Witch Way to an Alphas' Heart

Doubling Down

No one moved a muscle after that matter of fact statement. No one said a word, waiting for the Alpha to suddenly clarify the misunderstanding or say it was a joke. As a full minute ticked by and neither happened, it was Esmeralda who first addressed the absurdity. "This isn't an exchange program Alpha. The terms were you to go around checking different Covens, not us."

Of course. This must be from her previous insult where he pointed out how she had never left home. He was apparently quite petty to still be hung up on that.

"No, an exchange program is out of the question." That was settled quickly. Her mother started to smile with it cleared. "That entails she'd be coming back." And then it dropped again. Her storm grey eyes went wide, but this time it was Ophelia who finally found her words.

"Excuse me? If I offended you, you still can't kill or banish me from my own home!" Here she was literally just starting to think she had the wrong opinion of him, when all along he was planning a terrible punishment for a few words. She started with her mouth slightly parted as he turned those bright blue eyes on her. He looked angry. He really was trying to get rid of her, permanently.

"How terrible do you think of me, has your opinion not changed at all the past few hours?" He almost sounded a little hurt. It really confused her. What was he going on about? Why was he being so vague?

"Alpha, damn it talk to me before you make rash decisions like this! You CAN'T do this! It is wrong on so many levels!" The beta suddenly yelled, a hair running through his hair. "Stop this now, you know you can't!" That funny word 'reject' came up in her memory. She was getting a sinking feeling in her gut.

"I made it clear I wasn't open to your feelings on this." Kaine snapped back, his voice full of warning. "Disrespect me again infront of others and you'll regret it." With that he visibly paled, and snapped his mouth shut. "Ophelia is my mate, I am taking her home as per custom." Another bombed dropped, leaving the girls mind racing. Mate? She had heard of something like that with Werewolves, it was like a soulmate that wolves could instantly tell on sight. Considered a gift from their Goddess.

Esmeralda started laughing, but it had no real mirth. "I've had enough of this Alpha. Werewolves have Mates, Witches do not. You keep my daughter out of your schemes!" She was furious again, but Kaine was surprisingly calm. Meanwhile she just gaped.

"Only she felt the bond too." He said quietly, his blue eyes suddenly darkening as he smiled.

"...The tingles." She muttered under her breath, things clicking into place at last. She felt so stupid, but being Mates was so far out of the realm of possibilities it never entered the scope of her thoughts. This shouldn't have happened. "I've heard enough. Your Beta mentioned some sort of rejection thing right? How do you do it? Let's do it and go our separate ways." There was no way, no possible way she was going back to a pack. A witch living with an Alpha? Absurd. She knew they ruled in pairs with their mate but their society would never welcome her. Meaning he'd have to bring in someone else, and she'd be a third wheel. Hated by everyone.

As soon as 'rejection' left her lips, his eyes darkened further as a glimpse of panic flashed across his face. It soon settled though after she asked how to do it. He firmly shook his head. "I won't tell you, never. And even if you tried I wouldn't accept it. You only get one mate, the Moon Goddess paired us for a reason."

Grace shifted uncomfortably, having never left as things quickly got out of hand. Esmeralda had enough herself. "She's made it clear, she's not going. And if you kidnap her that is a clear break of our treaty and I am certain the Elders will not side with you." The Elders, like the Council, were the leaders of the Werewolves. If the Alpha went to war for such a reason, they would not support it and would band the other packs against him alongside the witches. This was the reason for all their justification.

"I am not leaving without her." He responded coldly. A decision had been made in that head of his and he was not going back on it.

The councilwoman scoffed, tilting her head back to look down at him. "Your stay was only approved for the day. She's not leaving and you are not authorized in my territory any longer. Get out of my sight before I report this. I'll send you the forms to sign." Obviously she had won in this. Ophelia suddenly realized this whole time she had remained by Kaines side. What was wrong with her? She quickly stepped forward to go to her mother, a nagging feeling wanting her to go back to him instead.

The Alpha shook his head again, and the Betas face dropped. He couldn't say anything, but it seemed like he could tell what was coming before Kaine said anything. "Then I'll stay just out of the outskirts. But I am not leaving my mate."

Heath loudly groaned, and Esmeralda glared with such intensity it was a wonder how he didn't burst into flames.