Page 42 of Rejected Darkness

When I realized my feelings for her had changed from looking at her as just a girl in a bad position, to someone I was growing to have strong feelings for my sleepovers had gotten less often. I tried to keep a professional distance between us despite the fact we were thrust together for at least three hours every day. Those hours were absolute torture. Arabella is ten years younger than me and I knew it was wrong. The second she came of age and turned twenty, I almost went to her and declared my feelings. If I knew she could have kept it a secret and not tried to spite her father I probably would have. A small part of me regrets not saying anything and waiting, but I know I did the right thing. Sacrificing my feelings to keep her safe was the least I could do. I will always put her first. It's why I refused to let her say anything about our mate bond. It's why I'm here trying to be her mentor and ensure she succeeds at becoming everything she has ever wanted and then some. It's why I'm freaking out that she isn't here yet.

The door to my office bursts open, the wood slamming against the stone wall behind it, startling me from my thoughts and pacing. My body automatically goes on the attack as I tense, ready for whatever fight is about to come my way. As I turn to look at the intruder, I see it's here. My obsession. My love. My Mate. Arabella.

"I'm sorry," she manages to mumble around her gasps for breath. "I'm so sorry I was late. We lost track of time talking."

The tension drops out of my shoulders the second I realize it's her, in the flesh, safe and sound. A slight bruise is still fading on her cheek but if it wasn't for knowing about her prior abuse I never would have seen the mark. Concern fills me as I take a tentative step toward her. I have a million and one questions, but I also want to yell at her about communication and finding outwhere in the hell she has been. My mind and heart war with one another as I try to find any sort of words.

"Uh, are you okay?" she asks, walking forward until she comes to a stop in front of me. If I lifted my arm I could run my hand down her face and pull her against me into a hug. It's exactly what I want to do but I can't move. "Warrick?" she questions, again softly. "You're starting to freak me out."

"Where were you, Arabella?" I bite out, barely containing my anger and fear. She doesn't deserve it, logically I know that, but trying to tell my mouth that it isn't working well.

"I told you I lost track of time," she answers softly, shying away from me. Her eyes are filled with confusion and a hint of fear as she takes a step back out of reach. The smile she had on when she walked through the door is gone.

Shit.That wasn't what I wanted at all and I have no idea how to make this better.

"Why didn't you answer your phone the past two days? I was worried about you. Councilwoman Talia told me what happened with your dorm. I tried to message you, but you didn't answer me. Do you know how worried I was about you?" I growl out, shaking my head as I begin to pace once more. The control I thought I gained back by her entering the room snapped once more and is gone.

"I'm... I'm sorry," she stumbles, clutching the strap of her bag tighter to her chest. "I haven't looked at my phone at all, I'm not even sure if it's alive to tell you the truth. It's been a little hectic and Councilwoman Talia kept me out of classes yesterday I had special one-on-one training sessions instead." Her voice sounds confident but her posture is not so much. That's what gives it away to me. There's more going on here.

"Is that all?" I push, hoping she will just tell me herself. I don't want to force it, but I will. If it means keeping her safe, I'll do whatever it takes, even if she tries to hate me for it at first.

"Yes," she answers, nodding. "Are we going to have our session, or are you going to grill me the whole time about my whereabouts?" The sass in her tone makes me think that she isn't trying to hold a grudge, but I wouldn't put it past her.

"If you told me the whole story or I don't know, bothered to tell your mate," I added emphasis to the word," then I wouldn't be standing here grilling you about anything."

"After all this time you're finally going to use us being mates against me? You," she pushes, "the one who didn't want to admit that we were mates over some sense of protection? If that's how this is going to go then I'm done." Arabella turns and storms toward the door and I don't bother to stop her, knowing full well that she isn't going to leave.

No, Arabella is a fighter, especially with me. She shows her true self and shines. She won't leave this fight, especially because she's right. I gave her what she so badly wanted by admitting we were mates. She won't give up on us that easily. Plus, I will grab her and pull her back into this room if she steps out that door. We aren't done talking. Not by a long shot.

I watch as she wraps her hand tightly around the handle of my office door and begins to turn the knob. Fear spikes inside of me afraid that I got it wrong and she really will walk away from me. "You know, I'm really tired of people thinking they can tell me what to do today," she sighs, shaking her head.

"I'm not telling you what to do, I'm asking for you to respect me as your mate," I answer as I watch her pause at the door. It's not like I'm asking for much just some consideration from her. I was worried and it seems like she could care less which is only leading to pissing me off more than I already am. She's definitely earning herself a spanking with this if I had my way.

"Respect?" she responds with a dry laugh. "Learn the definition of the word before trying that with me, Warrick. I thought you were different. What happened to the guy who wasmy best friend and was always there for me? I've never seen you behave like this and honestly, I'm disappointed. I thought you would be better. I guess that's my mistake. I built up what it would be like to be with you in my head over the last couple of years and you are falling so short of that line, it's disappointing. When you get your shit together and can treat me right let me know." Her tone left no room for argument as she opened the door and walked right out slamming it behind her in the process.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" I snarl, grabbing the closest thing to me, a book, and throwing it at the very door my mate just walked out of. None of this is how I expected that conversation to go. Not one little bit of it. How did it go from her being in the wrong and not telling me what happened or answering her phone, to me being the asshole? Shit, I have no idea how I'm supposed to fix this.

Chapter 24

Arabella

Who the hell does Warrick think he is? Never once has he behaved like that. Even at times when he was mad at me back in Aeris he always held his temper and calmly talked to me about this. Whatever this was today is completely out of character for him and I'm not okay with it. If I wasn't so pissed off from everything this morning I probably would have been a little scared seeing Warrick lose his temper.

If he had just asked me calmly and given me a chance to talk I could have explained to him what happened. No, I didn't see his text at all because I hadn't been looking at the phone. Honestly, it was dead until last night when I finally remembered to charge it. Even then I didn't look at my texts, I was too tired after training with Rhys and then talking to Phoenix. So, sorry but I was busy.

I also could have told him about the break-in, or what little I know. Plus I wanted to ask him about going to speak to my great-grandmother. I guess that is out the window until he gets his head right and can talk to me calmly. There must be something in the water with the way all the guys around me are acting today. Rhys was oddly nice. Not saying what he did or said was nice but he wasn't his usual self. Phoenix was shy and did notspeak to me. Warrick was being a dick, just because I didn't give him answers fast enough. Yeah, no thank you. I was in the right for storming out of the room. First time I've ever done that with him and it looks like it may not be the last during my time here at this rate.

"Princess," Rhys calls out with my nickname from in front of me.

Looking up, I see him standing there leaning casually against the wall of lockers as he watches my approach. Great, last thing I wanted to be dealing with this morning. Seeing him again. Quickening my pace, I walk past him trying to get to my next class to wait outside but he just chooses to walk beside me instead. Thankfully, he has chosen not to say a word and I'm really hoping he continues to not say anything though I know with my luck that is asking too much. My next class is at the very end of the hallway and since there are still about thirty minutes left before classes let out, I sit my bag next to the bay window at the end of the hall and take a seat on the ledge. Of course, Rhys has to sit right beside me as well.Damnit.

"Why so blue, Princess?" Rhys asks from beside me. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him staring at me and it's pissing me off. I'm still pissed at him from this morning. Why would he even think I would want to be spending any time around him now?

"What do you want, Rhys?" I ask annoyed. "I'm not in the mood to deal with you or your antics right now."

"Can't I be a good dorm mate and ask how you are?" His response is just a little too nice to be believable. He's wanted me gone since I met him, and despite being forced to help me yesterday I still don't think he wants me around.

Staring at him suspiciously, I wait to see if he will add anything else. Knowing him, he will have more to say even if Idon't respond, which I don't plan to do. The last person I want to talk to about everything going on is him.

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