Rejected By My Mate, Now Mated To The Lycan King Chapter 40

~ NYSSA

I wasn’t sure how long I stood in the alley, heart pounding as I tried to make sense of everything that happened.

The mont played over again in my head, his scent around , the feel of his body against mine and his lips.

I lifted my hand subconsciously, hovering over the spot his lips touched mine. They were much softer than I’d imagined. His touch was exploratory, gentle even. I found it hard to believe that soone as cruel as he was could be capable of such gentleness.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping out of my thoughts.

My hands fell instantly, my cheeks burning bright, this ti from embarrassnt as I fished out my phone.

Aria’s na flashed across my screen and I winced.

I gave her my number earlier. She told to call if I needed her and to stay close.

I’d forgotten all about her the mont Rowan approached.

Clearing my throat, I swiped right. "Hello?"

"Where the hell are you?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the noise in her background. "I’ve been looking everywhere. One minute you were within sight and now... you’re gone. If you get missing, I’ll be in so much fucking trouble."

I forced an awkward laugh through my lips. "I’m fine, I needed a breather from the noise. I’m by so houses."

I stepped out of the alley, shielding my face with my hands while I adjusted to the sudden brightness again.

While I was still adjusting, I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I cursed, jumping again as I turned and locked eyes with a slightly confused but moistly annoyed Aria.

Beads of sweat had ford on her forehead and here were tiny streaks of mascara at the corner of her eyes. She held a cup of what slled like alcohol in her hands and I was reminded that a few minutes ago, I had a cup of my own.

I wasn’t sure where or when it fell, only that it was no longer in my possession.

"Of all the places to go, you picked the make out alley?" she teased, her hand on her lip. "That’s where kids go to suck face when they’re bored."

That would explain the couple we saw earlier and their statent. They probably assud that Rowan and I had gone there to...

"Didn’t you?" my wolf asked, her voice teasing. "You would have if they didn’t interrupt you."

"I would have stopped it," I said firmly.

She didn’t believe , and honestly, neither did I.

Aria opened her mouth to speak but stopped at the last minute, leaned over to and sniffed.

"I see you found Rowan," she drawled, pulling back as she wrinkled her nose. "Please tell he wasn’t an ass."

I opened my mouth to speak, the tips of my ears heating up as I shut it back quickly.

I wasn’t sure how to answer that question.

Sure, walking away from was a dick move, but what did I expect from him?

"I’m tired," I said, quickly changing the subject. "Can we call it a night?"

Her mouth fell open. "The bonfire hasn’t even begun. There’s still so much to do."

I shifted awkwardly on my feet.

I wasn’t sure that I could stay out here given everything that happened. I couldn’t shake Rowan out of my mind, and with every flash of mory ca a wave of embarrassnt so thick that it nearly brought to my knees.

"I don’t mind going back alone," I offered. "I just want to-"

"No, I brought you here. If you go, I go too. I just need to say goodbye to so people."

"You really don’t-" I tried to stop her but she was already walking away.

I followed closely behind her, keeping a bit of distance as she said goodbye to so friends,

Once she was done, she led over to the car, her eyes watching my movents with barely concealed curiosity.

She managed to stay silent until we got to the palace.

She’d barely put the car in park when she turned to . "Did you at least have fun?"

I didn’t have to think much to co up with an answer. "I did."

Before Rowan appeared, before the tryst in the alley, I was having fun. I felt more alive than I had in a long ti, and for a mont, I wasn’t the Beta’s daughter or the scorned mate, I wasn’t even the King’s mate, I was just... Nyssa.

Her shoulders sagged in relief. "We should definitely do it again soti."

That earned a laugh from . "Not too soon, I hope, or I’ll start to believe you like ."

We parted ways as we got into the palace. She headed down the corridor I now recognized as leading to the kitchens while I headed up the stairs.

I passed by that sa hallway that got in trouble a few days ago when I slled him.

A disbelieving scoff left my lips.

It was bad enough that he’d walked out on without a word, but to go to his ex-girlfriend’s corridor straight after was diabolical.

Rage bubbled up inside of , fueled by my embarrassnt and sha, and without thinking, I stord down the dark hall, following his scent until I got to that balcony where the easel sat.

He sat by the easel, eyes fixed on the unfinished painting, eyes filled with more emotion than I’d ever seen before.

"Are you fucking with right now?" I spat, imdiately gaining his attention.

"What are you doing here?" he asked but I ignored him.

"What kind of dick almost kisses a girl then seeks solace with his ex? You didn’t even-"

"What happened today was a mistake," he cut off sharply. "it won’t happen again."

Everything stopped all at once.

The sha, the anger; it all bled away, leaving behind a numbness that settled on like a weighted blanket.

I forced myself to remain neutral, willed my bones to remain upright. "Is that right?"

"Yes," he said simply. "A car will be waiting in front of the palace at sunrise. It will to take you ho. I think it would best if you got into it."