Heart Of A Lycan King

6.

AIDEN

I felt cold wash all over me. As though I had suddenly been drenched with ice water.

What was she talking about?

Rejection? What rejection? I wondered as I stared at her blankly. My heart was racing, and I could hear its loud thudding in my ears. As I stared at her, however, I figured she didn't care. It's as though it was a normal thing for her to do that.

'She doesn't want us,' Leo said in a defeated tone. 'She doesn't want us, Aiden,' he added.

'She does. She can't decide she doesn't want us without giving us a chance,' I replied confidently to him.

'Then say something and stop staring at her like a damn loon! If you can't, then let me do it. I can't watch you mess up our chances! Probably our only chance in our lifetime, you fool!' Leo snapped.

I have a lot to say, but I don't know how to start. This is my first time having this sort of interaction with a woman. Not just any woman at that, but my mate. One who does not want me.

I sucked in a deep breath, and slowly started to approach her, in the hopes of covering the space she had suddenly created between us.

The closer I got, the more her delectable fragrance drew me like an invisible chain. Now, her scent was that of ice and wildflowers. And it hits every nerve in me. Every single nerve. I wanted to cover the distance between us quickly so I can take it in huge gulps. Except…

She kept taking steps back. And a hand caught her just as she was about to fall.

A feral growl rose in my throat, and I bit back a wave of fury. Fury over my mate's pain; fury over the scars all over her body, fury over the thought that she doesn't want me, fury over the thought that she has a trauma. And above all, fury over my intense surge of possessiveness.

Mine! She belongs to me! I've never experienced a moment of jealousy in my life, and yet the sight of another man holding my woman, my mate, pushed me into madness.

"Mine!" I barked, even though I wanted nothing but to rip Kane's arms away from her. I remained still. "She's mine."

"Easy, man. I was only helping," he replied, pulling his arms away after steadying her on her feet. "She's yours. Yours alone," he added and quickly left.

I turned my attention back to her. She still stood her ground, her big round brown eyes, a rich brown, which I now noticed up close had a taint of almost being gold. They were filled with pain,dark secrets, and innocence.

"Can you please tell me so we can get over this?" she asked, blinking rapidly. She looked so innocent. So pure. So lovely.

"Why?" I finally managed to speak. "Why a rejection? Do you not want me as a mate?" I asked, swallowing the bitter taste that rose from my throat.

"Uh-huh. Because you don't want me?" she asked, a confused expression on her face.

"I never said anything like that," I replied quickly, getting agitated with each passing second. "You have no idea how much I want you," I murmured.

She has no idea how much I want to hold her in my arms. To run the tips of my fingers along her bruised cheeks. To comfort her. To take away the pain on her face.

'Natasha, you have no idea how much I want you'. I thought.

'Tell her that. Quick, tell her that and stop thinking!' Leo growled, pacing in my head as he wagged his tail impatiently.

"You...want me?" She asked wide-eyed.

"Yes. You are my mate. And I want you. There's no rejection between us, Nala."

"That...that is not...possible," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're the king...I mean...the king of this country. I'm...I'm just a...lowly omega. A...a cursed...omega. You can't...can't possibly want...me. I'm sure...you must...be mistaken."

Why can't she believe that I want her?

A low growl escaped my lips, and in my daze, I moved too quickly. Quite suddenly, she brought her hand to her face and covered it. As though shielding herself from getting hit.

Did she assume I was about to hit her?

"Please, don't do this. I know I'm cursed and a lowly omega, but please, do not hurt me like the rest just because you don't want me. I...I...you can...just...reject me," fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, and I felt my chest constrict with a weird feeling.

Hit? Did they hit her?

'You either storm in there right now and rip them to pieces or I do that, Aiden,' Leo threatened.

But I couldn't move. Seeing her that way broke my heart. It made me want to cradle her in my arms and lull her to sleep.

'You are only saying that because she did not recoil from your touch. As much as I want to storm back there and make them pay, she is our priority right now. Her willingness to go with me is all I crave for.' I replied, then raised my hand to my forehead and she recoiled again.

I wasn't even touching her.

Just what had she gone through?

"I won't hurt you," I whispered, my voice breaking at the end. "I would never hurt you, Nala. Never."

It might be the tone I used or the way my voice broke at the end. Either way though, she slowly dropped her hand and looked up at me, the fear in her eyes staring right into my gut as though it would rip it open.

"You...You..." she hiccuped, wiping the tears off her face. "I know you don't want me."

"I do," I said, almost too desperate. Too desperate that I took another step towards her and she recoiled again. "I want you. And I will never let you go."

"Are you saying you won't reject me? Or that you won't accept the rejection if I pronounce it?"

"What reason do I have to do that?" I said, my voice dropping. Ever so slowly, I raised my hand towards her cheeks, but she quickly turned away.

"Because no one wants me. No one ever has," she said solemnly.

"I do. I want you. So much that it hurts."

She looked up completely then, and this time, she didn't avoid my gaze like she had been doing. She stared at me with those brown eyes that made me want to drop at my feet and do anything she said. Her scent, which I was completely sure now was a mixture of ice and wild flowers, filled my nostrils, in essence, making me yearn for her touch even more.

"You can't reject me based on your assumption that I do not want you. I want you," I said again. "I want you, Nala, and I'm willing to do anything to make you see that."

"By hurting me?" she asked, wrapping her hands around her body.

"By loving you," I replied quickly. "Body and soul. Heart and mind," I added, snapping my fingers towards Kane.

He ran to the car and soon returned with a black shirt. I had intended to give that to her, but as soon as I got it from Kane, I figured the shirt had his scent all over it. I tossed it at him and quickly removed the one I wore and moved to wrap it around her.

But she took a step back, and I was reminded of the fact that my mate does not want me nor does she trust me.

"Use it. Your dress is torn and short," I said, stretching my hand towards her.

It took her a moment before she took the shirt from me and wrapped it around her body. I did the same with the shirt Kane had brought.

"Will you do something for me?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Can we go back in there and you show me who is responsible for the scars on your body?" I swallowed the bubbling rage that had died down a moment ago sufficing in full force. "You just need to point them out. Nothing more."

Surprisingly though, she shook her head, tightening her hold around my shirt. I wished it was me. I wished her arms were wrapped around me and not my shirt.

"You don't have to fight my battles," she said. This time around, there was a conviction in her voice. A certain determination. "I don't want you to."

"I am your mate, and the king as well. I can do..."

"I'm sure you are mistaken, Mai Martaba. You do not want a mate like me. I am nothing. Just a cursed lowly omega with nothing to offer. I can never be happy, neither can I make you happy. You are just wasting your time with me. I assure you you'll regret thinking you want me soon," she said solemnly.

'There's so much self-hate in her,' Leo observed. I had noticed that already. She keeps saying she's a lowly omega, cursed and unwanted. 'And she doesn't want you to fight for her. She wants to fight her own demons.'

'And I'll respect her choice,' I replied to him. 'She gets what she wants. Whatever it is.'

'Including granting her the freedom she desires?' Leo taunted.

'Excluding that, i***t!' I snapped, blocking off the connection between us.

"Come. Come with me, Nala." I said, opening the car door. I had figured rushing her into accepting me would be the wrong thing to do. I would only end up ruining my chance with her. I needed to take things slowly. As slow as possible, that is.

"I won't reject you, Nala. I have no reason to do that. Just give me a chance to prove myself before you decide on that. Do not be too quick to make a decision, Nala," I said, clearing my throat as I stretched my hand towards her.

My heart was beating so fast as I waited in anticipation. I yearned for her touch, as much as I yearn to breathe daily. I crave it. I want it. She was tall, her slenderness making her appear almost fragile. Definitely vulnerable. And yet, she had delicious curves.

Possessive hunger consumed me. Already my blood boiled with a seemingly unquenchable fire, my skin tightening over muscle and bone.

Never again would I be able to enjoy looking at another woman.

Enjoy? I thought and nearly laughed. Have I ever truly enjoyed a woman until now?

"I want you," I said again, almost in a whisper.

"You're lying," she said, licking her dry bottom lip. The sight of her tongue nearly unhinged me.

"I will never lie to you."

Now, more confusion knitted her brows. "You sound so sure, so determined."

"I am."

"You don't even know me," she cried. "And I certainly don't want you to. You already know that I am cursed and undeserving of any love. Why are you giving me false hope, oh why?" she added in a breathless whisper.

She had no desire to accompany me. The realization dumbfounded me.

My mate would rather live her life without me.

No! My sudden appearance may have shocked her. She just needed time. With me. With the bond.

Time that she would thank me for giving her in the future.

"You're not going to like what happens next," I told her. "I apologize for that." I took quick steps towards her and swiftly lifted her in my arms without giving her a chance to prepare herself. The side of her body pressed against my chest, and everywhere our skin touched, I burned. But as soon as I had her in my arms, I felt how she almost went paralyzed in fright. My poor, sweet, delicate flower was truly terrified of me. It broke my heart.

Despite her fear, I was unable to resist my instincts. I buried my nose in the hollow of her neck, breathing in her delectable fragrance while relishing the softness, as well as roughness of her skin.

"Are...you sniffing me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She shook beneath my touch. Oh, she was afraid of me. But after a few moments, it stopped, and she started relaxing in my touch.

"Yes. Would you like to sniff me in turn?"

"No!" she said too quickly for my liking. What must I do to get this woman to trust me? To accept me?

My shoulders slumped in disappointment.

"Drop me. You don't have to do this."

"I have to. I want to. You're my mate. We belong to each other. Please, do not make me force you to come with me."

"Will you then tell me your name?" she asked.

"So you can reject me? Not so soon, Nala. You can come up with a name for me if you want to," I teased, trying to ease the tension.

"You won't tell me?" she insisted.

"I will," I replied in a defeated tone.

"Now?"

"No. Later."

"Why do you keep calling me that?" She asked, as she puckered her lips.

I burned with the urge to caress it with my thumb.

"Call you what?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Nala. Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Because you are my Nala. My gift. You are a gift to me. A gift I want. You like it, don't you?"

A muscle ticked in her jaw. When our gazes met, mine dark against her golden brown, I inhaled sharply. Awareness sizzled inside me, stronger than before. Such beauty. My nostrils flared, and I knew my pupils dilated. My body hardened painfully.

After what seemed like an eternity, she finally nodded, and my lips stretched in a slow smile. I walked to the open car, and gently placed her in, then closed the door behind her.

'She does not trust us,' Leo sighed. 'She must have something up her sleeve by agreeing. We need to act fast, Aiden.'

I nodded. Leo was right. From her expression, I knew she was still scared of me. I also knew she doesn't trust me. And I'm certainly sure she is hiding something from me.

But that does not mean I'm giving up. I would never give up on her. Or forgive those who have hurt her.

I stared at her for a while before I turned and began walking to my side.

I clicked my fingers towards Kane, who rushed to my side in a blink.

"They did something to her in this pack. I don't know why she isn't saying anything yet."

"She's scared," Kane said quietly.

"You noticed?" I asked in disbelief.

"It is evident," he replied with a nod.

"I don't want to force her to speak when she's not ready to. I want to give her time."

"That would be the best thing to do. Rushing her would only scare her more."

"Ride the other car," I said as I continued walking. "I'll see you at home."

"Do not scare her off with your possessive nature, Aiden."

"I won't," I replied with a smile.

'You have two days to find out what happened to her in this pack, else, I'm taking matters into my hand, you soft hearted prick!' Leo snapped.

I only chuckled, pulled the door open. However, just as I was about to step in, I saw Alpha Matteo and his mate running towards me.

I closed the car and crossed my arms over my chest. Waiting for them with a grim expression on my face.

"For...give me… Mai Martaba. I have something...important...to say." Matteo panted, as he stopped before me.

"And what would that be?"

"Natasha is still my mate. I lied to you about rejecting her."