Alpha Tate’s POV

Lowering my eyes to look at Colin, who looks utterly bemused as he pulls his eyes away from the balcony, I give him a pointed look, then walk past him towards the packhouse.

I don’t care what he says about her, she is strange, and always was strange.

And there is no way that she turned hot in the seven years since I last saw her. I don’t believe him.

She was frumpy. Pale. Greasy hair. Always scowling and looking miserable.

I don’t need a frumpy, depressed mate.

And I don’t need some freak who rolls around on the balcony…

My lips twitch upward at the memory of her feet, toes pointed upward, rolling away, like being rolled up in a carpet.

So freaking weird.

Even if she does have that amazing scent…I rejected her.

But she didn’t reject you.

Minor detail.

I can easily rectify that whenever I want.

I’m an Alpha. I need to be with someone like Sarah…

Damn it.

The memory makes my hands curl into fists at my side.

How could she leave me for a freaking human after I rejected my mate for her?

He was balding for god’s sakes!

Rubbing the side of my face, I turn around to look at Colin, who instantly drops his phone.

“She doesn’t have to go to training.”

He nods and lifts his phone up again, his fingers moving quickly as he types.

For some reason, the fact that he has her phone number and is currently texting her irks me.

But that’s ridiculous.

Residual mate bond crap that will go away when I have the girl reject me back.

Colin lowers the phone, looking distant.

“Hey, do you mind if I skip training as well?”

I raise my eyebrows at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“It’s just…it can’t be easy for Kit to be back here. Especially…” He trails off.

I stare at him.

Why is everyone around me going soft?

This girl is nothing to us. She abandoned the pack.

The only reason I even allowed her to come back was because I could feel how happy her sister made my Beta.

Stupidly happy.

A happiness like I have never felt before.

But honestly, his mate is gorgeous, so I get it.

He got lucky. Unlike me.

I sure as hell didn’t feel the same way when I mated with…that girl.

I mean, yeah, I felt a pull…I felt an attraction even though she wasn’t attractive…

Shifting my weight, I jerk my chin at Colin and turn on my heel.

Whatever. One missed practice won’t hurt.

“Just this one.”

“Got it!”

“But then she has to get over it. She can’t just mope around if she stays. She gets treated the same way as everyone else. You can’t feel sorry for her.”

Colin hesitates behind me.

“Okay. I won’t feel sorry for her. But if I were interested in her…”

I swivel back around.

He has got to be kidding me.

“You have better taste than that!”

“I keep telling you, she looks good now! Let me show you-”

I block him out.

I don’t want to see her.

I don’t care too.

“Whatever. If you want to go for it, go for it.”

Colin looks unsure.

“I feel like you should see her before you make that decision.”

My lips curl into a snarl.

He throws up his hands in surrender and takes a step back.

“Sorry! Got it. You aren’t interested.”

“The whole pack can fuck her for all I care. I have standards.”

I turn around.

“Thought you did to.”

Colin remains quiet.

After taking a few steps, I realize that he isn’t behind me.

“Oh, um…since I’m not going to training, I was going to go on up and check on Kit. Help her get…settled.”

This shouldn’t bother me.

It doesn’t bother me.

But ten minutes later, standing in front of the training center with my arms crossed, I take my mood out on my pack as I bark orders for them to push harder.

It doesn’t help that they are all thinking about Jody and Cami…and her.

Everyone is wondering if now that Sarah is gone, if I will go after my mate.

My rejected mate.

The fools.

I’m an Alpha.

I don’t go back on my word.

What I say, is final.

I will never change my mind.

“Drop and give me another hundred!”

I will work them until they are too tired to even think about her or me or my ex anymore.