The Almost Rejection
"I mean, how freaking dare he!" I yell, my feelings were still raw with emotion.
I had just finished telling Nicholas everything that had happened once I woke up in that room with Alexander. In the process of my storytelling I realised that I was more upset that he left me on the forest floor. There's no point in denying that being around him really did something to me and because of the bond, I loved whatever it is.
However, Nicholas didn't seem to care about any of this. He barely made a comment throughout my entire rant. This in itself added fuel to the fire, I mean, why in the worlds is he not listening to me. Does he know how rude that is?
"Mhmm." Nicholas hums.
"You're not even listening â" I raise my arms in annoyance, "What the heck are you doing?" I march towards my bed where he is laying.
I peep over at the book on the bed, he's laying on his stomach, feet in the air, pen in hand wracking his brain over,
"A crossword puzzle. Really?" I deadpan.
This wolf cannot be serious.
"Yeah. I can still hear you, kind of hard not to." He mutters tapping the pen against the paper.
I lay beside him, on my back. Placing my legs on my headboard and my arms under my head. My parents nearly grounded me - at my age, imagine - thanks to Alexander's stunt. My father was boiling.
After I entered the house he found me and questioned me. They surprisingly weren't home when I got back, it was just Elisha and Nicholas who greeted me at the front door. When my parents returned, I decided telling half a lie was granted in this situation. So, all I said was that I went wandering around the forest because Zeke isn't my mate. I claimed I was so devastated that I just slept right there because I couldn't cope.
My mother immediately sympathised and told my father to drop it and being the lovesick wolf he still is, he obliged. Guess the mate thing works out for me when it wants.
"Moving on from my terror. How are you and Elisha?"
Just as I guessed Nicholas is her mate and I honestly couldn't be happier for my sister. This is the kind of love that she honestly deserves, pure and gentle. Being a whole week after the whole club ordeal, therefore our birthday, I have come to rather accept that my best friend needs to be shared.
I won't lie the first three days after I was upset, I was. I needed someone to tell this whole Alexander ordeal to and my best friend was nowhere to be found. Granted that's how it goes â having an actual mate that is, you two become all loved up and disappear for a few days. Wrapped up in the mate-ness. Not this mess I have to deal with.
However, I've just had one train wreck after the after. Losing my boyfriend, sister and best friend all to the mateship just for me to have basically nothing. Just me, myself and I. When Beyoncé sang it, she made it sound much more glamorous than what it actually is.
"Great," He beamed, "Couldn't be better, thanks for asking but I'd rather not say any more, I don't want to be inconsiderate."
I half smile, "Thanks. However, why didn't you tell me she was your mate? I know you knew that I knew."
"She's your twin, Elijah. I thought you might tell her."
Which I guess would be a fair excuse but in our case, it isn't. I would never betray his trust like that, let alone spoil the experience for Elisha. She has done nothing but dream about the day she'd find her mate, looking him in the eyes and running into his arms since we found out about mates.
I could never take that experience away because even though, yes she still would've had it regardless, it wouldn't have been nor felt the same.
"And ruin the excitement for her? Never." I shake my head.
He had a lightbulb moment, "I never thought of that."
"Clearly," I roll my eyes, "Because I think I deserve much more credit than this Nic."
He scratches the back of his neck, "Guess so. I'll give you more credit next time." He smiles.
"Thanks, I kinda deserve that much."
He mumbles, "You kinda deserve a better mate too."
"Tell me about it." I huff.
My wolf didn't like it when I said things like that. However, Alexander Russo hasn't exactly made the best name for himself. He's literally infamous for being a killer. I would compare him to Tedd Bundy but that might be taking too far but I think you get it. He's not exactly someone you would look at and expect to be a cold blooded killer, nevermind a random one.
There could not be a single reason why the North Pack deserves to be attacked, we mind our business and don't bother a soul. I've known our Alpha my whole life, he isn't malicious or even cunning. Genuinely the sweetest wolf you could come across, I don't see how Alexander could have any beef with Alpha Jay. So, clearly Alexander is just a psycho who loves making enemies.
We lost a few wolves and plenty more were in recovery, he could have done some serious damage if we were weak and if he didn't call it off when he did.
* * *
I have always had a great obsession with nature. So, living so close to the forest makes me happy. We don't have a fence, no one really does. My house however is further away from everyone else's in my Pack. Which makes it quieter and more in touch with nature.
I'm currently sitting in the backyard on my swing set, reading a book. Occasionally I'll swing a little. My father wanted to get rid of this set a few years ago but I refused because it's a great place to read or just to have some alone time. The swing set is a decent amount of steps away from the house, so no one in the house can really see or hear me.
"You shouldn't be out here at this time." He says.
I narrow my eyes at him, "You shouldn't be here at all."
Which is true but definitely not how my wolf or I feel, being near him brings my mind so much peace and calm. I would never tell him that but I have no issue admitting it to myself.
He scoffs, "Your border patrol is laughable. A pup could make it through undetected."
"That is a load of crap." I snap, feeling defensive.
Maybe we didn't have a high and mighty border patrol but they were good and almost always very alert. He's just freaking Alexander Russo of course he'd know how to slip through any patrol. Had he arrived here in a car, perhaps then I'd be obliged to agree otherwise nah.
I scoff, "Must be the monster within you that knows how to sneak into places you don't belong."
"You ought to start respecting me, Eli."
A humourless laugh escapes me, "And why's that?"
His face is void of any emotion, "I'm your elder, your superior, your mate and even as a stretch, your future Alpha."
I sigh loudly, "What do you want, Alexander?" I opt to ask, not wanting to feel unwanted once more.
He walked out from the forest line and stopped a few feet away from me, "I know you missed me." He says lowly.
"Oh, please," I shut my book because he's obviously not leaving, "I have better things to â"
A smug smirk lingers, "I can hear your heartbeat quickening when I get close to you. I know you like it when I get close to you."
"Where are you grabbing all this crap from? Your butt?" I stand up, "I'm repulsed by you."
The smirk still present he raises a brow, "Is that so?"
My hands begin to wave around, "Yes! I would never join your Pack. You're all disgusting! And if you think you're gaining points by leaving me on the forest floor then disappearing for a week and a half, you're sorely mistaken!"
"You kept count?" He raised a brow, "That doesn't sound like something someone with better things to do does."
"Oh my goddess, you're so conceited! I dislike you so much." I would say 'hate' but hate is a powerful word, rather keep it in the vault for future use.
"Really? How about you prove all this dislike?" He mocks, "Hit me with your best shot." He outstretched his hands and lifted his head, giving me access to freely punch his abdomen. But I have a better idea.
I grumble, "I'll do you one better." I marched up to him and stop right in front of him, he tilts his head downward so that we're face to face.
"I, Elijah Vilakazi reject, you, Alexander â" He covered my mouth with his hand.
"What the fuck was that, Elijah!" He hissed, his eyes dark with rage.
I knew trying that would be stupid but I had to try. I know even if I get past the fact that he's a killer and he gets past the fact that I'm just me. What will people say when they find out? What will they do to me? I'm never going to be safe. Alexander has way too many enemies and I'm only one she-wolf. People will come for me and my best bet to stay alive is not to get attached to him.
So rather reject him now than later because it will be much harder to do once the bond intensifies.
"Me one-upping you! How about you let me finish, okay? It's not like you care the entire werewolf world knows you don't want a mate! Why waste time, Alex?"
He shut his eyes, obviously trying to calm himself down. He stayed like that for about a ten seconds.
"Never say that again. Never ever accuse me of not caring. I fucking care â" He shakes his head, "I'm trying to save you. My staying away is saving you. I just came today because my wolf couldn't take it â"
I softly shake my head, "Of course you're not here because you want to."
"You know what? Forget it. When your wolf starts going haywire, don't come crawling to me." He turns around and walks off.
"I won't! Just let me finish the damn sentence!" I yell after him but he's already disappeared into the woods, "Just let me save myself before it's too late." I whisper.