Page 32 of Pregnant Rejected Mate

Huh?

What was that?

It’s definitely enough for me to ignore the inhibitions that keep me hidden and step out of the castle. My feet move mechanically forward, my chest filling with a strange sense of… Jealousy?

The poison of envy rushes through my veins when Sierra leans toward my brother, and they share a joke that makes them laugh together. With flashbacks of the way she’d been eyeing Brantley on the field yesterday filling my head, all I see is red.

I don’t know where this feeling comes from, but I suddenly don’t care that there’s company. I can only focus on Sierra as if she betrayed me by giving her time to others instead of me.

I can’t see sense right now, blinded by the weight of my own actions, coupled with hers. Stryder seems to notice my presence first and takes a step back to reveal the surprise in Sierra’s eyes.

She isn’t happy to see me. She should be—I’m the one she once loved.

Glaring at her accusingly, my body tenses when I realize I have to say something. I couldn’t have marched out here just to stare into her eyes. So, I asked, “Can we talk?” without giving it a second thought. It feels like this is that moment—that fine line between life and death that one must pick a side. It’s now or never, even if this isn’t the ideal time to do this.

“No,” she says, her amber eyes narrowing with anger. I’ve seen that look in her eyes before—when I first brought her here, when I visited her bedroom the next day, and yesterday when she told me point-blank that she isn’t my mate.

I’m not willing to give up so easily, so I tilt my chin up to show her who’s in charge here. I never wanted to use force when it came to my mate, even if it wasn’t her. But she’s making this impossible. “We need to talk,” I say in a commanding tone.

“There’s nothing to speak about, Felix,” she declares, shaking her head.

“There is, and you know it,” I grate as my nostrils flare. Why is she making this so difficult?

“It can wait,” she says nonchalantly before turning toward my sister. She’s just going to pretend like I’m not here. Like I don’t exist. Even though she isn’t demanding to go back to the mortal world.

It’s almost as if she’s doing this on purpose. Staying here to pointedly defy me at every turn, reject me as if I mean nothing to her.

That’s not what I saw when she poured her heart out to my sister a few moments ago.

Unclenching my fists from either side of me, I grunt lowly as I swiftly grab Sierra by the waist, not thinking twice as I set out toward the skies, shifting mid-air to carry us toward the clouds. She squeals and protests, but I ignore her cries to be set free as I breathe out a puff of fire from all the rage that’s been building inside me.

“Let me go!” she yells as she tries to wring free. I’m so much stronger than her, her attempts are almost ridiculously funny. If I was in human form, I would have laughed. Right now, even my dragon is too vexed to care about what she wants.

We reach the mountain top, where I cautiously set her on her feet so that she doesn’t fall over. Despite my anger, I care too much to hurt the woman. When she’s steady, she glares at me with violent fury in her eyes.

“What the fuck, Felix?!” she bellows venomously as I shift into human form.

With human eyes frowning at her, I shake my head. “Don’t be so rude, Sierra. I’m sick of the way you’re treating me!”

She gasps as if my words have shocked her. “You’re sick of how I’m treating you?” she chuckles in disbelief, crossing her arms over her chest. “Did you ever consider how I felt?!”

I take a cautious step forward, noticing that she’s too close to the edge of the waterfall, the rapids roaring right beside her.

“How would I know how you felt, Sierra?” I ask as I reach out to her. “You won’t let me speak to you, let alone allow me to apologize.”

She recoils from my outstretched arm, ensuring I don’t touch her with glowering eyes. “Did you even try to apologize to me for what happened before? After seven years, you just pitch up out of nowhere and want me to agree to your demands?!” She throws her arms out defeatedly. “Who are you even? ‘Cause the Felix I knew wouldn’t have forced me into anything.”

Hanging my head in shame, I sigh. “I’m not trying to force you into anything, Sierra. That’s the last thing I want to do. You have to understand…” I lift my face and meet her eyes, hoping she can see I’m earnest. “... I had no idea you were the one picked as my mate. It was as shocking to me as it was to you.”

“Wait…” she lifts a hand in the air, her brows furrowing. “... Are you saying you would have taken anyone as your mate?”

“N-no,” I hesitate, realizing my mistake as soon as her face falls with disappointment. “That’s not what I mean. You—”

“No, Felix!” she roars. “I’ve heard enough!” Sierra snaps and spins on her heel, tripping over a loose rock on the waterfall’s edge and shrieking.

I reach out and grab her, pulling her to safety and inadvertently pulling her to my chest. When she realizes I’ve just saved her from falling into the gushing stream, her panting slows down, and she looks up at me.

The sadness and pain evident in the soft hues of honey is like a punch to my gut. I can’t let another second pass without her knowing my true intentions.

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