Chapter Sixteen

I could almost see his head rolling across the giant conference table. A head rolling across the entire room before being turned to its inevitable form_dust. Elijah was about to kill Elias. Okay maybe I’m being dramatic but Elijah was mad mad. 

I now understood why Elijah was so particular about me being here. His constant almost wary insistence that I babysit Cece in the conference room today totally made sense now. She calmed him down enough that he wasn’t responsible for murder today, his words not mine. I finally got sworn in as an official member of the pack. Yayy I know. Elijah had been rather smug about it, scratch that he loved it.

A small smile crept on his face at my line of thought. Oh did I forget to tell you. Being connected to the entire pack meant they had 24/7 access to your thoughts and feelings at every moment, well until you block them out that is. And lord knows I wanted to block out a certain big headed handsome Alpha out tonight but I have a feeling he would completely lose his shit.

“Damn Right” he retorted through the mind link.

“Pig” I answered and he let out a loud laugh startling the remaining occupants of the room.

Elijah sat at the head of the large mahogany table in the packhouse conference room, his eyes locked on Elias, who lounged casually across from him. The tension between them was so strong that t contrasted the comforting feeling the lavish blue colors of the chairs against the white walls exuded. Pack business was being discussed—trade routes, border patrol rotations—but Elijah's mind was miles away, constantly peeking into my mind. I’m not nearly idiotic enough to not realize he as looking for any signs i still harbored any sort of feeling for Elias. A shiver of the satisfaction he felt at the lack of any ran though my body. Alphas and their stupid egos. Maybe i should block him out.

“Don’t you dare” He growled in my mind keeping his gaze on Elias.

“Stop that” I growled back building up the stack of blocks Cece had just knocked down.

“Stop what” the seemingly innocent question floated around my mind.

“You know what. Searching around my mind. Its weird”.

“Weird how?”

“Just stop okay.”

“You look beautiful when you’re annoyed,”he replied with a tiny smirk on his face.

“Did you just call me beautiful?”

“Oops thought i was being subtle.”. I’m pretty sure my face exploded at that.

“You shameless shameless man” I whined to him

“Don’t pretend like you don’t like it. You’re blushing, like really hard.”

“You’re an insufferable ass”

“Why so obsessed with my ass? Should I be scared?”

“Are you always going to be this annoying” he chuckled at that.

“On a more serious note, is it weird that I miss you even when we’re in the same room”.

“ Please Focus, Mr Big Alpha Sir”.

“I’ll get you for that” he promised simultaneously projecting to me some images I quickly blocked out.

“Spoilsport” he complained languidly.

“Hush you big baby”. I responded standing up to gather the blocks Cece launched across the room. “And its not weird when I feel the same”.

He turned his head to me at whiplash speed. A small smile making its way to his lips. I quickly turned my body away to avoid his gaze, but that didn’t stop him.

“Is…that…so?” he drawled into the mind-link. “I have to admit I quite like this new Boldness of yours Miss Aegis.”

“I thought you might”

“Will you like me to continue speaking or would you rather continue staring at your bitch?

Elias asked with a smug grin, completely at ease. I hated the way his voice seemed to darken the room, and most of all, i hate how affected my wolf was at his return. A dark look crossed Elijah’s face as he let out a low vibrating growl. The room became tensed all at once as wolves shivered in fear of their Alpha’s anger and confusion to what made him angry. But know, I know exactly what made him angry.

"Alpha Elijah," one of the elders interrupted, breaking through the tension. "Do you agree with the proposed terms for the trade routes?"

Elijah blinked, his jaw tight as he nodded. "Yes, that will do."

Elias’s lips quirked as though he found something amusing and I could see Elijah begin to shake in anger.

When the meeting finally ended, Elias lingered, eyeing Elijah with that same smirk.

"Seems like things are going well for you, Alpha Elijah" Elias remarked, a hint of mockery in his tone. "But I’m sure it can’t be easy, can it? You know… keeping things in line."

Elijah’s wolf growled again as his eye colour rapidly flickered from black to their normal color, but he forced a tight smile. "I’ll handle my own pack, Elias. You’d be wise to keep your distance from things that aren’t your concern."

Elias chuckled, standing up and straightening his jacket looking directly at me. "Oh, I’m not here to cause trouble, Elijah. Just business. Though, it’s good to see some things never change."

Elijah’s hands curled into fists, his gaze following Elias as he left the room. Something wasn’t right. I could feel it in his gut.

---

Cece tired out in the evening of the same day after Elias had long gone. I promptly decided to take a walk. My thoughts were roaring across my mind as I walked slowly though the forest. I could sill feel Elijah’s anger at the back of my mind. Both because of what happened in the conference room and also because I blocked him out of my mind. I need some time alone.

I let out a long sigh before leaning against a tree for support. I had tried to put on a brave face, to pretend like all was well but the truth is that I’m still hurting. The mate bond, even though defiled, left scars that refused to heal.

I didn’t hear the soft footsteps behind me until it was too late.

"Aegis," a low, familiar voice said.

I froze before slowly turning to see Elias standing there, his eyes dark and intent on me. Oh shit, oh shit, this was bad.He stepped close and every instinct in my body screamed at me to run.But I waited. 

"Elias," I breathed, trying to keep her voice steady. "What are you doing here?"

His lips twisted into a smug smile that sent freezing chills down my spine. "I came to see you, of course."

I took a slow step back, my pulse quickening. "B…b..but me and you don’t have nothing to talk about."

Elias moved faster than i calculated, grabbing me arm and pulling me flush against him. His grip was strong, too strong, and his breath was too freakishly hot against my ear as he whispered, "You’re wrong, Aegis. We have a lot to talk about."

"Let me go," i demanded, trying to yank my arm free, but his hold tightened.

"Why?" he murmured, his voice dripping with condescension. "Afraid of what you might feel? You’re still mine, Aegis. You know that."

My breath hitched, and for a moment, I allowed myself feel the bond—the remnants of what we used to have. For a heartbeat, i hesitated as the memories flooded back, the way we had once been connected. But that connection had been twisted into something toxic.I wasn’t his. Not anymore.

"I’m not yours," i said through gritted teeth, pushing at his chest, but he didn’t budge. Instead, his hands moved to her waist,painfully bruising them.

"You don’t mean that," he whispered before crushing his lips against hers.

My mind screamed in protest but for a split second,my body betrayed me, responding to his kiss.And I’ll forever hate myself for it.

I shoved him with a mix of anger and disgust. "What is wrong with you?" I snapped"You don’t get to do that to me anymore. Never again."

Elias smirked, not even trying to hide his true nature. "You will always be mine. So you ca have fun with your little Alpha but you and I both know you’re mine. And believe me, no one can change that,not even you."

My heart twisted painfully in my chest. This was what he really thought of me, an object to be owned. Tears welled up in me eyes, but i refuse to let them fall. He isn’t worthy of my tears.

"You’re pathetic," I whispered brokenly. "You think you’re so powerful, but all you’ve ever done is hurt people. You’re nothing to me Elias. Nothing."

For the first time, his expression shifted, the smugness fading as my words hit home. But he recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing as he stepped toward me again. "Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy that kiss. You’re still mine, whether you admit it or not."

I clenched her fists, ready to push him away again, but before i could act, a low growl echoed through the clearing. Elijah walked out from the shadows, his eyes blazing with fury, barely containing his wolf.

"Elias," Elijah’s voice was low, menacing. "Get away from her."

Elias didn’t move at first, but I could see the hesitation in his eyes. Still, he remained cocky , unwilling to back down completely.

"What’s the matter, Alpha Elijah?" Elias taunted. "Can’t I talk to my mate?"

"Leave," Elijah growled, stepping forward, his body radiating his pulsating anger. "Now."

There was a moment of tense silence, but then Elias scoffed finally letting go of me."You don’t scare me, Elijah. But I’ll leave… for now."

 A sudden tremor of anger rose up inside me as Elias turned to leave. This has gone on for too long. I had allowed him to manipulate me for too long. Not anymore.

"Elias, Please wait!" i called after him in a calm soothing voice. 

He turned around slowly, his smug smirk back in place. "What is it, darling?"

My heart pounded in her chest, but she held her ground. "I reject you, Elias," I said. "I reject everything you ever were to me. I reject the moon goddess’s mate bond and accept all consequences hereafter"

For a moment, the world seemed to freeze. Elias stared at me, his expression shifting from shock to something darker. His eyes flashed with fury as the pain of the rejection hit him. His body tensed, and for a second, i thought he might lash out, but he didn’t. Oh well, at least he can’t bother me anymore.

Instead, he took a slow step back, the color draining from his face "You’ll regret this," he spat, his voice trembling with rage. "You’ll regret rejecting me."

But the power in his voice had faded, and i could now see the cracks in his facade. The rejection had hurt him more than he wanted to admit.

"I only regret waiting this long," I answered softly.

Elias clenched his fists, his eyes full of hatred as he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving us standing there, my heart racing but lighter than it had been in months. 

Elijah”s hand gently cupped my cheek. "Are you alright?"

I nodded in finality "I am now.Let’s go home love."