Page 49 of His Rejected Fated Mate

I wished I knew more. I wished I had the answers and that things were simple. But magic was never simple. I learned that at a young age.

“Don’t stay mad at him for too long,” I offered. “You’re a good Alpha, and leaders should stick together.”

I headed back down the hallway and slipped into the room, but Troy wasn’t there. They must have understood my confusion because one of them pointed. “He just went down the hallway to answer his phone.”

“Thanks.” I slipped back out and headed down the hallway that the guy pointed toward. I found him walking ahead of me. I was about to call his name when I heard him speak. “No, I want you to keep your eyes on him.”

I stopped walking. Had we missed someone?

“Troy,” I called his name, and he looked over his shoulder. He offered me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up the phone and shoved it into his pockets.

I walked toward him. “Is there someone else missing?”

He shook his head. “No. We have everyone.”

I frowned, confused. “Then who were you talking to just now?”

“No one. Just Ivan telling me something. Are you ready to head home?”

I nodded. “Are we going to leave so soon? What about the others?”

“I’ve arranged those rides to get home since most of them aren’t driving themselves.”

I looked at his hands and noticed they were shaking. I swallowed. “Troy, is there something you aren’t telling me?”

He frowned. “No, I’m just tired. It’s getting late. Come on, let’s get home.”

I followed him out, and I could hear his phone ringing as we got into the car. He didn’t answer, but the more it rang, the more I wondered what was going on.

The drive home was quiet, and I sat unsure. I felt like there was something he wasn’t telling me. It irritated me as we drove because I just spent the last couple of hours helping him. What could he know that he didn’t feel that he could tell me?

As we got home, we headed inside. Troy normally tossed his keys onto the counter, but he didn’t. He shoved them into his pocket and offered me a smile. “You should get some rest. I know how exhausted you are.”

I stared at him, wanting to ask if there was something he wasn’t telling me, but I felt he wouldn’t tell me. So, I decided to go with my next option.

I smiled. “I’m going to. I could probably pass out as soon as I hit my bed.” I turned and headed down the hallway. I slipped into my room and shut the door. But I leaned against it and pressed my ear to the door.

I could hear nothing for a long moment, and then I heard Troy on the phone. “Ivan, where did he land? I thought you saidthat you were following him? What is he doing at the council office so late? No… no… I’ll come down.”

I could hear the shuffling of feet, and then the front door opened and closed. I slipped out of the room and back to the front door. I watched as he pulled out of the driveway, and I grabbed my keys.

I hurried out to my car and hopped in. I drove down the road, following behind Troy at least a block. He drove to city hall, then got back on the road and headed inside. I looked around the parking lot and found that my uncle’s car was the only other car parked.

I hurried after him, yanking my heels off so they didn’t click on the tile floor. I went up the stairs slowly until I found Troy standing in front of a door.

What made me stop was that he was leaning on the door trying to listen in. My jaw dropped at the sight of him. It was like a five-year-old was trying to peek into someone’s meeting.

“Troy?”

He jumped and turned. His eyes widened as he spotted me, and I crossed my arms. “What the hell are you doing? And what are you doing peeping into that room?”

“It’s not what you think.”

I glared at him. “I’m doubting that, considering you refused to tell me what this is.” I waved a hand around the hallway.

“What are you doing here?” he asked as he moved away from the door.

“I could tell you were hiding something. You have never been the best at trying to hide things.”