Beyond Rejection.

Mates.

Levi.

I walk deep into the forest. I start getting worried when I can't smell her at all.

I contemplate shifting to my wolf, Derek.

Derek is very upset, even more upset than I am.

He keeps growling about not wanting to lose his mate and his child.

As I start descending the hill, I catch a faint scent. It is enough to give me hope. I run towards it.

It gets stronger and stronger.

I can see some fur behind tree branches. I push them aside. There she is, munching on a freshly killed forest deer.

I let out a long sigh. No matter how mad I am at her, I am glad to see her.

"You know, if you are craving raw meat, you could just ask me for it. I told you that I would give you whatever you need". I say.

Her eyes snap up. I stare into the green depths of her eyes. Derek is threatening to merge.

She looks at me as if she does not recognise me. She pounces on me, baring her teeth menacingly. I don't move. I'm not afraid of her.

Her eyes slowly widen and she shifts back.

She is still on top of me, staring into my eyes. She is naked and covered in blood. I can't help my body's reaction to hers.

She leans down and kisses me. This is the first kiss we are sharing. I had been careful not kiss her tempting lips during our previous encounter. Her lips are moist and warm.

I am not used to letting a woman take the lead, but I allow her.

She is not ashamed of her nakedness. It makes me wonder how she has remained a virgin all these years. I always thought she was a slut. She used to talk to every male that had been in our class. I used to see her sitting on the lap of some of the boys. I thought what anything human being with eyes would think. When the pressure becomes too intense, I toss her to the ground and climb over her. Her naked back is laying on the forest floor. She does not seem to care. Then, out of nowhere she pushes me off. She had started it.

"f*****g mate bond!" She curses.

I run a hand through my hair. She gets up and start walking towards the house. I watch have for a while.

"You and your bloody wolf are perverts!" She shouts at me without turning back. Her voice echoes through the forest and startled birds fly out of their nests in the frenzy of the echo.

I get up and walk after her. Does she plan on storming in there stark naked? Without thinking, I take off my shirt.

"Anastasia, for once in your life, grow up! Are you going to walk in there without any clothes? The doctor is waiting for you." I grunt.

She stops and turns towards me. My stupid gaze immediately drops to her full breasts.

"Why do you care? What is it to you? You have ruined me already! I have no dignity or pride left. I don't f*****g care anymore! You can stop f*****g pretending already! I know you are laughing at me behind my back. You probably even talk about me with your friends". She yells at me.

I move faster than I would consider possible and pin her against a tree.

"You are the mother of my f*****g child, Anastasia Purrey. I'm not so shameless to go around talking about my private affairs. We both made a mistake, so we have to take joint responsibility for it. Stop sounding like I f*****g r***d you!" I grunt into her ear menacingly.

I can feel her quickened breath on my chest, the quick thud of her heartbeat. She is afraid. Good. She should be.

"Let me go". She whimpers.

I ignore her. I will not let her go until every word I have said has sunk into her brick head.

"I hate you! I really f*****g hate you!" She cries out.

I release her at this point. From her words, I can tell that my point has sunk in even though she's still trying to fight it.

"Wear this." I command as I hand her my shirt.

She takes it from me wearily and puts it on. I hold out my hand to her and glare at her, daring her to refuse to take my hand. She glares right back at me before she decides to take the offered hand. I grasp her hand firmly and lead her towards the house.

All through our little journey she doesn't make a single noise. It makes me wonder what she is thinking but I know better than to even go there.

She looks really cute and small in my large shirt but the soul beneath it is nothing close to cute. She is the very epitome of bitterness.

When we get to the house, she insists on going to her room for a quick shower. I cannot refuse because I know how dirty she is.

The doctor just stares between us, wondering what happened that she is covered in blood when she is supposed to be resting in her room. I give him a look that discourages any form of questions pertaining to her disheveled state.

She takes forever, but she finally comes out to where we are.

She lays down on the table and the doctor begins his examinations. I just watch from a corner. He asks her questions to be able to determine her problem better.

"You always crave raw meat?" He asks her.

She nods as she pulls her sweater over her exposed abdomen.

"When exactly do you feel restless?" He asks.

She thinks about it.

"I only feel some amount of peace when he is around." She points at me. "Other times, I feel like I would lose my mind." She says.

The doctors takes down some notes.

"Were you mates at any point in time?" He asks.

Both of us exchange glances.

"Why do you ask?" I ask.

He puts aside his notepad and removes his glasses.

"These are symptoms of being separated from your mate. It is worse now that there is a baby. I am not in a position to offer any advice, but I think it would be harmful to the baby in the long run if both of you stay separated."