CALIFF
My heart felt like it was ripped off my chest, and I watched myself bleed. My wolf howled in misery even if we weren’t completely rejected. The pain was excruciating until it was unbearable, and I wailed in agony alone.
I dashed away from her because I couldn’t allow her to see me as weak and melancholic. I ran towards the woods in human form, but my emotions got in the way, and the pain was so intense.
I wanted to hurt myself, but my despair wouldn’t make up for it. No matter how much I tried to control my wolf, I felt my claws coming out, my bones breaking, and my clothes torn to shed. I was already running four-legged. My paws thudded against the ground, digging against the dirt.
It was a run for life- my one last run. I reached the tip of the cliff. If jumping off could end my misery, I would have done it, but it was my mistake, and my wolf didn’t have to suffer with me.
My wolf howled at the beautiful full moon hanging low before us.
“I need her.” My body shuddered in agony. I didn’t realize I was already in human form, curling on the rock until my wolf just talked to me.
“Do you think I don’t?” It was even harder to breathe, and I also felt our despair consuming us, and it barely began.
“Then you should apologize. You’re being a dick to our mate.”
“She hates us.”
“No. She hates you because she can’t stand your attitude. You’re unbearable, and because of that, she rejected us.”
“She hasn’t rejected us, you beast. And I won’t accept it!”
“Then why are we running away? Aren’t you supposed to be on your knees and ask forgiveness?”
“Because I’m the Alpha, and Alpha doesn’t bow down on anyone.”
“For our mate, we do, but your arrogance and stubborn ass is what kills us both, asshole.”
“It just fucking hurts!”
I never had such instant and profound feelings toward the other. Maybe that was what mates were all about, losing control over when she was around. I should be her world, and she should be mine. It was supposed to be that way.
When she kissed me back, she was losing her battle, surrendering to her own desire. And it sealed the deal- it sealed everything. No questions asked. She was mine, and I was hers. We should be lovers by now. She should be in my bed, and I should be balls-deep in her tonight. But that was not the case. She hated me, fighting our connection, defying any natural laws.
I woke up to the sun glowing on the horizon, blinding my eyes, and I wasn’t already naked. My ass was already covered with my jacket.
The jacket.
I wasn’t alone. I could sense Shadow near me. She came to me, but it didn’t change the fact that she wanted nothing from our relationship, and it was still unsettling that she might finish what she started.
Ignoring the pain in my chest and the knot in my stomach, I drew a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
“I know you’re awake. As much as I enjoyed watching you naked, and I like your ass, by the way, you have to put some clothes on, Alpha.” Her footsteps were getting stronger and stronger, and then she threw the clothes at me before she sat next to me, facing the sun rising in an orange glow.
I didn’t care much about standing naked before her because my life depended on what she was about to say.
I got up and quickly put on my shirt before wearing the sweatpants. I sighed as I joined her in watching the sunrise. I still didn’t know what to say. I felt weaker knowing we had an unsettled issue.
“Your mother left this morning as soon as she received the message that you’re safe and butt-naked.”
“I didn’t realize the only thing that made you talk to me is my ass.” I looked at her. The sunshine created a glow illuminating her hair and skin. She was beautiful in her own unique way.
I wanted to run my fingers through her hair, touch her cheek with the back of my hand, and press my lips against hers, but I held it back.
“Don’t get your hopes up, Alpha. And next time you run away, try somewhere I can’t find you. And here comes my offer.”
“I am the Alpha, and I don’t take offers. I give them. And I don’t negotiate.”
“There you go again, your over-controlling assholeness, arrogance, domineering act.” She glared at me. “It’s a turn-off, Alpha.”
I drew a deep breath. “Just don’t do that again. It will kill my wolf.”
“Do you think I wanna hurt my wolf too? But your ego is beyond the stratosphere!” There you go. She raised her voice at her Alpha, and she didn’t give a damn about it.
Just my luck. I found a woman with my level of stubbornness that I couldn’t make her bend to me. I also admired her for keeping up with me. She was headstrong, a perfect partner, a finest mate, confident and decisive, but also a sigma who could stand on her ground.
“If you want me for your wolf, here’s what I want.” She met my gaze, headstrong. “I want you to treat me as your equal, or I won’t think twice about escaping and being a rogue again. Expect no submission from me, but I will respect you as my Alpha. No more shutting me off. I want you to listen to my words, but you can decide what to do with it. I want my phone privilege.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a lot to come.”
“Yeah. I want to keep it a secret.”
I huffed. “No fucking way. I need you beside me.”
“At least until I am ready. Okay? Wait. Is that you or wolfy talking?”
“Both. I need your touch, your connection, or he will go wild and take control of me.”
“Just apologize, asshole.” I groaned as he just called me an asshole.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry. He asked me to apologize.”
She raised her pretty eyebrow. “And you don’t, right? Because you’re a freaking alpha.”
I had to swallow my pride to make things work. “I’m sorry, too.”
“And there’s more.”