Chapter 17 · You rejected me

"You rejected me."

The words cut through the forest noise.

Rayne went still.

I held his gaze.

"You smelled me in front of your entire command," I said. "You knew what I was. You knew what we were. Then you called me a rogue and put a blade to my throat. Don't stand here and talk about rights now."

His jaw tightened.

"I didn't know you were carrying my pup."

"You didn't know because I made sure you couldn't find us."

"Why?"

"Because the last alpha who claimed me put a collar on my door and called it protection."

Rayne's fingers flexed under mine.

"Cole did that?"

"Cole did worse."

The pup whimpered.

Rayne's focus snapped back to the child.

"Let me help."

"No."

"Sera."

"No. You don't get to touch the pup just because your blood is reacting."

"You think I would hurt my own child?"

"I think men like you always say that before they decide they know best."

His stare went dark.

"You have no idea what I would do for you."

"I know what you did."

A shell exploded near the convoy.

The ground bucked.

Rayne shoved his body over mine and the pup.