The Elf's Royal Match (Book 4 The Wolves of Winter Valley)

Chapter 4 - Reject Me!

Sinead POV

Sleep was elusive, and after spending the better part of five hours tossing and turning, I gave up and donned my workout clothes. What better way to work off nervous energy than by abusing my body at 3 a.m.? And it was nervous energy I decided as I tied my cross-trainers. I was anxious about seeing Colt every day and being reminded that the one person on this planet, who was supposed to want me more than anything, didn’t. I should have chosen to train the senior warriors with Adam.

The pain that I felt after he’d found his mate had lessened significantly over the last few months of separation. It had dulled even more when my connection with Colt had been forged. All that was really left was the pain of losing my best friend and my embarrassment. That was unlikely to ever go away. If it did, there were plenty in the pack who would be more than happy to remind me of my transgressions.

Despite Natasha’s efforts to keep my attempt to sabotage Adam’s and Megan’s mate bond contained to pack leadership alone, the story managed to get out after I confessed to Adam. The next day many pack members made it clear that they disagreed with my continued presence in Winter Valley. And they were right. I’d intended to do something that would have caused harm—emotionally—to a ranked member of the pack. Whether I went through with it or not, the offense was severe enough to warrant banishment. I received no punishment at all, and this did not sit well with many in the community.

I inhaled deeply, drawing in a breath of crisp night air as I stepped through the glass entry door of my apartment building and began to stretch. I loved Winter Valley and hated the fact that I’d almost cost myself my place here. This was home. I was free to be myself here. Free from the expectations that came with being a member of Palachia’s Royal Family and from the constant scrutiny. Here, I wasn’t Princess Sinead Aine Elian of Palachia. I was just Sinead Elian, primitive weapons expert and trainer. I was who I was always meant to be.

Starting my run, I gave thanks to the Gods that Natasha possessed a willingness to forgive, and I swore that I would never give her a reason to regret allowing me to stay. I would never again do anything to risk what I’d found as a member of the Winter Valley Pack.

The anger and self-loathing that remained just beneath the surface began to stir, pushing me to increase my pace. Little by little, my speed picked up until I was running as fast as I was physically able. The rage and bitterness would not abate, so I pushed myself even harder, trying to go faster and growing angrier because I couldn’t.

Behind me, I heard the faint beat of wings, but my steps didn’t falter. Due to the war on supernaturals, Winter Valley was home to many creatures, including several winged species, so it wasn’t unusual to hear them flying about and stretching their wings. The sound grew louder. Still, I continued without paying it any mind until the creature who possessed those wings landed in the road several yards ahead of me, leaving me no choice but to stop.

It wasn’t a dragon or any of the beasts I knew to be living among us. This creature was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. It was covered in shiny black fur from its nose to the end of its long, thick tail, except for its wings which were comprised of long, shiny black feathers. Bright, almost neon-green eyes stood out in contrast, watching me while its tail twitched in obvious irritation.

I’d heard stories of winged panthers. I’d seen pictures, but I had never seen one with my own eyes until that moment. And never had I imagined that I’d be matched with one.

I took a moment to steady my breathing, then addressed Colt’s animal spirit. “Good morning, mate,” I called, deliberately using the term most animal shifters used.

He dipped his head in acknowledgment, then turned toward the trees bordering the road. As he lumbered his way across the pavement, I noticed a satchel hanging from his neck. Slowly, I walked forward, shrinking the gap between myself and where he had landed while I watched him disappear into the trees. The anger I’d been trying to burn off flared even hotter than before. I wanted to scream after him, to call him a coward. I wanted to hurt him like he’d hurt me, but I couldn’t bring myself to utter the words, so I swallowed them and turned that anger on myself for my weakness.

Before I reached the spot where he’d landed, I resumed jogging, intent to complete my run, then head to the gym. I assumed he’d gone back to the compound and nearly jumped out of my skin when Colt emerged from the trees in his human form, fully clothed. The satchel now slung across his body.

I stopped and c****d my head. “Not many shifters are in the habit of carrying clothing with them when exercising their animal halves.”

“I was raised to believe that modesty is essential,” he answered simply, stopping on the shoulder of the road, and keeping a fair distance between us. “Why are you running at this time of night?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d get a jump on the day.” I thought about lying but decided to tell the truth, leaving out that he was the reason for my restlessness. “Why are you sailing the skies at this time of night?” I countered.

He glanced away and back again. “I couldn’t sleep either.”

“Training will be difficult with no rest,” I warned.

“Planning on putting me through the wringer, are you?”

My temper flared. “I am not in the habit of allowing my personal life to interfere with my duties. In fact, I have no intention of revealing our personal connection to anyone who isn’t already aware of it.”

“Wolves have a keen sense of smell, Sinead. They will smell your reaction to me just as I do,” he said, stepping closer. “The secret will be out the second we are within a few feet of each other.”

He was right. There would be no way to hide the fact that he was my match. My body was tuned to his. It reacted whenever he was near, whether I wanted it to or not. Everyone would know that I’d found my match and that he didn’t want me. Those who hated me would rejoice in the poetic justice of it. Those who empathized would look at me with pity in their eyes. Panic bubbled up, pushing the anger aside. “Reject me!” I blurted out.

Colt POV

I felt the blow of her words and had to take a small step back to keep the impact from driving me to my knees. When I regained my balance, I closed the distance until there was a scant few inches between our bodies and lifted my gaze. She was a good three inches taller than I, but I didn’t care. I was proud to have been blessed with such a woman and wished with all my heart that I could claim her. “If that is what you really want, why don’t you reject me?” I asked, my voice hoarse from the sudden dryness in my throat. “I’m not the only one with the power to sever the mate bond.” She lowered her eyes to mine. The pain within them pulled at my most basic instinct to protect. “Why, Sinead?” Though I knew it would only make matters worse, I brought my hand up and grazed her cheek with my fingertips, setting off thousands of tiny electrical charges. Her breath hitched. “You have just as much power as I do, why haven’t you used it?” I pushed quietly.

“You… You’re the one…” she stuttered, then, after taking a deep breath, added, “You’re the one who said that you didn’t want me, not the other way around. You should break the bond.”

Fury burned in my chest. In my head, my panther was raging. Without thinking of the consequences, I reached out, grabbed Sinead by her waist, and yanked her against me, claiming that sinfully ripe mouth. It was a mistake. I knew it before contact was made, but I couldn’t stop myself. Hearing her say that I didn’t want her twisted something inside me and made me desperate to reveal the truth.

How could she doubt how much I wanted her? Despite what I said or how I acted. She was my mate. We were connected. She should be able to see through the fallacy I was projecting. Couldn’t she feel this never-ending ache inside me for her?

Sinead wrapped her arms around my neck and clung while I ravaged her mouth, using lips, teeth, and tongue to quell her doubts. Her body trembled, and my need to claim and mark her suddenly overwhelmed me. I fought it back using all of my strength, and broke the kiss, but not the contact. “There are reasons why I can’t claim you, Sinead and not one of them is because I don’t want you.”

Before I lost what little control I had over my primal urges, I turned and ran into the trees, stripping off my clothes as I went. When I was concealed by the pitch darkness beneath the canopy, I stuffed my clothes into my satchel, shifted, and took to the sky.

I was in trouble. All it took was a simple, emotional accusation from my mate, and I was ready to bear my soul. I wanted to. More than anything, I wanted to kneel at her feet, confess my darkest secrets and beg her to accept me anyway. But I couldn’t. She wouldn’t understand. How could she possibly comprehend something that I failed to grasp myself? How could she accept me when I still struggled to accept myself?

You have to tell her, Colton. We need our mate.

My panther’s voice interrupted my thoughts. Kai strongly opposed my decision to not claim Sinead when we found her and voiced that opposition frequently with increasing frustration. I sighed as I landed within the trees bordering the compound and shifted back into my human form. Quickly, I began to dress, hoping that a member of the pack’s patrol wouldn’t happen by.

Don’t ignore me. You are not the only one who suffers.

I’m not ignoring you, Kai. I’m just not in the mood to rehash the same argument. I can’t tell her. At least, not yet.

So, you have decided to tell her, after all? When?

I never said I wouldn’t tell her. I just can’t tell her now.

Your father’s men already found us. If not for her, they would have captured us and dragged us back to New Mexico. You have to tell her before she finds out some other way.

She won’t find out. This village is protected by magic. Only wolves and those who possess invitations can find it. We are safe from my father as long as we stay on this land.

Your father wasn’t supposed to be able to find us after our stop in California, but he did. You were so sure that he’d never even consider the action you took, but he did. For once, listen to me, Colton, before we end up living like prisoners with a pride of your father’s choosing. Claim our mate before it’s too late.

Stepping from the trees and onto the hard-packed earth that led to my bunkhouse, I admitted to myself that Kai’s fears were warranted. I had underestimated my father’s cunning and had nearly ended up back under his oppressive rule. It was a mistake I couldn’t afford to repeat. But I also couldn’t rush things with Sinead. I, first, needed to be sure of her reaction before I told her those things I kept hidden from everyone.

I can’t claim her, Kai. You know I can’t. If she still wants us after she learns the truth, then we’ll cross that bridge. Until then, leave it alone.

You’re a fool, Colton. You take too many unnecessary risks to protect your secrets, and yet you’re too afraid to take the one that could end the need to keep them.

I felt the block go up between us and knew I likely wouldn’t hear from Kai for a while. Which was ultimately for the best. I needed a few days to get my bearings and to get into the routine of Winter Valley. Arguing with Kai every day over the same issue would do nothing but distract me. And I was going to be distracted enough, training with Sinead and trying to suppress my growing impulse to claim and mark her.