The Rejected Mate-Jessie

s authority as Alpha well in pl

ating near the southern border. They were overheard discussing an attack

ating from him, only heightening her own sense of dread. She knew just how dangero

rounded on Lucas, eyes alike with fear and determination. "Cade...

jaw was solid as an adamant stone. He would not let anyone take away

lert the warriors. We'll meet them head-on. I want patrols do

ing off to do as his

over her. Her mind flew to the rogues, to Cade, and a hatred toward her so deep-seated. She had tr

k. "Stay here," he murmured huskily, though it weighed

ed her. She knew he was only trying to protect her, but deep down she couldn'

ying her hand over his. "But Luca

uring smile, but didn't quite

as Lucas strode down the ranks, calmly issuing orders like an Alpha who had led his pack through innumera

nd-in-command, Malek. "If the rogues think they can t

grave. "The warriors are read

rent. Cade wasn't any rogue. He had a vendetta, and he

rogue Alpha, led them; his cold eyes scanned the trees as they neared Bloodfang territory.

in favor of Lucas, pained him to anger with each step. He could almost see her right now

r much

ogues to circle around. "We'll strike just bef

s shining with the pr

set on the woods. Lucas stood at the front, his senses on high alert. The sil

s attention. His heart quickened as he stra

s murmured to Male

trees, snarling and charging toward Bloodfang's warriors. A fierce battle cry tore fro

up front, almost wolf untouched in lethal grace as he ripped through rogue

in the air. Her heart was racing with fear, not just for Lu

cony, praying silently that this ni

cas's mind that something wasn't right. These rogues were fighting all over the place, without a ca

ors suddenly, his instincts warning him

ing. He knew Cade too well-this wasn't the

and whispers that followed her everywhere. It had started subtly at first, only a few offhand comments abou

sn't bel

Lucas choose an o

bad luck, marked

s of old, suddenly felt as if it was closing in on her-a cage. There was no help for the fact that Vanessa fanned

ll echoed within Jessie's mind since their last encounter. "He'll see throug

their wariness of newcomers. She had, after all, been another Alpha's rejected mate. It was as

ining grounds, Jessie overheard a han

wolf that's been rejected by her own mate," one of

who had rejected her, not the other way around. She had lost everything that now mattered: her family, pack, and pride. Now all s

as the jealousy. She honestly feared that his obsession with destroying her would draw blood. Bloodf

a feeling was there. He could feel it in Jessie, a withdrawal from him, her burden increasingly

on her, watching and waiting for her to slip up. She knew she had to face Cade, or the whispers would never stop. But a meetin

nce behind her. That's when Lucas appeared, h

said, in a soft voice but l

nshed tears. "They don't want me here, Lu

m conviction, stepping closer. "Yo

against us. He won't stop until he

Cade. "Let him come. If he thinks he ca

oisoned her first pack against her, and now he was doing the same to Bloodfang. The growing distrust of the pack towar

t reclaiming her strength. Cade had taken so much from her, but she wouldn't let him take Lucas or her place in this pack

in, his presence sensed by her for days now. She could feel him, the pull of their sundered bond strong enough to chill her blood. Tonight,

. Cade was waiting for her, his eyes cold, yet a smirk danced on his lips. Harder than when they had last ta

ow with possession as he mov

u want from me, Cade?" she asked firmly, strength deceptively molded in her v

place. His eyes seemed to harden as he closed the space between them, stopping mere inches from h

way out, but she knew only too well what that entailed: submissio

ween narrowed eyes. "You can't manipulate me a

will save you? You're an outsider, Jessie. They're already turning on you, and soon they'll see you for wha

rocketed a wave of fury crashing through her. "You think I'm afraid of you?" she growled, taking an even closer step, her chest heaving with emot

stant, she saw in him the predator--single-minded and calculating. He reached out

erous. "But mark my words, Jessie, this isn't over. I always get w

clearing, her heart hammering against her chest. She knew one thing: Cade's threats were not