Page 33 of Demon Rejected

“You must be Scarlett, his new student." He looked at me from head to toe. Why was it that his gaze melted my sadness and made my skin prickle?

Damn hot guy.

“I don’t think Matt had friends. Must I?"

“Yeah, you must, because otherwise I don’t see how a beautiful she-wolf like you spends time with that old grizzly loner."

That observation made me giggle, but my wolf was furious. How dare he make fun of our mate. Matt was still the mate to my wolf, and she was ready to move Heaven and Hell for him and kill him at the same time. Over the past hour, my relationship with Matt changed so much I couldn’t explain it.

Ziggy leaned closer, close enough to make me blush and become very aware of the fact that I was fully naked, but far enough that it wasn’t an intrusion into my space. He looked like a seasoned fighter. I didn’t feel like getting my fur handed to me by this wolf, even though a nice, wild rumble would be just what the doctor ordered.

“Are you working with him?"

The question was thrown out. I had no idea if he would reply, still curious as fuck.

Ziggy moved his hand to his back pocket and produced a wallet. He opened it slowly and offered me a calling card.

“Here, if you ever want to work with Shifter Nation, we pay well and take care of our own. Or if you ever just want to talk."

My wolf bared her teeth toward him. I took the card and left without a word. His eyes studied my backside as I walked toward the cabin. Matt was not here yet, and I wanted to leave as soon as possible. I stuck my head out of the door just to see Ziggy turn towards me with a smile tugging at his sexy lips and a glistening in his eyes.

“I could use a ride. Can you take me down the mountain?"

“Sure."

“Good."

I returned to the cabin, put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, as well as an oversized hoodie that had a wolf logo would have to do as a jacket. My hair was wild and unruly, but I wanted to leave before Matt returned. The red locks had to be happy with a few brush strokes and a ponytail that I improvised.

As I walked around the cabin, I knew this was the end, the same destiny I feared a few weeks ago when I was about to turn eighteen. I had no money, no friends, and no family. There was no one I could call that could offer me at least a couch for a few days.

I’m so fucked.

Fucked.

Fucked.

I didn’t possess anything of value. All I had was my mind, my body, and my strength. I turned the card between my fingers, but I didn’t feel like working for the same organization as Matt. Fuck them all, Shifter Nation guys. My few belongings landed inside a backpack, and I made my way towards Ziggy, standing next to his bike.

Matt was there too, talking to him. The moment he saw me, his face looked as pale as the moon.

“Scarlett, wait. Let’s talk. You don’t have to go." His voice sounded sincere but broken. Ziggy did not say a word. His arms crossed over his chest.

“There’s nothing more to be said. You made your choice." I turned my attention towards Ziggy.

“Can you give me that ride, please? There are too many things here that ruin my vibe."

“Sure, princess. Hop on."

With my backpack on my shoulders, I sat on the back of the bike. Ziggy nodded toward Matt. I had the feeling that whatever there was between them, there was not much of a friendship to talk of. Because I had nothing else to hold on to, I wrapped my arms around Ziggy and leaned my head against his back.

After a few minutes of driving off-road, he reached a small path large enough for a motorcycle to navigate.

Ziggy’s hair smelled like forest, mint, and motor oil. Now it smelled of tears. Holding on to him, I allowed my sadness to leave me. I would close the door on the Matt chapter. I wasn’t paying attention to the road. Ziggy drove fast and reckless, but I wasn’t concerned with dying. Whatever will happen will happen. All I wanted was to put as much distance as possible between myself and the place I once called home.

We stopped at a diner in the middle of nowhere. Ziggy got off the bike. My body instantly missed the warmth that came from him.

“Hey, I don’t know about you, but I have to pee and could use a coffee and breakfast."