Untamed (Rejected Mate Academy #1) - E. M. Moore Page 0,6

disappointment and anger teem to the surface, muddying his beautiful features. The look on his face is like getting rejected all over again.

My wolf throws her head back and howls her pain while trying to recover her balance. The hulking, disapproving figure grabs her by the nape as she slides toward him. The brief pleasure of being touched by her fated match is squashed when he spins her to her back and places a huge forearm over her throat, pinning her to the floor.

Gazes locked, her copper paws move to his shoulder, but he leans forward, cutting off her breath. She whines, the sound emanating from deep inside. From the point of all my hurt and pain. From the place where I piled every rejection, big or small. It comes alive and sours the air between us.

“Know your place,” he growls.

3

Jonah’s features soften for a fraction of a second, and he eases the pressure. Even in my wolf form, he’s stronger—bleeding authority and strength. My wolf tangles her paws around his arm as if she’s giving him a giant hug, then licks his exposed bicep.

Instead of responding in kind, Jonah bares his teeth and growls. “Shift.”

His commanding words rip me back into reality. My pained wolf retreats in spectacularly fast fashion, once again rejected by the person who is supposed to love her unconditionally.

My back arches, bones re-breaking before I’ve had the chance to forget about the last shift pain. Skin and limbs take over until Jonah hovers over my human form. “Back the fuck off,” I pant, pushing at the arm that’s over my throat.

He backs away, moving to a standing position and glaring down at me with cold, brown eyes. With my human vision, I don’t notice the emerald in his irises as much. All I see is hatred and disappointment.

I get to my feet, only realizing then that I’m naked, a trail of tattered clothes in my wake. “For fuck’s sake,” he mutters, yanking his shirt off and offering it to me. He avoids my stare while I stand with hands on my hips, not backing down. “Take it, Kinsey. Christ.”

With a huff, I tug on his shirt. It falls to my thighs, dwarfing me. Cocooned in my mate’s smell, I feel at home, and I have to fight the smile that threatens to betray my inner emotions. My wolf, on the other hand, nuzzles against my chest as if she’s trying to cuddle the shirt.

That’s when I break. Surely him showing up at Greystone Academy is cruel and unusual punishment. “What are you doing here?”

Jonah’s gaze sharpens. Wolf yellow irises rise to the surface before he controls himself. His wide torso and bulging muscles that are now on display prove why the Livestrong’s were sought after to become alpha security. They’re huge. Jonah’s father is one of the biggest shifters—and subsequently humans—I’ve ever seen. Jonah has his genetics, for sure. He’s looked ages older than the rest of our wolfpeers since we were pups. He’s broader, stronger, and taller. Next to him, I feel small which makes my flight or fight kick in.

“What am I doing here?” he hisses. “Why in the hell are you wolfing out in the middle of Greystone Academy?” The severe look on his face tells me all I need to know. He’s disgusted. He doesn’t care about my reasonings. He only cares how my actions will make him look to everyone else, and it’s clear he thinks I can’t control my wolf—or myself.

Ms. Ebon’s high heels click on the floor behind me. “I see you have a shirt arranged. I thought we’d have to call the guards to retrieve our newest student.”

“I’m very sorry for the inconvenience,” Jonah offers her with a pointed glare toward me.

My advisor hands me a pair of Greystone Academy sweats, and I pull them on right there in the middle of the hallway. I don’t mimic his apology. I’m not sorry. I’ve never understood the reasoning behind my ridicule. If the rumor behind my lineage is true, it’s not as if it’s my fault. Yet, I’m the one who takes the brunt of everyone’s hurtful comments and actions. Like being here, for instance.

“I can’t say I’ve ever had a student wolf out on me during our first meeting.”

“I wasn’t going to hurt you,” I mutter.

“Oh, I’m well aware, Miss Walker. You just want to hurt everyone else.”

Her words attempt to drown me in shame, but honestly, she’s not wrong, so I brush them off. Why wouldn’t