Rejected

I pull the blanket around me tighter and watch contently as Danoir makes quick work of starting a fire. A loud grunt has us all looking at the trees just outside the cave where Manfri is approaching, dragging a large animal of some kind behind him.

“I get boar. Good meat.” His eyes scan the newcomers, but his movement never stalls. He drops the boar carcass on the ground inside the cave then looks at me, likely sensing my unease.

“Muři amperetsia, need large stick for roast of boar.” I chuckle softly when he gives me a knowing grin, more emotion that I have seen from him yet. Maybe the old dog is warming up to me.

“I think I can handle that, Manfri.” He tosses me a pair of pants and a shirt from his pack.

“Your clothes run out if wolf play too much.” Barsali, Kazia and I burst out laughing while Danoir and the others look at us like we are losing our damn minds.

“Yes, I didn’t pack enough clothes to be tearing them to shreds every time I shift. You are correct.” Chuckles begin to rumble through the cave as the alpha and his men suddenly realize what Manfri was trying to say. His English is broken, but his eyes convey all the missing pieces for me. I put on the clothes that he handed me and slip past the large group of people to find a stick suitable for roasting an entire boar. I can smell him well before I hear his footsteps, but I push forward, unsure of how well I will handle a confrontation with him at this point. I spot a perfect branch on a tall tree and begin rolling up the legs of the sweatpants and tie a knot in the front of the oversized t-shirt.

“Nadia?” His voice makes my heart skip a beat, but does little to erase the anger that still lingers there. I call on my wolf, watching as my claws extend and begin ascending the tree, only half shifted. I break the branch off and watch as it crashes to the forest floor. I jump from the tree, 20 feet to the ground below, grab the branch and begin walking as my body quickly shift back into my full human form. He keeps pace and I feel myself growing tense from his nearness, so I drop the branch and whip around to face him.

“Look, I am glad you decided to help these people, whatever your reason for doing it, I am grateful. Whatever you think you need to say, don’t.” He steps closer, the hurt in his eyes unmistakable.

“You are the reason. You opened my eyes when I was being ignorant to the facts. I want you to tell me about what the moon goddess told you.” My body goes rigid and I take a cautious step back.

“What she said doesn’t matter. It changes nothing.” I take another step back.

“If she said you are my mate then it certainly does change things.” I feel the bitter sting of tears as they threaten to betray my cold façade.

“No, it doesn’t. I have nothing to offer you. I…I can’t be what you need…but I can save these people and I can use the strength of my curse for something good before…” I can’t finish the sentence, almost as if saying it out loud to him will make things more final somehow.

“You have already offered me so much. Do you think that I would be swayed because you cannot provide me with an heir? Adoption exists for a reason, Nadia. That should not be a determining factor for your future. Don’t you think I should have a say in this since it effects me too? What if I would be willing to give up having children if it meant having my mate at my side?” I feel blindsided by this entire conversation and am not entirely sure how to proceed.

“Alpha…” He rises his hand up, signaling me to stop.

“Please just call me Liam. No sense in formalities after all this.” I stare at him, a feeling of unease washing over me.

“Look, you are an alpha. One of the primary responsibilities of your mate is to provide you with an heir…someone to carry on your legacy. I can’t give you that, even if I wanted to. I need to get this back to Manfri.” I pick up the branch and carry it back to the cave as quickly as I can. The boar is not ready for several hours, but once we eat, everyone is already welcome sleep’s sweet embrace. I watch as, one by one, they drift off, leaving me and my thoughts to wander. It takes only five minutes for Barsali to rouse the other wolves and gather them in front of the cave, but explaining our new and more challenging task takes much longer.

“So, you are saying that we have to take on a dark enchantress? How the hell are we supposed to do that?” Kyle practically shouts at me, awarding him with an angry growl from Liam. I place a hand on Liam’s shoulder and feel his body relax under my touch.

“I will not ask you to join me in this, I can’t. This will be dangerous and the odds of success are more than a little low. Avalon told me that all who survive will forever bear the mark, tainted by the evil we face there. If you want to leave, to return to your families, I will not blame you and you will face no punishment.” Though whispers rumble through the group, not one person leaves.

“Divided by circumstance, but united by spirit. We are with you, Muři amperetsia.” Kezia declares in a firm, unwavering voice.

“Yeah, what she said.” Kyle offers with a playful smirk.

“I am honored to have you all at my side, whatever may come, today we are more than wolves, we are family. Let’s go bring our people home.” I push my wolf forward, shifting so quickly that Liam’s men seem lost in a brief state of shock. Once everyone has shifted, we burst through the woods, following Barsali into to depths of the unknown with my friends, my pack, at my side.