The Smallest Mate

Chapter 3: Rejected?

POV: Lyra

I watched as the giant figure left my parents' side and made his way toward the house. My eyebrows pulled up in surprise, mom's plan worked. I wanted to shrink down into nothing. As his scent got closer, my suspicions were confirmed. I looked down realizing I was still naked. I couldn’t very well open the door like this. I heard a soft knock on my door and I flew over to my closet.

As I searched my closet for something to wear, a terrible realization came over me. What if he were here to reject me? After all, a prey animal was unheard of. No one in their right mind would want to mate with a prey animal. My heart sank and felt like it was going to break. I heard the door knob jiggle. Mom must have locked it. I would have to thank her later.

I sat in the bottom of my closet and wept. It felt like it had been a while and the knock on the door was louder. I quickly pulled on some grey sweat pants and an oversized black hoodie. This rejection was going to break me. I at least wanted to be comfortable. After I was dressed, I forced myself up and over to the door. I was a walking robot, moving on auto pilot. Taking a few deep breaths I tried to steady myself, tears still streaming down my swollen face. I had cried so much today. Surely I would run out of tears soon. I slowly unlocked the door and braced myself opening it.

I was hit with a wave of comfort, the softest and warmest smell. It made me want to come closer and breathe in deeply, but I didn’t move. I was face to abdomen of a wall of muscle. I looked up at the giant's face and my breath caught. His eyes were piercing green, his hair was messy brown curls and his skin was tanned naturally from the sun. He was in a suit and tie that hugged his muscles, it looked like if he moved too fast it would rip to pieces. Seeing how beautiful he was, I began to sob again. I was not prepared for this bond to be broken. “Go ahead, get it over with” my voice, barely a whisper. I tried to keep eye contact to show that, no matter how weak I looked or how weak my prey animal must make me seem, I was a strong-willed Alpha's daughter.

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POV: Aiden

As the door swang open I was hit with a flood of that springtime meadowsweet smell. I inhaled deeply, soaking it in. Goosebumps rose on my arms. I looked down preparing myself and what I saw made my heart stop. Her Auburn hair was messy and tangled, she was in oversized clothes and her face was swollen from crying, but all I could see were those blue eyes like Ice piercing mine. She was beautiful, the most perfect thing I had ever seen. I internally thanked the moon spirits. My wolf howled joyfully in my head.

I turned my attention to her tears, which kept falling. A low growl came from my chest instinctively. Whoever or whatever made her cry was going to pay. My face twisted in confusion at her words. My hand went up to her face and cupped it. My hand was as big as her entire face. I swiped the tears off of her cheek. My hand felt warm where I touched her. “Why are you crying, my love?” I asked. I pulled her into my chest, leaning down to take a big inhale of her hair.

She pushed me away, or she tried. I obliged her and took a step back respectfully. “Please just hurry up and reject me so you can get back to the party” she snapped, and hurt and confusion crossed my face. “Why would I do that?” It made no sense she was my other half perfectly made for me. She hesitated before her voice broke. “Because the moon spirits decided to play an awful joke on me, so before this goes any further please just get it over with.” I still had no idea what she was referring to and I remembered Alpha Ryan's face when I had asked how it went.

“You’re the alpha's daughter.” I stated, everything starting to click into place. “I was late, I’m sorry I missed your shift. I know it’s important”. I hung my head. Damien was right. Though I would absolutely never admit it, “I would never reject you.” I stated matter of factly. Her eyes fell to the floor and I started to panic. “Look, I know my pack isn’t very big and I’m new to the whole Alpha thing, but please give me a chance!” My face twisted in pain as I tried to reach out to her. She took a step back, her arms crossing.

“A rabbit” she grunted.

My eyebrow raised, “what about a rabbit?” I had no idea what a rabbit could have to do with our mate bond. “My animal, they gave me a f*****g rabbit.” Her voice was strained and I could tell she was going to start crying again. I scrambled, pulling her into my arms despite her protests. I had never heard of a prey animal being given to a shifter by the moon spirits. I could see why she was sad. There were many that would look down on her for this. Not me, “Okay. Ahh it’s okay that doesn’t matter to me.” My wolf was quiet, I felt him being torn. He ate rabbits when I let him hunt in control. ‘She is our mate’, I scolded him. He had no response.

“Is that why your up here crying on your birthday?” My heart twisted and I tightened my grasp around her. “I’m here now let’s get you ready and head down you don’t want to miss your party. If anyone says anything to you about it I’ll rip their throats out.” I said this nonchalantly, placing a kiss on the top of her head. I pulled her back into her room, closing the door behind us so we could get her changed.