His Refused Mate by Jade Marshall

Chapter Four

Caine

My cock throbs harshly between my thighs as I watch her standing in the water. The water only covers half of her, putting her breasts on full display. The creaminess of her skin glows in the light of the full moon. I want nothing more than to run my tongue across her every inch before taking a nipple into my mouth. Her voice flows over me, causing goosebumps to rise across my entire body. The scent she puts off reminds me of home, clean washing, and sunshine, and I instantly know that I am completely addicted to it.

She is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life, naked in the moonlight. And that is truly saying a lot because I have seen hundreds of naked women in my twenty-five years. Although her hair is wet, I can see that it will be light blonde. She has high cheekbones that have a blush to them and full, plump, kissable lips. Her breasts are ample but not too large and tipped with nipples the same color as her blush. They are drawn tightly to her skin and entice me to the point that I lick my lips.

An hourglass figure leads into wide hips, but I am unable to see more of her beneath the shimmering water. I growl at the insane jealousy flowing through me. I mean, the water is caressing her while I am unable to. Her shoulders are squared as we face off against each other.

“I am not your mate,” she replies.

Her voice wraps around me and captivates me, but her words have anger rising to the surface. Before I can think about my actions, I wade into the water. Her eyes show her fear, but she doesn’t move an inch to back away. Pride sweeps through me. My mate is strong and will be able to stand by my side through good times and bad.

Stopping inches away from her, I stare into her violet eyes.

“You are my mate. I feel it in my bones. We are fated to be together.”

My voice is raspy with the need to have her, to hold her, and to be close to her. In my entire life, I have never felt such intense arousal, the need to claim and protect someone I only laid eyes on for the first time a few minutes ago.

“No.” Her gaze hardens as she watches me. “I am no one’s mate. I have been refused by my one true mate and am destined to spend my life alone. The goddess has chosen this path for me, and I will not stray from my fate.”

Anger washes over me, burning from the inside out. Who would refuse this gift from above? Who would be able to? Add to that the fact that this asshole, her intended mate, could have killed her by refusing her. As shifters we are bound to our mates, and refusing them could annihilate them. Just like losing a mate could be the end for the surviving partner. My wolf claws at the surface, trying to get out. He wants revenge against the lowlife motherfucker that could hurt this perfect female.

My calloused hands cup her face before I scan her features more closely. She seems to be unharmed, but fear is coursing through me along with the anger.

“How can that be true?” I whisper hoarsely.

“Simple,” she replies quietly. “On the day of my eighteenth birthday the mating draw came over me, but I had been so sheltered by my pack that I had no idea what was happening. When my Alpha explained, I was so relieved, but the next moment became my greatest nightmare come to life as he proceeded to refuse me.”

Tear shimmer in her eyes, and I feel my heart break on her behalf. I cannot see any reason to refuse her, to refuse any mate, and by most, it is unheard of. Matings are not necessarily of a sexual nature, but simply a pairing of like-minded people sharing a life together. But to refuse a mate? I would never be able to do it. Staring at her, I feel as though she is half of my heart beating outside of my body.

“What is your name, my moon?” I question gently.

“Peyton.”

“Peyton.” Her name is silk on my lips, like I was meant to say it my whole life. “My name is Caine Beckett. I am Alpha to the Katu pack. I am so sorry that happened to you. I cannot begin to imagine the pain you have been through. But now that I’ve found you, you never have to fear being hurt that way again.”

She frowns at me before pulling away.

“I am not your mate,” she repeats.

She turns from me, walking toward the edge of the pool. For a moment words fail me as I watch her near the edge. Her perfect ass is on full display, rivulets of water dripping down.

“Would you put me through what he did to you? Would you put yourself through that again?” My voice sweeps across the river and fills the clearing.

She stills her movements and turns toward me. Her face is a mask of horror, reminding me that in her life she has experienced true pain. The kind of pain that one doesn’t simply forget. The kind of pain I want nothing more than to soothe and make a distant memory for her.