[P.O.V. Riley Woods]
It has been a whole two months since I have been home. Most of this time Jared and I have been rounding up are allies. Trying to come up with a plan to conquer this darkness that we don't know about. Another thing that has been happening around here. Is my little rejected mate hanging out with a certain vampire prince. He arrived last month to help with the war plans. The way they act around each other is like they like each other romantically.
It's driving my beast and me crazy. We want nothing more than to put our claim on her. The only thing stopping me is the fact we're rejected mates. Because of that, it was taking everything not to show my emotions. And by doing that, I have been burying myself into work and whiskey.
Also, these last two months, Shanta found her second chance mate. And the lucky guy is no other than my cousin Lenard. He came to help to fight this upcoming war. When he got here, he and Shanta have been stuck together. So I have seen little of her lately and when I do. Our conversation is not as long as they were. Which I understand with her finding another chance to have love. She all consumed all up in him and him in her. That means a lot of things.
Taking a sip of whiskey out of my glass. I continued to do some book work for the kingdom. The castle was feeling stuffy, so I'm doing it in the garden gazebo. It was really nice and sunny today. Because of that reason, I'm wearing a white t-shirt and some blue jean shorts.
Hearing some bushes being disturbed, I look up. Standing right in front of me was my gorgeous rejected mate. She was wearing a white short dress that showed off her sexy legs. White heels on her small, tiny feet. Her hair was down and flowing over her shoulders. She looks intoxicating, she even smells intoxicating.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I didn't know anyone was here." She apologizes to me. "I will just leave."
"You know you don't have to leave. The garden gazebo is for all that in the castle that includes guest." Telling her.
"I know, but you look busy." Dammit, why is she acting like this around me? Is this how she always been? Or is it because of me?
"I'm always busy, but that doesn't mean I cannot take a break now and then." I wish this awkwardness between us would go away.
"Maybe another time." She sounds like she's unsure.
"Are you alright? You seem like something up?"
"Its nothing for you to be concern about. Thanks for invite but i must be going."
"Alright." She nods her head sad like and walks away. Looking back down at the papers in my hand.
"Actually!" Venessa says loudly, with some confidence in her tone. I look back up and she was facing me once again. "I have something bothering me and it involves you."
"Me? and what exactly did I do?" What did i do this time around?
"That woman that was always hanging on your arm. The one you brought back from the human world. Are you two a thing?" She asks me, trying hard to keep her courage to sound confident.
When really I can see her shaking a little. Is she scared to talk to me? Does she really think Shanta and i are a couple? And if she does, is she jealous? This tiny little rejected mate of mine doesn't seem the kind to get jealous. Just the thought of it made me want to laugh. Trying too hard to hide laughter, I couldn't. Smile slipped, and a laugh escaped.
"What is so funny?" Venessa asks me, a little upset.
"I'm sorry you think Shanta and I are a couple?" I ask, amusingly. Man Shanta going to get a good laugh out of this when I tell her this.
"Well, yes.." Grunting a little to clear my throat from laughing. Taking a deep breath, trying to get my emotions together. Leaning over to where my elbows sat on my knees.
"Maybe we are? Or maybe were not? Why does it matter to you, though? Is my little rejected mate jealous?" Her face turned red and her face expression. Looked as if she was about to blow up.
"You know what? Never mind, I don't need an answer. It's obviously you too are, and that's great because Prince Roland. Has been asking me to marry him and be his queen." Venessa snaps at me.
Before she could say another word or take another step. My instinct kicked in, standing up and hastening to her. I grab her by the arms and slam her up against an enormous tree trunk. The urge to make her mine has me seeing red towards Prince Roland. Faint sparks prickled upon my skin from what bond we had left.
"Listen here, my little reject mate. Just because our bond is broken. Doesn't mean I don't have any possessiveness towards you with others. I recommended choosing your words wisely. Even if they are words that come from anger. And to answer your little question, the answer is no. Shanta and I are not a couple, she just a dear friend. And the mate to my cousin Lenard." Giving her a warning not to tease me.
I could feel her chest breathing heavily against mine own. We locked our eyes with another and our faces so close to each other. We both could feel the adrenaline pumping through our veins. I wanted to kiss her so badly. But if she serious about being Roland Queen. Then I don't want to ruin anything for them, even if I felt possessive about the situation. At least that what I thought until I could feel her lips almost so close to mine.
Being this close to her, I didn't care if I ruin things between Roland and her. Grabbing a hand full of her hair, I kiss her. It wasn't just a kiss, but a kiss of wild passion and wanting. I wanted her so badly I wanted her to be mine and mine alone. She tries to resist a little by trying to push me off her. But I didn't let her get away, pinning her body with my body to the tree. With my one hand still in her hair, my other holds her hands above her head. Kissing her with her even more than the bond we had left made me crave more. It made me want our bond back completely.
Realizing this, I stop kissing her and back away from her. She looks all flustered and dumbfounded. I'm letting my emotions how even though I told myself I wouldn't. Dammit, I can't be greedy and take what should be mine. It taking everything in me not to mate with her here and force my mark upon her neck. Bunching hands into fist i back up away from her even more. The sky was getting stormy. The once nice sunny day is leaving.
"I apologise for my actions. I didn't mean to force myself upon you. My beast's instinct kicked in and acted. If Roland is the one you truly want, I won't stop you. Dont expect me to be at your wedding day," Giving her my apology and warning. After doing so, I step away from her and walked away from her.
My wolf and dragon were yelling at me to go back to her. They wanted me to claim her not only by mark but every inch of her. As much as I would like to, it would be wrong to force it upon her. After all, we rejected mates. She doesn't want me. Thinking about that helped my wolf and dragon calm down from their beast's instincts to claim her.
"Riley! Wait Please!" Venessa calls out to me. Is she following me? I continued to walk though until she caught up to me. By grabbing my arm and stopping me. "Riley.. Please.." she says with not a lot of breath.
"What do you want?" Asking her. Removing her hand from my arm.
"I want to talk about what just happened."
"Fine, it is simple. My beast's instinct to claim you kicked in that all it was."
"It was more than that and you know it!" Why does she care? She rejected me and it's because she didn't want our bond. All because she was too afraid to take the risk of getting to know me. I didn't even say anything. I continued to walk away. "Riley please don't walk away!.. Riley I accept you!"
I stopped in my tracks. My heart felt like it was going to burst. With happiness from hearing those words. My Wolf and Dragon attention was on Venessa's words as well. We were all hoping she wasn't playing with us.
"Repeat that?" Asking her. With my back still facing her.
"I Venessa Creely accept you Riley Woods as my beloved. I want to reunite our bond and become one." She says. Not even a second later, after she said that it rained. Is this her way of stopping me? Or does she really mean it?