Despite her angef, I have a huge smile on my face. I have a mate. She is here, in my arms. Sure, she would rather be somewhere else, but I know she can feel the bond pulling us together. “Ayla, you fan’t outrun me, and you can’t leave. There is nowhere you would be able to go where I couldn’t find you. The bond will always lead me to you, I turn her around, putting her on the ground, but holding her firm by the shoulders. She looks up at me with so much sadness. It is cleaving my heart in two. I did that to her.
“Little wolf, stop fighting me and just listen. I did nothing to her. St came on to me while I was working. I had been with her many times before…” that gets her to start kicking at my shins and attempting to pull away from my hold. Let me finish. Many times, before as friends. She always knew I was waiting for my hate. She means nothing to me, and I haven’t done anything with her…I mean ANYTHING since you came into my life Ayla. The last time was right when I rescued you. I hadn’t even kissed you yet. I swear. Please hear me.” I plea with her. Hoping for something. Anything that would put her in my arms and in my rooms where she belongs.
She looks up at me with those beautiful teal eyes and they are no longer glowing. She must have gotten control over her wolf. More than I can say. Mine is chanting “Mine. Mate. Claim.” repeatedly in my head. Little wolf slowly starts to pull from me, but I don’t sense her urge to flee “How can I believe you. You left me alone every time we were together? She asks me, barely a whisper. A beautiful whisper that want more of. “I stayed with you all night. I held you in my arms and loved every damn minute of it! I only left in the morning because I was too big of a damn coward to see you. The guilt that I wanted you so bad while you had a mate was something I didn’t know how to navigate or handle. I didn’t know how to just be friends with more with you. I wanted more than that. I didn’t want to hurt you.” The words leave me breathlessly but also remind me that I have a Kian to deal with. “You hurt me anyway. Yes, I did little wolf. I am so damn sorry. Please let me make it up to you. Everyday. Please let me try. I am so fucking sorry.” I beg her, breathing fast and full of fear. I can’t lose her.
“I may not know a lot about the mate bond. But I know what my mother taught me.” I stare at her with slight confusion as she backs away from me more. “I, Ayla Frost..” No. fates no. She can’t do this. “No, No little wolf. Don’t.” “I Ayla Frost, Reject…” “Don’t you dare finish that fucking sentence little wolf. I waited my whole fucking life for you. I am not letting you go.” I interrupt her, desperate to get my words out over hers. “I Reject you…” she starts to rasp out, but I rush her with the fastest speed Ronan can push through me and grab a hold of her, crashing my mouth down to hers to shut her up. She can’t reject me or this bond. I won’t allow it.
Her lips remain tight and firm, refusing to open, but I don’t care. I will kiss her as a stone wall to never give her mouth the opportunity to open and spew such filth at me again. I let go of her cheeks I was cupping and breathe heavy, trying to catch my breath, but also losing it as the sensation of touching little wolf sends a shock and tingle through my hands and lips. Everywhere we touch electrifies. The bond pulsing through us. I catch her leaning into my touch. Eyes closed, wanting to feel this too. “Don’t you ever try that again. You hear me? You are MINE. You will NEVER reject me. I won’t lose you.”
She pulls away from me, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t do this Thane. It hurts. It hurts too bad. You were all that I had.” “YOU ARE ALL THAT I HAVE LITTLE WOLF. YOU HAVE ALL OF ME. YOU DIDN’T LOSE ME. I DIDN’T LOSE YOU!” I growl out, reaching for her. Her eyes start glowing, Aramana grappling for control. I don’t know why. Hopefully she feels the bond and doesn’t want to bolt. It is in our nature as primal creatures to be with our mates. “I Ayla…” “Aramana, I know you are in there and you can hear me..” I yell out while grabbing little wolfs forearms, never letting her go. “I know you can hear me…You have to stop her. Stop her from this rejection. Shift, I will get you to your rooms without anyone noticing and we can talk when Ayla is ready.” “No Thane, I don’t want to shift. I want to reject you. I need to stop you from tearing my heart apart more. I can’t take it. I can’t.” She is spiraling. Shaking her head back and forth, holding her temples, while I hold her elbows. She is starting to breath rapidly. She will panic and spiral. I need to save her from that. “I can’t do this…I can….I can’t….” she keeps repeating over and over, looking lost and desperate. I have to help her.
“Aramana shift…I will get you into your rooms. Take control. Help Ayla.” “NO, Thane PLEASE.” she yells out, but it is too late. Her wolf doesn’t want to flee. At least, I hope. She wants her mate, and she wants her other half comforted. She shifts and it isn’t slow and painful like I feared. It is quick. Alpha quick, which shouldn’t happen, and I soon realize the real reason little wolf didn’t want to shift. All of the clues coming together. The secret revealed. She is a white wolf, and she is beautiful.
