Crazy Little Thing Called Mate

\EIGHTEEN/

- Everest -

'Rejection?' I worried.

There was no way in hell that I could ever reject Caleb, he's my mate.

Even though he basically said he didn't want to be with us, then moved on to another girl quite quickly to emphasize how much he didn't want to be with me.

My anger had resurfaced.

'Mate' my wolf cried

'No...douchebag!' I argued with her internally yes Caleb had been my mate but I couldn't deny he was an asshole.

'No...Mate.' she sounded as she had me look over at Titus...he was watching me closely.

I turned away from him and she growled but I ignored her. Whether my wolf or I liked the idea of rejection we both knew deep down that Titus was right. In order to move forward I would have to leave Caleb in my past...and the only way that could ever happen is if I rejected him.

"H-how would I even do that, I mean, it's not like he's here."

Titus looked at me, his dark eyes (framed by his thick lashes) had a sadness to them.

"You don't physically have to be near him, you just reject him, but you have to mean it."

I wasn't completely sure, but this guy seemed sort of genuine in his care for such a sensitive subject. Both Briar and my father had urged me to give him a chance, and I wasn't stupid either. I knew if I played nice I would get treated nice...but there was something about Titus Graystone that read sincere.

I nodded.

"I'm not just tell you this to be cruel or harsh." He continued. "Everest, do you realize what will happen if I so much as tried to touch you while your you are still bonded to your mate?"

"He didn't mark me nor I him."

"But you had sex." He pointed out. "The bond begins forming with acts of intimacy. Don't you know this?"

Once more I had no clue what he was talking about, and I felt like an idiot for knowing so little about mates or union ceremonies. I was under the impression that the bond begins to form just from the minute you meet your mate.

But these weren't exactly things our father spoke to us about, and our nannies and cooks only spoke about the 'happily ever afters' not the complicated beginnings.

"No." I confessed.

This time he stood up from his chair and he motioned with his hand to me. I understood that he wanted me to rise with him, I did so and he stepped in close to me.

He placed both hands on my upper arms.

It wasn't too bad, but his closeness had me on edge and my wolf was more than antsy now, she was actually howling for goddess know what reason.

Then be carefully lifted one hand and he cupped my face.

His bare palm was rough and as it delicately cradled my head, I could feel every nerve inside of me tightening and releasing rapidly. This heat stared to fill me as I couldn't help lean into his palm momentarily. But then the heat got too hot and I recoil as the direct skin to skin touch burned and soon bile began to rise in my throat.