I Rejected You , Alpha

My second mate

ELEIA’S POV

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I don’t know how long I’ve been walking , crying and flinching in pain .

I’m pretty sure the liquid dripping down my thigh is blood , but I have no where to go , no where to clean up and no where to rest .

I trip , falling forward , my face hitting the ground and I hiss as something scrapes my cheek , the burning sensation eating my last string that held me together and a sob escapes my lips and it feels like my chest is cracked open and my heart ripped out .

The stinging pain in my chest doesn’t stop , but I get to my feet , holding onto my underwear and apron as I manage my way through the bushy forest and end up at a small pond , I could see the way around it , but I collapse onto the rocks in front of the water , sitting on the cold stone until I gather energy .

I shiver as the cool air caresses my skin , burning the whip lashes on my back .

I crawl to the little hole in the rocks , putting the apron on my back to keep the wounds warm .

I barely slept , every stick breaking having me jolt up and glance around , making sure rogues don’t eat me alive .

I woke up as the sun started to shine , stripping in the cool air before I walk into the pond , hoping that something doesn’t bite me in the ass .

I hiss as I clean myself , sobbing as the water around me makes me want to give up , give in…

Maybe I should just drown myself… maybe the pain will go away if I do…

I close my eyes , sinking into the water and I inhale a deep breath before my face goes under .

My dry hair floats to the top before everything goes under .

I don't know how long I go under , but as my lungs start to burn and my eyes shoot open , burning as the water infiltrates my eyes .

I kick , looking up at the surface a metre up and I use my arms to swim .

As my face surfaces , I gasp out of breath , my body feeling numb with tiredness and coldness .

I hear water splashing before two hands find their grip on my body , sparks shooting up and down my spine , electricity coursing through my veins and as the person's head surfaces from below the water , I gasp at the black shiny hair and ocean blue orbs coming into view .

"Mate ." I whimper .

"Mate ." He growls , staring at me with intense eyes and his plump lips parted , water dripping down his face .

"Who are you ?" I breathe out , my chest heaving , body aching .

"Aiden , and you are ?" His chin dips down , his chiselled jaw looks as if it could cut my finger like a paper cut .

"Eleia ." I gulp and he grins , "And if I may ask , what are you doing in this icy water , Eleia ?" The way my name rolls of his lips has me enchanted and I forget to answer , my head tilting to the side as I take in how handsome he is .

"Eleia ." He calls for my attention and my eyebrows raise as I realise that I zoned out .

"Sorry ." My chin falls to my chest and panic strikes me as I realise that I'm naked .

He grips my chin with his fingers so gently , lifting my gaze to his , "You have nothing to be sorry for ." He breathes out , his eye so gentle as he looks at me .

I don't know what comes over me but a sob escapes me and I throw my arms around his neck , holding onto him .

His arm wraps around me , his hand luckily placed on my side and he slowly makes his way out of the water .

I could feel the water shallowing and I glance around to see multiple men with their backs turned to us .

"Legs around me ." He hoists my legs up around his waist and I feel his hard on pressed against me .

My face pales , if it weren't already and I shake in fear of him finding the horrid marks on my back .

"Relax ." He walks me over to where my clothes lay and a t - shirt I have never seen , stopping a metre away .

He puts me down , whistling and another man walks up to us , looking up at the sky .

"Give me a shirt ." He demands and my eyes are fixed on the ground .

I glance up at the man taking off his shirt and Aiden grabs it , handing it to me .

"Dry yourself with it ." His tone isn't demanding , just concern and I take it with shaky hands , drying my upper body as he walks towards the clothes and picks up the black t shirt , bringing it over and I walk towards my clothes sideways , scared that he'll see the scars that my former mate called beautiful and didn't get angry about , but he steps in front of me , shaking his head .

"Wear this ." He pulls the shirt over my head , his spicy scent engulfing my nostrils and it's like a warm bath around me and my body relaxes .

"Come on ." He scoops me up and I stare at him with wide eyes as I muffle the hiss wanting to escape my lips .

"I can walk ." I mutter after five minutes of him carrying me .

"You have no shoes Eleia ." He smiles and warmth fills my heart .

"I don't want your feet to hurt ." He places a soft kiss on my cheek and my body tenses as sparks shoot down my spine .

He carries me into another border of a pack , I could feel the energy shift and he slowly puts me down on a spot with soft grass , little snow patches everywhere .

I love snow , but I have spent far too many nights in it .

"Come ." He holds out his hand and I happily take it , my insides beaming in happiness as he walks me up to the large home , it wasn't as big as our pack house in the Night Pack , but there are a lot of smaller houses around .