Rejected Revenge: Mistress of Water

Seven

{Hailey’s POV}

My reaction was quick, I abruptly pushed him away and cleared my throat. My face flushed, and my knees slightly trembled as I took three steps back.

I hate this.

“Leave now, Alpha. What you’re doing is clearly illegal.” Thankfully, my voice came out strong, contrary to what I was actually feeling.

His eyes didn’t change though—the same dark dilated pupils—as he stared down at me with a surprisingly soft expression.

“Call me by my name.” I blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting that from him. “You know me, right? So, call me by my name.” He repeated.

Lennox

My mind was practically screaming his name, but my lips remained tightly closed. I pursed my lips and tore my gaze away from them.

Think fast, Hailey.

He doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving anytime soon, so I have to figure out another way to change the subject because there’s no way in hell I’m going to give him the satisfaction of saying his freaking name. Yes, I’m stubborn like that.

“You!” I pointed a finger at him. His eyes widened, and his head slightly leaned back in surprise. “W-why are you chasing that little boy yesterday, huh?!” I bit the inside of my cheeks to hide my embarrassment. Way to go, Hailey.

His eyes then sparkled with amusement.

God, please just make the ground swallow me alive.

“You mean my brother?” he raised a brow, seemingly amused now.

“Yes! Did you think that being siblings gives you the right to chase the kid to death? Poor kid. He must’ve been so scared.” I fanned my face with my hands in exaggeration. At this point, I knew that I was just blabbering and saying anything that comes into my mind.

His expression didn’t change as he crossed his arms over his chest, raising a brow at me.

“I was chasing him because he took something from me out of his frustration. Of course, I actually have no intention of hurting him. I also didn’t expect that he would try to hide here, but for the sole purpose of annoying me, he did.” he tilted his head to the side with a look that said, ‘is that it’ which made my mouth clamp shut. “Did that answer your question?”

I knew that I was totally making a fool out of myself, but I wasn’t raised to act shy and easily defeated. I exhaled and fought his stare with a raised eyebrow as if to say, ‘yes, got a problem with that’.

“Yes, that’s all.” I hissed before turning around to walk away in such haste.

I can’t stand his presence. It was all too much for me, but at the same time, it’s just right, and that’s what’s frustrating me. It was like a fruit that tasted odd but addictive at the same time. I didn’t know that the mate bond worked out like this.

I knew I felt drawn to him, but my mind would never accept that. Whenever he was around, I didn’t know if I would feel annoyed or glad, which was technically a bad thing ‘cause Sapphire had already told me to stay away from him, and he was not exactly her favorite person at the moment.

I stopped in my tracks when I heard his voice, calling me from behind.

I turned my head towards him with narrowed eyes. His calm and highly amused expression was enough to make my head explode.

“What?!”

“You can’t leave just yet.”

“And why is that?”

The side of his lips twitched like he was fighting the urge to smile. I pursed my lips and clenched my fist in annoyance.

“You still haven’t paid me for answering your question.” He stated, looking at me expectantly like I would actually do as he said.

I scoffed and shook my head in disbelief.

This guy is unbelievable.

“You’ve got to be fvcking kidding me! You seriously wouldn’t make me pay for just asking you a single damn question!”

“Oh, but I will.”

I gave him a hard stare.

I knew this guy was trying to mess with me right now and, obviously, he was succeeding. He knew what he was doing and, despite me being aware of that, I still couldn’t stop myself from being annoyed. He had that kind of effect really.

“Just say my name. That’s all the p*****t I want.” He continued, but I had enough. I gave him one last look before marching off.

Having this argument with him was pointless. I might lose my temper and blast him off with my element, and even though he and Sapphire don’t exactly see eye to eye, I know that she wouldn’t be happy to know how I just drowned my mate with my element.

I heard him chuckle behind me.

***

“He was here, wasn’t he?”

I pretended to look confused and think about her question.

“Who?”

Sapphire gave me the most uninterested look before shaking her head.

“I told you to stay away from him, didn’t I? If this continues, you should be prepared for what’s coming for you.” There were no threats or bitterness in her voice, just plain truth, and it made me wonder what I was getting myself into.

I was quite distracted because of what she said, that I didn’t notice her fist, taking a swing right at my face. I was brought back to reality when her fist came in contact with my right cheek.

“Ouch!” I doubled over while caressing my cheek. Damn, this woman can punch. “I’m not interested in him.” I stated firmly through gritted teeth before pushing my feet to attack.

According to Sapphire, it would be great if I at least had some strength and fighting skills. Through that way, I would gain enough power and force to get a hold of my element. So this is us now, fighting in hand-to-hand combat.

Of course, dad taught me how to fight. He taught me the basics, and also, Rae had been training me, especially when my element started to really become aggressive, and when I say aggressive, I meant out of control to the point that it was even hurting me.

“Remember Hailey, you came here to learn to control your power not to find yourself a partner.” With that, she blocked my attack and pushed me—hard.

I fell out of balance and landed on my side on the ground. I could feel my ankle and knees aching because of the hard impact. I groaned and rubbed the sore spot on my lower body before turning to her with a glare.

“You’re supposed to be helping me train, not kill me.” I complained angrily.

But Sapphire merely shrugs, looking very less concerned or guilty.

“You’re being overly dramatic, Hailey. Stand up. We’re not done.”

I clenched my fist and stood up, ignoring all the pain in my body, and tried to attack her again. I swung my arms, trying to hit her fist by fist, but she was fast. She easily dodged all of my attacks, and it only angered me more. I swung my fist, but she blocked it again, but this time, she didn’t push me. She punched me instead, in my stomach before pushing me again.

I felt my vision turn red and I turned to her, feeling myself losing control again. I could feel my water resurfacing, surrounding me, ready to attack any moment.

I stood up, my chest was heaving up and down as I tried my best not to kill her with my water right on this spot.

“You are easily angered. Easily provoked, that's why you tend to lose control of your element very often.” she started, seemingly unfazed of my water floating in the air, ready to drown her. She looked straight at me, her eyes glowing under the moonlight and I knew it only mirrored mine. Sapphire continues. “Remember that if you let your anger take over you in a fight, you’re most likely to lose. It’ll only weaken you, that’s why remaining composed and in control of your emotions is absolutely essential.”

But my mind was too clouded in anger to even listen to what she was saying. All rational thoughts had already left my mind ten seconds ago.

“This isn’t about me losing control. This is about you! What the hell is your problem with me?!” I yelled, feeling something heavy in my chest. It was suffocating, but I continued. “Ever since I came here, all you have ever done was treat me like I was some kind of peasant that you couldn’t wait to get rid of! You are so bossy, you wanted everything done your way as if my opinion didn’t matter! As if my feelings didn’t matter at all! I endured everything and listened to all of your orders and what? I’ve been here for months, Sapphire, but your treatment remained as if I was some kind of stranger!” There was a stinging feeling in my eyes and if I didn’t get a hold of my raging emotions, I knew I was going to burst. “What have I ever done to you?” It came out as a whisper that I almost thought she didn’t get it, but of course, she wasn’t the Mistress of Air for nothing.

It felt like I just released something heavy on my chest, like a burden had been lifted off of me, and to be honest, it felt good letting out your emotions even though the issue still remains unresolved.

Her eyes softened ever so slightly that it kind of surprised me. And she had a look that told me she knew my outburst wasn’t about this training anymore. It was something deeper than that.

“Are you feeling better now?” she suddenly asked, her voice surprisingly soft and gentle. “You have this pent-up emotion inside you. You have a lot of complaints and anger that weren’t handled well, and it was destroying you. You think setting aside those emotions and waiting for them to pass will make it better? No. You have to let it out, Hailey. Embrace those feelings, acknowledge them because it’s the only way that you will truly get a hold of your emotions.” she sighed before slowly walking away, leaving me to deal with my unhandled feelings.

I exhaled as a single tear fell from my eyes. I released my hands that were tightly balled into fists, but my water remained unchained, still floating around me, waiting to be used.

I closed my eyes and imagined it going back inside me, but to no avail, they remained where they were. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself before closing my eyes for the second time, but this time, I didn’t picture my water going back inside me, but someone else’s face.

It was automatic. I didn’t mean to picture his face, it just did, as if there was a part of me that knew deep down, seeing him even in just my mind will calm me down.

His dark eyes that always seemed to have that amusement in them. His annoying smirk that was enough to irritate the hell out of me. His intoxicating smell and the spark I feel whenever our skin collides—it was like the calmest ocean, a quiet but peaceful place in the midst of a hurricane, a lullaby for a weeping baby—things that only his presence could bring.

And slowly, I opened my eyes and I gasped when I saw that my water was no longer floating around like an untamed creature. Instead, everything turned out how I imagined myself when Lennox was around—calm.

***

Sapphire was nowhere to be found the next morning. The house seemed quieter than usual, and now that I had enough rest, I realized that maybe she was right; I couldn’t handle my emotions very well. They were spiraling whenever I was provoked or just plain not in the mood.

I did my usual routine. After I did my business inside the house, I started doing what she usually orders me to do, cleave wood, but the problem was that there was no wood left. So, I went to the woods to find something that I could take.

I’m still not familiar with everything around this place, but I pretty well know my way around some parts of this land, including the borderline between Sapphire’s land and the Half-Moon pack. Lennox’s pack.

I haven’t crossed their territory and I don’t plan on doing so. I could only imagine what Sapphire would do to me if she found out that I had gone to the pack she despised the most.

I had already spent almost an hour in the woods, and I was already on my way back when I felt a presence not too far from me.

I stopped in my tracks and made my movements very subtle and quiet. Someone was definitely around.

I scrunch my nose when a scent fills my nostrils. It was kind of sweet and floral, with a hint of spice and a touch of citrus. It was definitely the scent of a flower.

I hid behind a tree when I finally located what I was looking for.

It was a werewolf—a big one with ash-brown fur—and it was looking directly at Sapphire’s house. Its black eyes seemed to be deep in thought that it didn’t realize or feel like someone was watching—that I was watching.

But then, its ears perked up as if hearing a sound, and I immediately hid behind the tree beside me, keeping my movements quiet. I heard a shuffling noise before I saw the werewolf quickly running away, as if scared that someone might see it.

But it was too late though. I already saw it.

The first thought that came into my mind was that it was definitely not Lennox.

That guy wouldn’t hide. In fact, he would be more than pleased to make his presence known.

I frowned.

Who is it, then?