Alpha’s Second Chance Mate (Crystal and Theo)

Chapter 3

Rejected.

Sidonie’s POV

I woke up feeling ecstatic. The smell of wood and pines filled the air, gently teasing my nose. There was a huge weight pressing down on me but I didn’t mind it. How could I mind the weight of my mate against me? It was the best feeling ever. My eyes fluttered open to see his arm bearing down on me. It was huge and muscular and at certain intervals, he would tighten his grip around me as if afraid I would run off.

Oh my gosh!

So this was what it felt like. To be wanted. To have a mate. I had realized it sometime during the night. We had gone at it like rabbits several times and all my wolf had ranted about all through was how he was my mate. Our mate.

I turned my face to look at him.

His hair was tousled and a good part of it fell over his face. His eyes were closed and he had a satisfied smile playing across his l*ps. He looked so adorable. I reached for his face, running my fingers lightly over his nose and jaw. He was so strong. So virile and totally mine!

Ha! Not even the Alpha of Alphas could beat this. Now I had an excuse to sl*p out of the silly marriage. I was sure my mate would not see me married to anyone else but him. A deep rumbling sound drew my attention back to my mate. His chest heaved and his hand gripped me tighter. And then in that wonderful moment, his eyes opened.

“Hi,” I greeted, grinning widely.

Blue and violet orbs stared at me in confusion and then suddenly, so quickly, he was off the bed, searching for his clothes. I frowned at the sight. Did he not feel the pull? Was I the only one who knew we were mates?

“You’re leaving?” I asked, sitting up from the bed. I winced when a slight pain drifted from my thighs. I was sore. Very sore.

He grunted in response, not looking at me. I watched him yank on his pants and reach for his ripped shirt.

“When will I see you again?”

He looked up from the shirt finally, cocking his head at me. “You won’t. This was a mistake. We had too much to drink—“

“—It wasn’t the drink and you know it!” I yelled, suddenly feeling very cornered. How the hell did he not know we were mates? How on earth could he not feel the bond, the intoxicating pull? “We’re mates. You can’t tell me you don’t feel it?”

For a long while, all he did was stare at me and then with a growl, he stomped to the side of the bed and cupped my face in his jaw. “Mate or not, last night was a mistake.”

“Still…“ My voice trailed off, not knowing what else to say.

“I reject you.” He said suddenly, and my heart stopped beating for a second.“I reject you as my mate.”

A searing pain exploded in my chest and I doubled over, placing my palm over it. I gasped as the pain only intensified. Feebly, I looked up at him. He had a hand over his chest, wincing. He must have felt it too, the pain.

But it was only momentary. His eyes regarded me coldly and without so much as a word, he walked out of the room, shirtless and leaving a huge vacuum in my heart.

****

I spent the days that followed, moping around. I had gone home that afternoon when the hotel staff came in to tell me I had used up my payment. I didn’t remember how I’d gotten home. I didn’t care. All I could think about, all I could hear were his words.

I reject you as my mate.

Why? Was I not good enough? Had I done something to hurt him? I thought love and affection came with the mate bond. So why did I feel neither? Why did I feel broken and depressed and empty?

I turned on my bed, letting the tears sl*p down the sides of my eyes. My room was dark. I hadn’t opened the window in days. What was the point of seeing the light of the day when my mate didn’t deem me worthy to be his?

What was the point of living anyway?

The door to my room opened slightly, and my mother’s voice reached my ears.

“Sidonie?” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I didn’t respond and I heard her sigh. Her footsteps grew nearer until she stood beside my bed.

“Honey?” She called softly. “What exactly is going on?”

“Nothing,” I mumbled, burying my face deeper into my pillow. I couldn’t tell them my mate had rejected me. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of gloating that they had tried to protect me

from that but I had been too stubborn.

“You haven’t been yourself in three weeks.” Mom continued. “Is this all because of the marriage? It is all for your good.”

Yeah, thanks, Mom. I could see that, I thought dryly. I didn’t care much. If the Alpha of Alphas wanted a bride, then of course he would get one. A partly living bride.

“You’ll be meeting him today.” My mom said and that had my attention. “You can’t look like a vampire when you do, so get up, let’s get you ready.”

Today? I turned to look at my mom, blinking the tears that threatened to fall away. My mate had rejected me, I wanted to tell her. I felt so awful. I felt so… empty.

But she turned away from me before I could say a word and the moment was lost. Sullenly, I watched her march to my window and throw it open. Sunlight streamed into the room, and my mother clapped in satisfaction.

“Now get up! We have to get you into the shower and fix that hair. It looks like it hasn’t been washed in days!” She exclaimed excitedly.

At least one of us was happy, I thought sadly and reluctantly sat up on the bed, grumbling under my breath.

“Let’s get this over with.”