Page 50 of Half Wolf Mate
“Who, Cole?” I was so confused. “I thought you liked him.”
“Not Cole, Damian.”
I stared at her. “I’m so lost.
She folded her arms as if bracing herself for something. “Syd, the reason Cole and I seem so close is because he tries so hard to look out for me. He overcompensates. I think he feels terrible about his Beta rejecting me.”
My jaw dropped. “You and Damian…”
“Yes.” She huffed. “Or no, rather, because he and I aren’t anything since he told me he didn’t want me. So, Cole checks up on me often out of guilt. Violet and a few of the others feel sorry for me, I guess. That’s why Dominic got all weird just now.”
“Oh, I…” What in the world did I say to that revelation? Now I understood why she glowered at Damian the entire night of my birthday outing. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up anything painful.”
Her derisive snort echoed. “Please, I am not hurt over being rejected by that fool. I never said I wanted him, either. The best thing Damian could have done for me was to reject me. He and I have nothing in common. The miserable man hardly even smiles, for goodness’ sake. He frightens everyone he meets.”
That was true. Damian’s aura was as intimidating as the Alpha’s.
“We’re polar opposites, and I hate him.” Macy harrumphed.
“The lady doth protest too much,” I muttered.
The dirty look she gave me had me clamping my mouth shut. I held up both palms. “Okay, okay, you hate Damian, end of story. Changing the subject now.”
“Good.” Macy inhaled deeply and smoothed her curls. “Let’s talk about something more important.”
“Er…okay…”
“How are you dealing? You know, with having to hide out here.”
Sitting back, I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Sometimes I feel like I’m going crazy, staring at the same four walls. But I know it isn’t safe for me to parade around the city with hunters on my ass. I’m sorry I haven’t been to work. Are you going to hire someone to replace me? I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have to hide.” Cole and the others have yet to get information on the hunters’ plans or whereabouts.
Macy snorted. “First, you’re not replaceable. You’ve got a job at my diner anytime you can come back.”
I let out a relieved sigh.
“If you’ll want to, that is,” she added.
I frowned. “Of course, I will. I won’t survive without a job.”
“Cole won’t leave you destitute.”
My teeth clamped together so hard it was a wonder they didn’t shatter. “I don’t intend on being his kept woman. Once the threat of the hunters is gone, I’ll be back on my own because Cole and I are… nothing.”
Macy glanced at me. “I hoped you two sharing a space would knock some sense into him, and he’d change his mind about you.”
Picking up one of the throw pillows, I held it to my chest. “He won’t. He can’t. I’m not an acceptable mate for the Alpha. The pack hates me.”
“I’m sorry, Sydney.”
I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and shrugged nonchalantly. “Don’t be. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” she refuted softly.
My lower lip quivered, and I pulled it between my teeth. “There was a moment last week when I thought there was hope.”
“What do you mean?”
“The night of my birthday, we…” Heat consumed my face. “I lost my virginity to my mate, who rejected me, on my twentieth birthday.” Letting out a laugh that was void of humor, I shrugged. “I knew it was a bad idea—dangerous for my emotional health—but I couldn’t resist him. It was amazing. I dared to feel a sliver of hope that Cole’s feelings for me would grow enough for him to consider fighting to claim me.”