An Unlikely Mate

Reject Her

He'd spent very little time sleeping that night and what sleep he had gotten had been fraught with nightmares. Rebekah screaming for his help, but he couldn't find her. Amelia being murdered just like Rebekah had been, only for him to find blood on his own hands like he'd murdered her himself. He'd given up and took to pacing the floor. He had to reject her, but he also had to make sure she was safe while doing it. He could feel Rebekah's disappointment in him. He should've rejected her right away, but here he was, getting sick over her.

He finally decided he'd talk to Lucious, ask him if he knew anything about rejecting a human mate without hurting her. He doubted he did... due to his reaction the first time he brought it up, but he had to try. With that settled, he fell into bed and slept until he woke to his phone ringing.

"Hey, are you coming in tonight? Are you okay?" Lucious asked when Alexander answered.

"s**t, what time is it?"

It's 7o'clock. I've been worried about you."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't sleep well and so I took a nap. I guess I just kept right on sleeping. I'll be right there."

"If you need the night off, go ahead. It's a calm night," Lucious said.

"No, no, I'm fine. Let me shower and change, I'll be there shortly."

"Take your time."

Alexander hung up the phone before grabbing clean clothes and heading fro the bathroom. He couldn't believe he left all the opening work to Lucious.

Twenty five minutes later he had hit the road. He was trying not to drive like a mand man. He didn't need a speeding ticket added to his government footprint. They had to fly under the radar as much as they could so when they changed identities again, their old ones were easier to get rid of.

He whipped into the parking lot and ran inside. The night was bustling already. He went straight to the office where he found Lucious on the phone. He paced as he waited for the call to end.

The second Lucious hit the end call button, Alexander launched into an apology and explanation.

Lucious put his hand up. "Stop, it's fine. I was just worried."

"I'm a mess man, I'm sorry."

"I can see that."

"I'm going to reject her," he blurted out.

"You could kill her..."

"I need to find a way to do it that will keep her safe."

"She's a human, Alexander. It's hard enough for Lycans and wolves. I don't know if you can do it without harming her."

When Lucious had been rejected Alexander had witnessed his friend look like death. Like he'd had a heart attack and spent weeks recovering.

"There has to be a way..."

"We've known Lycans who've rejected humans... most of the humans died," Lucious argued.

"I haven't done anything to her or with her. We've barely touched. That should help... we've known Lycans in centuries past who used the bond to sleep with the human and then reject them."

Lucious shrugged. "Just wait on this and let me see what I can figure out. I'll do some digging."

Alexander nodded. "Just be quick about it okay?"

Lucious promised to do his best, so Alexander left the office and made his way through the bar. He had planned to do inventory before they opened, but he could get started on it now.

He was focused on counting bottles and writing down his count, so focused that he didn't notice Amelia come into the room. "Excuse me," she said as she brusehd past him.

Her body against his, even for a second, caused his senses to go into overdrive. He gripped his clipboard so hard it snapped.

Amelia gasped and dropped the box of bottles she'd been holding. She stared at the clipboard, snapped in tow, with wide eyes.

She blinked hard and looked down. Glass was everywhere and liquid ran onto the cement floor. "s**t! I'm so sorry," she said. She grabbed a broom.

Alexander felt like an i***t, letting her see that. She was likely confused and shocked. No wonder she'd reacted that way. He had to control himself. He bent down to pick up the box and larger pieces of glass. "You need to pay closer attention," he said. He bit back other, harsher things he wanted to say. He knew he was being unreasonable.

A strong urge to confess that he loved her washed over him. Loved her? He didn't love her.... she was his mate. It wasn't love, not yet. It would never be. One always loved their mate though, he knew this, but he wouldn't allow himself to admit that. Not to her.

They cleaned up the rest of the mess in silence. Amelia put new bottles into the box. She reached out and touched Alexander's arm. "I really am sorry," she said. "Take it out of my paycheck."

"That won't be necessary," he said in a low voice.

She withdrew her touch and slipped past him. He watched as she left the room and disappeared from view. His heart felt like it would shatter. Why did he have to have a second chance mate? Why couldn't it have been Lucious instead?