Page 9 of Reject Him

CHAPTER FOUR

“Thanks for bringing my stuff up,” Eme says as Draven drops her last suitcase next to her painting supplies on the hardwood floor. At some point, she plans to paint the beautiful view that’s outside her window. But for now, she takes in her room and its accommodations.

Her room is spacious with light gray walls and a small sitting area in the center of the room. A large vanity sits off to the right and a matching dresser sits on her left. It’s a woman’s room, she notices, and she also notes that she isn’t sharing a room with Logan. For that, she is grateful. She isn’t ready for that kind of commitment yet.

Frankly, she wouldn’t know what to say to him because he’ll have more questions, questions she doesn’t have the answer to or isn’t willing to share just yet. The fact that she can hide out here makes her feel better and less alone.

He’ll ask things like, when will they mate? What hobbies do they share? What’s her favorite music? All of these questions are overwhelming, and she knows he’s the type of person to ask questions. She experienced that last night.

Her king-sized bed is a far cry from her queen-sized bed at home. Home. She needs to keep reminding herself that her home is here now. The bed is decorated with many ornate pillows and a dark gray headboard.

“Any time,” Draven says. He pretends to wipe sweat from his brow.

Eme runs a hand over the blue comforter. “How long have you been with the Brook Mountain Pack, Draven?”

Eme has heard the rumors. As soon as Logan was dubbed the Head Alpha, the pack grew in size overnight. Everyone wanted to be close to the power. Everyone wanted to have the ear of the Head Alpha.

For a moment, Eme has sympathy toward Logan. His job can’t be easy, but she respects it just like all the other wolves in the country do.

“Oh, I was born here.”

“Born and raised,” she mumbles. She turns to face him and says, “And the others?”

He shrugs. “I’m sure you’ll get to know them, and once you do, they can tell you their own stories. But about half were born here.”

Eme nods. It’s what she suspected.

“Are you always this tense?” Draven asks when Eme says nothing.

She runs a hand through her hair and untangles a few knots at the end. “No, not usually.”

“New place, new mate, I get it.”

“He’s not my mate yet.”

Drave tips his head and points toward her neck where a bite mark should be. “I know. And your scent hasn’t changed. Any wolf who approached you would know you’re unmated. Besides, if you were mated, Logan would never allow me in a room with you alone.”

“That protective, huh?”

“Well,” Draven purses his lips, “He can be, yes. But he has to be. He didn’t make it this far without being possessive over what he wants.”

Over what he wants. Eme doesn’t know if Draven means her or the alliance. She shoves the thought aside and swallows the question. Instead, she comments, “So I should expect an overbearing mate.”

He grins. “All mates are overbearing.”

She jabs a finger at the air between them. “How would you know? You don’t have a mate.”

He places a hand over his heart and feigns innocence. “That hurts.”

A small smile graces her lips. “Sensitive Sally.”

Just as she finishes her sentence, her cell phone rings. She pulls it out of her pocket and groans when she sees Dillon’s face flash across the screen. She silences it and stuffs it back into her pocket.

“Are you not going to answer that?” He points at her phone.

“Absolutely not.”

“Best friend?”