SWNOVELS Chapter Unwanted and Rejected
The door slowly opens and there stands Alaric.
My heart stops and with wide eyes I stare dumbfounded at him.
What the hell is he doing here? Am I at the wrong address?
"Hey, brother..." A voice calls out descending the stairs. It's a familiar voice and soon the figure emerges vigorously rubbing a towel against their hair. "who's it at the doo-"
They looks up, our eyes meet.
Adrian?
Ok, so right address but what the hell!?
I blink rapidly.
Is this some sort of twisted dream?
My eyes dance between the two. "Amm, anyone care to explain?"
Stella finally breaks through from days of being locked away and blocked out. I'm too weak and in too much shock to restrain her anymore.
'Mate!' she howls with glee, but I'm anything but enthused.
"What the hell is going on?" I simplify, trying to comprehend not only what I see but what I heard.
"I can explain."
"Please do." I say looking to Adrian who spoke.
He pauses, clearly recognizing he spoke before he really had anything to say.
I cross my arms shooting daggers into him with my glare.
"Amm.... mmm"
"We're brother." Alaric plainly states, jumping to Adrian's rescue.
No shit Sherlock. I would ask how comes I never knew but I'll probably get some anger-provoking answer like- because you never asked.
Ugh!
Just then, I remembered something....
"Great, so let me get something straight. The day I said mate, neither of you were surprised... Did you know all along?" My words are directed at Adrian but he averts his gaze like a guilty pup.
"I mean, I did, but-"
"So you knew!?" I cut him off, feeling my emotions get the best of me. "Then was I some joke to the both of you?"
"It wasn't like that-"
"Then what was it? Huh?" I'm beyond pissed- an emotion I never had usage for, until now.
"Nothing to say for yourself, huh?" I ask, turning my attention to Alaric who's, no doubt, just as guilty.
"What do you want me to say?" He sighs in defeat. "You made your choice when you made him your boyfriend. What was I supposed to do?"
"I made that choice because I didn't know, but you did and you kept silent" I yell.
"Because- I wanted someone to love me for me and not because of a frickin mate bond." He growls while still demonstrating immense control of his tone.
I pause, shocked, staring at Alaric. I'm completely at a lost for words as he continues.
"You saw my brother, you liked my brother, you chose my brother. I'll be damn if I forced you to love me when your heart clearly wants another." He lets his words weave into the growing intensity of the atmosphere, his eyes full of raw emotions.
I feel unshed tears stinging my eyes. "So, then why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
My voice drops almost to a whisper as I become overwhelmed with my own emotions. "You touched me." A tingle twinkles through my arm at the memory. It was his touch, he held my hand, and the minute our skin touched, I knew, Stella knew- MATE.
"I- I don't know." He sighs with a slight head shake. "But it changes nothing."
What? Is he serious? "So this is where you reject me" It is a question, though it comes out more like a statement, which it technically could as well be, because clearly, he doesn't want me. No wonder he always forbid me from touching him.
I don't know if he's expressionless or if my emotions have clouded my judgement making his expression unreadable, but he just stares at me. "Do you want me too?"
I look over at Adrian, who is still silently watching on, then I look back to Alaric. What the hell is my life coming to? If he's asking then it means he's probably thought it through, which to me is a rejection already.... and Adrian's silence, in this whole ordeal, is speaking more volume than any loud speaker- he doesn't want me either. The thought breaks me. "I think it best if I just leave now and yes, I accept your rejection." I turning to walk away, but then I pause, casting my eyes to Adrian. "Good to see that you're alright. I came here because I was worried about you. No call, no text- nothing. But I guess, it was just to show how little I meant to you from the beginning.... I guess I was just some game to you to see who could break me more.... well, congratulations." I humorlessly chuckle, sparing them one last glance before reaching for the door handle, to leave.
Unfortunately for me, the door opens simultaneously and the confused face of a middle aged woman greets me, but her confusion almost instantly melts away. "Leaving so soon? But I just got here."
I stare at the female carbon copy of Alaric, unsure of what to say.
Just then a taller older version of Adrian emerges from behind her. "Hmm, is this our visitor for dinner?"
I shake my head in response, no. But before I can verbalize it-
"That sounds like an splendid idea." The woman chirps.
I have little time to react when the woman wraps an arm around me, guiding me back in.
"Boys help your dad with the groceries, we girls are going to the kitchen."
"It's nice to finally have a female around here." She smiles over her shoulder as she walks over to the sink. "Honestly, I've gotten tired of constantly being surrounded by so much testosterone. And it doesn't even help that I teach at an all boys primary school." She chuckles, grabbing the kitchen towel to dry her hand.
She instructs me to the fridge to retrieve ready cooked, plain white rice."Have you ever made Chinese fry rice?"
"No." I reply. "I've eaten it already, but I've never made it."
"Well, today is your lucky day." The woman beams, reaching for the oil and some fresh vegetables from the shopping bags the boys placed on the counter.
I must admit, cooking was actually fun and things were kept lively as we spoke, well, she mainly did all the talking, I just listened or laughed occasionally as she told me both wonderful and embarrassing stories of living life among all boys.
"Do you mind setting the table for me please, hun?" She ask, turning off the stove. I nod and head out the the dinning room to set the table.
"Boys! Dinner is served." She yells, drawing them out from wherever they are.
One by one they trickle in taking a seat at the table. It's a rectangular table and Adrian and Alaric sit side by side, their father at the head, while their mom opts to side beside me, because, according to her, I'll look 'lonely'.
We begin to eat and at first no one utters a words, which I'm happy for, until-
"Ok, so I know this is a little weird- probably a lot weird" their mom laughs, looking over at me. "I got so excited by your presence that I completely overlooked the basics.... Like for starters, your name."
I smile, not finding it that strange because after cooking and an entire conversation, I don't know hers either. "I'm Liyah Lee Parker"
"Oh wow, you won't happen to be related to Chief Parker by any chance, would you?"
"Actually, that's my father."
"No way" she glows, clearly intrigued by this revelation. "Alaric applied to work as an officer when we moved here and he was not only accepted, in no time he got the unique privilege of protecting the Chief's daugh- wait, that's you?" The woman blurts out, wearing such a broad smile that it showcases all 32 teeth in her mouth. "Please let him know how grateful I am for the consideration and position he gave my son."
"I'll be sure to let him know, Mrs...."
"Mrs. Sandra DéSilver-White... Or you can just call me Sandy."
I smile with a nod and the table soon settles back into a comfortable silence. The food is delicious and I am contented, but yet again Mrs. Sandy breaks the silence.
"So tell me a little bit about yourself."
"Well-"
"Purple, Sunflowers, Cookies and Cream, A Walk To Remember, hates the cold but loves when it rain..."
What? I stare dumbfounded at Alaric as he continues to rattle off all my favorite things so effortlessly while raking his fork through the rice, giving move attention to his plate than his surroundings.
The entire table seems captivated, but none more than me. I'm completely and utterly shock.... He actually listened and paid attention to me.
When he's finally finishes, he looks up from his plate, instantly locking eyes with me and suddenly, it's as if an electrically current is flowing through our gaze, filling the space inbetween us.
My heart begins pounding as it would from a sprint causing a noticeable ache to appear in my chest. I feel butterflies erupting in my stomach as my palms grow sweaty.
Stella begins wagging her tail and howling nonstop in my head. 'Mate.'
Fighting this feeling is like a loosing battle but we already established that he doesn't want me, right? So why is he confusing my poor little heart like this?
He isn't looking away but, neither can I and his stare is only intensifying by the second. I can feel my defense slowly weakening.
Pull it together, I desperately trying to coach myself, like a broken record.
But then, Alaric abruptly stands and immediately I loose my train of thought. One eye flickers a faint tint of purple, the other a faded blue but never once does he break eye contact, it's like we're both in a trance.
Then he begins stalking around the table towards me, each deliberate step causing my pulse to quicken. I know we aren't alone but it's like the world around us has faded and it's just the two of us.
He finally stops right beside me, still maintaining eye contact and somehow I feel compelled to stand, though he still towers above me.
He slowly lifts his hand and I swallow hard, my lips parting slightly, with shallow breaths, the proximity making my knees partially weak. "W-what are you doing?"
He doesn't answer but his eyes soften and a small smile appears on his lips as he cups my face, caressing my cheek ever so gently with his thumb.
My eyes flutter close relishing in this moment of pure bliss. His touch.
"Ahemm" A throat clears in the room and I jump, inadvertently pulling away and instantly missing the warmth of his touch. "Sooo... am I missing something?" Mrs. Sandy questions.
I fight the urge to blush as her twinkling eyes dance between Alaric and I.
However, before I can say anything, not that I was planning to, Alaric cups my face again, turning my head back to face him, staring deep into my eyes once more. "I'm simply doing what I should have done a long time ago. I am claiming what is rightfully mine."