Page 49 of Rejected Alpha Mate

Then she blinks, breaking the spell, and climbs off me with a quick, self-conscious laugh. “You should rest, Nicholas. You still have a bad shoulder.”

I push up onto my elbows, smirking faintly. “My shoulder has long since healed. You just want to quit while you’re ahead.”

“Maybe.” She throws me a playful glare over her shoulder as she heads toward the back porch, the last light of sunset catching in her hair.

I stay there a while longer, sitting in the dirt, watching her walk away. The bond hums quietly under my skin, less like a burn now and more like a heartbeat, and it’s steady, patient, waiting for Donna to make the first move.

And for the first time in a long while, it doesn’t feel like what we have is lost for good.

It feels like there’s hope.

Chapter 17 - Donna

“That was amazing, Donna!” Arianna cheers, clapping from the side, her face lit up with a proud smile that puffs my chest with the same feeling.

The healing energy in my palms retracts, and with an inaudible sigh, it disappears, leaving only the tingling sensations behind. I take a deep breath in, smiling and proud of myself for my progress.

Now, I’m able to create a vortex with water or sand, applying enough energy to create a sturdy force that can knock down a tree. I should be proud of myself—I’ve achieved this without becoming too distracted.

What happened here the other day would have haunted me if I weren’t strong enough to ignore it. The almost-kiss with Nicholas nearly cost me my peace, my resolve, but I proved to myself that I can detach from my emotions and fully immerse myself in training my mystic abilities.

That’s why I’m pretty chuffed right now.

“Hm…” Delilah hums thoughtfully as she approaches me, eyes narrowed as if she isn’t as convinced that I’m where I need to be. “You’re using intent to wield your powers right now, and it’s good, don’t get me wrong.”

“But?” I ask, tilting my head because I can sense it coming.

“But…you’d be so much better if you allowed your emotions to drive your power. Like you did that night to extract the dark magic from Nick.”

I scoff and roll my eyes because I haven’t fully forgiven her for throwing me to a particular wolf the other day when she suggested I practice one-on-one combat with Nicholas.

She almost cost me my sanity by leaving me to train with the man who ignites a raging fire in my body while awakening my resentment toward him, but I know she only has good intentions, so I can’t hold a grudge against her.

“Emotions aren’t exactly my strong suit,” I admit earnestly, and she smiles knowingly.

“Then maybe that’s what’s blocking you from being great.”

“I don’t want to be great,” I murmur. “I just want to survive whatever comes our way, that’s all.”

Delilah stares at me, still unconvinced, shrugging diffidently as she turns at the sound of Cecelia’s voice.

“Hey, ladies!” Cecelia greets us as she comes toward us, her baby, Darius, on one hip, Arianna’s baby, Tyson, propped on the other, with his brother, Gio, running circles around her.

Arianna rushes forward to get her kids, and Gwen and Delilah rush forward to free Cecelia’s arms so that by the time she’s halfway toward me, she’s on her own.

“Hey, Dons!” She jogs forward, dark curls bouncing across her shoulders until she flings her arms around my neck. “I missed you, girl!”

“Oh, I missed you, too!” I return, hugging her tightly and basking in the warmth of her embrace a little longer.

She pulls back and stares into my eyes deeply, like she’s reading every thought and emotion there.

“You look lighter,” she comments. “Maybe you’re finally getting used to how things are.”

I sigh, the weight of guilt settling on my shoulders. My best friend since childhood has no idea about what happened last summer between Nicholas and me, while the other witches seem to know.

It wasn’t my intention to leave her out of the loop, but I was too embarrassed to tell her.

“Or maybe I’m just too tired of hating him,” I finally say, turning toward the house where the others are gathering for tonight’s barbecue. It was Dom’s idea for us to meet up in Wells; that’s why everyone is here this afternoon.