Rejected Mates

Chapter 32

Melinda continued her efforts, but another wolf had shifted and now there were two men climbing the tree, and she wasn't able to attack both of them. Before long, one of them had reached her. He grabbed her arms and wrenched the branch from her grip. She now had now defense, and the other man was able to reach her as well. She continued to fight and struggle, causing all three to fall from the tree, hitting the ground with a painful thud.

As Melinda tried to stand, shaking the pain from her limbs, another wolf was running at top speed in her direction. Melinda turned toward the treed, bracing for an impact that never came. The wolf landed on top of one of the men who had also fallen from the tree. The wolf bit down into his neck, killing him instantly. It was only then that Melinda recognized the scent, and realized that it was Kira who had returned. In a matter of seconds, Kira had the other man subdued and was standing over him with a snarling growl.

"Jared!" Melinda screamed, scrambling toward the pond, now that she was free to do so.

Adam's attention was diverted for just a moment, at the sound of Melinda's scream. It was enough for Jared to wrench his shoulder free from Adam's bite in order to force his own teeth into Adam's neck. He bit down as hard as he could, not willing to release his hold on Adam, even as the two sank below the surface.

Melinda dove into the pond and began to swim toward the spot where she last saw Jared and Adam struggling. A few seconds later, and she had reached the spot, but there was no sign of either wolf. She held her breath, and dove down into the murky water, frantically searching for Jared. She needed air and came up to the surface quickly before diving back down in search of her mate. This time, she was able to find him, knowing it was him as soon as she touched him, unable to discern anything with her eyes, through the dirty pond water.

She grabbed his fur and tried to pull him to the surface, running out of air as she struggled. She could feel that his teeth were still clamped down around Adam's throat. She struggled to open Jared's jaws, pulling him free. Adam's body continued to sink, as Melinda kicked through the water as hard as she could, and struggled under Jared's weight, to reach the surface.

A few seconds later, as her air was almost gone, she was finally able to feel the air on her face, breathing in deeply to alleviate the burning in her lungs. She pulled Jared up as hard as she could, as she trod the water to keep her own head above water. She slowly pulled his limp wolf form, struggling to keep his face upward, until she finally reached close enough to the shore to stand and begin dragging him out of the water.

Kira approached quickly, having secured the men and wolves she had left alive. She helped Melinda drag Jared onto dry ground.

"He's not breathing," Melinda said between her gasps for air.

The women struggled to give chest compressions, but it was difficult because Jared was still in wolf form. They weren't able to give him traditional CPR, but they continued to try. Kira continued the chest compressions between Melinda breathing into his nostrils, something she'd seen on an animal rescue documentary. She didn't know if it would work, but she wasn't going to stop trying.

After what seemed like hours, but was less than minutes, Jared coughed and spit up some of the water that had filled his lungs, but he wasn't conscious and didn't shift back into his human form.

"We've got to get him to the pack infirmary," Kira said, once they could tell that he was breathing on his own. "I'll drive his truck, I know a shortcut to get back to the territory. Follow me in my car," she said, handing her keys to Melinda.

Kira ran back to the shore and found Jared's keys in the pocket of his pants that lay in tatters by the water's edge. The two women then carried Jared to his truck, where they put him into the back. Kira got into the driver's seat and drove away as fast as the truck would go. Melinda followed closely behind in Kira's car.

During the drive, Kira informed Colt of what had happened and let him know to have medical personnel ready as soon as she arrived. The truck ground to a halt directly in front of the side entrance to one of the buildings, where multiple individuals were ready and waiting with a gurney. They immediately grabbed Jared from the back of the truck and were taking him inside when Melinda pulled up a few seconds later. Melinda jumped from her vehicle and joined Kira as the two followed everyone else inside. Jared was taken to the infirmary where the medical team began to examine him and determine what could be done to save their alpha.

Don't you dare leave me, Melinda spoke to him through their mind-link. She didn't even know if he would be able to hear or understand her.

I need you Jared, I love you, she said to him, as she began to cry into her hands. Come back to me.

A few minutes later a member of the medical team came out to the room where Kira, Colt, and Melinda were silently waiting.

"He's stable, but still unconscious," the man said. "Between the blood loss and the water in his lungs, even with werewolf healing capabilities, his body was struggling to hold on."

"Can I see him?" Melinda asked.

The doctor, having no idea that Melinda was Jared's mate, looked questioningly at Kira and Colt before offering a response. Both of whom readily gave their approval.

"This way," he directed to Melinda, who was closely followed by the other two.

Jared was back in his human form in a hospital bed, hooked up to a few different machines that blinked and beeped in response to his vital signs. There were a few cuts and scratches that could be seen on his arms and neck, which had been severe bite marks and gashes less than an hour ago.

Melinda walked straight over to him, holding his hand with one of hers, and gently touching the side of his face with her other hand. She could feel the tingle of the mate bond when she touched him, but it was weak. Colt gave her a chair, and she sat down, never letting go of him as she was struggling to hold back the tears. Kira and Colt left the room to allow some privacy, assured by the doctor that he would notify them if there was any change.

Melinda sat beside Jared, leaning onto his bed, her face near his. She never let go of his hand and stayed by his side. She could feel his strength returning, as the mate bond continued to get stronger. A few minutes later, Jared's eyes began to flicker, and the machine beside him began to beep faster. He sat him with a snarl, looking frantically around before he realized that he was no longer in the water, and Melinda was by his side.

"What happened?" he asked weakly, leaning back against the bed, coughing from the minimal exertion.

"Adam's dead," Melinda replied softly. "You saved me, and it almost killed you," she whispered.

"Are you alright?" he asked, reaching up and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I am now," she replied, kissing the fingers of the hand she still held. "I thought I was going to lose you, again," she said through stifled sobs.

"You'll never be rid of me," he replied, pulling her into his arms and kissing her softly.

Epilogue

Jared's health improved swiftly, especially with his mate by his side. Once he had fully recovered, they marked each other and completed the mate bond. A union that was able to blot out the pain from their previous encounters with such an overwhelming pleasure and bliss that the memories of the past were but a shadow. It was then made public to the rest of the pack that Jared had found his mate. Together, they oversaw the pack of rejects and affectionately changed the name to the New Haven Pack.

They also made some changes to the rules that had long governed those who were sent to them. Fraternization was allowed, in certain instances if the mate bond had already been broken, or mates had never been found, or were deceased. As the majority of pack members weren't allowed to rejoin werewolf society, they were allowed to choose mates within the community, if they so chose. Before long, Nancy and Ricky chose each other as mates.

Melinda was able to see her family again, and the shame of the past was no longer a weight between them. Having accepted Jared as her mate, they were even allowed to return and visit the Day Break Pack. Jared's brother Arthur even welcomed them to visit his pack from time to time.

The West Hills Pack fell into disarray at Adam's death. Michelle returned with her mate, and tried to run the pack, but had lost much respect and control. It wasn't long before another pack stepped in and overthrew her claim to leadership, taking full control of the pack territory.