Page 16 of Rejected By The Alpha Heir

I roll my eyes and sit up, hugging my knees to my chest. “Austin,” I begin, pinching the bridge of my nose in irritation. It feels like we’re going in circles. He is absolutely maddening.

“No,” he stops me, lifting his eyes to meet mine. I’m shocked by the pain and anger that I see swirling in his silvery depths. “Don’t make excuses! What we have, what we aredestined for, is unfair. It’s unfair to me and it’s unfair to you. I acknowledge that, but I’ll be damned if I let you be seen with other males in this pack—especially males like Jimmy!”

“He’s just myfriend!”I shout, my voice cracking as I hug my knees even tighter. “Do you think he’s the one I want? Do you think he’s the one that I lay awake at night thinking about? No! That’s you, you insufferable asshole. I don’t want anyone but you. You’re my intended-mate!”

He stares at me like I just slapped him but, once unleashed, my anger can’t be undone.

“You’re it for me, Austin. I believe in the wisdom of the Moon Goddess. I know that our Fates are intertwined and, unlike you, that future excites me. Iwantto be with you! I want to share our life and help you carry the burdens of your destiny too. But you won’t let me. You barely even acknowledge that I exist. You want to sit there and tell me that you think it looks bad to the rest of the pack that I have a male friend? How about how it looks that you treat your intended mate as an afterthought? That the future Luna of this pack is a burden that you don’t want!”

The ferociousness of my anger surprises me and I’m breathing heavily by the time I’m finished.

Austin is staring at me like I’ve grown two heads.

He stands up abruptly, knocking over the piano bench in his haste. The room is silent except for our heavy breathing. Thetension between us is thick enough to cut with a knife. His eyes bore into mine, but I hold his gaze, unflinching.

After what feels like an eternity, Austin takes a single step closer to me. I exhale shakily, and his expression softens slightly, the anger giving way to a mix of emotions that I can't quite decipher. Without a word, he reaches out a hand and gently lifts my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. His touch is so unexpected that I freeze.

"I never wanted you to feel like a burden, Yelena," he whispers huskily. If I didn’t know better, I’d say his voice was laced with regret. I can smell the alcohol on his breath but, as his thumb gently strokes my cheek, I lean into him. A part of me just wants to soak up the mixture of relief and longing that swirls within me. For the first time in forever, there’s a feeling of hope that flickers deep in my chest.

"I know I haven't been who you deserve, but it's not you. You are everything a good Luna should be. It’s…” He swallows hard, and I hold my breath, hanging on to his every word.

He falls silent and his grip on my chin tightens. I furrow my brow in confusion, my anger slowly dissipating.

“What is it, Austin?” I whisper, almost afraid of the answer.

He hesitates for a long moment before speaking again.

“It’s me. I’m angry that we never had the choice,” he admits, his eyes locking onto mine with a vulnerability I’ve never seen before. “And I’m afraid that I’m going to end up failing you or, worse, losing control and hurting you.”

I reach up and rest my hand over his, trapping his warmth to my cheek. My touch causes him to flinch, but I hold his gaze. As I rub my hand over his, he relaxes, allowing me to touch him. When he closes his eyes briefly, I can almost imagine him savoring the connection between us and it emboldens me.

I know it’s probably the alcohol in his system, but I’ve dreamed of a moment like this—when he would finally come to me and share with me.Confide in me like a true mate.

“We’re in this together, remember?” I whisper to him softly, hoping to convey the depths of my feelings for him through my touch and my words.

He opens his eyes slowly and then nods. He releases his hold on my cheek, and I immediately miss his warmth.

“Play for me?” he asks

I allow him to pull me up from the couch and lead me over to the piano. Carefully, he sets the bench upright and waits until I slide across it before he joins me.

“What do you want me to play?” I ask nervously.

He shrugs and closes his eyes. I think for a moment before I start to playClair de Luneby Debussy. It’s a piece I learned as a child, and I’ve always found it both beautiful and soothing at the same time.

My fingers fly over the keys as I lose myself to the music. The haunting melody combined with the warmth of Austin’s body sitting next to mine, lulls me into a sense of peace. As I play, I steal glances at Austin, his eyes closed as he listens. I pour my heart and soul into the piece, each note a poignant reflection ofthe emotions swirling within me. I so rarely get to see this side of Austin and I want to do whatever I can to prolong whatever this moment is.

As the last chord fades into silence, I slowly move my hands to my lap and turn to look at him, unsure of what comes next.

He opens his eyes and meets my gaze. There’s an intensity in his eyes that I haven’t seen before. It’s raw, almost primal, and it causes a jolt of desire to rush through me.

His eyes drop to my lips and my heart starts to pound.Is this happening? Is Austin finally going to kiss me?

“Yelena.” His voice is rough and just the sound of my name leaving his lips makes my body shiver. He leans toward me, cupping my cheek with his hand. I lick my lips in anticipation, too nervous to even breathe, lest I somehow ruin this.

“You’re so beautiful it hurts,” he whispers, caressing my cheek.

I lean toward him, aching for his touch.

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