An Unlikely Mate

Resolved

What Lucious had alluded to just days earlier had began. First, Alexander woke with a severe headache and fever chills. He pushed through it. He wasn't seriously ill... yet. When a Lycan's mate was nearby the Lycan needed to have their mate or reject them. They would grow ill over time, slowly leading to a madness that would cause the Lycan form to take over. The Lycan form would seek out their mate and mark them, sealing the mate bond. This was a rare occurrence. Mates almost always followed the mate bond, on the rare occasion they didn't, they would reject them. There were very few cases of the illness going all the way. The first signs had started for Alexander. He would reject Amelia, doing it as carefully as possible. Humans had a very hard time withstand a rejection. Lycans of centuries past didn't care, they were just humans. But Lycan law and attitudes had changed since then. Alexander did care. She wasn't just a human to him, but he couldn't have her as his mate.

Resolvd, he went into work and found Lucious in the office.

"You look like hell," his friend said.

"Thanks for the compliment," Alexander responded as he sat down heavily.

"It's started hasn't it?"

Alexander nodded.

"What are you going to do?"

"Reject her."

Lucious flinched as if he'd been struck. "You can't, that could kill her. There is no careful, easy rejection. I've been rejected, I know what it's like."

"Humans can survive it, they have before."

"Rarely! Do you see what your thick skull madness has lead you to? You have been blessed with a second mate. After all these years of grief you can move on. Why won't you take that chance?"

Alexander stood, knocking his chair back. "I don't deserve that chance! I got a mate killed! I don't deserve another. I won't take another. Rebekah doesn't deserve to be forgotten and replaced."

"You're not replacing her..." Lucious began softly. "She won't be forgotten. She's alive in our memories. Yours and mine."

"You don't understand." Alexander's voice was strained. His misery showing in a way it hadn't in decades. "I can't have Amelia. I just can't. Not after what happened to Rebekah." His voice cracked when he spoke her name. He turned and left the office. He had work to do.

Amelia's scent was intoxicating. He couldn't seem to escape it. He decided to stand outside in the cold to check ID's. They didn't typically check every customer's ID at the door, but it kept him busy and outside. He made mental notes of who looked like they'd need to be checked on later.

As the hours ticked by fewer people arrived. He couldn't justify being ou here anymore. So he did a security round.

He noticed Amelia right away. She looked... different. She was smiling less, less bubbly. Before he could think it through he went to her. "Are you okay?" he asked.

She looked at him with surprise written all over her face. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine." Up close, he could see she looked tired. "Are you sick? Do you need to go home?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine, really. Just an argument with my boyfriend. It's life."

Alexander's eyes flashed. "Did he hurt you?"

"No!" she quickly said. "Gosh, don't jump to the worst conclusion. I'm fine, really." She forced a thin smile.

He took the hint and walked away. She wouldn't tell him anything more anyway, not with the way he'd been treating her.

The night wore on until finally, he could go home and find some peace. He'd make a rejection plan in the morning.