I don't know what to do. I mean, I have dreamed thousands of scenarios of meeting my mate, but not even in my worst nightmares did I think that the most tyrant alpha, Alpha Reed Xander, would be my mate. The most ruthless, merciless alpha. Even if I would consider it now, he had already called for the war.
I quickly mind-linked the pack doctor to reach the pack house. First things first. I grabbed my father's hand and put it on my shoulder to keep him balanced. His injuries were already healing, but a hit from an alpha needed time to heal. Before I said something, I looked for my brother. Reed signals someone, and in the next moment, August was being carried on a stature, his face covered in blood, body unconscious.
I was terrified. The rumors were true; Alpha Reed Xander didn't just take down his enemies. He destroyed them. The scene was horrific. I bit my lips and fought back the tears. Don't show your enemies your weakness. I started walking with my father.
"Wait."
I stopped in my tracks, not because I was asked to, because his voice captivated me.
"Asher?"
This time goosebumps erupted on my skin. Holy hell, if his voice had this effect on me, I can't even imagine what his single touch would be capable of.
I know the mate bond was already fucking with me. Within seconds, the same old guy who took my father to the forest sprinted towards us and grabbed my father's other hand.
I looked back at Reed in bewilderment.
"You stay. Asher will take care of your brother and father," Reed said without making eye contact. He wore a shirt that perfectly fit him. He looked like a fucking Greek god. If not more than that.
I started following him. Maybe he was in the same dilemma. He was my mate, and maybe if he had not attacked our pack, we wouldn't have met each other. I quickly matched his pace and did not dare to utter a single word. After we had covered a considerable distance, he stopped in his tracks and faced me.
"Name?" he ordered, his voice laced with anger and frustration. I was hypnotized by his ocean blue eyes; I could look at them for a whole day and not get tired. His eyes were the most vibrant color of blue, with the green specks. If I looked closely, I could even count the specks.
"Umm... I am Esma, Esma Rockwood," I whispered, only for him to hear.
His eyes softened for a second and gone in another. He closed his eyes and cursed under his breath. When he opened them, they were again devoid of any emotion, so cold and fierce at the same time.
I don't know how long we stood there looking into each other eyes. He rubbed his hands on his face and sighed heavily. Confusion and frustration were leaking through the mate bond. I could feel it even if it was still weak. My palms were sweating as well. My mind was playing with me, showing me the worst scenarios. As if on cue, his words proved me right.
"You are not my mate and never will be. You are a worthless piece of shit just like your brother and pack," he said harshly.
His voice was cold, and his words hurt just like a knife twisted in my heart. I closed my eyes and blinked back the tears. Suddenly I was feeling weak. Like all the energy was drained out of me.
"I have a confession to make. I attacked your pack because I feel like it was good to be in alliance with a powerful pack but now looking at you…" he said in disgust.
"I regret my every decision to be standing in your pack. I would be doing a favor to the whole werewolf kingdom by simply destroying your pack."
I crossed my fingers, only praying that it was some sick dream, that it would soon be over. I wouldn't be able to handle it if anything happened to my pack, to my people. I looked down at my feet, unable to make eye contact, waiting for the worse to happen.
"Or I have a deal. A deal if you accept, you have my word. I will tell my troops to back off immediately," he said, looking in my eyes as if he wanted me to believe his words.
At least there was still some hope that I could save my pack and family, and if there was, I would do anything for it.
"What kind of deal?" I asked, raising my head to look directly into his eyes. To show him I was serious.
"Reject me," he said, clenching his jaws.
"What?" It has to be some type of dream.
Rejection was considered a very serious matter in our world. Nobody rejects his own mate because rejecting your mate was like defying the decision of the moon goddess herself. It was a sin. Nobody rejects their mate. At the top of that, we had just met.
"That's the only way you would get rid of all this. Think about your pack, your father." He pressed further, closing the distance with each step he took.
I closed my eyes, pursed my lips, and cursed moon goddess, for this day, this moment, this fucking mate.
"Say it already, Esma. You know the words," he breathed near my ear, sending strange sensations all over my body. I pursed my lips more as if not trusting them either.
"I don't like to repeat myself," he said more urgently. He traced his fingers through my neck, tucked my loose hair behind the ear, giving him better excess to my neck. His gaze hypnotized me; I was eagerly waiting for him to touch me. I was like a deer caught in a spotlight.
"Say it before it's too late." He kissed my neck. The sparks went off so unmistakably loud. It was a moment of bliss. My wolf howled in joy. A tear escaped my eye and fell to the ground.
"I, Esma Rockwood, daughter of the Alpha of the Blue Moon pack, reject you, Alpha Reed Xander of the Black Claw pack, as my mate.”
I fell on my knees. The pain was unbearable, like thousands of knives were crossed through my heart. My wolf whimpered in agony and pain. I tried my best not to show him how weak he had made me in just a few seconds. I fought back the tears and held my head up to look at him.
Something flickered in his eyes, something like guilt, regret, but it was gone before it even lasted and was replaced by the same stoned harsh expression.
"Rejection accepted," he said. And with that, he vanished, leaving me in pure agony and unbearable pain.
A void in my chest beside my broken heart.