His Rejection, page 14
How come you didn't feel it, he asked.
Probably because of my alcohol binge I had been on.
Oh.
It was silent between the two of us for a long moment that seemed to drag on forever. The silence was deafening and the static I heard was annoying. I was just about to tell him that I'd be back after I let my wolf get rid of all his anger, when he spoke asking me a question that I wasn’t prepared for.
What are you going to do now?
I was quiet, thinking about my options. A part of me couldn't be or even stay mad at Nova for what she had done or how she had treated me these past months. I knew I had hurt her a lot more than she had let on, so I was willing to take this like a man. But on the other hand, my wolf and my instincts both wanted to get rid of the bond that linked us. She had shared what was ours and then had the nerve to justify it with some bitch's trickery.
My heart was beating in my ears and I felt like the walls of my mind were closing in on me. There were too many variables. I didn't know what to do, so I just gave over to my wolf.
Severe the bond, my wolf answered in my stead.
Are you sure that's what you want? After you do it, there's no coming back. Those things are permanent, Alex warned.
I know, my wolf answered quietly.
OK well, where are you headed?
I'm just going to run around to cool down and then I'll be back. We can help save this pack and then be on our way, and if Marc wants a war, I'll be happy to oblige him.
We'll be waiting at their packhouse.
I'll be there soon, my wolf said.
He then began to put the block that I had formed back in place. Neither he nor I wanted to be bothered with any more questions, and I could feel that he feared Nova would try to link us.
My wolf let out a soul-shattering howl and begged me to speak the words to set us free.
I, Alpha Maxon Ellis, severe my whole heart. I cut the bond that I now share with Nova Summers. We both, from this moment on, will be known as mate-less.
The pain that came after the last word left my mouth was indescribable. My heartfelt like it had stop for a second causing my wolf to stumble. He picked up the pace after that, trying to run away from the pain. I knew what could happen to Nova, but I tried not to think about it.
I had no doubt that Alex would tell Nova that I was going to sever the bond, that was his sister after all, and there was also no doubt in my mind that she would link me to change my mind. Even if my wolf didn't want to admit it to himself, let alone me, I knew that if we heard her voice, heard her cries that we'd instantly change our mind about the severing. I wasn’t to oppose to that; I wanted her to link me. I wanted her to beg me for forgiveness. I wanted to hear her declarations of love and how she's willing to only love me forever. I wanted her to soothe my bruised and broken ego. I wanted to forgive her and put this mess behind us and make a future with her.
Hell, I wanted a lot that I couldn't see truly happening.
Are you sure you want this, I asked my wolf.
Yes. How could you not?
Because I love her, I replied instantly. I loved this girl with all my heart, and I wanted to make it work.
And what? I don't, he asked.
Not if you don't care that what we are doing could kill her, I retorted.
They mated.
No, they just had sex, and I'm sure her wolf didn't want to though.
I know she didn't, he said.
See. Why would you want to let that go?
She cheated on you? How could you live with her after that?
I have done a lot of things to Nova, lying, being one of the main things. The way I had treated her when I first found out that she was my mate, teasing her when we were younger, and not to mention the Natalie thing. Even though that wasn’t my fault I can't help feeling like there was something that gave her away. I was just too horny to realize it. I could live with it because the side of her that made those mistakes is only human, I explained to him.
He seemed to be mulling over my explanation. I don't know how long we had been running or where we were, other than the obvious from what I saw. We were in a thickly wooded area. The trees here seemed to be alive with how green they were. With my sensitive hearing, I could hear that there were people somewhere here. I smelled the air and immediately caught the scent of Vampires.
My wolf had to stop and rub his nose. Vampires stink. My wolf and I got on the defensive as we picked up the speed in search of the vampires. I was sure that these were the ones who attacked Marc's pack. As I got closer, I could smell wolf blood in the air, only justifying my accusations.
My eyes could see a small cabin that was just ahead. That was where the Vampire smell was coming from. That was where I needed to be. I was crouching behind a tree when I saw her. She was writhing in pain, but not making a sound. Her black hair sprawled around her, filled with pine straws and leaves. Her hands were covering her heart, and she was barely breathing. Her closed eyes and partly separated lips seemed so still. If it wasn’t for her barely heaving chest, I would've thought she was dead. I shifted back to my human form and crept beside her, brushing the hair from her face and cradling her body into mine.
Nova.
She tried to open her eyes at the sound of my voice, but she couldn't.
Shit, I thought.
I needed to stop this. She was on the verge of death and I knew that if she died, I could never live with myself. I wouldn't be able to look Alex in the face every morning knowing that I killed his baby sister. I tried to think back to all the lessons of our history. What did it say about stopping the severing process?
Novas’ body was beginning to slack. I began to panic. I pressed my ear to her chest, listening for her heartbeat. It couldn't hear it. I began to do CPR on her.
What the fuck did it say, I yelled at myself inwardly.
How the hell was I forgetting all of this when I needed it most? Her heart skipped causing me to perk up. Maybe this wasn’t going to kill her.
Maxon?
Yeah, babe. I'm here, I replied to her.
I'm so sorry. Her words sounded so weak. My wolf and I both whimpered at the sound that rang through my mind.
I could feel tears burning my eyes. They were threatening to fall and show all my vulnerabilities. I could see everything that she was thinking. She was projecting. I knew she was going to die. She was giving up. She wasn't even trying to fight anymore. If she couldn't have me as a mate, she didn't want one at all, that last part had me both smiling and crying. I wanted her too, even if my wolf didn't. Hell, I'd give up my wolf for her.
No don't, she said.
Nova, I'm —
She cut me off and smiled weakly. Her lips started to move, but no words were coming out. My tears were falling faster. This was it. This was the moment that both my mate and I died. I couldn't live without her. Yes, she was a spoiled brat, but she was mine and I loved her brattiness. I would've taken good care of her too.
Mark her, my wolf said.
What?
That's what the history says. To stop it, you must mark her or remark her, he explained.
But —
Just do it before her heart completely gives out!
I didn't need him to say another word. I brought my mouth down to where my mark should have already been. There would've been time to make it up to her later if this worked. Feeling my canines extend I quickly sunk them into her skin. When the first drop of her blood hit my tongue, it exploded spread a wildfire through my body.
The sensation was so pleasurable that it was causing me some dizziness. I could feel our very essences becoming one and the link that was our own form. Pulling away from her neck and licking the wound to seal it and I waited.
Nothing was happening.
Shit. I was too late.
chapter 22
Nova
I woke up on a bright white floor. I was all alone with nothing but a flowing white sundress on.
“Great! We're dead. At least we went to Heaven,” I said aloud to my wolf, but I didn't get an answer.
Thudding.
I kept calling for her but still no answer.
Thudding.
I was alone.
Thudding.
I was alone with an annoying beating sound in my ears. It was so loud, and it was coming from every direction. The loneliness, the white room, the white dress, and now this sound it was all too much. The walls felt like they were closing in on me from all sides and I began to panic.
Who wouldn't, I asked myself.
Being alone in this pristine room freaked me out, so I did the only logical thing I could think of, I got up and ran as fast as I could to the nearest door. I didn't know where I was headed; I just needed to get away from the noise and all the white.
It took me maybe a solid minute and a half to get to the door that led outside. Once I was outside, I was eternally grateful for the fresh air and open space. I was in a wide-open prairie. It was the most beautiful place I had been in all my life. The ground was covered in the most lime of green grass I had ever seen. The blades were pointy but not sharp, it was as if someone came and carved each blade of grass to look that way.
There were all types of flowers that littered the ground along with the grass. I felt like I was in a painting, and the flowers were an array of different colors. There were pink Anemones, yellow Calla Lilies, white Casablanca Lilies, orange and red Daisies, etc. The trees were even diverse. Magnolias, Willows, Maples, and Oaks. Everything was in full bloom and it was beautiful.
The sun was high in the sky and there was a little breeze blowing. The scents of the flowers and the trees attacked my nostrils. Shockingly enough, even though there were a lot of different smells floating around they all seemed to complement each other. I inhaled deeply and sighed. This was perfect. I ran to the shelter of one of the Willow trees. They had always been my favorite trees. It was so full of emotion and it was majestic and beautiful in its own way.
Under the tree, I laid down on the grass and relaxed and for the first time, I noticed how quiet it was here. The beating sound had stopped and the only sounds I heard were the winds and the leaves blowing, along with my breathing. There were no animals, none of the random wildlife sounds one would normally hear. It was just me. Being alone didn't bother me though.
Hell, I couldn't even remember why I was here in the first place.
I couldn't remember how I got here or anything. I just knew that I was alone, and it was going to stay that way. It didn't matter though, nothing matters but my place and me. It was just so relaxing and pure here, nothing was tainted.
I was rolling around in the grass, laughing, letting the blades tickle me when I felt another presence. I looked up to see a woman who was more than beautiful standing before me. I stood up instantly and smiled into her warm face. Her hair was a deep black that was curled into ringlets and cascaded around her face and shoulders. Her eyes were almond-shaped and cat-like while her eyes were a hazel color that was littered with green specks. She had baby doll features that made her look completely innocent.
“Hello Nova,” the woman said.
Her voice sounded like bells. To say it was a bit daunting that I heard something other than silence was an understatement. Not to mention the fact that she knew my name. She was smiling at me and I couldn't help thinking I had seen her face before. She looked vaguely familiar.
“Um hello?” I was a bit confused as to who this woman was.
“It's good to finally meet you.
“To finally meet me,” I asked confused.
“You wouldn't be able to remember me. Not even if it were normal circumstances.”
“Who are you,” I asked.
“I'm the person who is going to help you figure out what needs to be done.”
“What do you mean,” I asked dumbly.
Obviously, I had to make a choice, but about what? I couldn't remember anything past my name and being here. What could I possibly have to choose? Whether I wanted it to get hotter here or maybe if I wanted a snow day.
She laughed lightly causing me to stare at her like she had lost her mind. “You are just as sarcastic as your father was. It was quite annoying when we were younger.”
I felt my face drop. Was I saying all that out loud? By her nodding, I figured that I had and that I had just did it again. I was about to go into a three-part apology when what she said finally sunk in.
“Wait, so you're my mother?”
“Yes.”
“How come I can't remember you? Or anything for that matter,” I asked.
“Oh yes. Thank you for reminding me,” she said.
She reached her hand out, asking me to grab it with her eyes. I was super hesitant. What did I remind her of? What was she going to do when I grabbed her hand?
What's the worst she could do, I thought to myself. She is my mother after all...
Grabbing her hand, she gingerly pulled me to her and wrapped me in her arms. I was shocked at first, but within seconds I relaxed and wrapped my arms around her. It felt good to be touching something other than the grass and flowers. I relished in this feeling not knowing how long this was going to last or how long she was going to be here.
“What is your name,” I asked. I was curious and confused.
On the one hand, everything about her, about this place, felt peaceful. There were no bad feelings or feelings of uncertainty; everything I knew about myself in that instant was truth and that truth was my reality… but on the other hand, something was missing. There was this huge gaping hole where something was supposed to be…
“My name is Maiya…”
She lifted her head to my forehead and kissed it whispering words onto it. Everything came rushing back at once and it was painful. I remembered everything. Finding out Maxon was my mate and wanted to keep me a secret on my birthday, leaving, finding Noni and joining Marc's pack, figuring out who and what I am, Alex's graduation, me and Maxon, Noni, Charlie, the severing. I sobbed loudly and fell to the grass. I cried loudly and without care. I couldn't believe he severed the bond and I'm now dead because of it.
Man, I had royally fucked up everything in my life with one weakened moment. I'd never get to tell Maxon how sorry I was and how much I loved him and wanted to spend each day making this up to him. I'd never talk to Alex again, not that he'd want to talk to me, but he was my brother and I still loved him too.
Noni, she was alive and posing as me to Charlie. Fuck! I'd never laugh at her crudeness or meet my nieces and nephew I knew she was having. I'd never get to kick Marc's ass for taking advantage of my weakened state. Most importantly I'd never get to live again.
I continued my internal pity party not even looking up to me my mother's face. I mean, how could I? Surely, she was embarrassed and disappointed in me... In truth, I was slightly angry with her for making me remember all this pain. Especially the verbal lashing Alex gave me. He had never once even yelled at me, so this was a new feeling. Screw every one else being mad at me… Alex was both brother and parent, so disappointing him meant a lot more to me.
“Baby girl stop crying,” my mother cooed, crouching down and rubbing little circles on my back.
“How can I? Everyone hates me.”
“That's not true.”
“Then who doesn't hate me, because I'm not feeling any love right now.”
“Your father and I love you,” she offered, giving me a smile that I couldn't return. I didn't have it in me to smile.
“Well I'm dead now so I guess that's all the love I can get.”
“Alex and Maxon love you.”
“If I'm not mistaken, I'm here because Maxon felt the opposite of love for me and Alex told me I deserved this. That doesn't sound like any type of love I've seen or read about,” I told her angrily.
Ignoring my tone, she went on talking. “Not everyone's love is the same. You are hardheaded just like both your mother and your father. Instead of the typical love, you need tough love. You need to realize how much you can hurt someone and how bad your choices will affect others.”
“So Maxon killed me to teach me a lesson? Well, that's stupid because I can't change if I'm dead.”
“It was stupid of you to do what you did,” she countered.
“You're on his side?! He killed me!”
“Nova, this isn't about sides! This is about right and wrong. Both you and Maxon have done things to each other that mates shouldn't and don't do to each other. Grow up! Your actions didn't hurt just you, Maxon and Alex and Noni all suffered because you were being selfish,” she yelled at me.
Tears welled up even more in my eyes. Fates' I was so sick of everyone yelling at me it was ridiculous. I was a grown woman, and not to mention the most powerful Special in the world, I deserved a little more respect than this. I knew my choices were done, but they had catalysts. If it wasn’t for everyone else screwing up, I wouldn’t.
When I didn't say anything, she decided to speak again. “Listen, honey, I'm not saying you have to forgive either one of them. Your brother was partially out of line and you're right. Maxon almost killed you. But you must realize how much you mean to both them. Forgiving isn't easy Nova but living with hate is worse.”
“How can I forgive someone who tried and succeeded in killing me?”
“He didn't kill you, Nova,” she said.
I looked around and then looked back at her. “I couldn't be here with you if he didn't kill me.”
“Maxon is trying to save your life as we speak Nova. This is the moment when you must choose. You can either come join your father and me or return to Maxon. It is your choice. Just remember what I said. When you figure out what you want, just get up and start walking. You'll get there,” she explained, walking away.
“Wait, where are you going,” I shouted at her.
“Your father is waiting for me. Remember Nova, whatever you choose your father and I will always love you. Oh, and when you do decide to go back give Alex our love will you,” she said disappearing with a motherly smirk. I sat there nodding at no one.
Now I was back to being alone. Mom left me with a lot to think about. A part of me knew what we had to do, but both parts of me weren't ready for what we knew was going to happen, but we had to man it up and go. I got up and started walking; smiling at myself that it didn't take me that long to figure out the right thing to do. I was slightly proud of myself, so I knew mom and dad were too.
