I CANT ACCEPT YOU

ZADE

"Of course, I do. I can feel the mate bond," She replied in a robotic tone which indicated that she wasn't happy. She didn't sound happy at all.

But that was the least of my problems. At least for now. What mattered now was that I've found my mate. My lips curved into a smile as the thought settled in my head.

This had to be the happiest moments of my life. I never thought that a day would come when I would find my mate, but now she was right in front of me.

Although I still have no idea what plans the moon goddess has up her sleeves to make Lenora of all people, my mate. I mean she is my archenemy mate. This is so forbidden!

Besides, I've been in love with her for a long time now. Fuck, I've been in love with Lenora since the first time I set my eyes on her.

That was four years ago and I had plans of chasing her and making her mine, but all those plans went down the drain when I realized that she was not single and worst of all, she was Axel's mate.

I couldn't go after her. I didn't want to start a war with Axel.

“But I'm sorry to say this to you. I can't accept you as my mate,” She muttered under her breath but I heard her clearly.

“Why?” A frown crept its way to my face.

“Don't ask me my reason, Zade. I just can't accept you. Now if you would excuse me,” She said as she tried to walk away, but I held her hands, thereby stopping her from leaving.

“What's wrong, Lenora? Why can't you accept me? Am I not handsome enough or wealthy? Don't I measure up to your former mate, Axel?”

“Don't mention that name here, please,” She hissed and I just let out a deep breath.

“I'm sorry for calling his name, I won't mention it anymore. But you have to tell me why you can't accept me,”

“I don't need any reason to do whatever I want to do. Now excuse me,” She said through gritted teeth before walking away.

'Go after her' My wolf, Nathan, urged me, but I didn't move an inch. I just continued to stare at Lenora's retreating figure as she walked away.

“I don't even know what to do, Nathan. What is wrong with her? Why is she pushing me away? Have I done anything wrong to her unconsciously?”

“How would you know unless you talked to her? Go after her and find out her reason,” He urged again and this time, I willed myself to go after her.

She must have noticed my presence behind her, because the next minute, she began to run.

I hesitated, not wanting to exhaust her, but I had no option. I took off after her.

She was trying to keep up with her race, but it wasn't possible as she was already getting exhausted.

“Our mate is a weak woman, Zade,” Nathan panicked. I understood his fears.

As an Alpha, I knew the Pack's expectations when it comes to getting a mate. But I couldn't care less. I wanted Lenora, no matter what.

I don't need anyone's opinion about how my mate should be.

After all, I've been waiting for my mate for almost forever and now that I have found her, I can't let anyone decide for me.

“I don't care about that, Nathan. What matters is that I love her and I am willing to accept her, no matter how she is. Or do you have any problems with that?”

“Of course not, Zade. I was only trying to point it out to you,” He said and I snorted.

No need to point it out.

“Please wait up, Lenora,” I called after her, but she didn't stop. She continued running.

But all of a sudden, she tripped, her legs shaking beneath her.

Nathan's voice replayed in my head.

‘She's weak!’ But I shook my head, in an attempt to shake that thought away.

I caught up to her and noticed a cut on her right leg. I crouched next to her and stretched out my hand to inspect the injury, but she pulled her leg back.

“Are you deaf?” She hissed in annoyance but the next minute she let out a deep breath, her expression softening.

“Please, Zade. Don't make me repeat myself. Stay away from me,” She pleaded, her voice trembling.

“Why are you pushing me away, Lenora?” I asked, struggling to keep my emotions in check. I could feel my frustration building gradually, but I willed myself to stay calm. Yelling at her wouldn't help, not now.

“Like I said earlier, that's none of your business. Don't ask me unnecessary questions. Just stay away from me,” She yelled, her voice cracking with emotions and the next minute, as if the dam had burst, she broke into tears.

I stood there, stunned with astonishment as tears ran down her cheeks. Her yells had caught me off guard, but her tears left me bewildered.

“What's…what's wrong, Lenora?” I stuttered, my voice barely audible. I took a careful step forward, unsure of what to do. Whether to offer her comfort or maintain my distance.

Her gaze shot up to mine and for a moment, our eyes locked. I noticed a hint of sadness in her brown eyes, but it vanished quickly, replaced with a mask of indifference.

“Nothing,” she whispered, tearing her gaze away from mine. She winced as she tried to get up on her feet. “Please just leave me alone, Zade. I'm tired of having this conversation”

“I'm sorry to break this to you, but I can't let you go. I can't let you go, now that I have you in my arms,” I said, my voice filled with sincerity.

“Do you really know what you are asking for?” She asked through gritted teeth, her brown eyes flashing with anger.

“You and I cannot be together. We are not meant for each other,” she continued.

“And that's not true. We are mates. If we weren't right for each other, the moon goddess wouldn't have made us mates,” I countered. I was determined to make her see my sincerity.

Lenora snorted. “The moon goddess is a bitch. She is never right in her judgement. She often makes mistakes when it comes to bringing two people together. You will realize this soon enough,” I could hear the anger and frustration in her tone and it left me wondering what had transpired between her and Axel.

I shook my head, desperate to make her understand. “Please, Lenora, don't say that. The moon goddess cannot make mistakes,”

Her expression turned bitter. “Don't be naive, Zade. With time, you will regret your words,” she turned to leave, but I caught her hands.

“Please,” I pleaded, my voice cracking with emotions.

Her eyes locked onto mine and for a moment, I thought I caught a glimpse of hope. But then, her expression hardened.

“No,” Her voice was firm.

“Why?” I asked. I have to know why she was hellbent on rejecting me despite how I was apologizing to her.

Her eyes flashed with pain and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Because I am barren, Zade. I will never be able to give you children, even if I accept the mate bond. No Alpha wants a barren Luna and you know this too,”

“Is this the only thing that's bothering you?” I asked with raised eyebrows and her brows constricted into a frown, indicating that she wasn't expecting what I just said.

“Are you dumb? How is this not an issue? Just like no Luna wants an impotent Alpha, no Alpha wants a barren Luna,” she yelled in tears, but just like earlier, her expression softened.

“Zade, I am barren. I can't give you children. There is no miracle that can happen even if we have to wait for two decades. Don't you understand?”

“I don't care if you are barren and can't give me pups,” I said, my voice low and husky. I took a step closer to her, my eyes burning with intensity as I stared at her brown orbs.

“You may not believe this, but what I want is you. Only you,” My heart felt like it was going to shatter into a million pieces if she rejected me again.

“If the moon goddess blesses us with pups, that's a bonus, but if she doesn't, we will adopt. We will build a family together, no matter what,” I reached out, my fingers tracing the outlines of her cheeks which were already wet from crying.

“Just please, Lenora… Don't push me away. Don't reject me. I need you in my life. I love you,”