Rejecting Love

CHAPTER SEVEN:

Lucinda POV

Dylan's smirk fades into a tight puckered pout and his eyes gleam of mischief. I've seen that look before - I know it all too well. When we were younger, before he pulled away from me, we were best friends. We'd get into all sort of trouble together in school and then after school we'd run to our secret hideout in the woods before our fathers could punish us.

The last time we were in our special place wasn't because we were hiding. Well, we were hiding, but not because of trouble. Dylan was nervous, it was right before the announcement of him as the new Alpha. We went and stayed there for three days. Everyone looked for us, we could hear them calling our names, but no one found us. Our secret hideout was too clever and went against a wolf's natural instinct. We vowed to never tell anyone about our little secret.

Reaching forward I grab his arm.

"Hey, I'm not his." I say in a calm voice, intently watching his eyes - the pupils restrict and dilate completely overtaken his beautiful green irises.

"I know." He leans forward whispering in my ear. The warmth of his breath on my neck sends chills down my spine. I turn to look at him and my nose brushes against his jawbone causing butterflies to swirl in my stomach.

Sweeping my long brown hair off my shoulder, Dylan examines my neck. With his thumb he traces the sweet spot -where the collarbone meets the shoulder. This is the location where wolves mark their mate to claim them as their own. My palms begin to sweat and my mouth goes dry. I watch him as his fingertips brush against my bare skin.

"It would appear she doesn't belong to anyone." He says turning to show Felix my unmarked neck. Felix's smile fades to a grimace.

"No. Not yet." Felix says through gritted teeth. "I have special plans for her tonight."

Dylan's free hand clenches into a tight fist and a low growl penetrates my ears.

Stepping closer to Dylan I take his hand in mine and hold it close to my chest. Looking up to him I smile and bring his fist up to my lips, kissing his knuckles.

"Remember our secret hideout when we were younger?" I whisper. Staring at me with dark eyes he nods.

"I'll be fine, he won't touch me." I say as he squeezes my hands one last time before walking away. I hear a low growl and turn to find Caiden watching Dylan walk into the crowd and down the corridor to the mall exit.

It's not unusual for an unmated Alpha to claim another as their own, especially if the wolf's mate has died. That's what Felix wants to do with me, he's not my mate, but he wants to claim me as his own. The bond won't be as strong as it would be if he was my mate, but I'd still be bound to him nonetheless. Chills course through my body, causing goose bumps on my arm.

He doesn't know I found my mate, not that he'd really care. It's shameful to turn your back on your mate, rejecting me as Dylan has is a disgrace. I won't give up hope - hope that one day I'll understand Dylan and his motives. Until then, I'll wait.

"She's not going anywhere." I startle at the sound of Caiden's voice, which brings me out of my inner thoughts. His voice cuts through the silence projecting a ripple of authority, I sway on my feet from the power he's emitting.

"Why do you protect a mere rogue?" Felix taunts.

"Is she what you came for?" Caiden asks, ignoring his taunts.

"No. She's a bonus." Felix says, flashing a wicked smile and winking at me.

"Then what is your business here?" Caiden asks, putting more authority in his tone. He ruffles his chest and rolls his shoulders forward.