Page 45 of Reject Him

“Besides,” Wayne adds. “There were no new scents last night. If Dillon were trying to get onto our land, he would have tried again last night.”

Eme isn’t so sure. She scrunches her face in response. Dillon never backs down, but now that she’s mated, he couldn’t do anything about it. “When are we doing this?” she asks instead.

“Tonight!” Val claps her hands together once. “I need to call Viola. I need to call the flower shop, and I need to see if any of the teens have a sound system. Oh, this is exactly what we need, Eme!” She dashes to the house phone and begins dialing numbers while Wayne and Draven excuse themselves to go tell her father.

When they’re alone, Eme turns to Logan. “How are you holding up?” he asks.

“Well, it wasn’t as awkward as I thought it was going to be.”

He chuckles and touches her mating mark. “Mine,” he growls.

“And no one else’s,” she whispers. She cocks her head to the side as another thought crosses her mind. “Do you think Viola and Jim will be up for the dinner tonight? I don’t want to pressure them while Clark is sick.” If she had a sick child, she’d cancel all of her plans. The last thing she wants is to be a bother.

“A party is what everyone needs, Eme. Don’t worry so much about it. Val will make sure everything is perfect.”

In his office, Logan lounges behind his desk and fiddles with a large paperclip. Wayne sits across from him. He’s hiding from Val and her need for the men’s help to set up the ceremony. Logan can’t blame him. Decorations are not Logan’s thing either.

Logan leans to peek out the window and down at the festivity set up below. Val is waving her arms at Draven, who is on a ladder, trying to string lights. He feels sorry for Draven, who has yet to find his escape.

He turns his attention back to his room. They’ve been sitting in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the quiet.

Sighing, Logan drops the paperclip back on his desk and says the first thing that comes to mind. “Becca as an enforcer?”

Wayne puts his hands up. “Don’t look at me. I’m not the one she sweet-talked. I still can’t believe Draven let her in.”

Logan swipes a hand down his face. “Well, someone has to fire her.” He looks at Wayne pointedly.

“I’m assuming that someone is me?”

“Damn right.”

Wayne sighs and looks away. “Can it wait until tomorrow? Becca asked to miss the mating ceremony and patrol instead.”

Logan isn’t surprised. And if he were being honest, he’d rather not have her there. She’d spoil the day with her snide comments and shrewd looks of disapproval. Eme doesn’t need that.

“Most of the usual patrol will be at the ceremony,” Wayne presses when Logan says nothing. “We need anyone willing to help.”

The head alpha leans back in his seat, contemplating. He’s right, though Becca isn’t necessarily a good choice. She let Dillon slip through the cracks on her watch. Any enforcer worth their weight wouldn’t.

A knock sounds at the door. Both Wayne and Logan look. Lee peeks his head inside and smiles a greeting. He’s still wearing his winter coat, and snow peppers his shoulders and hair.

“Lee,” Logan greets. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Lee stuffs his hands into his coat pockets. “I came to congratulate you.”

“Thank you, sir,” Logan says. He inclines his head.

Pressing on, Lee steps farther into the room. Wayne gets up from his seat and motions for Lee to sit down. Lee does and then crosses an ankle over his knee. “My wolves are beginning to arrive.”

“What for?” Logan hadn’t been advised of this.

“For the mating ceremony,” Lee quickly says.

Pitching forward, Logan places his elbows on his desk. “With all due respect, Lee, cut the crap. Why are you really here?” Surely it can’t be simply for making sure their alliance follows through. It bothers Logan that he came here for such a reason to begin with, and it truly bothers him that Lee cares more about the alliance than his daughter’s wishes. And now his pack is coming? It can’t just be for the mating ceremony.

Grinding his jaw, Lee studies him for a moment. “I had a suspicion that Dillon would make an appearance on your land.”

“And you didn’t say anything when you arrived? Why?” Wayne shrewdly asks.