Chapter 3 Autumn (POV)

He claimed me, fucked me, then rejected me. Piece of shit. I knew he was always a piece of shit. He proved me right. I lost my virginity to my mate, and then he rejected me. I want nothing to do with this pack every again. I accepted his rejection. But added something spicy to the mix. I cut all ties with this pack. I am now considered a rogue. I am better off. I do not have to come back here. Ever. I haul my ass back to my hotel.

I strip down and took a long hot shower to wash off, Rick Danger. I cut all ties with his pack. I sent a text message to my parents, letting them know what happened. I threw my stuff back in my bag and checked out of the hotel. I am back on the highway back to California.

I am driving and crying. Feeling sorry for myself. I pull over in the desert. I jump out of my car and scream at the top of my lungs. "I am so done. NO MORE! No more." I feel a grumbling in my chest. My wolf must be upset too. I drop to me knees. I am so tired of this waterfall of emotions. My face is so hot. I am a sweaty mess. I am so drained from crying. I immediately stop, stand up straighten up. I wipe off the dirt from my knees. I fix my clothes and walk back to my car. I get back in and turn my radio on. I am listening to disco music which is pretty relaxing. Just beat music and no love songs.

I had asked my parents not to tell anyone where I lived. I need to move from the dorms as soon as possible. I keep thinking how Rick just fucked me and we did not use any protection. I am not on any birth control either. Dammit. Do not think of the maybes. Just think of getting home and going to school. I need regain my composure. I will ask Jay for more work. I need to keep my mind off of the what ifs.

I started thinking of Jay again. How can I look at him again. He is so sweet, and I am damaged goods.

Before I know it, I am back at the dorms. There is a message on my door that someone called for me. I already know who. But why?

Rick called. Said to call back asap.

He called thirty minutes after I left the pack land. He can go to hell. I call my parents to make sure they are okay. They felt it when I cut ties with the pack. After talking to my mom for a bit I hung up. They are fine. I called my brother to check on him. Everything is fine there too. I am done. I did not go into details with my brother. He does not need my drama.

It is Sunday afternoon. I slept for a few hours. I got up and did my laundry. I went shopping for groceries. I paid a few bills on-line. I decided to drive down to Foothills Nature Preserve towards the coast. I could use a good hike. I needed fresh air. I need to get out...now! Something is calling me to the preserve. I could feel my heart being pulled there. How?

I parked and got a water bottle out of my ice chest I had in the truck of my car. I had a small backpack with a couple of sandwiches and chips in it and locked up my car. I made a couple for some reason I did not know how long I was going to be up here. I put my keys in my pocket and started walking up the hills. There was a nice hiking area. I walked for about two hours and sat up on the hill looking down. There was no one around. I gathered my thoughts. I was so stupid for letting Rick do what he wanted. I should have fought back. I felt so weak. I thought the mate bond was something wonderful. Boy was I wrong.

My thoughts wandered over to Jay. I smiled as I thought of Jay kissing my cheek before he left for the day. I reached up and touched my cheek. I chuckled as I sat there. I heard something rust in the bushes behind me. I jolted to a stance position and was shocked as Jay was standing there in nothing but shorts. Holy hell!

He has a body that screamed at me to touch him. He is built like a Greek god. An Adonis. His pecks looked so lickable. His arms were cut with muscle definition. His legs. I could lick his legs. What the hell is the matter with me. I have never had sexual thoughts of anyone...until now. I could feel wetness between my legs. I hope he cannot smell my arousal. I stood there like an idiot wondering about what he was hiding in those shorts. He cleared his throat.

"What are you doing here?" we both said at the same time. We both pause and then we both started laughing. I pointed to him. "You go first." As I kept giggling. Why was he up here with hardly any clothes on? Not that I was complaining but damn that body. I could pour sugar on that and yeah, I am already fired up. I got your peaches right here baby boy...you got the cream...I hope he does not notice me drooling.

"I take a day off and just be...in nature, you know. To think things through. Think about situations...and people. AND YOU!" He says as he is staring into my eyes. I feel his glare of desire as he stares at my lips. He takes a step toward me.

"Just to be? What does that even mean? You just disappear and exit here? Why do you think of me?" My brain just stuttered. Can that happen?

"Exactly! Is that hard to believe? I come out here and just breathe. I think things out. I work out my thoughts and distractions. You should try it. It helps...with stress." He takes another step closer to me.

"Am I not standing in front of you?" I ask as I stare right back at his lips. I want to taste him. What the hell is the matter with me? I just got rejected by my worthless mate and I want this man in front of me...really bad. My hoo-haw is starting to sweat. I can feel my wetness. Oh, my Goddess, what is going on?

I think he knows it as he is looking up and down at my body too. "Yes, yes you are standing right...in...front of me." He takes two big steps and is now inches away from me. I look down and I feel his hand next to me face. He pushes a curl of hair behind my ear.

"Autumn, I must tell you that I have had feelings for you ever since the first day I laid eyes on you. I do not want to sound like some creep. But I have feelings for you." He is now closer to my body. I am afraid to look up. I cannot get rejected again.

"There are certain things that I cannot explain to you, just yet." he says. Now I am curious. What does he mean certain things? Why is he still so close?

"What do you mean...things? Are you okay? Is there something I can help with?"

He reaches for my hand, "I know you are a were-wolf." Oh Shit. He knows. Did he smell me?

My mouth drops. He knows? How? My mind is racing a mile a minute. How the hell does he know?

"There are other supernatural species. You may not recognize their scents." He whispers next to my ear. My body shivered...in a good way. I folded my arms over my chest as my nipples pebbled. I kept smelling a smoky scent. It made my mouth water.

I thought about it as I looked up into his eyes. He had such a beautiful aura about him. Strong. Calming. Masculine, like a real man. I licked my lips and blinked. I gasped, "Dragon".

He smiled and kept staring at my lips. "Yes, I am a dragon." I thought and thought. My brain is not working. Of all the times to stop, my brain chose now to stop. I am stuttering and no speech pattern whatsoever works. I am officially dumbfounded. I take a deep breath and smile.

"Well, I suppose you get hungry just like I do." I dropped my backpack and pulled out the sandwiches. He smiled and accepted a sandwich and a bottled water. We sit on some big boulders that are at the top of the hill and look over that hillside.

We sat and talked for hours. I never laughed so hard of some of the stories he told me. He did the same up until I told him about Rick. I felt defeated when I left the pack and cut ties with them. But it felt good to be able to talk to someone about it.

"I felt so used and stupid. I was weak. I like to think that I am smart, but I allowed myself to be used like some dumbass!"

"He was a complete moron!" Jay said bringing me out of my thoughts. He stood up and kneeled in front of me. He cupped my face and leaned in and kissed me nose. Then kissed my forehead.

"I cut ties with my pack and now I am by myself. I cannot go back. I am a rogue now. I only worry about my parents, being there by themselves. My brother moved to his mate's pack. So, I know he is okay."

"You are not by yourself. You have me." He stood up and pulled me to him. He lifted my chin. I smiled. I did not realize he moved closer and leaned down. His lips grazed mine. I felt tingles everywhere. I feel the grumbling in my chest again. Is Aurora trying to come out? Down girl. My nipples were frickin' rock hard. Did the moon goddess mean to give me a second chance? Tingles everywhere. My apex was throbbing. Damn it!

I lost my mind and leaned in and devoured his lips. I felt like I was starving for him. I lost control and was jumping Jay before I knew that my body took control. My legs wrapped around his waist. He grabbed my ass and held me up. My wolf, Aurora, was singing and dancing around. What the hell just happened?

Jay reached up my back with one hand and pulled me closer to his body. There was no room for anything between us. His tongue was dancing with mine. I could feel his erection. I was grinding into his hard on. Oh my! I hope he does not think that I am some slut. I just got rejected a little over twenty-four ago by a wolf and I am making out with a dragon. I think I have officially lost my damn mind!

Or maybe it's psychological. I was just used for sex, rejected and left home permanently. Now I'm in the strong arms of a man...a dragon. His scent was coming to me now. Smoky and evergreen scent, like Autumn walks in the forest. Is this what a rebound feels like?

I stopped kissing him and pulled back a little. I dropped my legs and stood in front of him. I studied his face. His eyes. His smile. I could not detect anything deceitful from his aura. I had the same gift as my mother. Being able to read people's aura. Jay had a purple aura about him. Higher consciousness, visionary qualities and spiritual awareness. I brought my hand up and cupped his cheek. He leaned into my hand. I am so scared. Aurora what do I do. She does not answer, she only hums in the back of my mind. What is it with her?

"Autumn, please, listen to me. I have loved you since the day we met. I had dreamt of you long before that day though. Dragons normally don't have destined mates. But I was so drawn to you, and I am obsessed with you. Please do not think I am some kind of weirdo. But I watch you on my days off. When you left for you trip back to your home. I could not go and see you with anyone else. I knew of you Lunar Moon celebration. I was breaking down inside, know you might meet your mate. When I saw you here a little while ago, I knew what had happened. I read your face and your heart speaks loudly. I will give you time to recover. Please know I will wait to court you properly. If you will let me."

I stood there my mind was blown. I felt like a paint can, when you shake it, you can hear the little marble rattling around. I felt Jay's finger under my chin. He lifted my chin to see my face. "I see pain, my sweet girl! Please talk to me." Jay whispered.

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out...I sobbed into his arms. Strong arms wrapped around my body, and he held me close. We stayed like that for a few minutes. I pulled back and looked up at Jay. He cupped my face and searched my eyes for an answer.

"Thank you. Thank you for just being here. I did find my mate. I thought he would claim me and make me his Luna. His plans were far from that. He just fucked me and rejected me. Like I keep playing the movie over and over again in my head. What did I do? To have someone do this to me. I cannot fathom how one could do that to another. I chose at that moment to stand straight up and walk away. I accepted his rejected and walked away. I cut ties with my pack. Now I am all alone. I am so tired of thinking right now."

"He is one very stupid wolf. He will get his. It's called karma. And you are not alone. I am here for you."

I paused a moment. I hugged Jay and laid my head against his rock, hard chest. He wrapped his arms around me. "No one will ever hurt you again, my sweet girl." He whispered in my ear. I must have been so tired, that I thought, I fell asleep in his arms. I felt like I was flying. I could feel a like breeze. I heard a sound like flapping. I tried to wake up and I just could not open my eyes. I fell into darkness.

I felt my body lying on something so soft. Like a cloud. My mind was so relaxed. I felt warm and then I smelt food. Oh, my goddess. Food. I was starving. I opened my eyes and looked around. I heard faint music in the background and smelt food. My mouth was watering. I sat up and looked around me. I was in a large cave, but it looked like a studio apartment. It was huge. There was furniture and a bath area with water coming out of the wall.

"Hello, my sweet girl." I heard Jay's voice coming from the other direction. "I had to go and get some veggies from the garden. I am making you grilled chicken and veggies." I pulled my legs off of the bed and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Really? Is it grilled or smoked...ha-ha? Just kidding. Can I help?" I giggled. I felt silly say that to a dragon.

"You're cute. Come here." Jay said as he set the veggies down on the counter. He smirked as he reached out and put his arms around my waist and pulled me to him.

"How did you do all of this in here?" I waved my hands around and turned in a circle.