Rejected Mate and Following Fate novel Chapter 120

“Yeah. A bond like that may take years to grow given the dramatic rollercoaster story behind all this. He doesn’t get to just step into the daddy shoes because things are clear now. He has to earn your trust.” Carmen pauses and looks around seemingly sensing something and then shifts further away to rearrange plants along the wall units. I pause to watch her and then wave it off as nothing.

“Time will tell. I won’t reject him. I won’t stop him from making contact with me or seeing these two when they are born. I think it’s one of those things that can’t just be fixed with a meeting and put to rights overnight. I don’t even know him or anything about him.”

“Getting over what he is will be your first hurdle, and his part in the wars of the last two decades.” She throws me an empathetic smile.

“Yeah…. enough about that though. What are you doing about my brother?” I know I shouldn’t ask as she normally clams up and pretends she doesn’t care, but it’s driving me insane seeing no progress.

“Nothing. It’s all on him. I’m so tired or marching to the beat of other people’s drums. Chasing and always ending up alone. He knows where I am and if he never finds his way to me I’m not going to stop living and hold my breath. I can have a future without a mate. There’s plenty to do here and who knows, maybe I can date casually whenever I have an urge that needs fulfilled.”

It seems Carmen really is fully pulling herself back together. Giving up even when she is bonded to Jasper; putting herself first. This is more like the girl I used to see. The one who says screw it to the Fates and decides on her own path to follow. The warrior inside the girl who won’t break with what the world throws at her.

“Baby? Where you at?” Colton’s voice breaks in as he enters the room from across the other side. Eyes scanning our efforts at making this a place to dine with guests and smiles radiantly when he locks eyes on me. As usual the butterflies and goosebumps he causes me ripple all over my skin and through my soul and my day gets brighter with him just being here.

Behind him Jasper follows at a distance, still carrying that pensive frown of his and a slight snarly aura to him. I now know what carmen could feel coming. Back in the early days of imprinting I too was way mor sensitive to my waits whereabouts if he got within fifty feet of me. Thankfully that’s dulled down a little and I am no longer constantly hyper aware of his location unless sin wolf form.

“Here. All done and now to go soak in the tub while the kitchen deal with the menu for lunch. Everything else is done. We just await their arrival.” I slide into his open arms as he gets close enough and snuggle up to him, resting my head under his chin and letting myself relax finally. I have been tense all day, ever since I woke up to a note on my pillow saying he was up and out to deal with some things. I missed him crazily today, but I know he wants everything perfect. Colton’s nervous too and his way of getting it out is to stay busy. He has the pack on guard duty just in case, and the ground looking flawless for our royal visit. I think he’s torn between awaiting an old enemy he wants to be wary of and impressing his father in law at the same time.

Carmen turns away and pretends to fluff some plants in the pots on the side dresser and I cast a quick glance towards my brother who is still hovering by the far door. His eyes on her despite his efforts to keep looking away and it ignites a tiny splinter of hope in my heart. He’s wavering. Being here a week and seeing her form afar, sensing her, smelling her scent…he just needs a little push.

“Carmen, can you take those ones to the library. They aren’t needed in here.” I nod at the extra plants sat on the floor from when we were styling the dresser and nod towards Jasper’s door which leads to the same hall the library is on. She has no choice but to go that way or else it would be too obvious she’s avoiding him. She has her pride after all. And I am not against using any method in my arsenal to force my brothers hand. He’s deliberately kept away from her because he’s weak and I am almost a hundred percent certain he won’t withstand any nearness.

“Hmm” she replies blandly, as though not bothered and swipes up the two pots, cradling them against her chest before marching with confidence towards him without looking his way at all. I know it’s all bravado and I inwardly applaud her ability to put on that cold front and act like he’s nothing to her, just a mere fly in the same room that she has no need to bother with.

I sigh inwardly and wriggle enough in Colton’s embrace to hint at him to move slightly so I can watch her walk out. Eyes glues to the sexy sway of her walk and smile gleefully as my brother’s eyes latch onto her in that intense focus gaze of a wolf on the hunt. I feel like maybe today is the day he breaks.

She looks pretty today, crazily so. She has her old aura back, her skin is glowing and with her efforts of her appearance, I see the beautiful girl who used to stroll around the valley like she owned the place. Jasper’s eyes lock on her face despite himself as she walks towards him and goes to brush past him without a word. I see the shift in him as his inner wolf kicks out and takes over every one of his instincts. Eyes ambering of their own accord and that change in his mood hits me pretty powerfully.

There’s a slight gasp noise as a sudden hand catches her elbow in passing and tugs her to a halt in an unexpected manner. She almost drops the plants and stumbles slightly before catching herself. Head swiveling towards him as anger peaks out.