Page 85 of Rejected By a Wolf

He trailed his thumb away from her lip and to the back of her neck, cupping a palm against its nape. “Right now, I can’t think of anything I want more than to spend this night with you.” And every night after.

Her eyes grew heavy, her cheeks flushing.

Sophia was so much more than his mate. Fate might’ve bound her to him, but what he felt for her right now had nothing to do with fate. It had everything to do withwhothe woman standing in front of him was.

He bent down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Her eyes fluttered shut, as if surrendering herself to him, letting him know she trusted him wholly.

“Extraordinary fey,” he whispered against her lips. She already had his heart, and he knew she would hold it for eternity.

Oh, how hard I’ve fallen.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Antonio Payne

“So you came to your senses, then.” Lance startled Antonio. Apparently, Antonio wasn’t the only startled one. Sophia snapped her head back so fast Antonio had no choice but to tear his hand free from her neck.

One look at her wide-eyed expression had him rippling with laughter, reeling with joy. If Antonio believed he had been the only one totally entranced by their shared moment - a moment both simple yet profound - he was wrong. Sophia had been transfixed just the same, the red on her face deepening.

When he didn’t stop laughing she scowled at him, and when she placed her hands on her hips, the blush in her cheeks dissipated. “Are you amused?”

He wiped a tear from his eye, his laughter settling. “No, I’m…happy,”he said breathlessly, realization striking him.

Happy.The word felt so foreign, so unfamiliar.

Only a week ago he believed happiness wasn’t meant for someone like him. Now, the emotion -happiness- flowed through him effortlessly.

Sophia’s bows creased, but then her lips lifted into a soft, understanding smile.

“Mostof your senses, at least,” Lance commented, reminding Antonio his friend was still here.

Antonio settled himself, coolly looking Lance’s way. His friend stood at the tent’s opening, his long hair messily tumbling over laxly crossed arms. He didn’t try to hide the amusement in his eyes.

“And what senses might those be?”

Lance’s grin deepened, as if he was happy simply because Antonio was. “The senses that had you believing it was a good idea to run away from her tonight.” He cocked his head in Sophia’s direction. “Such a gods awful idea. I spent a full moon away from my mate once.Once. I swore I’d never do it again. I stuck to that promise.Worshipedthat promise. Yet here I am.” When he looked down Antonio swore a shiver shot through Lance, as if remembering he would be away from his mate tonight chilled him to the bone. Antonio debated consoling him, but Lance started again before he had the chance. “But for the chance to see a miserable fuck likeyousmile likethat? Some sacrifices are worth making.”

Antonio said nothing. He simply smiled, and Lance simply smiled back. The words they now exchanged were unspoken. But they were heard.

Antonio’s misery had been damaging, his despair hurting everyone around him.Every. Last. One.He knew that now.

When he lost Giselle he had tucked himself away from the world, hiding in his own dark void of grief, wanting only for nothingness to consume him for eternity. But his misery had seeped out of that void, oozing through his clan’s home and into the minds of everyone who cared about him. Everyone wholovedhim. For years, they suffered. If only he could’ve been more like Sophia - someone who fought to live after she had lost everything.

But, unlike her, Antonio fought to die. The man standing in front of him suffered for centuries because of that.

“I know,” Antonio told his friend, acknowledging that, though silent, he heard Lance. Finally, he heard. “I know.”

Their shared silence could’ve dragged on until the moon rose, only stopping with the rising of their beasts. Thankfully, Sophia broke the silence. “He knows I’m your mate too?”

Antonio blinked, returning to the present.

Lance inclined his head at Sophia. “You think it’s a secret?”

“Well I certainly didn’t think he’d go off telling everyone.” She lifted a thumb to Antonio. “In the last few minutes I learned both you and my friend…” Her voice trailed. “Well, I’m using the termfriendloosely.Veryloosely. Anyway, you and myacquaintanceknow I’m his mate. I can’t help but wonder who else knows.” Returning her attention to Antonio, she asked, “Does Maya know?”

Despite her attention being elsewhere, Lance answered. “Of course she does. Everyone knows.”

Sophia’s eyes widened, her focus remaining on Antonio. “How many people have you told?”