XXVI. Reject Her

Raine’s POV:

“Alpha Leon!” someone screams.

I took a few blinks and averted my eyes. I know I was staring too long for it to be normal. I waited for him to drop me, but he didn’t. Instead, he cautiously set me down on my feet. My toes scrunch against the cool pattern tiles. Yes, I am not wearing shoes. I lost the slippers when I jumped into the AC vents.

It was such a waste. They were comfortable slippers too.

Harvey grasps my wrist. “Got ya!”

Leon growls.

Harvey releases me and places two hands in the air. Quickly, he took three steps back. “My bad. My fault.”

Leon exhales a deep breath through his nostrils before he turns towards me. “Why are you here?”

I lean back, “Why are you here?” I revert the question back to him.

His grey eyes narrow in an almost menacing way. “I got a tip that something is going on at the hospital.” His eyes scanned my body covered in a dirty gown before it went back to me. “Now, I know what it is.”

I sneer at the thought of being called an - it. I have a name. At least show me some respect. Even if I did run away, I am still his mate.

Leon looks at Harvey. “Why is she here?”

At least I’m promoted to a - she - now.

Harvey chuckles, rubbing his sweaty neck a few times. “I’m not certain.” Yeah. He’s not certain. He only took part in half of my kidnapping.

“You know what-” I took a step back, “I really shouldn’t be here, so allow me to take my leave.” I bow down. “Nice meeting you, Alpha. Heard lots of good stuff.” I turn towards Harvey and bow. “You too. I appreciated your sad attempt to stop your partner in crime.”

Leon brows pinch together. “Partner in crime? What does she mean by that?” His eyes narrow, “What did you do?”

“It wasn’t me! I swear!”

“Then, who was it?”

I took three steps to be stopped by the guards. I wasn’t even surprised. Each of them grabs me by the arm and drags me towards a chair. Then, they stood beside me.

“Me.”

Leon turns around to meet Preston. “Father.”

“Son.”

I can tell they have a warm relationship.

“Why is she here?” Leon question.

“The - she - has a name, and she is your mate.” For once, I agree with Preston. I do have a name.

“I don’t care much for her name.” There it is again, the awful sensation. I cannot wait for this to go away.

Preston smirks, “Afraid of knowing her name? Afraid that once you know, you’ll fall?”

Leon sneer, “You know how I feel.”

Preston slammed a fist against the counter, and it broke. The workers behind the counter held their breaths. Afraid to move. Any action held a consequence. “Throwing away your mate for a girl you don’t know.” He growls, “How foolish.”

“You know I like her.”

“You don’t even know her name!” Preston’s voice grew louder.

I sat there, straighter than the guards, and stared at the wall. I really don’t like being caught between family affairs, particularly werewolves.

Preston steps closer to him. “You’re doing all this to spite me, aren’t you?”

Leon growls, “Not everything revolves around you.”

“Your mother has really spoiled you.” Preston looks at me. Oh, please don’t look at me. “Fine.” His voice was much calmer. He walks towards me. “Since you don’t want her.” My eyes widen when he pulls out a knife. A truly sharp-looking knife. It beats the one inside my bag. I hope they didn’t throw away my bag.

I tilt my body away from Preston. “Wh-What-”

Preston grabs a handful of my hair and forcibly yanks me out of the seat. A scream involuntarily left my throat, and I held the root of my hair.

“What are you doing?” Leon shouts.

He inches the knife closer to my neck. Each time I swallow, I can feel the cold metal. “Since you don’t want her. We’ll get rid of her.”

“Let her go! I’ll just reject her!”

At that moment, I felt stupid. I should’ve let him catch me, and most likely, he would’ve rejected me. Then again, it was more likely for him to want to keep me then reject me. Rejection is rare in the soulmate world.

Preston inches the knife closer until it reaches my skin. I can feel blood dripping down my neck. “You think rejections are easy to handle? Particularly for an Alpha?”

“O-Others had done it,” Leon said.

“Rejections. Werewolves take fifty-fifty of the pain. One werewolf in a mating bond? He will take most of the pain.”

“Then, I’ll take most of the pain!” Leon shouted. Thank you, Leon!

Preston shook his head, “I can’t do that to my own son. How could I ever look at your mother again, knowing-” He grips onto my hair harder. I let out another squeal of pain. The tears drip down my cheeks, and gibberish words came out of my mouth. “His father was the one who allowed him to gain that pain.”

My swollen red eyes widen even more as I feel the knife further into my neck. By now, I was balling in snots and tears. Hard. I hate it—the feeling of being powerless.

“Stop!” Leon screamed. “I won’t reject her.” He releases a shaky breath. “Just put the knife away.”

“You won’t reject her?” Preston’s voice was still as calm as ever.

“I won’t.”

“Are you saying you will accept her?”

“I’m not-”

Preston pressed the knife further into my neck, and I cried harder.

“I accept! I accept her as my Luna! Please-” Leon intake another breath. “Please, just put the knife away.”

“Excellent.” Preston withdrew the knife and threw me down to the ground. My head slams against the cold surface, and I couldn’t help but curl into a ball—fucking batshit crazy-ass werewolves.

Then, it hit—the warmth. I look up to see Leon’s arms embraced around my trembling body. His eyes were transitioning from silver to pitch black.

Preston exhales as he cleans my blood off of his knife. “Such a pity that I have to do this.”

Leon held me closer to his chest. I can feel it, the raging heartbeat.

Preston looks down at us before he tucks away the knife. “Protect your mate, son.” He smiles, “Love her with all your heart.”

Leon’s body trembles, “Why? Why are you doing this to me?”

“You’re my son.” Preston snuck his arms behind his back. “Why else would I do such a thing?” He smiles, “I want you to be happy.” Those words sound more like he’s provoking his son then comforting. “Someone come and bandage up my son’s Luna.”

A woman made her way towards us. She squats down and reaches for me. “Alpha Leon. I-”

“Don’t,” Leon growled. ”Don’t touch her.”

With a minimum amount of energy, Leon carries me away from the crazy man.

“You’ll thank me, one day, son,” Preston said.

I highly doubt it.

I didn’t dare look at him or say a single thing while he carries me down the hallway and into an empty room. He settled me down on a bed and made his way towards the cabinet. I watch as he pulls out a first aid kit. Leon settles down beside me, causing the bed to shift.

“Remove your hand.”

I shook my head and leaned back, “I can treat myself.” My voice was a lot more hoarse then I predicted.

“I won’t hurt you.” His voice was a lot softer than earlier.

Slowly, I move my hand away from my neck to see a stain of blood. My eyes closed while he treated me. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, quite comforting actually. My body freezes when I feel a warm hand in the back of my neck. The moment he finishes bandaging my neck, the warmth disappears.

He cleaned up and put the first aid kit away, then washed his hands. Leon grabs some paper towels then my hands. I didn’t move a single inch as he wipes the blood away. A single spray and more paper towels.

“I could wash my hands,” I said.

“It’s fine,” he responded. “It settles down my wolf.”

I nod in compliance. My gaze dropped towards his hands, and I noticed how they were much bigger than mine. They were a lot rougher too. His fingertips graze down the palm of my hand. His knee lightly brushes against my thigh. He’s pretty big.

I wonder what else is big.

“Stop it,” he said calmly.

“Stop what?”

“Your hormones. I can sense it.”

“Oh,” I respond. My face feels like it’s on fire. “Sorry. You’re just...good looking.” I cannot believe I just said that out loud.

He chuckles, “Thanks.”

“No problem,” I responded casually.

When I look up, I notice he was looking at me. His face was much too close for comfort.

“What?” I question.

“You’re pretty.” His gaze reverts towards my bloody palms.

“Oh.” I’m certain my hormone levels just escalate. “Thanks.”

He sniffs, “No problem.”

This isn’t normal. I’m sure two individuals who are bonded but don’t want each other aren’t supposed to be complementing each other. Then again, his dad almost killed me earlier. No matter how I look at this situation, it doesn’t seem normal.

But, end meets the end, if this was any other situation.

I would’ve pounced him.

When he finished cleaning, he washed his hands. I can pick up the scent of alcohol on my palms. He actually thoroughly cleaned it.

“So, you were going to reject me?” I ask.

He turns off the water and grabs one of the paper towels. “Yeah.”

“Can I know why?”