Jolene
The temperature had dropped. Today was unusually sharp even though only some clouds blocked part of the tickling sunrays. My jaw trembled and my knees were weak. I was finally in front of Lancelot’s house. He usually was at the pack house on Sundays, but this was the place that called my name for some reason.
I had a knot in the pit of my stomach and my hands were numb, more than the rest of my body. It was as if I could pass out at any second. But, that did not make sense. That medicine had supposedly healed me, right? There wasn’t even a scratch or a bruise remaining.
The quietness was unnerving. Just the faint sound of TV and some rebellious birds could be heard. To be honest, everything in me was telling me to run away. Like I wasn’t supposed to be here.
I could use some support from my family. However, I had stubbornly sent them away to my apartment because “my mate and I will need some time alone and I do not want to make you wait.” Stupid, stupid. I needed someone to push me, knock on the door, or carry me away.
The nervousness was taking over me. My heart was pounding faster and faster. I rested a hand on my chest and tried to take deep breaths. However, my breathing came short and fast. I wasn’t calming down anytime soon. When my chest began hurting and my throat felt as if it had closed completely, instead of following my gut and running away as fast as possible, I knocked on the door and rung the bell.
I started pacing while trying to breathe. “No. I cannot do this. Something is not right. I will leave and come back later. Yes, I will run to my house. Sounds like a pl–”
“Jolene?”
I turned around to see a wide-eyed Matt. Shit. I had been just about to run away.
“Hey, Matt. Is Lancelot home?” I asked trying to sound casual.
Matt nodded. “Yes. He–”
“You come here reeking to that other guy. The nerve.” Chris leaned against the door beside Matt.
I should have left. In desperation to see my mate, I had completely overlooked that I stink to Alexander. One full week living in that bastard’s room, sleeping on his bed and wearing the stinky clothes he gave me polluted me. Chris’ words wouldn’t get to me, though. Everything would be fine once I explain Lancelot what happened.
I growled at him. “Shut up. Traitor. I will deal with you later.”
He laughed derisively. “Good luck with that,” he said as he walked out of the house. “I have a few important things to do now anyway,” he whispered as he brushed past me.
It took all of me to not pick up a fight with him. Later. I was here to talk to my mate. Everything else could wait, even vengeance.
“I’ll take you to him,” Matt said. He turned around and guided the way.
I followed him into the house. Matt led me to the gaming room. My eyes immediately landed on Lancelot who was playing some game with Samuel. Samuel looked at me, scrunched his nose and stood up. I should have left when I could.
He walked out of the room without saying a word. Matt followed him right behind. There went my “allies.”
“Are you really leaving? We were in the middle of a round,” said Lancelot.
His eyes fell on me and for a second the deepest hurt flashed through them. He flexed his jaw and slightly narrowed his eyes. A crack started in my heart at the uttermost disgust he had directed to me.
He hid his anger behind a poker face. He turned the TV off but kept looking at it, refusing to meet my gaze again. This wasn’t what I had expected.
I went over to sit next to him. The hatred so evident on his face had the fissure in my heart making its way, threatening to destroy it completely. Lancelot stood up and walked away. Did I really deserve all this contempt? I dashed behind him as he was about to leave the room.
“Just hear me out!” I yelled pleadingly.
He turned around and stared at me with his arms crossed over his chest.
I took a deep breath and started explaining as fast as I could, maybe too fast. “You have no idea everything that has happened these days. Ever since last Sunday, it has been a living hell for me. I am sorry for hurting you. I really did not mean to. I was being forced. That monster had my–”
“That monster? You mean your dear?” He pulled out his phone and showed me the video Alexander had recorded. Alexander’s saccharine voice resounded from the device and I cringed. It was just a recording, no need to be afraid.
“He forced me to say those things as well! Otherwise, he would have hurt–” I caught myself. If word got out about an open investigation, there would be trouble. “Lancelot! He forced me to do everything I did this past week. I did not want to!” I felt my eyes welling up with tears.
He pocketed his phone back and stepped toward me, his eyes narrowed. “Want to hear another interesting theory?”
“What are you–” Why did he have to look at me as if I was the enemy? Wouldn’t he give me a real chance before jumping to conclusions?
“Maybe, you went wave your tail to another guy. Was the promise of being the Luna of a most powerful pack so tempting?” He sneered and took a step closer, which made me feel no better. I was supposed to feel safe with him, but no. I didn’t. “He dumped you after using you, didn’t he? So, now you come back for the naive kid who would’ve done anything for you. But, I made you a promise, which I intend to keep.
“Lancelot, that’s not–”
“You choose him! You ran away on my birthday because I told you I would announce that we were mates.”
I shook my head vehemently. “Tha isn’t true and we are mates.”
He took another step. So many emotions played on his features as he clenched his jaw and tightened his fists. The resentment and coldness in my eyes made me instinctively shiver and take a step back.
“Oh, Ms. Amores…” he said, his face morphing back to that unreadable blank expression.
I repeated the same phrase I had said so many times whenever he stayed behind after class to flirt with me. Maybe, if he remembered how it used to be. He would find it in him to believe me. “Mr. King, what can I help you with?” It seemed to work because his expression softened.
“Mate…” He growled, a conflicted look in his eyes. He walked up to me and pulled down the zipper of my coat. He moved the neck of my top slightly and leaned down until his breath fanned over the crook of my neck. His canines were almost grasping my skin.
I wanted him to mark me, but not like this, not while waves of hate and disgust were everything that emanated from him. We needed to discuss everything and do this when we both were prepared. After what had happened this past week and even today, I needed to take things a little bit slow, and have some time to heal. He had promised that he would protect me. It would destroy him, even more, to find out that I was almost raped while he was probably playing video games. Maybe, I could still get him to follow his previous plan, and tell his pack before doing anything.
I gasped and began talking. “I knew this would happen, but I told you; we have to wait–”
He pulled away and scoffed, interrupting me.
“I Lancelot King, re–”
Now, I interrupted him… with a kiss. He was capable of rejecting me. A small thread was the only thing pulling my heart together. It was obvious that he would be hurt and angry; I would need to get his trust back, but never this. He had never trusted me to begin with. Otherwise, he would’ve known.
I expected him to pull away but he put his hands on my lower back and pulled me closer to him. I could feel sparks wherever he touched; happiness and tranquility filled my body. It just felt right and I wanted more, but I knew how this would end.
Luna Marilyn, a complete stranger had noticed I needed saving and called my brother, but my own mate didn’t even want to hear me out? Maybe this is not our time to be together. However, why do his lips on mine and his hands on my body feel so… right?
His tongue was dancing with mine fighting for control and our bodies were now pressed against each other. Never before had I felt so complete. Even without my wolf, I could feel our souls touching, interlacing and almost binding.
I know I should not be doing this, but I have been looking for him for so long and I just needed to do this… At least once again, a kiss with my mate.
I stepped back, breaking off the kiss. He whimpered a little bit and for a second there was adoration in his expression, but he pushed it back, giving me a blank stare. Tears poured from my eyes and ran down my cheeks, and I…
I looked down dejectedly. “I am sorry. I needed to do this. You can reject me now.”
He looked a little taken aback, and I looked into his eyes
“You were going to reject me. I just thought we both needed to experience this only once. You are the future Alpha, so I should not be the one to break the bond. Please do it now!”
If this was what he wanted, he should just get over it. I was tired and numb. A kiss shouldn’t change his mind. Perhaps, Alexander did break me at the end. I just wanted to cry and be comforted by my mate. He was busy hating me.
Just stop, please.
I stared at him with tears freely rolling down my cheeks. He looked back at me without revealing a single emotion but a hint of disgust every so often.
I called your name, God dammit! When I was in pain and I was feeling like giving up, it was you what kept me alive. Now, would you rather believe the schemes of two low-lives over my words, your mate’s word?
No, I didn’t want him to reject me. I couldn’t let him go like this. Fuck the deal. I would say the whole truth. I opened my mouth to say everything he needed to hear when his words reached my ears letting me know it was too late. He did have the guts to do it.
“I Lancelot King, reject you Jolene Amores as my mate.”
I was positive my heart had just broken. All the pain I had felt the times Alexander had let me hanging in a thread between life and death could not compare to the pain my own mate had just caused. If I could have all my bones be broken again to go back in time and kiss him or knock him out, and prevent him from saying those dreadful words, I would.
The lump in my throat just tightened and my mind went blank. I could not think of anything to say, just…
“I Jolene Amores, accept your rejection, my little Alpha. I wish the best for you, always.”
I gave him an honest smile… And he left, without looking back…
I collapsed to the ground in a pathetic sobbing mess. I pulled out my cellphone and tried to dial my brother, but my shaky hands made it nearly impossible. I was light-headed and the abdominal pain was getting so bad that I was nauseous.
Dark spots were clouding my vision again. It was too soon for rejection pains, but this feeling was familiar. But, I was supposed to have healed.
I am sure that if I pull my shirt up, the skin on my belly will be deep purple.
I finally made the call; I heard my brother on the other side of the line after the first ring. “How did it go?”
I took a deep breath and forced the words out of my mouth. “Alex. Come pick me up. I think that I need to go to a hospital, a human hospital.”
I thought these symptoms were just because of the anxiety, but now I know what they mean: internal bleeding.