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Chapter 19.1
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2022-11-01 17:41:40
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REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 19.2
The door opened, and a black woman with long braids stood inside, dressed in the push-up bra and miniskirt Don insisted that his employees wear. Everything about her said that she was a wolf, but the recognition in her features was puzzling. I stepped back and frowned. Was she a new roommate?โHi,โ I said, my voice hesitant. โIs Larissa there?โ She stepped aside. โYouโd better come in.โI stepped into the caravan to ๏ฌnd it a mess. โWhatโs going on?โโLarissa buggered off,โ she said, her voice sharp. โHades sent me to keep an eye on your oversized ass.โWhirling around, I met her ebony eyes. They were sharp, scornful, and oddly familiar. I leaned forward and squinted. โMarianna?โโTook you long enough to recognize me,โ she said. โWait.โ I raised a palm. โLarissa couldnโt have just uppedand left. Not when we were getting so close to cracking open the Hell๏ฌre pack. Where would she go?โThis new version of Marianna folded her arms across her chest and smirked. It was obvious what had
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-11-01REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 20
Griffโs larger body towered over mine, and for the ๏ฌrst time in my entire existence outside of Hell, I knew what it was like to be intimidated by another wolf. Iโd never seen him so angryโnot even when Iโd pummeled him with my ๏ฌsts, not even when towered over him with the lighter ๏ฌuid, but I think by then he had died.Every drop of moisture in my gullet evaporated in the heat of those burning eyes, leaving me trying to pull air into my lungs and failing. Was this the moment he dragged me to Fenrir for my tongue binding? I had to act, but even Beki was cowering.โWhatโs happened?โ I rasped, trying to sound innocent. โWhere is your friend?โ he snarled.It took me a few seconds for his words to ๏ฌlter through my panic, and I realized he was talking about Larissa. But that didnโt mean I was safe. โI went round the back to see her, but there was a new girl inside.โHis eyes narrowed. โWhat did she say?โโDon employed her today, after Larissa disappeared with a weekโs takings,โ the words
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-11-02REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 20.1
โBoris isโฆโ Griff hesitated. โBoris died nearly seventy years ago.โTilting my head to the side, I feigned confusion. โSorry, what?โโCome with me.โ He strode toward the largest of the bell tents.I followed after him, my heart ๏ฌuttering and not in a pleasant way. When Griff told me about Boris being a soul resurrected from Hell, I would have to ask about him. Thatโs when I would get another account of our story, but from the point of view of the man who hadnโt deemed me worthy of any respect, let alone compassion.Once again, I regretted not remaining with Dad in his hut. Griffโs tent was even more luxurious than mine, complete with a safari-style four-poster surrounded by thin gauze. The walls were raised, exposing its interior to the elements.Sheepskin mats covered the ๏ฌoor, adding to the air of comfort. At the other side of the bed was a wicker love seat that barely ๏ฌtted two, and beside it was a cushioned footrest.โSit.โ He gestured at a loveseat.I remained standing and fo
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-11-02REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 21
I drifted in and out of sleep that night, haunted by Griffโs words. All that talk about saving his fatherfrom faeries had gotten to me, and I tried to imagine what I would do if it was Dad who had gotten himself in debt.My mind went blank. Dad simply wasnโt the type to drown his sorrows in drink or gambling or any other type of vice. If he had lost an alpha challenge, then he would go lone wolf, bide his time, and return bigger, stronger, and ready to ๏ฌght his way to the top.He wasnโt anything like me.Forty years ago, I had been too blinded by rejection and rage to see straight. Iโd lashed out and didnโt stop until the enforcers broke into the mansion and dragged me away. I clenched my teeth. Why hadnโt I insisted that Griff ๏ฌnish his story? If the situation with the faeries had been linked to the way he had treated me, perhaps I would sleep easily tonight.Footsteps sounded outside my tent as a few pack members stumbled in from a night out. Someone barked a laugh, then someone
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-11-02REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 21.1
The largest of the Hellhounds gave Griff a deep bark that resonated across my bones. He turned to the others and nodded, leading them all to make similar sounds of agreement.Griff turned to me. โMount Glinda and follow me.โI strode up to the pale Hellhound, who gazed at me through adoring blue eyes. Even though it wasnโt necessary, I held out my hand for her to sniff.โIs it okay if I get on your back?โ I asked her. She gave me a happy bark, which Beki returned.โAll right, then.โ Grabbing a handful of fur from the base of her neck, I jumped up on her back and swung my right leg over her side. In no time, I was sitting atop a creature broader than a horse and in๏ฌnitely warmer. Smoke curled from the ends of her thick white fur, but she remained solid.โDo you need a blanket for the heat?โ Griff asked with a frown.โNo, thanks.โHis eyes narrowed, but he continued toward the largest of the hounds and jumped on his back.Shit.Maybe I shouldnโt have given Griff the impression that I wa
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-11-02REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 22
To my relief, Marianna wasnโt working, but I still couldnโt eat most of my lunch. I sat beside Griff inhis usual booth, picking at my fries. โAre you all right?โ Griff asked.I gave him a trembling nod. โJust a little nervous.โ โYou can dismount,โ he said.โOf course.โโAnd place a rock in a harness?โ he asked in a low voice. I turned to him and frowned. โWhatโs this about?โโThatโs the only thing you need to do today.โ He took a huge bite of his burger.I nodded and dipped my head toward my tall milkshake, which was mostly ice cream with a splash of milk. The cool, creamy liquid ๏ฌlled my mouth with a burst of vanilla that made me sigh. โYouโre right,โ I murmured. โIf I stop overthinking things, it will be over before I know it.โThe other members of the pack, who were usually rowdy during mealtimes, mostly kept to the bar. They spoke in low voices, so I couldnโt hear them under the disco groove of the Bee Geesโ โYou Should Be Dancing.โIt was an effort not to tap my foot to the beat
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-11-03REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 22.1
I swallowed hard. In other words, it was up to the wolves to decide if they wanted to accept Fenrirโs offer of a better afterlife.We reached Glinda, who lay on her front and ๏ฌicked her head toward her hind quarters, indicating for me to mount her. After shouldering on the backpack Griff had given me, he handed me a pair of guns and showed me how to attach them to the holster in my jacket.โYou know how to use them?โMy insides writhed with shame as I remembered the bullets I had ๏ฌred into his kneecaps and then his chest, when I could have shot him through the eyes. If only he knew.Griff pulled one of the bandoliers off his shoulder and draped it over my head. โDonโt use it unless thereโs an emergency,โ he said.I slipped onto Glindaโs back, and she stood. Griff waited at our side and gazed up at me through proud eyes.Any other time, I might have basked in his admiration, even though I hadnโt done much to earn it. But I kept thinking about all those people who would be left behind.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-11-03REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 22.2
It looked like he would do a round of the Asphodel Meadows until each of us had a soul crystal, then once the last of us had rejoined the procession, we would all return to the tunnel. This went on for another twenty minutes, and we passed a few large mansions that had to be where the demons lived. Glinda and I continued, waiting our turn, until it was us riding behind Griff.My heart thrummed with anticipation as we rode through a ๏ฌeld littered with obelisks. I kept my eyes on Griff, waiting for him to show me my pick-up, and then he slowed by a pile of stones.The soul crystal sat among them. It was bright orange, the size of a small watermelon and with white mist clouding its inside like a playing marble.Beki barked.I smiled and ordered Glinda to stop. โYes, I know.โAs soon as my feet hit the ground, the other Hellhounds continued without me. I rushed to the glowing stone and shouldered off my backpack. When I tried to pick it up, it was too heavy of me to lift.โOf course,โ
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-11-03
์ต์ ์ฑํฐ
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Epilogue
Hades was a persistent bastard who continued to attack Shifter City. He sent assassins, spies, and other Trojan horses, but Fenrir was always prepared. With the help of Loki, Ophois, and a few other lupine gods we had encountered during the past fifteen years, Midgard remained the afterlife of choice for all wolves.Our system was simple: the berserkers in the Hellfire Pack would collect the souls of those who died within Shifter City or within the Norse packโs protected wards. Griff and I would venture out to reap any wolves who died within the Supernatural World.We didnโt even need to hide in the trunk of an รberwald to exit Shifter City. The Hellhounds we rode moved us faster than any speeding vehicle, and the magic protecting our physical forms was powerful enough to shield us from Hades and his enforcers.Griff and I stood within a white room in the Shifter Ward of Atlantis Hospital, waiting for an old she-wolf to take her last breath. We could barely see her through the crowd o
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย 78.3
Guests filled white seats in a large reception hall decorated to resemble a Greek temple. At its very end, Hades stood beneath an archway of mauve calla lilies and pomegranate flowers. He wore an ostentatious oxblood red frock coat with plum-colored embroidery.To his right stood a dark-haired male in a morning suit of the same color, wearing a five oโclock stubble that he probably thought made him look cool.Griff gave me a nudge. โHis best man is Lucifer, King of the Seventh Faction.โMy brows rose, and I scanned the groomโs side of the room. The entire Supernatural Council sat in the front seats with Captain Caria, who wore a dress for a change and sat beside a dark-haired woman whose features were equally as stern. Azriel perched on his seat behind them, looking like heโd been blackmailed into attending.Among the powerful VIPs, I recognized a dark-skinned couple in Egyptian attire who had to be Isis and Osiris, the aunt and uncle of Ophois and the rulers of the First Faction. Lok
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย 78.2
Several days ago, Fenrir had suggested we raid the Fifth Faction on the night of the Strawberry Moon. Now we had retrieved the wolf souls, we no longer needed to perform the heist, but my idea would be the perfect revenge.Fenrir sat behind his desk and folded his arms across his chest. He glanced from me to Griff and said, โThis is completely unnecessary. After everything youโve endured, thereโs no need for you to face Hades.โGriff spoke first. โThis is the least that bastard deserves. He has to learn that striking at Midgard has consequences.โโAgreed,โ Fenrir said. โBut I donโt want to put either of you at risk.โโItโll be worth it to teach him not to embed curses in peopleโs souls,โ I said. โAnd I also canโt wait to melt the smirk off his face when I interrupt him with his mate.โGriff snarled, remembering how Hades had infiltrated our hotel room just as we had planned to become intimate. It was time to return his gesture with one of our own.Fenrir snickered. โFine, but doing th
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย 78.1
My breath turned quick and shallow, and my gaze remained fixed on what was looking to be a terrible earthquake. โWere the others too late to save the wards?โโItโs Fenrir.โ Griff slung an arm around my shoulder and tucked me into his side.The distant hill split into several pieces, and the ground that comprised it tumbled away in an avalanche, revealing a mass of white that took up the landscape. My pulse quickened, but Beki made excited barks as though she was meeting an old friend.โDonโt tell me Fenrirโs the size of a blue whale,โ I whispered.Griff rubbed his chin. โHe once told me he couldnโt shift without destroying the village, but I didnโt completely understand what he meant until now.โChunks of land rolled off the massive wolf as it rose onto four legs and raised his head toward the pale sky. Despite having remained underground for goodness knows how long, his fur was as pristine as Bekiโs. The only difference between them apart from size was that Fenrirโs wolf had turquois
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 78
Flying scorpions hovered above us, breathing plumes of fire over our heads whilst trying to re-form. The other wolf shifters tossed wet stones at the swarm, making them break into further pieces. Roars of triumph mingled with the skin-tightening clicks of armored wings, but none of that mattered. Not while Griff was standing before me and declaring heโd made a mistake.The cacophony of sounds faded into the background, and I gazed into his amber eyes. Amber eyes that shone with love and sorrow and regret. Amber eyes that I could have lost myself in for an eternity. Beki pushed herself against our bond and swooned with joy.I wasnโt quite so hopeful.How many times had I gone through this before? I needed to know that the bond wouldnโt bring up something else that would turn Griff away.โWhy?โ I asked. โWhy did you return if it wasnโt for Fenrir?โThe muscles in his handsome face tightened, and his gaze jerked to the side. โI didnโt want you to leave the island,โ he said, his voice tig
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย 77.2
Mum rushed to our side with a bucket of water and set it on the floor. โIโll get more.โSome of the other wolves had gathered a pile of rocks around the clearing, only to disappear and fetch more, while a few of them remained to hurl them at Snorri. Each stone that landed dented his huge scorpion body, but it did nothing to break him apart.An idea hit me upside the head. โDad.โ I gave him a nudge in the side. โLetโs try getting these stones wet.โWithout another word, he walked to the pile of rocks, gathered up a pair, and dipped them in the water. I left the attackers to join him and took one from his hand.I was no expert on arthropods or any other type of shelled creature, but Dad had once told me on a hunting trip that the protective coverings around their bellies were softer than the ones at their backs.โThis way.โ I flicked my head toward the obelisk.The other wolf shifters continued their attacks on Snorri, making him lash out at them with his tail, but more importantly, the
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย 77.1
By now, the air was thick with smoke, but it was nothing compared to the brimstone of Hell. Iโd lost track of the flying scorpions and continued through the trees toward the clearing.The swarm had formed the shape of a centaur-like creature, but with a scorpion body replacing that of an equine. Ten feet tall, it stood on six clawed legs with a tail as long as its spine. Hellfire glowed from its bulbous stinger, forming a line of crimson flames down its back.Its back was turned to me, but the same black carapace covered its human side, ending with a round head peppered with bristles. The creature placed a hand on the surface of the obelisk and drummed its fingers.โUrus, teimas, mannaz, othala,โ said the voice of an old man. โWhat a clever combination. Especially when crossed with wunjo and era. Yes... yesโฆ Fine work.โMy lips tightened, and I stormed around to look the scorpion man full in the face. It was the only part of his body not covered in the black shell, and he had the sall
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย Chapter 77
Cold shock barreled through my system, even as my chest exploded with streams of burning scorpions. The last week flashed across my mind, filling me with a painful realization. Hades had attached the curse to the bargain Griff had made with the faeries. Heโd given us days five before it took control of Griffโs body and destroyed Shifter City.Weโd spent the last five days scrambling around trying to break the curse and transfer it to someone else. We had spent all that time worrying about what was inside Griff and hadnโt given a thought to what Hades might have placed in me.Fuck. Griff and I were mates. Rumpel Kracknuts had even hinted that curses could go deeper than the soul of the afflicted. Iโd been too concerned with his murder of the healer to even think that he was hinting that I carried the curse.Bloody Hades had turned me into his Trojan horse, and if I couldnโt find a way to stop the swarm, it wouldnโt just mean the destruction of Midgard. It could mean the end of Shifter
REJECTED MATE ย ย ย 76.2
The chief enforcer snorted. โI was a few years younger, but I remember you from the academy. Even back then, I knew you were destined for greatness.โMy lips formed a tight line. I didnโt need to read his mind to catch his meaning. Randel couldnโt believe that a man like Griff was capable of achieving all those things without my intervention. As a member of Fenrirโs inner circle, he would have heard about our progress, but I couldnโt let him walk away believing I had done all the work.โFranklin Griffiths is more capable than any wolf. It was his knowledge and strength that got us through our trials, not just mine.โRandel nodded and continued toward the driveway.With a sigh, I pushed open the door and walked through the empty hallway. At this time of the night everyone had gone to bed, and my footsteps echoed in the silence. Damp air filled my nostrils as I descended the darkened stairwell that led to the basement, and I pushed the door open to find Fenrir standing beside the fighti
