Awakening (2 book series)
Awakening – Rejected Mate Chapter 42

His tone is clipped, and he closes link before I can respond, despite saying he wouldn't, sounding off, and moody, and I swear it actually makes me want to laugh at how ridiculous he's being. He sent me here with Matteo, and now he's what? Jealous, because I said he was being nice. I knew males were territorial and possessive by nature, worse so when they mate up, but I'm not even his and he has nothing to worry about. We imprinted, and the fates made sure I have no desire to look at anyone else, even if he did reject me. I inhale sharply, shake it off, and go back to staring at the fire, trying not to let him get to me as the door swings open and two boys stomp in arguing with one another

"You're a liar, I didn't say anything of the sort." The first male snaps, turning and spotting me and instantly frowning like he's just been faced with a terrible or vile sight. He stops dead as the other collides into the back of him with an exaggerated 'whooomph' noise. He's unsurprisingly dark haired, tanned and has your typical Colombian look to him. All the Santos originated from there, before coming here a few generations ago. They tend to mate up with others like them, so the bloodline stays purest, and most of the males are sent back in early childhood to spend time in their homelands, so most have mixed accents, like Colton does.

"Hey, watch it" the voice snarls angrily and shoves him forward, exposing an identical face and equal build, and I realize these two boys are twins. If memory serves right, I can pull out of Colton's mind that this is Domi, and Remi. They're younger than Colton by a year, making them eighteen, like me. Both lanky, tall, athletic boys, with brown hair and soft hazel eyes. More Santos and I know for sure they're Colton's distant cousins on his mom's side. "And she is here why?" The first one turns to Matteo with a growl and is met with a snarl in response. Matteo seemingly growing an inch taller and faces them down.

"Because Colton said so, and I doubt he wants to hear you were questioning it!" It's not a friendly tone and it has the effect of dampening down the attitude on one of the twins at least.

"He's not questioning, he's just a little shocked that our pack room has someone... not of our pack" the other chirps in, throwing me a devious side eye and I shrivel back into my chair, aware the waves of prickling heat coming my way are hostility, even while he is smiling on like it's not.

"Who's not in our pack?" That female voice I've been dreading the arrival of, comes waving in as she walks in the door. Thick like honey, and sultry, preceding her entry. She sashays in like the Queen of the manor and stops dead in her tracks when she spots me. Grey eyes instantly storming over, pouty mouth forming a thin tight light, and porcelain skin paling as rage ignites under the surface. Her eyes start glowing intense amber as she growls her dislike at me and lowers her chin to move into an attack stance. Wolves are aggressive by nature and we literally jump to fight for every little thing. Bite, nip, attack. It's just how we are.

"Why in the fuck, has he let her in here?" Carmen loses her cool, steps at me fast but Matteo zaps forward using his hyper speed, blocking her in a nanosecond, and standing between us. He stands firm, lifts his chin, and makes a good show of exerting his dominance.

"Colton wanted her here and will be along soon, so pipe down, go sit over there and behave!" Matteo has a tone not too dissimilar to Colton's alpha tone, only less effective, and she draws her eyes from me to him, not as affected as she would be had their alpha said it.

"Don't tell me what to do.... You're not my alpha, hell, you're not even his beta." The undercurrent of a snarl between them sizzles and I tense, waiting for it to get crazy in here. Surprised that Matteo is not his second in command and I rake my memories to replace out who is. I swear to god it better not be Carmen, or I'm in trouble.

"Ahora, ahora, que tenemos aqui?" Another female voice floats in, soft, light, and strangely alluring, with a deep raspy undercurrent as three more wolves stroll in unannounced, and I recognize her as Meadow, one of the older femmes in her late twenties, mated to the one behind her, Cesar. Her brother is in tow, Jesus, and they stop to gaze over the little scene in hand.

"Ahora Ninas, go sit down before I break a claw reminding you who is beta in this room when Colton is not here. Sit!" Her accent is heavy, and thick, clear she's an incomer to Radstone and English is not her first language. It's not uncommon for wolves with links elsewhere to sometimes bring in family pack from further away, to live with them, or replace a mate, and I know Meadow's been with us for a few years, maybe even as far back as the war. Her accent has never faded though.

Matteo and Carmen give one last snarl and separate, walking to the couches, chastised, and surprisingly not defying her. They're followed by the twins, who avert eyes from their new member and instantly go into sulk mode, slumping together on one sofa and stare at me with lowered eyelids. No hint of warmth, which adds to my growing uneasiness as I sit stiffly where I was. Meadow strolls into the room fully, confidently, eyeing me up, unashamedly, and I get the sensation I'm being weighed up as prey. She's a sight to behold, at five feet eight, strong, graceful, and very Latino. Black hair, the most amazing pale blue eyes under sculpted black brows, and deeply tanned skin. She has full lips, catlike eyes with perfect make up, and an outfit of clingy denim with a blouse that shows off her ample cleavage.

She's beautiful but has an aura of terrifying. She doesn't stray out of the Santo side of the lands much, but it's obvious that Matteo is not Colton's second in command. Meadow is. I wouldn't argue with her, her natural nails are long, sharp, and pointed, with a nice shellac of blood red, so I can't imagine what her wolf claws would be like. She puts the fear in me with just her presence.