The Alpha's Mate

Chapter 15

Manon's POV

"Manon?"  I  stood up quickly, recognizing the voice.  I whipped around, my hood falling off.  I kept my head low, I didn't dare make eye contact, instead I looked at his feet.  He took a step forward, while I took one backwards.  My heart was thumping in my chest out of fear.  I'm positive he can hear it.  He takes more strides, I take some backwards, being stopped as my back was pressed to the wall of the cliff.  

I watch him come closer.  When he reached me I closed my eyes, feeling escapee tears rolling down my cheeks. 

"Alpha Huntsman." My breathing and heart quickened.  "I-I'll be gone in the morning." I pressed myself closer to the cliff face, feeling rocks dig into my back.  "P-Please.  Just not again."  I sobbed.  "Not again."  My pride left me and was replaced with fear.

The crunching of leaves making me jump and shake as he took a step forward.  My heart beats faster as I feel his body warmth encircle me.  I could feel that he was inches away, I didn't have to open my eyes to confirm it.  I try to brace myself for a blow.

I gritted my teeth, my muscles tightening.  "Manon." He repeats, his voice cracking.  "You thought I would hit you?"  My muscles want to relax from his comforting voice, but I don't let them.  I don't answer him.  

There is a long pause.  "Manon, please look at me." Guilt was laced in his voice, calming me somehow.  Slowly I open my eyes.  The one eye stays involuntarily half closed from our last encounter.  I don't look at him in the eyes, instead I look at his chest, taking quick glances at the floor.  

"Alpha Huntsman, I'll be off your territory in the morning." I repeat in a whisper.  I was still shaking, and my voice wavered with worry.  We stood, him absolutely still, and me blinking away the unshed tears from before. There was silence.

His hand moved to my face, lining up with the bruised hand print on my cheek.  I flinched, turning away and pressing into the cliff face.  His hand settled again on the bruise, matching perfectly.  The dull, sore pain returned from the pressure of his hand.  There were no tingles.  

"I did this."  His voice was a whisper filled with pain.  I refused to reply.  "I did this." His voice now replaced by a sorrow anger.  I flinched as he pulled his hand away and took a step back.  He whispered an apology before coming closer again.  I became more comfortable with his presence, I don't think he is going to hit me.  

"Are there more, Manon?" He asks anger in his voice.  I don't reply, his sudden mood change scaring me.  "Manon." He states sternly.  I open my eyes again.  "I said are there more?" He repeats, his charcoal black eyes staring into my soul.  I nod my head, not trusting my voice.  "Where?" He growls. 

"My sides." I barely get the words out before my shirt is yanked up, making me yelp.  Instead of checking to see if I was fine, like part of me hoped he would, he placed his hand on my ribs, tracing bruises.  My breathing grew heavy, I was panting.  He flattened his palm on my stomach, over the big bruise.  His hand didn't cover it all the way and I tried to squirm.

He quickly retracted his hand, yanking back down my shirt and jacket, drawing another yelp from me.  His eyes locked with mine and they returned to their amber color.  "Shit, sorry." He whispered quickly, his hand reaching out, coming close.  I pushed back into the wall, and he stopped.  His eyes changing, becoming sorrowful.  

We stood in silence, his eyes locked with mine.  He scanned over me, his eyes landing on my exposed collarbone.  The jacket unzipped a little when he yanked it, allowing it to sag enough to expose my shoulders. 

He placed his hand gingerly on my collarbone where his mark use to lay.  "It's gone." I see a tear drip from his chin to the ground.  "It's all my fault Manon."  He breathes.  "I'm sorry, so sorry Manon."  I don't reply, I didn't want to talk to him.  "Please."  He whispers.  "Let me fix this."  

My breathing slows, finally calming down.  A part of me wants to forgive him, hold him close, but a part of me hates him and wants to see him suffer.  Before I could think of a response he continues.  "I Ronan Huntsman withdraw my rejection." 

My heart doesn't feel any different.  My mind doesn't stop wavering between hating him and wanting him.  The only thing that feels different are the tingles.  My collarbone feels like static, not as powerful as before, but there.  For some reason my confidence is regained, and I no longer feel so intimidated.  

A wave of anger flashes through me.  I only knew that I wanted to hurt him like he hurt me.  I don't want to reject him, I couldn't survive another rejection, but I wanted him to feel the loneliness and pain that I felt.  Leaving will be enough.  

Although I want him to feel what I feel, before anything else I want answers. The silence is soon broken by me.  "Why are you here, Alpha Huntsman?" I ask in a sigh, finally gaining courage to meet his eyes.  He looks taken back, he obviously wasn't expecting me to talk.

"I came for you." He whispered after a long pause.  "I-I went to Piper's to apologize to you, but I saw you leaving." His voice is quiet and distant.  "I followed you." 

I studied him.  He shifted his weight, pulling his hand away from my collarbone. His face was rough looking, a five o' clock shadow was visible, and his eyes were red and I could only wonder if he'd been crying.  His hair was messy and greasy, you can tell he had been running his hands through it.  

"Why did you do it?" The question left a more awkward silence than before.  Tears rolled down his cheeks before his reply.  "I don't know." He breathed quietly.  "I don't know why I was mad and hit you." He looked down, unable to look into my eyes.  "I didn't remember doing it, I woke up looking for you, but couldn't find you."  

"That's all I remember."  He was breaking down, and I felt bad, like it was my fault, but it isn't and will never be my fault.  He stood there, looking into my eyes, digging for something that I wasn't showing.  

I took a long, deep breath.  "I better be going, Alpha Huntsman."  I reply almost sourly.  I walked around him, pulling my hood back on as I crunched leaves with each step.  

I trudged back to Piper's house,  each step getting angrier with myself.  All I could think of is what I should have done to make him feel the way I do.  I should have told him to fuck off.  I think as I march up the steps.  I should have rejected him.  Make him know how it feels.  I slam the door to her house. I should have-I should have- I shou  "UH!" I groan upset with myself.  

I toss the jacket angrily on the floor. "Why are you so upset?" Piper asks looking up from her book.

I don't answer her question.  "I'm leaving." I state monotone.  "Now."