Rejected but Unbroken

Andy

My head pounded from the loud music and all the giggling of the women around me. They pushed against me but I had little interest. There was really only one in this crowd that could draw my attention. She was in the center of the group and currently ignoring me as she tended to all the males clustered around her like she was the queen bee.

Quinn Lotzel

The most beautiful woman in the school and since I had stepped foot back, the only one I couldn't get my mind off of. I retreated to the balcony to watch her. She ran a hand through her flawless golden hair and laughed at something Jahmal said to her. Her voice was like twinkling bells.

Ugh. How could a woman have me thinking such sappy things? I turned my back on the crowd and leaned against the bannister. She was pretty and sexy as fuck. I didn't need to be some weak sap. I was an Alpha for God's sake. If I wanted her, all I had to do was take her.

"Andy," Zed jerked to attention. "Do you smell that?"

I wasn't close enough to Quinn to get a good whiff of her. "No."

"Not her," Zed snorted. "No, from our room. It's faint, but you have to smell it."

I groaned. I didn't want to leave my place. I wanted to go down there and corner Quinn. But I knew Zed. If I didn't go check this out, he'd never leave me alone about it. I met Jahmal's eyes and glared at him. I needed him to keep his paws off the woman I'd decided was going to be mine. The perfectly sweet and innocent woman that had saved herself for me for years. Jahmal scowled at me, but he nodded in acknowledgement.

Now I'd go inspect what had Zed so worked up.

I walked to my room and sniffed. My window was cracked open to let a breeze in. I froze in place. Zed was right. It was faint, but there was an intense sweetness calling to me. It was a mix of vanilla and peony.

"Mate!" Zed screamed.

My mate? But the scent was fading. I whirled. I had to find who it was.

The stairs were packed with the party-goers going up and down. If I tried to go down that way, I'd lose precious time. I vaulted over the balcony and landed in a clearing not too far off from Quinn and her throng of followers. For once, though, my attention wasn't on her. I wanted to find my mate. I needed to see her.

I let my nose guide me and I turned this way and that until I detected the faint scent leading me into one of the little-used rooms on the first floor. My gym. Her scent was stronger here, but she was missing. My fist clenched and my stomach tightened. Whoever she was, she couldn't have gotten too far from me. I had to know who she was, and she had run.

"Andy?"

I looked up as the door to the gym closed and it clicked as it was locked. Quinn tossed her hair and smiled at me. She leaned her head back and exposed her long slim throat to me. The familiar urge to grab her and kiss her washed over me, but Zed's calls for us to hurry overrode the usual hormones. "Sorry, Quinn, I can't stay."

I reached to set her aside so I could reach the door, but she grabbed my forearms and leaned against my chest. Her perfume that I had always thought was the sweetest scent out there stung my nose. She rubbed against me. "Please, Andy, I've got something I want to tell you. Something I've wanted to tell you for years."

I looked at the top of her head as she snuggled against my chest, then back to the door. The scent was so faint now. Would I even be able to find her? "Quinn," I resisted her advances. "This is important."

Quinn slipped her hand up my shirt and traced her fingers upward. Our skin made contact, and I groaned. With the scent of my mate so faint, it was easy to focus on this sensation. She chuckled and leaned close, nuzzling beneath my chin. "Andy, I want to be with you. I saved myself for you. While all those other sluts were giving their bodies away, I waited. I didn't want to be like that whore Chloe and throw my body at the entire pack of warriors. I've only wanted you."

I groaned. I was losing any will to follow after my mate. Maybe I could run into her again or maybe I'd never cross her again. Quinn, the woman I'd longed for and had so many wet dreams about was in my arms. "Quinn," I whispered. "Are you telling me the truth?"

She glanced up at me through her full eyelashes and reached into my pants and squeezed my semi-hard erection. "You'll find out when you take me, Andy. I've never let anyone touch me, or even see this." She pulled away to shimmy her expensive blouse up and her pale creamy skin and rosy nipples were exposed to me. "Touch them," she whispered to me.

"Andy!" Zed complained. "Our mate!"

I couldn't help myself and I grabbed both of Quinn's breasts in my hands and squeezed them. Her soft voice filled my ears as she moaned my name and writhed against me. "Andy," she panted.

"Andy!" Zed snapped again. "Now!" Reluctantly, I helped Quinn lower her shirt. "Quinn, don't take this as a rejection. But I have to go find someone before I can spend time with you." I grabbed her hands, and she looked up at me with tears brimming in her eyes. "Wait for me," I begged her.

I would give Zed his hunt. We'd follow that bewitching scent and try to find who it belonged to, but if we couldn't find her. I'd made my choice. I'd wanted Quinn for far too long to just turn this opportunity down.