"Who are you?" I came awake with a jerk, disoriented and aching all over. 
A heavy male body lay beside me---we were both naked except for the sheet covering our bodies. 

I searched my memories of the night before, trying to figure out how I had gotten here while attempting to wrap the sheet around my body. I stopped when I realized I'd leave my bed partner totally nude.

I remembered myself saying over and over, "I'm your mate!"

I eased myself off the bed to look for clothes. I tried to be as quiet as I could so I didn't wake up the stranger. 

His scent was all over me, all over everything really. Rich and masculine, every time I breathed I felt as if I was being surrounded by the forest with hints of wood and a warm spice I couldn't name. I wanted to crawl back into bed beside him and never leave.

My wolf, Rayne, grumbled in my head, "We shouldn't leave! He is our mate!"

Rejected My Alpha Mate

"You're going to demand an inquiry into your mother's death, okay? You have to insist on it. Jack says if you insist on an investigation? They have to listen to you because your mother is the keyholder for the Alpha House."


Bella has replaced Jack at the table with me where the papers which make up my life have been collected.


Jack finally gave up to go back to his own place to get some sleep and hopefully a shower since he'd been sequestered with me for most of the week trying to come up with a "plan of attack" before I go in front of the Alpha Council.


"I got that part. Inquiry. No problem. Why do they have to take me seriously though? Patrick and this Richard guy are both more connected than I am. On paper? I'm the daughter of an omega house marriage."


Chapter 46