Page 60 of Choosing the Rejected Mate

“For him?”

Several customers pretend not to listen harder.

Cole’s cheeks darken.“You left.You made him look cruel.”

“He was cruel.”

“He panicked.”As if that can excuse what he did.

“He broke my heart in front of everyone.”I lower my voice.“He denied me.”

“You survived.”The words slice through me.

Simple, dismissive, and brutal.You survived.As if surviving erased the pain.As if crawling out of wreckage meant no one had to apologize for setting the fire.

My wolf lunges so hard my vision flashes gold.

Maisie shifts closer.“Holly.”

I breathe.Once.Twice.I’m not on the ground.I’m not broken.I’m not alone.

I look Cole dead in the eye.“Yes.I survived.Not because of him.Not because of my so-called family and friends.Not because anyone from Ash Hollow gave a damn what happened after he threw me away.I survived because I chose myself.”

I watch as Holly quickly escorts customers out of the bakery before locking the door.Again, she’s smarter than most, already knowing this isn’t going to end well.She also disappears, but I can’t focus on that now.

Cole scoffs.“You’re being dramatic.”

“And you’re being boring.”

His mouth tightens.“Rowan says the bond may not have fully severed.”

My stomach drops.

No!

Cole sees it, but then again, cruel men always notice when they hit their mark.“That’s why you haven’t let this new one claim you, isn’t it?”he asks.“Part of you knows.Rowan felt the pull again.He thinks the Goddess may be giving you both another chance.”

Fear flashes through me so fast it almost becomes nausea.Not because I want Rowan.Goddess, no.But because for one horrible second, I hear that old voice in my head.

You were never enough.

You should be grateful he wants you now.

Maybe fate made a mistake with Daniel too.

My wolf snarls, but the fear is human.

Cole’s smile turns satisfied.“You always were desperate for love, Holly.Running to some stray handyman because your real mate bruised your feelings?It’s pathetic.”

The back door opens, but I don’t turn around to look.The scent hits first—cedar, rain, and wolf.

Daniel.

The bakery stills, but I don’t look away from Cole.I don’t need to.

Daniel steps into the kitchen doorway behind me, and every wolf instinct in the room reacts.His presence fills the space instantly.Not loud.Not performative.Not Alpha-posturing nonsense.

Just power.Steady, controlled, and utterly furious.