Page 99 of Rejected By the Winter Wolf

“I don’t know, the grilled salmon or something. Not that I have money, unless it’s in the truck.” She faces me and raises her eyebrows.

“Don’t worry about the money,” I tell her. “Astra. Why couldn’t I feel you?”

She frowns. “He had wards on the house. And the cuffs—they blocked everything. My magic was the point, but even our…”

“Bond,” I finish. “Until two days ago.”

“I wasn’t able to replenish my magic anymore,” she whispers. “Someone took the cuffs off and put them back on after Sonia drained me again.”

“She was draining your magic?”

My wolf growls in my mind, emerging from his slumber. He’s been quiet since the fight. Exerting dominance over another wolf had him energized until the adrenaline faded.

We don’t like the idea of someone preying on our girl.

“She was a blood witch… and a vampire.” Astra sighs, rubbing her eyes. “I don’t know what they were doing with the magic once she had it. They had so many witches when I first got there. But by the end, it was just me.”

Fuck.

“And the mate bond?” Her voice trembles. “That’s real, isn’t it?”

“You feel me?” I pull on the thread between us. It vibrates like an instrument, resounding a beautiful note in my chest that only we can hear.

She touches it, too. It’s softer, weaker. A testament to the magic she’s lost. She’s currently burning through the rest of it to keep this glamour in place.

I put my finger under her chin, guiding her head back around to me. She meets my gaze with some reluctance.

“I find you absolutely stunning. Mark and all. My wolf knew the fate of us before we did, but it is fate. Destiny. Whatever you want to call it. It’s pushing us together.”

“I won’t become a shifter,” she says in a low voice. “I’m not perfect for you.”

“I’m an alpha,” I respond. “I’m not typical. Neither are you. That’s enough.”

“Welcome in,” a waitress interrupts. “Can I get you started on anything? Drinks?”

I order for both of us, ignoring Astra’s quiet protest. Salmon for her, steak for me. Potatoes. Vegetables. A side of mac ’n’ cheese. Waters for both of us. And a side salad, just to see if I can get her to smile.

It works.

But I order everything to-go, because she’d probably be better off with a shower and a real bed than made to sit here and expend magic for an hour.

“We could go back and find Sonia,” Astra says. “See if she’d help us. She’s a blood witch…”

“And a vampire. They’re loyal to their masters and those who can provide for them. That’s not us, that’s Gage. Even if she was a blood witch, she’s something else now.” My stomach swoops. “All the more reason to find our own.”

I nod to myself. We’re still on the same path. Find the blood witch, end the curse. Rescue Astra’s mother. That last one wasn’t on my to-do list, but it’s only fair. She helps me, I help her.

Right?

“Do you think Gage will strike back?”

“If he does, we’ll handle it.”

He’s embarrassed, and he’s clearly inherited our bloodline’s calculating nature. If he chooses to come at me again, it will be a well thought out plan. I make a note to keep an eye on his pack, then redirect my attention back to Astra.

She shudders. Then, even more surprising, she leans into me. Puts her head on my shoulder. “I miss my mom. She’d know what to do.”

“Would she?”