Rejected Mate and Following Fate

“Yeah. A bond like that may take years to grow given the dramatic rollercoaster story behind all this. He doesn’t get to just step into the daddy shoes because things are clear now. He has to earn your trust.” Carmen pauses and looks around seemingly sensing something and then shifts further away to rearrange plants along the wall units. I pause to watch her and then wave it off as nothing.

“Time will tell. I won’t reject him. I won’t stop him from making contact with me or seeing these two when they are born. I think it’s one of those things that can’t just be fixed with a meeting and put to rights overnight. I don’t even know him or anything about him.”

“Getting over what he is will be your first hurdle, and his part in the wars of the last two decades.” She throws me an empathetic smile.

“Yeah…. enough about that though. What are you doing about my brother?” I know I shouldn’t ask as she normally clams up and pretends she doesn’t care, but it’s driving me insane seeing no progress.

“Nothing. It’s all on him. I’m so tired or marching to the beat of other people’s drums. Chasing and always ending up alone. He knows where I am and if he never finds his way to me I’m not going to stop living and hold my breath. I can have a future without a mate. There’s plenty to do here and who knows, maybe I can date casually whenever I have an urge that needs fulfilled.”

It seems Carmen really is fully pulling herself back together. Giving up even when she is bonded to Jasper; putting herself first. This is more like the girl I used to see. The one who says screw it to the Fates and decides on her own path to follow. The warrior inside the girl who won’t break with what the world throws at her.

“Baby? Where you at?” Colton’s voice breaks in as he enters the room from across the other side. Eyes scanning our efforts at making this a place to dine with guests and smiles radiantly when he locks eyes on me. As usual the butterflies and goosebumps he causes me ripple all over my skin and through my soul and my day gets brighter with him just being here.

Behind him Jasper follows at a distance, still carrying that pensive frown of his and a slight snarly aura to him. I now know what carmen could feel coming. Back in the early days of imprinting I too was way mor sensitive to my waits whereabouts if he got within fifty feet of me. Thankfully that’s dulled down a little and I am no longer constantly hyper aware of his location unless sin wolf form.

snuggle up to him, resting my head under his chin and letting myself relax finally. I have been tense all day, ever since I woke up to a note on my pillow saying he was up and out to deal with some things. I missed him crazily today, but I know he wants everything perfect. Colton’s nervous too and his way of getting it out is to stay busy. He has the pack on guard duty just in case, and the ground looking flawless for our royal visit. I think he’s torn between awaiting an old enemy he wants to be wary of and

cast a quick glance towards my brother who is still hovering by the far door. His eyes on her despite his

and nod towards Jasper’s door which leads to the same hall the library is on. She has no choice but to go that way or else it would be too obvious she’s avoiding him. She has her pride after all. And I am not against using any method in my arsenal to force my brothers hand. He’s deliberately kept away from

confidence towards him without looking his way at all. I know it’s all bravado and I inwardly applaud her ability to put on that cold front and act like he’s nothing to her, just a mere fly in the same room

walk and smile gleefully

owned the place. Jasper’s eyes lock on her face despite himself as she walks towards him and

in an unexpected manner. She almost drops the plants and stumbles slightly

in that hand but he smoothly takes it from her with his free hand

turns away moodily, holds the pot even tighter and refuses to back down.

can see it all over him.

Quick and slick, like a pro as he removes her only weapon. Dumping it on the same table before spinning her around so the arm in his embrace ends up across her body along with his, and her back jammed up into his abdomen and chest. The back of her skull under his chin as he leans down and whispers something

jump out of Colton’s arms with utter joy at this intimate tackle and Colton shakes his head at me and rolls his eyes. Something tells me this isn’t all that much of

gelled up in a spikier fashion and his

then groan but he doesn’t relent and release her. Instead, he spins her back towards him, bends down and flips her over his right shoulder the second she starts to curse him out and fight back. She erupts in crazy femme fashion and starts going at him with fists and knees in a bid