Chapter 5

SASHA POV

I want to hate her, but I can't—everything about her screams sweet and elegant. Her manners are impeccable, and she is completely breathtaking. Her chocolate hair and eyes look great against her tan skin. She has beautiful lips and a model-like figure. Her height matches mine, but she moves with an elegance I will never possess. After she dropped me at my room, she left with Luis and Roland to show them theirs. I then had myself a good cry.

Roland is pissed. He caught the Alpha "checking me out," his words, outside and thinks Alpha Ben is disrespectful. He also seems upset that the Alpha claimed Chelsea as his Luna, but she is unmarked. Both Luis and Roland are very much like my mom and me. We believe a wolf should only be with their Goddess given mate. So as soon as Roland finished unpacking, he came barging into my room to vent.

I pinch Roland's underarm as he opens his mouth to speak again.

Sasha- hush, let Luis handle it. Your attitude is too much right now.

Roland- Fine.

Sasha- Luis, please begin the schedule conversation.

Luis- okay, but Sasha, I will not speak for you this entire trip. You need to step into your role.

Sasha- I understand, and I will.

I wish I were brave enough to explain to my men why I am behaving like this, but I can't. Rejection is burning its way through my veins. The pain is almost unbearable, and so is the embarrassment.

I always thought when I met my mate, it would be magical. I never once feared I would be rejected......but here I am, sitting across from my mate's chosen Luna.

"As I'm sure you are aware, we will be here for two weeks. Sasha would like to spend the first two days exploring your pack and mingling with your wolves. She then will conduct her own training course for all of your members. This is the first time it will be tested, so we would like your pack's input at the end of the course. The training course will last ten days, so the last two days will be for Sasha to decide. Does this schedule interfere with any of your plans," Luis asks as he stares at my mate with unwavering eyes.

Alpha Ben glances at me, but I keep my gaze on Luis. I don't want him seeing through my carefully placed mask of indifference.

"That sounds perfect. We don't have anything planned besides regular training...Princess, after dinner, I would like to speak to you privately in my office," Alpha Ben says, and I am forced to look at him.

"No problem," I reply with fake pep in my voice.

Luis raises his eyebrow at my tone, but I act as if all is well and sip my water as the rest of the table finishes their meals.

*********

I watch out of the corner of my eye as Luna Chelsea places a kiss on my mate's cheek. My fists clench under the table, and Natalia thrashes against the wall I built in our mind.

I keep my face as neutral as possible as everyone follows her out of the room besides Alpha Ben and I. He stands and clears his throat, but I refuse to lift my eyes to his.

"Right, please follow me," he says quietly, and I stand without making a noise.

This is it; my mate is going to reject me. He will reject me, and I have to spend the next two weeks faking pleasantries with the she-wolf he chose over me. I grind my growing canines together as Natalia tries to force a shift.

Alpha Ben takes me to a door on the second floor. He opens it and gestures for me to enter in utter silence. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, making me feel nauseous. The only thing keeping me from vomiting is his scent, peppermint, and a dash of chocolate.

He walks around his desk and sits, but I remain standing. My eyes devour him as he looks me over. His aqua eyes are beautiful, as is his brunette hair. His beard is short and looks more like week-old stubble, but he pulls the look off nicely. His right arm has tattoos, and they give him an edge...... His voice cuts through my haze, and reality slaps me in the face.

"We should talk about the elephant in the room, don't you think," he says, and my heartbeat begins to sound like a galloping horse.

"Yes, we should," I manage to say calmly.

"Please sit," Alpha Ben pleads in a gentle voice while gesturing towards a black chair.

I decide I might as well get comfortable before the inevitable pain ransacks my body. I sit down with as much grace as I can muster. I don't want to appear clumsy since Chelsea walks in heels like she was born in them.

"Look, Sasha, you have to understand my situation. I am an Alpha. I needed a Luna. I believed that my mate died in the war like so many other males my age," Ben says, and I interrupt him.

"How old are you," I ask in a cold voice.

"I'm thirty-one," Alpha Ben answers, and I nod once as I let my eyes drift around his office.

My mask of professionalism has fallen. My sadness and anger are clear on my face as my mate stares at me. I already felt tired of acting strong, so who cares. It is just him and me here anyways—no use in behaving as if I have an audience.

"Sasha, as you can see, Chelsea is a great person. I don't want to hurt her. If you could give me some time to decide what is best for my pack and myself, that would be," he says, and I interrupt him again.

"So I am to wait until you decide who you want," I growl in a low voice.

Natalia flashes behind my eyes.

"It isn't because I don't want you. It's just," Alpha Ben says, and I once again interrupt.

"You don't know if you want her more or not," I growl again as pure rage erases all sadness within my system.

I stand to my feet slowly, and Alpha Ben leans back with fear written in his eyes.

"My father told me the story of how your great grandparents met......I guess you take after your great-grandmother. You have her eyes," I growl with utter malice coating my words.

I spin on my heel and leave his office with a slam. Never have I felt this angry before. I can not believe that is who the Goddess chose to pair me with.

Natalia- let's go for a run

Sasha- sounds good.

Natalia- I can't believe my first ever mate doesn't want me. Does he not realize we are the lycan king's daughter. Our blood is the strongest. Our pups would be...

Sasha- I don't know what is going through his mind, Natalia. But I am sure his wolf wants you; it is the human side that is rejecting us.

I place my dress on a branch and kick off my painful heels. Natalia rips through our skin and lands on her paws within half a second. She turns our nose upwards towards the glowing moon and howls out our sorrow. She dashes off as soon as her mournful song ends, and I curl up in the back of our mind. So far, this trip is nothing like I thought it would be.

If only I had known that impressing Alpha Ben would be this critical.