely discernible in the light of the moon. His presence sent

" Jessie demanded, trying

s eyes dark and unreada

she snapped, anger rising. "You

ce. "But that doesn't change th

ds. How dare he? How dare he come here after everyth

The venom in her voice was pal

"You may be with him, but we both know the bond

ned. She'd felt it, the connection between them that seemed to live

chill in her voice unmistakab

of the sort. His ey