Alpha Jaxon POV
I lost control of myself. My rage had been brewing ever since I had spotted her up on the ladder looking as though she was about to faint. I had known instinctively she was afraid and even as I tried to resist going to her, my wolf had urged me to move, to hurry, my arms reaching out to catch her as she fell from the second story, a fierce wave of protectiveness coming over me.
What had Sandra been thinking? Riley was shaking violently as I roared at her from the desk, her eyes staring at me, wide-eyed, reminiscent of a does. She looked like a creature from the wild, a timid creature, one that was not suited to be dominated let alone screamed at by somebody stronger than her. I closed my eyes, reminding myself as she stood there in shock, that she could not speak. She was mute. My outburst was not about to change the circumstances.
I exhaled. "You could have been killed you know that?" I snapped as she looked down at the ground "From now on you stay on the ground" I mumbled "I'll see to it that Sandra is informed."
She continued to look at the ground. I heaved a sigh and then grabbed a bunch of papers and some blank invitations. "Here," I said, passing them over to her with a pen "Start writing in these names" I pointed "These are invitations to the party. You can begin writing them out for me so they can be addressed and sent out."
She bit her lip and nodded. My wolf was displeased with me. You're an asshole you know that. Making her write out invitations to the party you're determined to take a chosen mate at. Do you have any sense of shame at all?
If anything this will drive home to her that I'm not messing around when it comes to ignoring the mate bond. Besides at least while she's doing that she's not getting into danger anywhere else. Isn't that something you would prefer mutt?
She's safer with us than anyone else but why are you continuing to deny you don't want her as our mate? You can't resist the bond although it's not for lack of trying. You're actively seeking her out now Jaxon, it won't be long now until you're unable to resist marking her. You should give up this stubbornness before it's too late.
Stop it. You're merely trying to persuade me to do something you want. Leave it. She's not going to become our Luna. Stop trying to make me think otherwise.
You have no idea of what she's capable of because you've blinded yourself to her attributes. Being a shifter is not the end-all or be-all of everything.
I irritably cut off the link with my wolf and regarded Riley who had her head bent over as she began to write out the invitations, her hair covering part of her face. Her hair was like a bright blue curtain and I bit my lip, forcing myself to concentrate, opening my laptop with a low growl of frustration and beginning to make my way slowly through my emails as we sat there in silence. The sound of my door opening and Callum walking in did little to improve my mood.
"Oh hey there Riley," he said cheerfully as her head slowly raised up "Good penmanship" he complimented, looking over her shoulder and regarding the invitations "I take it that's something I don't need to help with now or the omegas."
I grunted at him "Was there a reason you came in here or was it merely to check on someone" I looked pointedly at Riley who had bent her head back down and begun writing again.
"We have spotted several rogues on the perimeter. They are acting strange" Callum said, plinking himself down on the armchair opposite the desk and raising a brow.
"Strange how?"
"They aren't attacking for one" Callum pointed out.
I frowned "That's not unusual. Sometimes they encroach on our territory looking for food and then leave."
"True" Callum allowed "but this seems more than that. They aren't" he paused "How do I explain it" he mused "I think we should help these ones out."
My jaw dropped open "Since when do we help rogues Callum? Of any kind" I demanded angrily "They are nothing but scum. If they don't have a pack, there's a good reason for it."
"I don't think that's the case this time at all," Callum said, peering at me closely "For starters the rogues that are near our territory are all women."
All women? Normally there would at least be one man in the small group in order to lead them or exert dominance on them. This was almost unheard of. I frowned. "Why would they come here?" I asked confused.
Callum shrugged "Maybe they are looking for a new pack to settle down in? I don't know but they look in pretty bad shape. I think you should at least speak to them Jaxon before you turf them out. I mean, I can't exactly stomach making the order for them to be hunted down and killed and if you saw how they looked, I doubt you could either."
"Just because they look pitiful doesn't mean they are weak. It could be a trap of some kind to lure us into thinking they are harmless" I said sharply.
Riley's head slowly raised up and she looked at me. I inhaled. She slowly scribbled on a piece of paper Not everyone is out to get you. Sometimes people genuinely need help.
I scoffed at her. "You're too innocent Riley" I insulted her as she frowned at me "People will do anything in order to take over a pack or kill an Alpha. I've been led into traps before and likely will again. You need to learn to be more suspicious" I advised her coldly.
You need to learn to be more trusting.
I shook my head. "That will only lead to weakness," I told her coldly.
Maybe it will make you a better leader.
I laughed. Callum looked between the two of us "Am I missing something here."
"Nothing," I said calmly "I'm merely pointing out that Riley needs to learn to be more guarded and less naive when it comes to trusting people. Being so nice and kindhearted will only lead to her being killed."
As opposed to my mate ignoring me or refusing to reject me?
That one got to me. I glared at her "You overstep" I snapped as she looked right into my eyes, causing me to feel overwhelming guilt "I will not reject somebody who will lend strength to my wolf and make me stronger simply by being in my presence. I would be a fool to let that go."
Even if it hurts the person you are doing it to?
I got to my feet "Listen here and listen well little mutt" I said breathing heavily as Riley stared at me, before getting to her feet "you are nothing but a lowly omega who will obey my every command. I make the rules, you obey them. Just because I've saved you, or been kind towards you, it does not mean I have feelings towards you. Do not mistake my generosity with kindness" I warned her.
Reject me!
I shook my head, my anger increasing "I will not" I thundered, causing Callum to jump out of his chair. "I will not weaken myself in order to placate you."
I hate you
I stared at the words. For some reason they made my chest tighten and my mouth go dry. They hurt. For some inexplicable reason, the fact that Riley hated me, hurt me on the inside, although I struggled not to show it.
"Hate me all you want" I told her as she glared at me "Callum take her back to her room" I ordered softly as he looked at me uncertainly "spend the rest of the day there without food or water" I advised Riley, hardening my heart "and then see if you have the nerve to tell me I'm coldhearted."
Callum sighed and then got up, taking Riley's arm. "Make it quick," I told him gritting my teeth as Riley merely shook her head and turned around "Seeming as you're so concerned about these so-called Rogues camping out near our territory, I guess we should go and scope them out. See if they are a threat to the pack of it they are merely passing through."
He nodded and smiled down at Riley, causing a spurt of jealousy to shoot through me "Come on Riley" he said softly as she allowed him to pull her away "let's go sweetheart."
"Do not call her that" I growled and Callum glanced at me, his expression unreadable "never call her that" I snarled.
Callum raised a brow "whatever you say Alpha Jaxon" he bit out and I was left standing there as they walked out of the room, feeling like I had gone overboard and that I had lost all of my composure. What was it with Riley that had me constantly thinking I needed to do better and why was she able to constantly enter my mind, even when I tried so hard to push her out of them? At this rate, I could barely concentrate on my tasks and her scent was growing stronger by the day.