Page 20 of His Rejected Fated Mate

“I’m offering up a space at my house.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And I don’t need it.”

He frowned. “Come on, Elize. It’s a drive into town. Why not move in? It’s …” I watched his eyes scan my apartment, and I tightened my lips together. “You want to finish that sentence, Troy.”

“Bigger than this place.”

“You were going to say nicer.”

“I was not.”

I crossed my arms. “You’re a terrible liar.”

“Why won’t you move in?”

“Because I have no reason to.”

“So, you’re just going to travel back and forth?”

I nodded. “Yes. I don’t see myself needing to go back there often.”

“Elize, you’re mated to me. You have to be there. You have to familiarize yourself with the place again. I know you don’t think it’s important, but we have to stand together on certain things. The pack is already aware that you’re mated to me.”

“And this all sounds like an issue for you, not me.”

Troy frowned. “Is it the fact that you don’t want to stay with me? Why not stay at your folks’ house?”

I shrugged. “And why stay there at all when my home is here?”

He sighed. “You’re not even going to consider it?”

I shook my head. “Not even a little. Now, if you don’t mind, I was in the middle of something.” I shut the door, not even letting him reply.

I stood there for a moment until I heard his footsteps retreat. I headed back to the couch and grabbed the book. But I thought about his words. Troy wasn’t wrong that I should know the pack and start familiarizing myself with it again. I might not need to be there much, but I should know what’s going on. With Troy and me being mated, I would need to make an appearance.

I chewed on my cheek as I stared at the books. I decided that tomorrow I would walk around after returning the books. Not because Troy said I should, but because I decided I should.

The next day, I headed back into town with my books. I had my coffee and an updated map of Riverville. I parked my car at the park and hopped out.

I pulled the map free and took in the layout. Everything looked the same as I remembered it, besides a few extra stores. But as I pulled the map down, I could see that some stores were repainted. There was different landscaping on the sides of the roads. Even the town sign that welcomed you in was different.

I never paid attention to the few times I did travel into town, but now that I was looking, I was a little surprised. The town felt different from before, almost more homey.

I headed down the sidewalk and took in the names of the businesses. I watched as a group of school girls came out of the ice cream shop and headed down the road. Their giggles echoed around the space.

I could hear a soccer game playing in the park, parents yelling for their kids to run. I tightened my hold on my cup and crossed the street. I heard soft music coming from a store and looked inside.

It was a toy store, and I could see little kids walking around, eager to get something. I couldn’t help but smile.

Someone slammed into me from the side, and I turned. A young woman stopped, her purse spilling all over the sidewalk. “Oh my god! I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay, are you alright?” I asked, as I pulled myself together.

“I’m fine. I was checking my phone, and I didn’t see you. I’m really sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.” I bent down to help pick everything up. She shoved everything back into her purse.

“Thank you… uhmmm…”