Annabelle’s POV
Elliot growled, interrupting me for the twenty-eighth time. “He said it was your fault?!” Elliot shouted. I just told them about the fight with Jona.
I reluctantly nodded. I knew that Elliot’s wolf was surfacing. “Its true, though. If I accepted the rejection, then none of this would have happened” I said.
“If you accepted the rejection, then you might not be here right now. Jonathan wouldn’t come here. You would have died on that hospital bed” Thomas said. I sighed, knowing that what he said is probably true.
“What happened next?” Alyssa asked. She has been silent this whole time, most likely processing everything. Alyssa will take her time analyzing every detail. She will also try to see it in his point of view. I decided to ask her what she thought about the whole situation when we are finished.
“Nothing really. Elliot came in, and told us about the attack” I finished with a shrug.
“I never want to see him near my niece again!” Keith shouted, his eyes flashing golden. It was obvious that all the men were fighting their wolves for control.
Elliot looked scarier than Jason- the dude with the hockey mask and chainsaw. Keith looked kinda funny; since he’s so little, it’s funny to see him angry. Thomas knew everything already, so he was normal. And Alyssa seemed surprisingly calm. Considering that she’s pregnant, I thought Alyssa would be more angry; I thought wrong.
“I never want to see him anywhere! If he comes in my territory-” Elliot growled, then continued. “I’ll rip off his tail with my teeth, shove in through his left ear, and pull it out the other ear”
I shuddered at the visual. “That’s… unpleasant” Laughter erupted through the room, until everyone froze. Their eyes were unfocused, telling me that they were communicating in the mind-link.
Keith angrily growled, the noise echoing in my ears. “We’ll be back” Keith announced as he stood up with Thomas and Elliot. They silently walked out the room, leaving me alone with Alyssa.
“What was that about?” I questioned.
Alyssa plastered a smile over her frown. “Nothing” she obviously lied. I didn’t feel like pressing on the subject, so I just nodded. “About Jonathan…” Alyssa started.
“What are you thinking?” I asked. Her thoughts on the subject of my mate were very important to me. I knew that she would be more level-headed than the guys. She took a moment to gather her thoughts. I sat on the hospital bed in silence.
“For once, I don’t think you guys as mates was a good idea” she said. I nodded for her to continue. “I think he’s a bad mate. Honestly, I agree with Keith and Elliot. He should never come back here”
“Really?” I questioned. Alyssa nodded without hesitation. “Why?” I asked. Alyssa and Elliot have always been rooting for mates. That mates needed to be together. Why not now?
“I tried to see it from his view, but I just can’t think of any reason for someone to do that. He stayed with you while you were in the coma, but that’s all he did. He just sat in the chair next to you. Like for moral support” Alyssa explained. I listened intently, hanging on to every word. “The way he rejected you, how he slept with that girl, what he said to you, none of that is him being a good mate. And he left your side to go back to that girl, when he knew that it physically pains you when he’s with her” Tears began to gather in my eyes. Alyssa paused and took a deep breath.
“I’ve looked for some excuse. An explanation, anything. But there’s nothing that could have made him treat you like that. There’s no reason for him putting you through that pain” Alyssa said softly. I let out a sob and my tears rolled down my cheeks. Alyssa whispered soothing words in my ears and rocked us back and forth while I cried. I was surrounded by her scent, and I found myself inhaling it for comfort.
When my sobs died down and my tears dried, I pulled away from Alyssa’s warm embrace. “Thank you” I said sincerely.
“For what?” Alyssa asked.
“For being here. For what you said” I took a deep breath and continued. “Without my mom here, I wouldn’t know what to do. So thank you” I said as I wrapped my arms around her round baby-belly.
“You’re welcome” Alyssa said and kissed my head.
I pulled away from her once again. I wiped my tears and chuckled. “This is too emotional” I joked. Alyssa laughed and wiped the few tears that escaped her eyes.
“I’m pregnant. What’s your excuse?” Alyssa asked.
“My mate is a basta-”
“Annabelle!” Jonathan’s voice echoed through the castle.
I looked at Alyssa and rolled my eyes. “Speaking of the devil” I mumbled. I got off the bed and walked to the door. I reached for the handle, but it was pulled open in front of me.
Jonathan stood in the doorway sweaty and panting. His hair was messy, sticking out in weird angles. We stared at each other for a second before he was yanked backwards by one of the guards. “Let go of me! She’s my mate!” Jonathan thrashed in the guard’s hold. “Anna, tell this guy to let go of me” Jonathan said and stopped moving.
“Good evening, Princess” Scott, the guard greeted me. “Do you know this young man?” Scott asked.
I sighed and nodded at the guard. “Yes, this is Alpha Jonathan of the Sunset Guardian Pack” I explained. Scott nodded and released Jonathan.
“I’ll be going then” Scott said and walked off like it was casual to assault an Alpha.
I looked at Jonathan, who was awkwardly scratching his head. “We need to talk” Jonathan nodded in agreement. I led him to one of the guest rooms and I sat on the bed.
“I’m glad your okay. I was so worr-” Jonathan started.
“Don’t” I harshly interrupted him. “Don’t even act like you cared for one second” I spat.
“What are you talking about? Of course I cared. And I still do care. You’re my mate” Jonathan said.
I chuckled dryly and rested my back against the headboard. “We aren’t mates”
“What?” Jonathan said confused. “We are mates. Don’t you remember? Don’t you feel it?” Jonathan asked while walking towards me.
I glared at him. “Yeah, I remember and I can feel it” Jonathan grinned, but it quickly disappeared when I continued. “I remember you rejecting me when I first saw you. And I felt you and that redhead the same day. And I felt it again today” I felt in control, my wolf didn’t fight me for control. She understood my reasoning for being this way.
“Anna” Jonathan said softly. “I swear it wasn’t like that. Just let me explain” Jonathan pleaded.
I got off the bed and shoved him away from me. My hands sparked, but I ignored it. “Explain?! There is nothing to explain! You rejected me, you slept with that girl. You knew what does to me, yet you still did it!” I shouted angrily.
“I didn’t sleep with Gabriella”
“You’re just gonna lie to me now?!” I shouted in disbelief. “I fucking felt it, Jonathan! Don’t even try to lie to me, when I felt everything!” I shoved his chest again the burning came back. He stumbled back and hit the wall. I felt my anger fading away and being replaced with hurt. “I c-can’t go through that again” I said while my voice was breaking.
Jonathan looked at me with a broken expression. “I swear you won’t go through anything like that. I promise” I shook my head, not letting myself believe anything that came out of his mouth. “Please, Annabelle. Just let me explain”
“I-I can’t” I said quietly. I moved my gaze so that I was looking into his gray-blue eyes. His eyes were silently begging me to give him a chance. I took a deep breath. I won’t feel anything if I accept his rejection. “I, Princess Annabelle Burke-”
“Don’t Anna!” Jonathan grabbed my face in his hands, sending tingles through my whole head. It was burning, but it felt so good. Jonathan gasped, signaling that he felt it too. He caressed my cheeks with his thumbs, making the tingles stronger. Mia was stirring inside of me. It wasn’t like anything I’ve felt before.
Suddenly it was too much, and my brain shut down.