Page 82 of Alpha Theo

When I scented the air, felt my body come alive in the forest, I knew it could only be the mate bond. The feeling was indescribable. While my wolf was going nuts trying to follow it, though, my human side was conflicted- because part of me didn’t want to find my mate. Not when I had so many unresolved feelings about Brooke.

It never occurred to me that she could actually be my mate. Fate knows I don’t deserve someone like her. But somehow, against all odds, she appeared, shifted, stood across from me stripped bare in the moonlight. My own wolf receded, and the next thing I knew I’d shifted, was rising on two legs, gazing upon the most beautiful female in existence- the one fate mademine.

I felt so happy, so fucking lucky, and then… before she even spoke, I could see it in her eyes. That she didn’t want it, didn’t wantme. And it’s all my fault.

“What am I gonna do, Gray?” I croak, my voice barely audible. I lift my head from my hands, look up to find him standing in front of me with his arms folded across his chest.

“What do you wanna do?” His voice is even, steady, in stark contrast to my own.

I shake my head. “I’ve gotta make things right somehow.” Tears prick the backs of my eyes again and I look away.

Gray blows out a breath. “Listen, man. It’s not gonna be easy,” he says gently, leaning against the arm of the couch beside me. “From what Fallon’s told me, the situation between you two was already complicated enough before the fated mate bond was thrown in the mix. And now… well, can you blame her for being unsure about it? If you seal the bond, you’re linked forever. How is she supposed to believe you’ll stick around when you’ve already abandoned her twice?”

His words sting, the harsh reality of the truth slicing through me.

“I just wish I’d had more time with her before we found out,” I grumble. “I could’ve fixed things, shown her I could change. I was already trying to before this damn moon.” I gaze out the back window of the packhouse at the hazy glow of the moon in the distance, cursing it for turning my world upside down.

Gray leans over, setting a hand on my shoulder. “The fact that you even say that is a huge step in the right direction.”

I tug at my hair, peering over at Gray. “I’ve gotta talk to her, dude.”

He blows out a breath, clapping me on the shoulder before leaning forward off of the arm of the couch to stand. “I’ll see if she’ll come down.”

Gray walks away, heads for the stairs. I’m left alone with my own tortuous thoughts again.

She ran away. I fucking deserved it after running away from her a few nights ago. Now I can truly appreciate how shitty it feels to be on the other end, to be the one left behind. My wolf was desperate to follow her, but I didn’t let him- I guess I thought it was better to give her time and space to process what just happened. Honestly, I just didn’t know what the fuck to do. I could barely process what happened myself. So I ran back home, shut myself in my room, racked my brain trying to figure out how to fix this. And then I got on my bike and wound up here.

I don’t know what the mate bond will mean for us. I don’t know if I can wrap my mind around being tied down to one person, being in an actual relationship. I’m not thinking that far ahead though, not right now. In this moment, my singular goal is to get Brooke back. The rest I can figure out later.

I glance up as Gray bounds down the stairs, strides over to me.

“Well?” I ask.

He gives a little shake of his head. “Sorry, man. She doesn’t want to see you.”

The sting of rejection cuts deep. My temper flares, anger rising in my chest as my guard slams up. I shoot to my feet. “She won’t even fuckingtalkto me?”

Gray shakes his head again.

I feel bile rise in my throat like I’m going to vomit. “Fuck this,” I growl.

Then I raise my voice, looking to the stairs. “Why would I want a mate that doesn’t want me?!”

“Hey!” Gray snaps, pointing a finger in my direction. “You did this to yourself, bro. What the fuck were you thinking, leaving her on the side of the road? What kind of man does that?”

I shake my head, pushing past Gray. “I’m over this.”

Old habits die hard. I bail.

I stomp to the door, pull it open. Step outside and slam it shut behind me. Then I just stand on the front stoop for a minute, catching my breath. My heart feels like it’s splintering inside my chest. My eyes sting with the threat of tears.

I take a shaky step forward, start down the walk. I make it all the way to the driveway before it hits me that this is the same behavior that pushed Brooke away in the first place, the same shit I’ve been trying to rise above, for her.

I start to turn around to go back when I hear a voice call out.

“Hey!”

I whip around in the direction of the familiar voice and for a split second, I think it’s Brooke standing on the front stoop.

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