Rejecting Love

CHAPTER FOUR:

Caiden POV

I wake up inhaling an intoxicating sweet scent. Notes of honey and mint swirl through my nostrils, causing my lips to turn up at the corners. Opening my eyes, I gaze at this heavenly creature that's resting peacefully in my arms. How can Dylan reject her?

"Good morning." I say as I see her eyes flutter open. Rolling over to look at me, she blushes.

"Good morning." She whispers, diverting her eyes away from mine.

"First off, let's get something straight. I'll always protect you when you need it, but let's not make this," I gesture at our current situation, "a habit. I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression." Her eyes widen as wrinkles appear in her forehead.

"OH! Right, of course." She says, almost too quickly. Sitting up, she starts to scoot off the foot of the bed. In feel her uneasiness, dang it, I've embarrassed her.

"Did I see Dylan coming out of your room last night?" I ask. She freezes and turns to look at me, her eyes narrow in alarm.

"Yes." She says with a cautious tone.

"What did he want?" I ask, my stare penetrating her hazel eyes.

"To talk." She shrugs and turns her back to me. Her long golden brown hair whips over her shoulder, causing her delightful scent to flood my sense. Closing my eyes I inhale deeply, relishing in that sweet scent that calms my nerves.

"You two can be civil with each other?" I cock an eyebrow in question.

"Yes." She says, turning to look at me again. A faint smile plays at the edges of her ruby lips. "When we're alone he's different. He's tender and caring, almost like we're friends again." She says wistfully.

"It's only when we're in a crowd, especially around other guys, that he's a jerk." Her face hardens and the tender smile falls from her face. "I guess we have a love-hate relationship. Well, mostly hate. We're rarely alone."

Staring at the ground, realization hits me as the meaning behind her words sink in. A low rumble of laughter erupts from my throat. Her surprised look tells me she hasn't figured it out. I quiet my laughter, a mischievous smile taking its place.

"Lucinda, the connection to our mate is like a double-edge sword." I choose my words carefully. "Just as we're hard-wired to love our mate, we're also very possessive of them." I watch her carefully.

"For some unknown reason he's trying hard to reject your love, but and in doing so he hasn't the strength to control the possessive nature. His behavior is backlash." My own heart yearns as I speak about mates.

"How do you know so much about mates?" She timidly asks.

"I found mine." I whisper, looking away. I can't talk about my mate, not now, not with her.

Lucinda POV

His body tensed at the mention of his mate. I let my eyes wander over him, searching for answers to my unasked questions. I see remorse and wistful longing in his eyes before he diverts his gaze away from mine.

"I should go before everyone wakes up." I say as I stand to leave. He nods, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground. I walk out the door, giving one last look over my shoulder. His silhouette is heavenly, with the morning light shining through the window behind him, outlining his body. Though, a sorrowful pain surges through me as I close the door. I just witnessed the Alpha at his lowest. A broken man sitting on the edge of his bed, head bent low resting in his hands. My chest tightens with grief for an unknown reason.