"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

Days had passed since the investigation into Patrick Flores's death had closed. The final Alpha Council conclusions stated he was killed by warrant of self-defense or defense of another; no fault was assigned to anyone. 


I was both a murderer and an innocent man at once. I felt no guilt for saving my mate using any means necessary yet my father's casual pride in my actions left me with the bitter taste of shame in my mouth all the same. Why was it he could only be proud of me for the things I regretted? 


Everyone had their hands full keeping Rachel occupied. Her mind moved a thousand miles per hour from one idea to another as she exhausted every lead I could dredge up regarding her mother. 


Elena Campbell might be out there in the world, but finding her wasn't proving to be easy.


Jack and Bella were arguing over what to order for dinner at the moment. 


Chapter 148