Mystery of the Rejected Alpha ✔

Chapter Sixty-Four

James

I felt ignored. The entire week after my conversation with Alina in the library, she avoided me like plague. Every time I was around her, she scurried to a different direction, leaving me to dwell about her behaviour as the consequence of my actions.

I tried to talk it out, expecting to make things work but she didn't even give me a single chance to explain my part of the events. I knew whatever I did was wrong, but I was going to accept her decision this once. It was up to her. If she didn't want to fix things then that's how it was going to be. At least I tried to clear things out and that brought me to a somewhat peaceful state of mind.

"What's up with you?" I heard Jace ask. I turned my head and saw him standing at my door.

"Nothing," I said and looked back at the book of myths that laid in front of me on the bed.

He walked his way towards me, closing the door behind him. "You have been awfully quiet."

"Huh?"

"Did something happen?" He asked, taking a seat next to me.

"No."

"You look awfully composed as well." He said bringing the back of his palm to my forehead.

I slapped his hand away. "What?"

"I was just checking your temperature. Just in case if you were sick and shit. Not sure if you are sick but you are indeed shit all the time." He said, pulling the book of myths into his lap.

"What does that even mean?" I looked at him.

"I'm just saying that you are stupid." He said looking at me with a blank expression on his face.

"Did you come here to insult me? If that's the case then you are free to leave." I said, pointing at the door.

Jace snorted. "I just came here to talk. Tell me, what happened between you and Alina?"

I looked at him for a second, searching for a sign of deceit and ominous intentions but I couldn't find any. He genuinely looked worried.

"Nothing happened. She is not willing to forgive me and work things out." I muttered under my breath, almost irritated at my own stupidity.

"That's bad, very bad. You can not hold her responsible for not willing to accept you, you did fuck things up." Jace said, flipping through the book that laid on his lap. "It's sad to see how none of you is concerned about the negative impacts rejecting your mate has on your wolf. The two of you are mostly bothered about personal ego and satisfaction, completely ignoring the need of your wolves to be close to their mate."

"That was a big lecture." I rolled my eyes. "You really think I don't realise what her rejection would do to my wolf?"

"What I don't understand is how you ended up with Hailey when she was not even your mate." Jace gave me a quizzical look. "I believe you fucked things up?"

I sighed. "Yes."

There was an awkward pause after that. Neither of us spoke for a few minutes and I could tell Jace was judging me, mocking my actions mentally.

"You don't have to think so much," Jace said breaking the awful silence.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I can see you making faces. I also know what you are thinking." He laughed. "You are my brother. Don't forget that."

I huffed and tried to call his bluff. "Tell me what am I thinking then."

"You are considering the possibility of me trying to harm and extract information from you."

I gasped. He was correct.

"Look, James, I'm not trying to harm you or take your position as the Alpha of this pack. I still have a lot of questions I need answers to, I'm not bothered about anything else right now." He mumbled, closing the book of myths and placing it on the side.

"What are you looking for?"  I asked.

"Answers."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Do you remember anything from the night when I got banished from this pack?" He questioned.

The look in his eyes nearly left me speechless. He looked ambitious, triggered and sad at the same time. I could sense the pure hatred radiating from his aura.

"I was young back then," I answered, trying to recall events from that unfortunate night.

Unfortunate for Jace and his mate.

"I am sure you remember something." He looked at me intently.

I shook my head and sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't remember much. The only thing I remember is that mom was really disappointed."

He snorted and moved a little. "Like I believe that."

"Why do you have such a bitter relationship with her? She loves you, you know." I reminded him.

"That's a really long and tragic story which I am not willing to tell. I can't stand stupidity and I really know now who you take after." He chuckled. "Things will eventually get better for you, I hope. I don't want you to go through the pain of withdrawal. It's almost impossible to overcome."

"What exactly happened that night? I remember being told how you were not fit for the Alpha position. Some said you had a mate, some said you never had a mate. Since we had stopped talking years prior to that incident, I didn't bother to ask you myself." I said, remembering how I saw him growling at our parents as they said awful things to him. Even though we had a rough relationship, I knew he didn't deserve half the mess that evolved around him. Unlike me, he didn't probably create the mess for himself.

"You already have a lot on your plate right now. My suggestion would be to go and fix things up. If she doesn't want you back, man up. You can not change your past, but you can change yourself and if the regret is strong enough to reform you, you might end up getting a better ending. I genuinely mean that." He said and ruffled my hair.

Author's Note:

I am a little late on this update, but here it is. A rather meaningful conversation with Jace.

Do you find Jace more mature?

Also, Jace will be getting his own book, soon after this one ends.

Let me know what you think is going to happen in the next chapter.

The next update will be on Friday.

Till then—
Take care.