Vague Rejection

CHAPTER 8: In which a slap makes everything better

RED

 "Are you ready?" I took a deep breath and glanced at Vos from under my lashes.

"Do I have to answer that question?" He chuckles and, in one motion, sweeps me off my feet, making sparks erupt in the pit of my stomach.

"I won't be throwing you to the wolves alone, Red." I bristle when he says my name. I looked up to find his burning gaze on my face making my lower regions clench in delight, something I hadn't felt since Abe looked at me. I must be such a wreck to feel like this for someone other than my mate. It just doesn't make sense.

But it can make sense if you think of the minor possibilities.

I rid myself of the thoughts and refuse to think about it further. I'm probably just having a very minor nervous breakdown.

I glance up at him again and find his jaw clenched. His eyes were still on me and I found myself lost in his brown-green orbs; it was a very unusual colour that held very unusual emotions— the most prominent one being, hesitation. I don't know what Vos is holding back and I don't plan to pry it out of him anytime soon. If he wants to, he'll tell me.

But you want to know what he's holding back, aren't you?

"You're very beautiful." He whispers under his breath, but I heard him loud and clear even with my hearing slightly compromised because of my wolf's disappearance. I suddenly felt heat rush to my cheeks and know for a fact I just blushed because of his words; I, however, refused to look away from him and continued to hold his stare. I know he knows the attraction is there— at least for me. My attraction to him was obvious, it's just that I kept denying it. 

And just like that, he snaps out of our reverie and blinks fast and he adjusts me in his arms. "Let's go. They'll all be waiting for you."

I could feel his heart beat through his shirt and it was beating fast, but that could be because of our hike from the cave to the lower part of the valley.

I swallow down the weird feeling boiling at the surface and lean against his broad chest, trying to control myself from saying anything. I wouldn't want things to be more complicated than they already were. I don't need any more drama. Also, if I act on this weird attraction I have, it might hurt me more in the long run. Vos may have a mate somewhere and I don't want the risk of losing myself if I somehow lose him.

You don't exactly know if he has a mate.

Everyone has a mate, stupid conscience.

But you want to know the possibility of a second cha-

-No! Damn it Red. Stop thinking about this! You still have an Abe problem to solve.

Reject him.

Lost in my own thoughts, I was only pulled back to the present when Vos took off and started running at a slow pace— well slow for a werewolf— giving me time to take in our surroundings. The sun had yet to rise but its rays were slowly starting to peek behind the trees and for the first time in my life I appreciated how it looked; blue-violet skies pierced with an orange-yellow beam created a myriad of colors which I could never have seen with my normal vision because everything would be too bright. I wouldn't have stared at the sky for more than a minute, but now I can stare all I want.

           •      •     •

"Red!" I squinted my eyes and made out the figure running towards us. Vos had slowed down to a jog and completely stopped in front of the figure I now discerned as my mother and had concern written all over her face. "Oh my darling!"

Vos places me back on my feet, making sure I had my balance before letting go. I felt a sinking feeling at the pit of my stomach but I refused to acknowledge it as I wrapped my arms around my mother and buried my head in her neck. I don't care what anyone says, nothing can ever compare to a mother's embrace.

"How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?" I pull away from her and shake my head 'No' as she grasps both my shoulders and twists me from side to side making sure I don't have wounds or injuries.

"I'm fine mother, Vos took care of me." And just like that, my mother smacked my head.

"Redianne! I have told you to use titles! He's an Alpha, you just can't call

Him Vos!" A deep chuckle from behind me sent my body on haywire as I became hyper- aware of Vos' presence.

"It's alright doctor. I introduced myself as Vos." I glared up at him, remembering he didn't inform that he was in fact an Alpha. "Also, she can call me whatever she wants. I wouldn't mind."

My heart speeds up at his words but I ignore it and glance behind my mother to see Link waiting patiently with momma number two.

"Momma two!" I hobbled towards the queen and almost tripled if not for Vos who was already holding me up with a steady arm.

"Be careful." I smiled at him and threw my arms around the Queen, who had gladly returned my hug.

"I'm glad you're back. Sapphire can finally sleep peacefully." I frowned. Was she worried about me? I knew I should have returned sooner!

"Please tell me she and Orion didn't come back." I begged with wide eyes.

"No, they stayed where they were but it took a lot of convincing from Alpha Orion." I turn to Link and throw myself at him, but he merely hugs me stiffly and glances at the Alpha behind me.

"Oh don't be so formal, Link! Vos knows you're my best friend- aside from Sapphire— but yeah. Formality isn't needed here!" Link gives me a flat look while the Queen laughs.

"Redianne! Don't embarrass me please!" I laugh at my mother's panicked voice and shiver when Vos' deep chuckle registers in my head.

"Let's head inside. People might see us here." I nodded my head at the Queen's words and held my arms out towards Link who, had his eye-brows raised.

"What?"

"Carry me, slave!" He glances towards Vos but I ignore the action and give Link my best puppy dog eyes.

"I'm here as the Queen's guard, Red." I placed my arms down and pouted. There's really nothing I can do about that, now is there? The queen nods at someone behind me, then in a blink of an eye, I find myself back in Vos' comfortable arms.

"I can walk." He doesn't say a word but pulls me closer as he walks huge purposeful strides, leaving everyone behind us.

          •       •       •

"Okay, you're fine except for some fur still on your toes." I sighed as I wiggled my hairy toe. My paws were now gone, but in its place was a very hairy toe, the only semblance I have of my MIA wolf.

"It seems Alpha Vos took care of you, huh?" My chest tightens at the mention of the handsome man. He was an Adonis really.

"If by took care, you mean manhandling me inside a cave and forcing a weird brown liquid down my throat, then yeah he took care of me." I looked away from my mother's perceptive eyes and looked around her pristine white office. It still looked like an ordinary clinic except for the gold crown mouldings on the wall and the white marble counter tops and expensive shelves and cabinets for the medicines and anti-septics. I was currently seated on a sleek white plinth with my legs dangling, waiting impatiently to be let out.

"You know he did more than that, Red." My heart stutters in my chest.

"How'd he even get there, mom? And how in the world did he contact you? It all seems too convenient for someone who just wanted to run." I digress, staring pointedly at my mom.

"Well, what else do you want it to be? He wanted to blow off some steam and you so happen to be on the forest floor." She shrugs off my words and turns around to throw off her gloves and clean the steel trolley.

"How'd he contact you?" She sighs loudly and turns to me after she takes off her stethoscope.

"He's an alpha." Right. Alphas get to communicate with anyone they want to.

"But he doesn't know you." My mother smirks. SHE ACTUALLY SMIRKS. MY RULE ABIDING LOVING MOTHER FRIGGIN SMIRKS.

"We met in the throne room before the meeting began. Do I need to explain more?" I grimace as the throbbing in my head starts to beat faster.

"How did he know I'm your daughter? How did he know to contact you?"

"We have red hair. You and I, do you honestly think he isn't smart enough to deduct that?" I swallowed hard, the story just seemed so far fetched for some reason, but I decided to ask her when my head was less cloudy.

"Whatever. Can I leave now?" She nods and gives me a small kiss on my forehead.

"I'll see you later."

I jumped down and walked towards the double white doors of her office, smiling at some of the palace nurses who were milling around.

I continued my walk out of the hospital wing, still thinking about the weird situation of Vos and I and was so deep in thought that I didn't realise I was walking right into someone.

"-oof." I glanced up and balanced myself, quickly shrugging my arm out of his hold.

"Red."

I crossed my arms, not liking the tingles that ran up my forearm. It wasn't as powerful as before, but it was still present. I could physically feel my heart break as I zeroed in on the two bite marks on his neck. So it really is true what Vos predicted. He had really allowed Melanie to mark him. Instead of saying anything, I merely sigh and choose to turn the other cheek as I find my way around him and walk away.

"Red please." I stopped due to the pain in his voice. I know he was hurting just like me, but that doesn't mean I have to spare his feelings. He didn't even think of me— of my wolf. I clench my fist as I continue to walk but he stops me this time.

"It's not what it looks like." I clench my fist and try to take shallow breaths. I was barely out of the hospital wing, there were still people around us.

I turned to him and glared through the tears I'd been holding. "No, that is what it looks like. You allowed her to mark you." I said, my voice dangerously low.

"I didn't. She jumped on me and latched herself on my neck! I didn't want it to happen this way!" My mouth hung open as I stared at him in disbelief, rage was swirling through my chest, pure unadulterated rage eating at my insides due to his words.

"She jumped you?" I asked in disbelief. He nods his head and takes a step closer to me. I stay in place but laugh emotionlessly at his words. "She actually jumped you?!" I repeated, my tone taking on a higher note. I notice some palace servants glance our way but I am way past caring.

"Red, I-"

"No! You let me talk." I pointed a finger at his chest and took a step closer to him, lowering my voice as I glared at him though my tears, through the pain in my chest threatening to choke and kill me from the inside. "You f*****g listen Abe and you listen well." I wipe my tears as I blow out a big breath.

"You say she jumped you?" I didn't wait for his reaction as I pushed him back with both hands. "YOU ARE AN ALPHA!" I screamed, now clutching my own chest at what I was about to do. "You want me to believe that a petite woman was able to jump you and catch you off guard?!" I shake my head in disbelief and push him again. "You lead the second largest pack in the continent and you're telling me you got jumped?" 

His expression looked painful but I didn't care for him, not anymore. I want him to be hurt. I want him to feel how much it almost cost me my life, my wolf. "Red, please let's talk about this privately." He glances around us to see some of the servants stand to attention and walk away hurriedly.

"Why? Don't you want people to know that I'm your mate? THAT ME REDIANNE THOMPSON, FIRST LADY OF THE PRINCESS IS YOUR MATE? " I screamed out and extended my arms at the side, announcing it to whoever was near.

"Red!"

"No! f**k you! f**k this s**t! You let her mark you! You chose her!" My tears couldn't stop falling now and my hands were trembling as I tried to soothe my chest. It just won't go away! The pain was just there, lingering, looking for a way out.

"I didn't choose her! She-" I smirked and brought my hand up to his face into a loud slap. He pauses and stares at me in shock. "I didn't have a choice, Red. She forced herself on me."

"No, you had a choice." I said, my nerves eerily calm.

"I didn-"

"You had a choice but you didn't choose me." He breathes out and stares at me with tears swimming in his eyes. "You never intended to choose me." He remains silent as his tears finally fell. "I waited for you and that cost me my wolf. The best part of me is now gone because of you."

"Red-" I'm going to do it.

"I Reddiane Thompson-" This is the only way you'll live with dignity, Red.

"Red please-" I can do this.

"I Reddiane Thompson rej-"

"RED!" My heart jumps out of my chest as Vos runs straight toward me and covers my mouth. "Don't reject him. Not yet."

What?