Rejected Revenge: Mistress of Water

Six

{Hailey’s POV}

I looked at the kid and then back at the monster—I mean, the big black wolf.

“Hey, you!”

The boy looked at me and raised a brow in annoyance. His expression tells me that he was neither happy nor pleased with my presence. Well, guess what? I don’t care because right now, I’m the only one who could save him from that roaring wolf.

“Leave now! Run!” I panicked, but to my irritation, the stubborn kid stayed where he was without a trace of fear in his expression. I sent daggers his way to let him know that I was not joking. “I said, run! Do you want to get bitten by that thing?!” I yelled while pointing at the wolf who snapped its canines at me while growling angrily.

The boy snorted. “He doesn’t bite.” He stated. “He’ll devour you straight away.”

I opened my mouth to say another warning, but I was surprised when I saw the big black wolf running towards us. I tensed up before looking around, thinking of any possible escape, but there was none…unless

…I use my water element, but I’m afraid that if I use it, I won’t be able to stop, and I will end up destroying the whole garden... again.

But if I didn’t use it, then this crazy @ss wolf would devour us—the boy’s word, not mine.

Think fast, Hailey. Think!

I let out a frustrated growl before turning around, then I ran as fast as I could. I took the boy’s wrist and pulled him with me, and we both dashed off.

“What the hell are you doing?!” The boy yelled while running beside me and trying to pull his arm off, but I held on tightly.

I glared at him. “Saving your @ss! Now shut up and run!”

I practically drag him out of panic for both of our lives. I could almost taste victory as we neared Sapphire’s house, but it died down when I was suddenly tackled to the ground by the fvcking black-eyed wolf.

Pain erupted on my right elbow as I groaned, and when I opened my eyes, I came in contact with familiar pitch-black-eyed ones. For a second, I thought I had seen this wolf before. Those black orbs that kept on flashing through my mind like a dream…no, a nightmare.

The wolf stared intently at me as it stood on top of me. And for a moment, the anger in its eyes dissolved and was replaced with a soft and tender look. Time seemed to stop for a second as we both stared into each other’s eyes, and then suddenly, the wolf was tore away from me by some kind of force.

Air

I immediately stood up and looked behind me with wide eyes and my consumption was right. It was Sapphire’s doing.

She was walking calmly towards the black wolf who was on the ground.

“I hate trespassers who only come here to ruin my properties.”

Wait—did she just refer me as one of her properties? The hell?

The wolf stood up and lunged at her, but I watched in utmost interest and wonder as Sapphire pinned the black wolf to where it was standing. She wasn’t even doing anything. She managed to control her element with her mind…just like mom.

Then, slowly, Sapphire looked at the boy who was watching the scene with a stubborn pout with his arms crossed.

“You,” Sapphire started still looking at the kid, making me tensed up. “What makes you think that you are allowed to come here? Do you think this is a hiding place for you?”

The kid glared at Sapphire. “Who are you to tell me no?! I am—”

“I don’t care if you’re the Alpha’s brother. Steer off my land, is that clear? Or you want me to—”

“I think he heard you just fine, Sapphire,” I interjected before Sapphire could say anything more. I gave her a warning look, muttering that he was just a kid. “Now, why don’t we just settle everything nicely? Let the wolf go and both of you leave her land?”

The wolf growled when I pertained to it as a ‘wolf’, but I couldn’t care less.

Thankfully, Sapphire listened and let go of the wolf.

“Next time you come here unannounced, Alpha, I’ll make sure to hang you in the tallest tree for the rest of your life.” Then, she started walking away.

I blinked.

Did she just call the black wolf Alpha?

I looked at the wolf who was already looking at me, and my eyes widened when realization finally hit me. He was Lennox?! And the boy…was his brother?

No wonder they’re both rude.

I guess the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.

But come to think of it, why would he start chasing us in the first place? The look on his face earlier looked genuinely mad for some reason. I wasn’t even doing anything so I’m sure that I wasn’t the reason. Maybe it was the boy. They probably fought like siblings normally do.

Yes. That’s understandable. Ares and I used to bicker a lot. He could be annoying sometimes so I know how it feels.

Right.

“Did he hurt you?” Was the first thing that Sapphire asked after I entered the house.

Well, aside from my aching elbow that hit the ground when he tackled me down, “No, he didn’t.”

She tsked, a sarcastic smile plastered on her lips. “That’s what I thought.”

For a moment, I was confused but before I could ask what she meant by that, Sapphire was already heading upstairs, leaving me wondering what the hell did she mean by what she said. It was as if she had never been sure that Lennox wouldn’t hurt me.

Was it because we were mates? And he wasn’t supposed to hurt me? Or he couldn’t because deep inside, he knew—even Sapphire knew—that he cared. That the mate bond was doing its magic.

I sat down on the sofa, still shaken by whatever that just happened.

I saw Lennox, my mate in his wolf form, I met his obnoxious little brother, and I have every right to dislike him, but I

I’m confused.

I felt like I was drunk, and my feelings and the mate bond were affecting my better judgment. I could not think straight. All rational thoughts have left my mind, and now, I’m stuck wondering if everything in my mind is still making sense.

“You’re feeling attached to him.”

I almost jumped in surprise when I heard Sapphire. I quickly turned around and saw her leaning against the railing of the steps. I hadn’t noticed that she was watching me. Heck, I thought she would spend the rest of the day inside her room.

My throat suddenly felt dry, and I felt heat rushed up to my neck and up to my face. Embarrassment. A feeling so rare to someone as confident as me. It feels so foreign to me feeling that way.

I’ve never felt embarrassed before.

“What are you talking about?” I tried my best to remain calm, but stiff. “I don’t see him as anything but a stranger. A greedy one trying so hard to take something someone already owns.” I tasted the bitter lies in my mouth, coating my soul with invisible dirt.

I knew it was a lie. He wasn’t a stranger. He was Lennox. My mate and an Alpha. But somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to admit it.

I don’t want him but something about him drawls me in, and I can’t seem to fight it. Not now. Now yet at least.

“Are you sure?” Now, Sapphire was staring intently at me. “Your false hatred towards him might backfire. You’re trying so hard to dislike him when in fact, you are undeniably attracted to him.”

A lump formed in my throat, and I was suddenly unable to speak.

Was she right?

I don’t want to admit anything right now when I can barely register my feelings. Everything was all new to me and I don’t know how to name these strange emotions attacking me every time Lennox was around.

It’s only the mate bond. I tell myself. It’s just the mate bond and nothing more. I kept on repeating over and over again, hoping that my own mind would believe me.

I could only look down and whisper, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Another day passed. It was another normal morning in the garden…and so, I thought.

“Quite the gardener now, aren’t you?”

I didn’t know why but I was not even surprised anymore when I heard his voice behind me. By now, I already know that he has a thing for sneaking behind everyone's back, and that's what makes him hard to trust. Not that I was planning to trust him anyway.

“Always the sneaky one, Alpha Lennox,” I said sarcastically.

I could feel his presence behind me, but I did little to acknowledge his presence. I was absentmindedly digging a hole of dirt, too far gone to realize that I had already made eight inches deep hole until I heard him speak again.

“Are you going to bury someone there? It looks quite deep for a seed hole.”

He really wasn’t going to stop.

“It’s none of your business.” I snapped.

I was really not in the mood to deal with him or any of his antics. Sapphire had just finished training me and I got scolded multiple times that I lost count of it. She was so hard on me, and gardening was the only thing that made me feel at peace, so for the love of God, I don’t want any headaches. Can’t they just leave me alone?

“You are upset.” He observed. “Why?”

I sighed and shoved the little shovel on the ground. I abruptly stood up and turned around to face him which I soon realized was a mistake. A big one.

I came face to face with Lennox who was about to sit down on my previous spot, and while he was looking down, I was looking up, causing the tip of our noses to touch. And our lips are just an air apart of each other. If neither of us moves, we’re literally going to kiss.

I was frozen, paralyzed in my place while looking at his pitch-black eyes that seemed to darken.

Sparks literally lit up the moment our skin touched. I felt something burning inside of me, a longing feeling so deep, and suddenly, I was craving for something I’d never thought would even cross my mind. I was thirsty, and my hands were itching to touch him. I don’t know what’s happening to me.

From the way his Adam’s apple bob when he swallowed, and how his dark eyes flashed with something so new to me, I knew he was feeling it too. The desire in his eyes was unmistakable.

Then, his eyes fell on my lips, and his pupils seemed to dilate even more.

“Hailey,” he says, and I was surprised by how much I love the sound of my name on his lips. The way it rolled out of his tongue. It was the first time he addressed me using my name. I hate it and I certainly hate the way he had an effect on me. It was making me feel out of control. Like I wasn't even the owner of my own body. But at the same time, I can't deny that everything about him is giving pleasure to me.

And I think I might be addicted.