HEATHEN

3.

Aries.

"Please don't do this, we can work this out, don't leave me, Jacob."

"There is nothing to work out Aries, I don't want a mate lowly and pathetic, can you even give birth, and you're a man as well, I could never love you much less want you in any way."

I stood there tears trickling down my cheeks, I was an orphan, a weak and unwanted wolf, I hadn't done anything wrong besides want a mate and here he was rejecting me and our bond.

"Set me free Aries, I don't want this and I'm sure as hell will kill you if you don't accept the rejection, I have a wife waiting at home she's the one I want."

"So all this time you led me to believe you wanted me whilst secretly marrying her, so that I wouldn't tell the pack elders or anyone for that fact, why?!"

He was silent, no emotions, no regret just pure hatred for me, I didn't ask for this, but the Goddess paired us together, I have no choice I need to leave.

"I Aries Ivey accept your rejection." At that moment it stopped. The pain, the agony, everything stopped. "That wasn't hard was it now, now leave and never come back or I will kill you, speak nothing of this day."

And he left, I crumbled to the floor of my home as the pain yet again radiated all over my body, I was a branded rogue now, I needed to leave.

Two men walk in, wolves you could tell by their scent. "What do you want?"

"We are your escorts, but the alpha said we could do anything we wanted with you." The two stalked toward me and I instinctively backed up.

"No, stay away, stop, please don't, please don't do this!!"

"Stop!" I switched on the lamp beside my bed panting heavily, it was just a dream, it was just a dream, I was safe and I'm free, I'm safe.

I hated waking up like that on several nights remembering that day, it was horrific. I always wondered what it felt to be normal, to not feel pain, to be loved.

It was already morning and the festival started soon, I needed to brighten my day and try to forget the hurt and pain I felt from those nightmares.

Being in Heathen's presence helped, I always feel safe with him, I don't know why but he's like that for me, he's safe from the hurt and pain. It's why I can see the pain behind his cold mask.

And today I intend to make it better for him.

So I got in the shower, did my morning routine plus extra, and made breakfast for one. I moved to Sydney fall a few years back.

I lacked motivation to do something with my life until I found Heathen reading, which made me realize my own love for books, he helped open the bookstore, I'm grateful for that.

He and Axel have been supportive and the Crescent Fall pack has been good to me, even if I was just a weakling in my old pack, here only the title Alpha and Beta really have the impact, even though they are stronger wolves are treated no differently from the rest.

Strong or weak we are a family, it's why I've grown to love the pack, they didn't look at me with pity, they just shoved their love at me wholeheartedly.

All of us, well most of us were rogues once, so it's understandable we know each other's struggle and to embrace it.

I made my way to my shop in the small town, I walked there, more exercise because today I don't have training with the alpha, he never goes easy on me for some reason I don't understand.

The small town was still waking up, I could see the wolves from a distance sprinting across the field, it was the warriors day to train.

Time passed as business in the shop was going slow, my alarm went off, Heathen would be done now. Whether he liked it or not we're going to the festival.

I closed the shop and walked toward the woods, stripped down and tied the clothes to my leg, I shifted and began running toward his house.

I've had growth as a wolf after coming to this pack and enduring endless hours of training with the brute alpha, if only he actually talked more.

I make it to his house and shift back, wore my clothes and knocked on his door. I should be terrified of the pissed off look he had on but I didn't care.

"Afternoon Heathen, the festival has started why are you not ready." As always he just scoffs and opened the door wider for me.

"At least you showered, I had to look at all his glory because he was wearing sweatpants and his hair was dripping wet whilst his torso was out for display.

Those tattoed arms and that sinful V. How did he not have men and women throwing themselves at him, he was the epitome of my name. A literal God.

"Stop eye fucking me." I snapped out of my trance and tried to hide my blush. He simply smirked and walked to the kitchen.

He didn't say anything just laid two plates on the table and served me mac and cheese. Dare I say it this was the best mac and fucking cheese I've ever had.

"Okay your food is amazing, now go get dressed we leave in ten minutes." He groans.

"We are going chop-chop." I push him toward the stairs more like I tried to push him, I'm only 5'9 and he's freaking 7'0.

He huffs and walks upstairs and I stay exploring his house, it had intricate detailing, none that revealed most of his personality except the litter of books.

The walls were a light blue and the grey rug along with black couches was a perfect contrast. His kitchen had all white surfaces and grey shelves and drawers with black appliances. It was simple.

I hadn't noticed that he had come down, so seeing him watching me startled me and I almost fell over a stool behind me.

He caught me of course but the eye contact never left, neither one of us wouldn't look away until he regained himself and plopped me back on my feet.

"Be careful." I felt like a child being scolded so I just nodded. He was wearing jeans, perfectly tight jeans and a red tee, vans to complete his look.

Devilishly handsome man. So I dragged him out of the house with him groaning every step. We walk into the woods toward the festival grounds.

It was a festival to celebrate the founding of the pack, and as always the alpha not wanting crowds wasn't there every year until today.

"Alvares you're here, with Aries." Axel looked surprised and Heathen groaned. "I dragged him here." Axel and his mate just laugh as they see the dismay on Heathen's face.

"Come on we have games to play, food to eat, and dancing." Axel burst out laughing as Heathen's horror increased. I dragged him toward our first activity.

Though he was groaning and huffing after having failed to get the last ball into the hoop, I could see he was happy a bit, it wasn't evident but I knew it was there.

He began going up against Axel and I stayed to watch with Danny. "You surprised me today, I never thought I would see the day he would be out mingled with the crowd and having fun, you bring change into his life and the good kind too, thank you."

"I try my best Danny, he does so much for all of us but no one ever turns to actually be there for him, so we have to try." Danny and I smiled toward each and for the first time, Heathen yelled Yes, when he won.

Shocking but it was a first of many.

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LMJ