The Alpha’s Rejected Mate

11

CASPIAN

By midday, I was in my office with Ethan, discussing what we could do next. He listened as I explained what had happened the previous night, including the way my wolf had lost control and how Eleanor had somehow managed to calm me down.

Ethan remained quiet for a moment after I finished. Then he leaned back in his chair.

"Have you considered accepting her?"

I looked at him sharply. "What?"

"Eleanor," he clarified. "Your mate. Have you considered accepting the bond?"

"No."

The answer came so quickly that Ethan sighed.

"Caspian, listen to me. Whatever is happening to you could be connected to your rejection of her. Your wolf knows she's your mate, and you're constantly fighting that bond. What if accepting her is the answer?"

"I'm not accepting her."

"You're not even willing to consider it?"

"There's nothing to consider."

Ethan stared at me for a moment before rubbing his forehead.

"Then what exactly are we supposed to do? Your condition is getting worse. You lost control last night, Caspian. You barely managed to get through it."

"I said I'll handle it."

"How?"

I didn't answer. Ethan exhaled and shook his head, looking at me like he was dealing with an unreasonable child.

"Fine. Do whatever you want. But when things get worse, don't say I didn't warn you."

I glared at him. "Are you finished?"

"Completely."

"I was caught off guard," I said. "Everything happened so suddenly, and I didn't know what was going on. That's why I brought her here. I thought having her close would help me understand what was happening to my wolf."

I leaned back in my chair, forcing myself to take a breath.

"But now that I've had time to think about it, I'm sure I can handle this myself. I don't need anyone's help, least of all hers."

Ethan stared at me and I could tell he didn't believe a word I was saying. That made two of us.

Still, I refused to entertain the alternative. Whatever was happening to me, I would find a way to stop it. On my own.

I looked down at my hands, then scoffed as another thought occurred to me.

"And do you know what she said to me?"

Ethan raised a brow. "What did she say?"

"She gave me conditions. In my own house."

He said nothing.

"She actually told me that she would decide when she wanted to leave, like I needed her permission to run my own estate." I shook my head in disbelief. "She has certainly grown confident."

I had brought her into my home and gave her the impression that she could speak to me however she pleased. I wouldn't make that mistake again.

"She can get the hell out if she wants to," I said firmly. "I'm not begging her to stay, and I'm not going to ask her for anything."

Ethan's expression changed. "Caspian, don't do this."

"Do what?"

"Act like your wolf isn't part of the problem. You can't keep fighting it and expect it to remain under control."

I glared at Ethan, but he continued speaking, his voice measured and careful.

"I'm serious. If you keep suppressing him, you could do permanent damage to yourself. You nearly lost control last night. The next time might be worse, and the time after that could be the last time you get the chance to bring yourself back."

I understood the danger, but accepting Eleanor wasn't an option. Not for me.

"I've heard enough," I said, rising from my chair.

Ethan looked up at me.

"Just watch me. I'll get rid of whatever is happening to me without her help."

He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

"I do."

I walked toward the door, ending the conversation before he could say anything else. I would find another solution. There had to be one. And if Eleanor wanted to leave, I wouldn't stop her. I didn't need her. I would prove that to everyone, including myself.

ELEANOR

By the time evening arrived, I had grown tired of being alone in my room. I had spent most of the afternoon trying to distract myself, but my thoughts kept returning to the argument with Caspian. I was still irritated by the way he had spoken to me, and I hadn't changed my mind about leaving. I simply needed to figure out when I could go without making the situation worse.

For the moment, I decided to find something to eat.

I picked up a donut from the kitchen and was walking through one of the quieter hallways, taking small bites as I passed the rooms. I was still chewing when I heard a strange sound from a room farther down the corridor.

I slowed down and listened. Someone was breathing heavily. I glanced toward the open doorway and hesitated when I recognised the broad figure standing inside. Caspian.

He was facing the wall with his back to me, his shoulders rising and falling as he struggled to control his breathing. Even from where I stood, I could tell something was wrong.

I stopped chewing. What was happening to him now?

I should have kept walking. After everything he had said to me earlier, the last thing I wanted was to get caught in another uncomfortable situation with him, but my feet refused to move.

I swallowed the bite in my mouth.

"Caspian?"

He didn't turn around. "Leave."

His voice was rough, and the single word made me pause. I glanced at him again, trying to determine whether he was angry or in pain.

"Are you okay?"

"Leave, Eleanor."

I hesitated, my fingers tightening around the half-eaten donut. He sounded furious, but there was something else beneath his anger. His breathing was too heavy, and his body seemed unusually tense. I remembered what had happened the previous night and the way he had struggled in his bedroom. Could it be happening again?

"Caspian, I just wanted to…”

"Get out!"

I flinched as he suddenly swung his fist into the pillar beside him. The impact was so forceful that the sound reverberated through the room. I watched in shock as a deep dent appeared in the pillar where his knuckles had struck it.

My mouth fell open. What kind of strength did it take to do that? Caspian remained facing the wall, his breathing growing heavier. His hand was still pressed against the damaged pillar, and I could see the muscles in his arm tightening.

I stood frozen in the doorway. Was he angry with me? What had I even done? I had only asked if he was okay.

My gaze shifted from the dent in the pillar to his hand, and a small knot of worry formed in my stomach. If he could do that to a pillar without seeming to care, what would happen if he completely lost control? I took a cautious step forward.

"Caspian, you're going to hurt yourself."

He turned his head just enough for me to catch a glimpse of his face. His expression made me stop immediately.

"Do you have a death wish?" he demanded. "Get out before I lose what little patience I have left."

I wasn't trying to provoke him, and I had no intention of getting into another argument. Still, I couldn't bring myself to walk away immediately.

Something was clearly wrong, and the thought of leaving him alone while he was in that state made my chest feel strangely tight. I hated that after everything he had said, I still wanted to help him.

Footsteps sounded behind me and I turned to see Jamie coming down the hallway. He was walking toward the room until he noticed Caspian standing with his fist against the damaged pillar.

His eyes widened.

"What's wrong with him?" he blurted out.

Caspian didn't answer and Jamie looked from him to me, then back at Caspian. His expression changed as though he had suddenly realised how serious the situation was. Without saying another word, he turned and hurried away. I watched him disappear around the corner before glancing back at Caspian.

He was still breathing heavily.

"Caspian…"

"Didn't you hear me the first time?"

His voice was so cold that I fell silent. I pressed my lips together and took a step back, suddenly uncertain about what to do.

A few moments later, I heard more footsteps approaching. Mira appeared at the end of the hallway with Jamie beside her, and both of them hurried toward the room. Mira glanced at the damaged pillar before looking at her brother. Concern briefly crossed her face, but it disappeared when her gaze landed on me.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

I blinked.

"I heard a noise, so I came to check if he was okay."

Mira's expression hardened.

"Well, you can leave now. This is a family matter."

I stared at her, taken aback. A family matter?

I looked past her toward Caspian, but he hadn't even bothered to turn around. He remained facing the wall, apparently more concerned with whatever was happening to him than with the conversation taking place behind him.

Mira stepped farther into the room as she ushered me out.

"Please leave, Eleanor."

There was no warmth in her voice, and she didn't wait for my response. She simply shut the door in my face.

I remained standing in the hallway, staring at the closed door. My half-eaten donut was still in my hand, and I stared down at it, then I blinked and looked at the door again.

A strange ache settled in my chest. I knew I had no right to expect anything from Caspian,but if something was wrong with him, shouldn't I at least have been given the chance to help? Instead, I had been sent away while Mira and Jamie went inside.

The reality hurt more than I wanted to admit. I lowered my gaze, my fingers tightening around the donut. I took a final glance at the closed door, fighting the urge to knock. The bond between us might have been rejected, but it hadn't disappeared.

I turned away from the door and began walking down the hallway, taking another bite of my donut even though I had lost most of my appetite.