The Alpha's Rejected Silent Mate

Chapter 43

Winter POV

It’s been a hard few days, not going to lie, but I’ve settled into a nice routine of sorts. It’s far nicer than being a slave and apparently I get paid for it too! Maria sends me on an errand to take out bottled water to the training grounds and I’m more than happy to do it. The sun is shining, there’s a cool breeze that makes my hair whip around and the grass is so green and beautiful. It’s a perfect day to be outside.

You should be a poet. That sounds so dreamy and romantic.

Stick it Sabriel. Stop making fun of me.

The training grounds aren’t far and I try to be unobtrusive, dumping the water and about to turn away when I hear his voice, one that sends shivers down my spine. I hadn’t realized he was there.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, sounding aggrieved. As if I’d gone looking for him. I was performing my

duties, that was all.

Clearly, he wasn’t expecting an answer. I tremble as I realize everyone’s eyes are on me now, looking me over

with curiosity. So much for trying to have a low profile. Damn the man. Why can’t he just let me go back to the pack

house in peace?

“Well, since you’re here” Alpha Kai says as I turn to face him, “then you might as well join in on training”, he adds, and I stiffen. Surely he has to be joking?

Sabriel and I aren’t really fighters and I didn’t have any experience with training. This would be my first time joining in on something like this.

| eye the two currently sparring. They are in human form, throwing punches and kicks at each other, but it’s not long until they’ve shifted to their wolf forms and begun to fight. I swallow hard. Their wolves are so much bigger than mine and they know how to fight with their claws and jaws. I was going to be a goner, if I so much as stepped foot

inside that ring. Did he know that? Was this some sort of form of entertainment for him? Or was this a punishment for

him not wanting me? Did

someone to spar with Winter” he declares to the crowd as I flinch. I stare at him with pleading eyes, but he takes no notice. A woman comes sashaying out. “I can spar with Winter” she says with a smile, and I look at her helplessly. She’s beautiful with her vibrant red hair and green eyes. She also looks friendly enough, but still, what was I going to do? It’s not

in the training ring” Alpha Kai says and

too,” he added, narrowing his

reluctantly into the ring. I’m trying to be as

much” he mutters, and I light up. Perhaps this won’t be as bad as I feared. Esme is sweet, showing me several moves while Alpha Kai moves around and watches from a distance. I feel nervous as well as self-conscious. He claps his hands. “Now fight”, he orders, and Esme launches herself

going easy on me and I thank

stomach in pain. Esme looks concerned but Alpha Kai merely looks bored and a

me up from the ground and I look at her gratefully.

intact and in one piece? I’m already feeling shaky and embarrassed at my lack of

training ring when his voice

should

cold inside. My wolf is tiny, a runt compared to the average wolf. Sabriel has no chance of

no matter how much I love her

she senses just how bad

neither of us want to

Esme, shift, I want

a goner. I might as well write

We can take her

her wolf is going to be

not running away with my tail

do you suggest

have to lose,

no help. We’re

her wolf form and I stare wide-eyed, not just because she’s large but because

on her paws. She sits there and

Alpha kai and something tells me, if I had a voice, I would have. How dare