Vague Rejection

CHAPTER 2: The Fine art or Bullsh*t

RED

"You really shouldn't have done that." I turned around and glared at Link wordlessly, then continued stomping my way through the carpeted palace corridors ignoring the servants who bowed and the odd looks from the guards milling around. "Red." I ignored him and pick up the pace, I just wanted to be alone.

"Red."

"What!?" I exclaimed and finally turned to Link who was still in his workout clothes; my wolf was still snarling, hanging by a thread. Anything could set me off right now and Link wasn't helping. My frustration was eating away at my sanity. Little by little I don't think I can take any more of this. 

I stare at Link helplessly, refusing for my tears to fall. My chest felt so tight and heavy. It was getting harder to breathe and the air around the castle felt so suffocating, especially with the image of Abe and Melanie together. It was pure torture to see my mate comfort another, to see him so easily hug another woman in front of me. Was I really that worthless to him?

"You know I'd die just to protect you, right?" My heart stopped at his words as a frown marred my forehead.

"What are you talking about?" I breathe out as confusion fogs my head.

"I'm saying that you're one of the most important people in my life." I let out another shaky breath at his confession. I don't know where this is going, but I can't find it in me to feel excited or nervous about his words— not with Abe and Melanie hanging over my head. 

"Link-" I started but was instantly cut off.

"No, hear me out." He takes three steps to close the distance between us and silently gathers me into his arms. "I know we've only known each other for a few months but that does not mean I don't already value you." His arms tighten around me making my heart instantly stop cold.

Is he saying he likes me? I felt my wolf lift her head in interest but still remained listless in the corner of my consciousness.

"I've been in the camps since I was a teen; All I knew was how to fight, how to be loyal and how to survive. I never had fun— I couldn't. I just wanted to escape, to do anything in my power to escape, but then I was told I had to kidnap you." At that, I attempted to get out of his arms only to be encased even more, his masculine scent was starting to invade my system slowly and dare I say it, I loved the way he smelled.

"I was told I had to kidnap you and take you to the camps. Something I will never regret because then I gained a friend. My first friend in a long time." Right. Of course, friend. Of course he wouldn't like me. I'm his brother's mate! Gosh, I am always getting ahead of myself.

As he pauses in the middle of his spiel, I find enough strength to pull away, with some help from my wolf, and give him the most bored look I could muster. "Link, not that I don't appreciate this talk or anything but what's your point?"

He chuckles before squishing my cheeks together, much like what I did with Sapphire just a while ago. "My point is, I know my brother might have made you feel worthless, but just know you mean a lot to me— to the point where I would gladly give my life up for you."

I rolled my eyes, refusing to acknowledge the tinge in my chest. "No, you'd give your life up for your mate."

"My mate-"

A loud growl interrupted whatever Link was about to say, and I didn't even have to turn around to know that it belonged to my 'supposed' mate.

"Get your hands off her!" He declares as his heavy footsteps make their way towards us.

"Why should I do that? I quite like Red this way." I rolled my eyes again and reached up to remove Link's hands from my face. I have already felt my anger start to bubble up on the surface.

"Not that it's any of your business who gets to touch my face, but what are you doing here?" I asked as I took a step away from him. His scent was overpowering and it made me and my wolf just want to pounce on him.

"I'm your mate!" I let out a humorless laugh as I stared him dead in the eyes.

"Yeah? Last time I checked, I'm not the one with your mark, so please enlighten me, Oh powerful Alpha? Are you really my mate?" I smirked and crossed my arms under my breasts, knowing well that the action enhanced the swells that were peeking from under my white V-neck.

Hah! Seducer Red: On.

Abe merely stared at me pointedly, ignoring my cleavage, then settles his gaze on Link who was now leaning against one of the palace's huge marble columns. "Leave us."

"If you leave me Link, I will push you off the keep!" Link merely laughs and shakes his head as he stands and walks away from both of us. "So much for friendship Link!" I call out, suddenly annoyed.

This situation is making me more emotional than I have ever been in my entire life!

"Since when did you get so close to my brother?" Abe crosses his arms, making me swallow hard with want. I just want to be with my mate, is that so hard? But instead of answering him properly, I answered him with a question of my own.

"When are you going to reject me?" I moved far away from him and leaned against the marble column Link was in just a few moments ago.

Abe tried to step forward but I held my hands out. "Alpha, we've established that when I talk to you, you stay meters away from me." I trained my eyes on his man bun and avoided his intense eyes.

"Look at me." He took a step closer and, in turn, I took one to the side. He sighs deeply and stays rooted on the spot as I stare at the wall behind him. "Are you really going to be this stubborn?" He was frustrated but I was too.

"Alpha, you don't need to be all formal about it. I don't mind if you reject me right now. That way I will get closure faster." I finally met his Hazel eyes full of anger.

"What closure? No one is rejecting anyone!" His voice took on a higher tone as his anger rose. I could feel my wolf stand and stay within my consciousness to calm his wolf who was starting to act up.

"Exactly. No one is rejecting anyone. You're still with her and I'm still waiting." I swallowed and blinked rapidly to dry the tears forming in my eyes. I have to be strong enough to go through this conversation. It won't be my loss, it will be his.

"It's only been six months! You said you'd give me a year." His eye color was slowly shifting to a black hue and his fists were clenching so tightly that his nails were lightly piercing his skin to the point of blood— but do I really care that he is hurting himself? No, No I don't. I'm tired and hurting and he deserved this pain. I felt my wolf call out to his and almost immediately his stance relaxed. Our wolves were having an interaction of their own while we have ours. This is the only way our judgement won't be clouded by our wolves' strong emotions.

"If you truly chose me, you wouldn't even need a day." I waited for my words to sink in and when they did he stared at me in pain and anguish.

"Red please. I am bonded to her." A pinch in my chest goes ignored as he continues his words and I keep my face in a cold expressionless mask. "I marked her. It isn't easy to walk away. She's the Luna of my pack. I have to ease it in." Another pinch to the chest. She is the Luna of his pack. The pack that I would have made a family, but instead of continuing down the thoughts of self-pity, I pushed on.

"That's right. You marked her, you were playing house." I clenched my fists as the pressure in my chest started to build up.

"I did it for my brother's safety!" He took one step forward, I took one back.

A messy dance this is.

"Well, now that your brother's safe, what's stopping you?" I blinked, not breaking my facade. "He's been safe for months, Abe!" I breathed out and swallowed hard. The pressure on my chest, the stabbing it feels, hurt so much. It hurt so much that I couldn't mentally process my situation. This all feels like a nightmare.

"... We're going to be going in circles, Red." He took one more step towards me and this time, I stayed rooted in the spot as I allowed him to see the pain in my eyes. "Red, please don't cry. You're killing me. I know it hurts, I know what it feels, but please give me more time."

"YOU know what it feels? YOU who has a mate to hug and to kiss when you want to be distracted? YOU know how it feels?" I laughed a dry, sarcastic laugh and allowed my tears to fall.

"You know nothing Abe!" The balloon in my chest finally popped and I suddenly couldn't be stopped. I had words for him and my tears wouldn't stop flowing. My chest hurt and my throat felt clogged, my breathing was shallow and I could barely make out his form through my blurry vision— to make it worse, my wolf was still unreachable. I felt truly alone.

"You have no idea what it's like to see your mate in the arms of another! You have no idea how much it makes you doubt yourself. You have no idea how much it changes you!" I breathe in defeatedly, slump my shoulders and wipe my tears. "I told you I'd give you a year but I don't think I can wait forever. Especially when I think your heart isn't in the right place."