My heart pounded as I raced back to my room. Blood rushed through my ears and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I'd felt hatred before but this was something different.
When I first saw him, my heart skipped and my cock hardened. I'd always been attracted to men so it wasn't a surprise. However, his steel cold gaze killed that fire instantly.
My door slammed and I slumped against it. My body shook as I clenched my fists.
"What's his problem," I asked, my shaky voice echoing in the empty room.
My head pounded so I decided to have a shower. The hot spray eased the tension and when I stepped out I felt revived. An hour later, Benny came to get me for dinner. I took a deep breath and braced myself for the worst.
The stranger was sitting at the table with a small girl next to him. I instantly felt her weakness, her small body failing. She smiled at me but he scowled. I took my usual seat, across from the girl and smiled back.
"Hello, I'm Aria and this is my daddy," she greeted.
Her warmth and sweetness eased the coldness coming from her father.
"Hello, Aria my name is Sebastian," I greeted back.
"Sebastian, this is my nephew, Liam," Alpha John introduced.
"Hello Liam, it's nice to meet you," I nodded curtly and smiled slightly in greeting, Liam didn't return the gesture.
"Daddy! Don't be rude. Sebastian said hello, you have to say it back. That's what you always tell me," she chastised.
"That's right little Aria," Alpha John added with a smirk. "It's good manners isn't it."
Aria nodded so seriously that I laughed a little.
"Ari!" Liam growled slightly but then turned to me, "Hello Sebastian."
I nodded and then turned back to Aria. As the food was served and eaten I mainly talked with Benny and Aria, refusing to even look at Liam. He mainly spoke with his uncle.
After dinner, I went outside for some fresh air. Alpha John followed me out.
"I'm sorry about Liam," he sighed.
"It's ok," I smiled. "I understand his hatred."
Well, I did understand it but that didn't mean I liked it. It never bothered me before but for some reason I wanted this man to like me.
"Maybe so, but he's being his usual stubborn self. I told him how you could heal Aria but he doesn't want you anyway near her."
"It's his daughter, they've been attacked by witches. You can't really blame him," I told him.
"I know but …" he started but I stopped him.
"Alpha, you know me so of course you trust me. He doesn't and he faced something horrible. Maybe after some time, he'll warm up to me."
---
The next day, I awoke early, the early morning light was just starting to filter through the window. At first, I was a little confused as to what had woken me. Nothing moved or was different in my room and everything was silent.
It wasn't until I headed to the bathroom that I sensed it, sensed him. Liam was standing outside my door. Quickly, I rushed to open it. He looked dishevelled and gorgeous.
"Liam?" I asked.
"We need to talk," he grunted, moving past me.
His scent made my cock swell and I bit my lip to stop a groan from escaping my lips. I was grateful that I'd chosen to wear a long t-shirt to bed, it could hide my excitement.
Liam crossed his arms over his chest and it only spiked up my arousal as his muscles flexed. My cheeks flushed and prayed he couldn't smell my arousal.
"Why are you here?" I croaked.
"I'm sure you know what's going on between us, so I'm here to resolve it."
"Going on between us? You mean you hating me because I'm a witch? Don't worry about that, I'll stay out of your way."
He raised his eyebrow at me and I shrugged as I took a seat on my bed.
"My mother and sister are witches, they always hated me because I wasn't one and a man. So, I did as they said and stayed out of their way. When I turned eleven I received my powers, a little late but still, I ended up being more powerful than them. They chucked me out and not long after your uncle found me."
I fiddled with the hem of my shirt.
"A few of the pack members didn't like me, hated that I was a witch. Again, I kept out of their way, until …"
"Until?" he asked.
"Until Luna Marie started getting sick. These black lines appeared on her chest and many thought I had poisoned her. Alpha John stepped in and defended me, even Luna Marie did however weakly. Without knowing how I pulled some energy from some water nearby and turned it into a healing salve."
"Water? Into a healing salve?"
"Yeah, I can absorb energy from an attack or from the elements around me and send it back or heal someone. I drew the curse from her chest and she recovered. I also used that energy to find the witch responsible. A local one that had been in love with Alpha John. After that, everyone seemed to accept me."
Liam sighed and rubbed his nose.
"I can heal Aria if you let me," I told him.
"You may not want to after I say what I came to say."
I raised an eyebrow at him and cocked my head to the side.
"Say it then," I demanded softly.
"I, Alpha Liam Moore, reject you, Sebastian, as my fated mate."
An intense pain shot through my heart and I clutched my chest. I fell to the floor and gasped, struggling for breath.
"I'm sorry Sebastian, but I can't be mated to a witch or a man. I'm not gay and after what happened being with a witch is impossible."
With great effort, I pushed the pain aside and tried to stand. It took a couple of attempts but I eventually managed it.
Taking a deep breath and turning to utter the words I never dreamed of saying.
"I … I accept your rejection Alpha Liam Moore … I will still help your daughter."