ROWAN
“Hi,” he says with a shy smile as his eyes move between the three of us. “You are busy, I will come back later,” he adds as he turns to leave.
“No!” Rina exclaims as she hips from my table and grabs Lisa. “You can stay, we were leaving anyway.”
“Are you sure? I can come back later?”
“Nah, we are done here,” she insists as she walks out of the door.
For a few seconds, we just stare at each other, neither of us saying a word before he blinks and clears his throat.
“I uh… that was a… a good fight. I am impressed,” he comments.
“Hmm, same here. I am convinced that you are an Alpha. Which means you have to get your memories as soon as possible.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Because you have a pack who might be going out of their mind searching for you. The last thing the Coalition needs is an attack from one of you guys.”
“Right, that makes sense,” he says quietly before approaching the desk. “I am actually here to… apologize?”
Apologize?
“Why? You didn’t do anything. Instead, I was the one who… did… overstepped. I am sorry.”
“No! Don’t be! I … I liked it.”
Of course he did.
“Still, it was unethical of me and I-”
“Why?” he demands as he walks up to me, trapping me with his arms placed on the sides of the armrest.
“What?”
“Why is it unethical of you? You are my mate. You are attracted to me as am attracted to you, what are you making this more difficult than it needs to be?”
“I already told you,”I say as I push him away and get off the chair. “I am not interested in mates. I like being in control of my life. I like what I have created and I am not willing to throw it away because of a mate.”
“I am not asking you to do that. I am impressed by everything you have created. You’re strong, smart, beautiful, caring and wise,” he says as he follows me as I back away. “It could not have been easy creating this Coalition but you did it and you thrived. How can I ask you to throw that away?”
“Huh. And you being an Alpha doesn’t change that?” I scoff at him. “What happens when you regain your memories if they are even lost and you find out that your mate is a rogue. What then? Will you still feel the same way? Would your-”
“Yes!” he says as she cages me once again, this time against the wall. “I will. Because I see you. And you glow, brighter than anything I have ever seen. It would pure, unadulterated foolishness to reject you for this.”
“And what? You are not jealous? You won’t be threatened?”
“Why would I be threatened? My mate is a badass woman, who can hold her own, I would be honored to have you by my side.”
“I-”
“Rowan,” he whispers as he leans down to me. “Stop pushing me away, it hurts.”
His lips are just a breath away from mine, all I have to do is move a small inch and they will meet.
My eyes flicker up to his and I see him staring down at my own lips. He edges his body even closer at my silence and looks up to my face and I see his eyes flash black.
Black.
Like Dominic.
Like that night.
All of a sudden, I am back in that bedroom, whimpering and crying as his hate, black filled eyes stare down at me.
“NO!” I scream as I push him away, mere moments of his lips meet mine.
He staggers away and crashes into the couch in a heap.
“No! No! Stay away from me! Don’t touch me! Stop!”
“Rowna?” he calls as he stands to mice closer to me but all I see is Dominic, closing on me. All I smell is him.
“Please, please, don’t,” I cry as I collapse to the Floor, covering my head in a whimper. “Please, please, please.”
I don’t know how long I remain like that, but when I do manage to stop hyperventilating, I look up to see him kneeling before me watching me with a blank look.
“Um… sorry. I-”
“I will never hurt you,” he says, looking deep into my eyes. “I would rather die than cause you pain.”
I stare into his eyes, he seems so honest, so determined, but I don’t…
“I don’t know how to believe you,” I whisper.
“I understand. That will be my burden to bear,” he says with a small smile.
But I can still see it in his eyes, he is angry.
And I have a feeling it is not at me.
“I-”
Once again -for what is like the third time today- I am interrupted by a knock on the door.
In a fluid movement born from years of practice, Lois stands as he turns and heads to the door.
“Wipe your tears, Rowan, I will hold them off for now.”
With a nod that he doesn’t see, I get to my feet and head back to my desk, where my face towel sits.
I wipe my face before using the wipes to clear off any rundown makeup.
While he still holds whoever is at the door, I quickly apply a spot of powder, mascara and lipgloss before taking my seat.
A few centering breaths later, I call out.
“Who is it? Let them in.”
He looks back at me to make sure I am alright before he nods and steps away from the door.
Alden walks in and heads to me but not before throwing a dirty glare at him which he comfortably ignores.
“Guia, I am back,” he says as he approaches me.
“Yes, I can see that. Thank you Louis, you can go now.”
He gives me a nod before stalking out, anger in his tense shoulders.
“Are you okay, Guia? What was he doing?”
“I am fine and no, he didn’t do anything,” I answer. “Now, what do you have for me?”