Rejected You Alpha, for A Beast
Chapter 23

JESSICA’S POV

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Waking up in a cold and strange bed is worse than expected. The confusion of where I was the minute my eyes flicked open caused an about unnecessary panic to form, the discomfort and body ache that follows is just the bonus and don’t get me started on the way Nathaniel was sitting beside my bed, staring at me.

When I subconsciously woke, I could feel his eyes on me even before my eyes were open and before I knew that he was there.

His stare on me is caring, yet annoyed, like he wants to be here but his mind is in another place. “How do you feel?” he sits forward, reaching for my arm and his warm touch stings against my cold skin. “Cold.” I snort.

I’ve never felt this cold before in my entire life. It’s a new founded hate, something I wish would never happen again.

His emerald orbs flick over the length of my body as he stands and he marches over to the closet, bringing a wool blanket over to me before throwing it over my body. I don’t feel immediate warmth like I imagined, but it’s already better than being exposed to the cool air.

“Aren’t you cold?” My teeth chitter chatter against each other as I speak. “No.” he sits back down and I can’t seem to ignore the sour look on his face, “What’s wrong?” I ask while I glance around the pure white room. “And where are we?” I mumble under my breath before Nathaniel could even speak.

“The medical building and it seems like this little mark remover brought pests to our land.” his hands press together firmly as he sits with his elbows resting on his knees. “Pests? Like insects? But why would it have done…”, “Nick.” he grits out, his jaw tense. “Nick?” my eyebrows raise as my eyes widen, “Why would he come here? How did he know where your pack is?” I frown.

Nathaniel’s tongue circles his inner cheek, “How would I know?” he snorts, “And his excuse was that his pack asked, because they apparently felt it too.” he sighs and his chin rests on his fisted knuckles. “Well it probably broke the luna bond as well.” I shrug.

I have no single idea about how all of this works. “I guess…he thought you were dead.” he snorts and my eyes widen, “You told him I wasn’t, right?” I sit up, clutching the blanket closer to me. “Of course, I wasn’t going to let him think I killed you.” his eyes narrow and my heart races.

Nick would freak out if I were dead, probably get himself killed if he chose to attack Nathaniel…but why would he care? We are not bonded anymore, he has his mate and I am history.

He doesn’t really care about me, hell, he almost shot me, if it weren’t for Nathaniel, I would be dead.

“Did you chase him off?” I ask, my body now relaxed as I begin to feel warmer, “Well I didn’t invite him in for tea.” he sits upright, “Now tell me how you’re feeling?” he changes the subject so smoothly, it’s impressive.

“A little cold, but fine nonetheless.” I shrug and he hums before standing, “Are you sure?” his hands rest on the bed beside my body. “Positive.” I smile and he nods, “Then let’s go. You’ve been here long enough.” he mutters before pulling the blanket off me.

We leave the medical building and head straight back to his house, the greasy smell coming from the kitchen making my stomach rumble loudly. My cheeks heat up as he stops and looks down at me with an amusing glisten in his eyes, “Go upstairs and get dressed to keep yourself warm and I will make us something to eat.” he leans in, kissing me on the temple and I rush upstairs, halting mid staircase and look down at him disappearing into the kitchen.

I never not worried about Nick before and I just leaned into Nathaniel like it wasn’t something, because it isn’t anymore. Nick and I are not linked and I am not hurting him.

I continue up the stairs and notice a girl coming down, she has beautiful blonde locks that flow around her, her eyes are bright and big. “Hi.” she beams, “Hi.” I mutter as we pass each other on the steps and I awkwardly glance over my shoulder at her, tripping as I skip a step and my knee hits the edge of the stairs as I push my arms out in front of me to stop my fall. I could feel the beautiful girl’s eyes on me as I straighten my step, “Are you okay?” she asks, “Yeah!” I hum, not daring to look back at the judgemental look on her face as I rush up the last few stairs and down Nathaniel’s hall and into his room.

Who the hell was that?

‘Perhaps Louis’ friend.’ Zola shrugs. A friend, a lady friend…

‘How do you feel by the way?’ I ask her and she just hums, saying it’s fine.

I’m totally distracted by the clothes I’m looking through. I want something fuzzy, something warm to keep me from freezing out of my own body.

I settle on a pair of black tights and a baby blue wool jersey with sneakers before I head downstairs and I hear the girl’s laughter coming from the kitchen. My stomach suddenly feels like it’s sinking and I rush down the stairs, my hand gripping the staircase tightly and I march into the kitchen, freezing when I see her sitting on the counter, her thighs parted and Louis starts in the middle of her knees, holding her legs as she feeds him strawberries.

“Jessica, have you met?” , “Don’t introduce her unless she’s going to be here longer than a week.” Nathaniel interrupts and Louis freezes, his eyes flicking from his best friend to the girl, “You’re right, just call her blondie. She doesn’t speak much English anyway.” Louis snorts and my eyes widen. Did he bring a girl home to use and ignore again? I’d be pissed if someone did that to me.

“She was about to leave anyway,” Louis mutters, “Devi andartene.” his accent is good. He looks at Nathaniel, “She’s Italian.” he beams and she hops off the counter, looking at him with a frown. I gasp when she slaps him and walks out, giving me a sadistic small smile before brushing past me. The front door slams shut and I stand frozen, my eyes flicking between Nathaniel and Louis, “Is she even a wolf?” I bellow and Louis’ lips form a round O before he darts after her.

“He brought home a human?” I frown, “Isn’t that against our laws?” , “Our laws?” Nathaniel pops a strawberry into his mouth.

“Yes, the wolf laws.” I point out and he hums as he chews, “No, our laws are different.” he shrugs and I nod.

These Lycan’s don’t see themselves as wolves, they see themselves as better. Better than us, better than everyone.

“Imagine if she went out there and saw a wolf.” Nathaniel snorts before he laughs and I hum, “Yeah.” I scratch my nose.

“Oh here.” he grabs something out of the microwave and I smile at the toast with avocado and bacon on it, “You do eat avocado, right?” he asks, freezing before stuffing his mouth with another strawberry. “I do.” I smile and sit down to eat.

The night came quickly, but so did the disappearance of Nathaniel. He left when it became dark, he told me had a business dinner to attend and it’s now ten pm, most restaurants are closed at this time of night, yet he’s still not back and what kind of business dinner has someone dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, it was so informal but before I could advise him on his attire, he left after kissing my cheek.

I stayed home the entire night, staring at my new phone, still fuming at the fact that Nick was here and he tried to call me.

I want to call him, to say everything I feel about what he did and to wish him the worst in everything, but everytime I pick up the phone, I just put it down because I am better. I believe I am better than this, than him and then Tiffany.

I sigh and pick up my phone and call Nathaniel instead, “Hello?” he yells into the phone, the music in the background sounding very loud, “Hi, where are you?”, “Out for drinks! Be home soon!” he bellows and ends the call. Out for drinks? Who takes business partners out for drinks in such a loud place? It sounds more like a club instead of a bar.

‘Calm down. He loves us, but he has responsibilities.’ Zola mutters annoyed and I just nod before turning the tv back on.

It’s half an hour when I hear muffled voices and a giggle of a woman and then footsteps, stumbling and cursing in whispers. “Shhh.” Louis’ voice makes me look at the stairs and I see him coming up with a brunette. He freezes, his eyes narrowed when he looks at me, “Where’s Nate?” he asks and my heart sinks. Did he not take his beta? “Wasn’t he with you?” I frown.

His eyes widen, a lazy smile creeping up his face, “Oh right.” his head sways and he clutches the brunette closer to him, “He’ll be back soon, nothing later than one!” he beams before stumbling down his hallway with a completely different girl in his arms.

I stare at the time, as if it might just magically change before I continue to wait for my mate to come home…