Torn Between Mates

#23 Rejection

"Are you in a relationship? Or is it because I am an omega? Do you like that other girl? Melissa? Or is it Loui?" Ella tried to understand it better. She couldn't accept that cracky reason that Riven gave her. How can a wolf not want a Luna? From how much she knew and understood, alphas are naturally possessive about a mate. They need a Luna more than anything to reach their full potential. So why would Riven reject her? It must be because of her lacunas. She was not a Luna material. She knew that much.

"What? Weren't you listening? Ella, I was planning to take you with me before finding out that you are my mate. But I can't do that now. Because it won't end with that. This attraction is too much when I don't want a mate. It will complicate both of our lives. Why don't you understand this simple thing? I am only giving you a fair life. I am not someone you can love after knowing me. I am not this good, either. So cut me some slack here for being considerate." Riven raised his voice in annoyance. What was so difficult to apprehend?

He didn't want anything or anyone that would bind him. Liking her with no strings attached was something. But having her beside her when she was her mate wouldn't do. He has seen enough of how these things work out. His parents were madly in love once, only to part ways after leaving him. Or who knows when they started drifting apart? So this mate bond wasn't as great as everybody claims.

Ella mocked her fate, puffing in the air, laughing painfully at her cruel life. Of course, she had to face rejection as well. What else was she expecting? Tears escaped her eyes, and she didn't want to stop them. Of course, her mate can't accept her. She was only going to clip him down. He has everything in place already. She was an unwanted weight in everyone's life. She belonged nowhere and to nobody. She felt an emptiness inside her that was eating her away. He had shattered her heart into pieces. The pain was hard to bear. She was in so much agony that she could barely breathe. It pierced her heart and broke her self-respect. The man in front of her was her mate, but he stood there undaunted, undeterred by her pain.

Riven felt a little guilty. But he didn't let it show on his face. He can't falter. He had to reject her. He was waiting for her to accept it so that he could free himself from that bond. When he looked at his overwhelmed eyes, he felt regret. He averted his eyes to hide his pain. What was that stupid thing he was feeling? Why? He groaned.

She ran. She ran to get away as far as possible. She would rather live like a rogue than let him reject her for good. She could not hear that. And she could not let him do that. She ran frantically into the wood, and then she shifted into her huge white wolf without caring that it was already dawn and someone might see her. She no longer cared if someone would see her and find her secret. Why should she care when she wanted to die or become a rogue? She was desperate to leave this wretched life.

When the first light of the day fell on her white fur, it shimmered. The light rays acted like her target. She ran in its direction, unmindful of where it was leading. She was heading towards the no wolf's land, the end of their territory, surrounded by a huge cliff and a gorge. She ran towards it without caring what led ahead of her.

Riven howled in anguish and despair. He felt like someone snatched his heart from his chest and ran away. His wolf was whimpering, castigating him as if he had made some terrible mistake. His wolf had not revolted for once, not even that dark night of his life. So why was it so restless?

Riven stood his ground, fighting back. This was when he had to make every effort to sustain it. If he falls weak, he will never be able to make a comeback.

At the first glimmer of the dawn, when the final bell rang, marking the ending of the event, something else thrust inside him. All the cells in his body propelled him to persuade her. He just wanted to vanish in thin air or pass out. But everything around him smelled like Ella, felt like her, or reminded him of her absence. He was afraid that if he moved, he would run toward Ella, irrespective of what he planned. So he stood there staring at oblivion.

When he saw a small silhouette emerging from behind the bushes, he hoped it was Ella, baffling him. But as the figure drew near, he realized it was Melissa. He scoffed in annoyance. After what she did last night, she had some audacity to show herself. But behind her was Mateo. Seeing Riven in such a state of rupture, Mateo sped toward him. Before Mateo could ask anything, Riven broke into his arms, confusing him and Melissa.

"Melissa said the omega girl is two-timing you and Levi. He was even fuming at me that you are after her. He thinks she is his mate." Mateo was no longer sure of what Melissa had told him. His friend seemed to be lost and dejected.

"Mate!" He whispered.

It agitated him to hear that Levi claimed her as his mate just to keep her away from him. Who does he think he is? Ella was his. Only his! He groaned loudly, pushing Mateo away. The memories of the time he had spent with Ella flooded before his eyes. They were all happy memories, even when he fought the wolves or with her. She felt like home to him. Why was he stupid enough to reject her? For the first time, he felt like he could be himself around someone and be loved for who he was. He was tired of the pretension he set out for others to watch. He was not his father. Didn't he tell it to himself every day in the morning? So why did he become his father's copy?

"What?" Mateo asked, confused.

"Mate!" Riven groaned at the realization of his mistake. He made a blunder. He must hurry before he loses the chance of his life.

It was foolish of him to even think he could forget her in his entire lifetime. He had fallen in love with her even before knowing she was his mate. She was the only one for him. He could never take her away from his spirit. It was impossible. He left Melissa and Mateo wondering in the blink of an eye and shifted to his wolf mid-air. He followed her sweet smell of lavender and roses, focusing only on her, forgetting about every other thing that the world offered him. He wanted to complete what he had started. He needed to mark her. He needed to keep her next to him. Forever. Anyhow. He wanted to scream at the top of his voice and tell everyone he was her mate.

He didn't care if she was an omega or not. He was powerful enough for both of them. He would protect her. He would love her. He would care for her. He would give her the best version of her life.

With a new agenda, Riven ran in madness to get her back. Her odor led him in the direction of the light rays cracking through the morning sky. He feared. Why was she heading there? Was she? No! He didn't want to go there. He didn't want to think about that. He pushed harder, running faster than his usual speed to catch her. She was heading towards the gorge. He grew anxious. He did not want to lose her. He blamed himself for being too reckless and not giving it proper consideration. She even made an effort to make him understand. But he was too stubborn. Ella was too precious to lose.

As the scent got stronger, he knew Ella was close. It was almost a cliff. His heart raced in fear. But as soon as he picked up her fresh smell, calmness washed over him. He let out a loud growl to make her realize he was near if she had not already picked up his scent. But when she did not budge, his anxiety was back. She was not alone. Loui and Levi were near her. They were in the middle of some heated conversation.

He quickly turned to his human self and began to run toward Ella, covering the remaining distance. She was crying frantically, breaking his heart into pieces. Was it because of him? Or were the siblings again tormenting her? He would wage war if that was the case.