Page 23 of His Rejected Fated Mate

I soaked it in, reminding myself why I worked so hard. This peace is what I wanted in our pack. I turned and headed back.

Once back at my car, I pulled my clothes back on. I checked my phone to see the time. It was a little past ten now. I should head home and shower. My mind had settled a little, but I knew it wouldn’t last that long. I would have to see her at some point today; I would drive myself insane.

I rounded my car when I heard shuffling a few yards behind me. I paused and turned around. I noticed a group of guys standing a few yards away. They were all college kids, and I could smell the faintness of alcohol, which was never a good sign. I didn’t know if they were drinking now or just still going from last night.

I narrowed my eyes on them, watching as they laughed together. One pushed another, and the laughter grew louder.

“Hey, I have a great idea,” one of them muttered and leaned in closer to them. He spoke more softly, and I couldn’t hear. But I could feel the hair on my arms rise. Whatever they were talking about, I knew it wasn’t good.

They headed into the woods, and I frowned. It was in the direction of Elize’s Convent. Well, shit.

I got in my car and headed up the road. I knew it would take them a while to get there if that was their destination. I was driving over the speed limit, taking the back road. I watched dust kick up behind me as I slammed to a halt just outside the convent.

I got out of my car and looked around the open space. I could feel my heart racing as I hoped that I was wrong. I hoped they went somewhere else.

But then I heard the faint sound of footsteps, and I knew I hadn’t been. I watched them emerge up ahead onto the road. They were all in their wolf form now.

I walked closer, knowing that the convent was only a few yards up the road now. I told Elize that we would protect her convent and I was going to keep it.

“Hey, where are you guys going?” I yelled as I walked, growing closer to the group.

None of them looked my way, so I wasn’t sure if they heard me or not. So, I placed my hands over my mouth and yelled louder. “Hey!”

They turned. I watched a couple of them retreat, knowing right away they were caught, but three of them didn’t. I knew liquor was powerful, but there was something else going on. I’d handled drunks before, and the look in their eyes wasn’t that.

I came to a stop as I watched them. My stomach sank as I realized their eyes were all jet black.

The hair on my neck rose as they turned toward me. The look in their eyes told me that they weren’t in control. I knew that they were clearly being affected by the dark magic.

“Shit.”

I’d seen a couple of wolves lose their minds, but I hadn’t run into a group of them before. It was hard enough to handle one wolf. I didn’t know how I was going to handle three.

I ran for it because that’s the best I could do. If I got back into my car, I could drive closer to the convent and tell everyone to get inside.

But before I could get to my car, I felt something slam into me from the side and force me sideways. I flew out of the way as the wolves charged past me. I hit the ground hard, feeling the wind getting knocked out of me.

I heard a loud thud as two wolves slammed into my car. The third one came to a halt.

“Fuck,” I grunted as I rolled off my stomach. I rolled over and spotted an older woman standing a few feet behind me. She had her eyes focused and turned her gaze toward the wolves.

I quickly realized she’d used magic to shove me out of the way. I turned my eyes toward the wolves who were turning around to charge at her now.

But she wasn’t alone now. Elize stood next to her. She pulled her hands up, and I could see her magic on her palms.

“Troy, move!” Elize yelled, and I turned my head just as the two who slammed into my car were pulling themselves together.

“Shit.” I hoisted myself up, trying to force my body and lungs to listen.

“Why are they going after you?” the older lady yelled, pulling her magic up and slamming it into one of them.

“Don’t hurt them!” I quickly yelled. “They aren’t in control of themselves. I need to call Janella. She can calm them.”

I made it over to them, trying to find my phone. I then realized that I had left it in the car.

“Calm them?”

“It’s the dark magic. They don’t realize what they are doing. Once they calm down, they will be fine.”