Rejected by the Alpha (Alpha Shifter Collection)

This was just another thing that made her pathetic. Decker had hurt her, not the other way around.

“I’m not going to let you go. When are you going to realize that?” he asked.

“Don’t do this,” she said.

He eased out of her pussy, and Misha immediately stood up. After working at the diner last night, he’d broached the subject of their mating.

She wasn’t … ready.

The next full moon was in a couple of weeks, and she’d known he’d try to broach the subject, but three years was a lot to get over.

“I told you I wouldn’t let you down again. Why can’t you see that?”

“It’s not about seeing it.” She bit her lip and clenched her hands into fists. “We’re in a good place right now.”

“Misha, we’re fucking in secret. You won’t allow yourself to be seen with me, holding hands. You won’t even stand close to me.”

“Can you blame me?” she asked. “You were the one to avoid me.”

“Because I didn’t want to give in to temptation.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right, of course. I was such a horrible temptation.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

She reached for her clothes, pulling them on and hoping she didn’t tear anything because she suddenly felt angry. “No, what I do know is you held yourself back from me. You did everything to make my life miserable. I couldn’t date anyone else. Men couldn’t even be seen to like me. In front of the whole pack, you kept your distance, and behind closed doors, you kept an eye on me. Now, because you’re ready, you want to mate and scream it from the rooftops, or whatever. Forgive me for being a little cautious.”

She slid into her pumps and moved toward the door, not caring if he was dressed or not.

“Where are you going?” Decker asked.

“To see Blueberry. Do not follow me.” She opened his door and slammed it closed. There were a couple of pack females who clearly heard the conversation she just had.

“The alpha will be out in a minute,” Misha said.

The whole pack probably knew what they were doing. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. She smelled like Decker.

Leaving the town hall, she pasted a smile onto her face and greeted the pack as they said their hellos to her. She made her way across to Blueberry’s shop.

Once again, Blueberry was burning what smelled like sage.

“Hey,” Misha said.

“Misha, I figured you were going to come here.”

“Did the spirits tell you?” she asked.

“Nope, I saw you coming over here like the devil chased after you.”

She burst out laughing. “Of course. Duh, right?”

Blueberry smiled. “What can I help you with?”

“Er, a pregnancy test?” Misha asked.

Her friend’s brows went right up.

“Yeah, don’t pretend you don’t know about me and Decker,” Misha said.

“Oh, I’m not. The whole town knows he has been dropping you off at your place and not leaving. His home is looking a little unkempt. You might want to remind him to do the lawn, or at least weed a little.”

Misha laughed. “Yeah, so do you think you can help me?”

****

Decker would never get women.

After dealing with complaints from the pack females about their anger at him for not claiming Misha as his own, he honestly didn’t know what the hell to do. He’d asked each woman what they would do, what they would advise he do to win his mate over.

None of them had any ideas, other than the ones he had already used. The flowers, chocolates, the time. One of the women had even said sex, and of course, he’d gone bright red as he told her he’d been working on that one.

Misha wasn’t like other women.

As one of the women had told him, they hadn’t dealt with rejection. They didn’t know what was going on in Misha’s head. She’d also advised him not to give up hope.

As if he could give up hope. There was no way he ever would.

Misha was his whole world. It was why he hadn’t backed away.

The smell of her surrounded him. He found vanilla intoxicating. Without her, the office was a lonely place. She hadn’t returned after going to see Blueberry. He’d gotten the update she was working at the foster place, and then moving onto the diner.

He wasn’t going to bug her tonight. She clearly needed space.

No! Go to her.

He couldn’t just go to her. His wolf wanted his mate, but Decker wanted Misha to be happy far more.

After locking up the town hall, he made his way toward his very lonely, miserable-looking home.

The lawn needed to be mowed, but it had rained for a little bit, meaning if he tried to do anything with the grass, it would look a mess. The next dry spell, he’d clean up his yard.

Entering his home, he took a deep breath.

There was no Misha.