Page 6 of His Rejected Fated Mate

I stared at the school, my legs refusing to let me go inside. I couldn’t. And then I thought of my uncle’s words all summer.

“You should think about your witch lineage, Elise. You could do great things.” I left the school, and I never looked back.

He’d gotten me in contact with a convent outside of the pack that was always welcoming people. I moved out that night, hardly explaining anything to my parents. We didn’t have a great relationship anyway, so I figured it didn’t matter.

I frowned, thinking about how it all happened. I still didn’t understand what I’d done wrong. I chalked it up to him being an asshole, and that was how it stayed.

I spent the entire day dreading what tomorrow would bring.

The next morning, Martin arrived early and honked his horn at me. I looked outside the window and groaned.

I headed down and hopped into his car. He offered me a smile. “Morning, Elize.”

I grunted as I buckled up, and he pulled the car out of the dirt road.

“Why am I going again?” I asked, glancing at Martin as he drove.

“Because you haven’t been back in a while. You want real ice cream. Maybe a burger.”

I rolled my eyes. “I can have that in the convent.”

His face softened. “I know. I just want to make sure you know there is more out there than just the convent.”

I shrugged. “You know you are the one who told me to join them. You set it all up. Why do you suddenly want me to branch out?”

“You were a high schooler, and you wanted space. I could see how much you wanted out. But you’re an adult now, and things are different.”

I chewed on my cheek as he drove, unsure. But I wasn’t going to argue. Martin always wanted the best for me.

The music played softly, and as we pulled into the pack. I took the buildings without really looking carefully. I never did.Whenever I came into Riverville, I headed for my destination and then headed home. I came for the holidays, and that was it.

“I have to make a stop,” Martin said as he took a left turn.

We pulled up in front of the city hall, where Martin cut the engine. “Can you come in with me?”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Into the city hall?”

He nodded. “Yeah, it will just be quick. Besides, you know all of the council members. Just come in and say hi.”

I grunted, not really in the mood to visit with anyone, but unbuckled and pulled myself out. I followed him inside. City hall was the same. Pictures of past members hung on the wall, and the windows bathed the marble floor with light. Everyone told me that they thought the city hall was cold, but I’d always enjoyed being there. I had my fondest memories inside this building.

I couldn’t help but smile as we headed up the stairs and down the hallway. “What are we doing here exactly?”

“I have to ask the others a quick question, and then we will head out for lunch.”

He paused at the double doors and pushed them open. I was doing another look around the hallway as I stepped inside. I brought my eyes front and center, my body frozen.

Troy stood just in front of me. He looked over his shoulder, and his eyes widened as he spotted me. My entire body froze up, and I felt like the world came to a halt.

“Troy, meet your mate, Elize.”

I felt my heart stop beating as I stared at Troy. Anger quickly built up, mixed with sorrow and hurt. But I knew better than to allow my emotions to get the better of me.

I looked toward Martin and frowned. “What the hell is this?”

Martin looked at the others. “I thought we were going to wait until later to do that.”

The others simply shrugged, and I looked at Martin with anger now. I tried to form words, but nothing came to mind. I looked back at Troy, feeling all those emotions that I had shoved down were coming to the surface.