Rejected: Found By Another

Chapter 10

LYANNA'S POV.

'You know, you two are going to have to talk to each other eventually, Lyanna. You can't go on like this.'

Reyna's unwanted opinion sounded in my head as I once again sat on the kitchen counter, watching a very shirtless Xander move around the kitchen as he made breakfast.

"Leave me alone, Reyna," I stated simply before popping another grape into my mouth.

Remember when I said I didn't know what I'd do if I were to lose her? I'm starting to rethink that statement.

'Whatever. I'm just trying to help, Lyanna,' Reyna said, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her words.

"Yeah, well, could you PLEASE stop trying, Reyna! No one asked you to play peacemaker! Just leave it alone!"

I said, irritated, and Reyna sighed.

'You do know he saved our lives twice, Lyanna. You're being ungrateful,' Reyna said, and this time I did roll my eyes.

Not this again! For goodness' sake, it's not like I begged him to do it. And I AM very grateful. I swear, I had every intention of thanking him when I followed him back to his house last night. It's not my fault if he's being an arrogant jerk!

'He's not being a jerk. You clearly upset him with your attitude— which, by the way, almost got us both killed, Lyanna!'

Reyna said, and I shrugged.

"Doesn't mean he has to be a baby about it. Besides, I already said I was sorry," I said, throwing another grape into my mouth. If he wants to keep going with the silent treatment, he can be my guest. Jerk!

'Lyanna, exactly did you tell him you were sorry?' Reyna asked after a minute of silence.

"Last night, of course, when I... after we... I mean, right before he..." My words trailed off, and I immediately looked down in embarrassment when realization dawned on me.

'That's what I thought. You never really apologized for what you did, Lyanna,' Reyna said, and I sighed.

"Does it really even matter? We don't owe him anything, Reyna!" I snapped, and Reyna immediately cut me off.

'Yes, we do, Lyanna! Yes, we do! We owe that man our lives considering he saved both our lives on two different occasions. If Xander hadn't come for us when he did— and I mean on both occasions— we wouldn't be here right now, breathing and in one piece.'

Well, when she puts it that way...

But then it wasn't exactly my fault!

"It's just... I just thought, maybe... I just didn't... I was..." I continued to fumble with my words as I tried to make excuses for myself, only to finally give up once I realized that once again, I had nothing to say.

I gulped as I felt the shame wash over me from my unpleasant behaviors, and I slowly hung my head.

Reyna was completely right. I really was being a brat.

'It's okay, Lyanna. I know we're still hurt from Lucien's betrayal, and I understand if you're trying to be careful. Even I don't want to get hurt a second time. But we can't let what happened with Lucien turn us into something we're not, Lyanna. If we let our experience with Lucien affect the way we live the rest of our life, then we'd be letting him win.'

Oh, moon goddess! What exactly must have come over me?

"_ I'm sorry, Reyna," I said, my head hung low in embarrassment, and Reyna sighed.

'There's no need to apologize, just go talk to him,' Reyna said, and I nodded gratefully at her before hopping down from the counter.

The subject of my discussion with Reyna had his back to me, completely oblivious to that fact as he chopped some fruits into a glass bowl.

I could see the muscles on both his back and arms contracting with each movement, and I felt my eyes linger on him for a while before approaching him.

I hesitated for a moment as I came to a stop behind him, suddenly unsure of how to approach this.

What am I supposed to say when I get his attention?

Hello? Hi, Maybe?

'Don't stress, Lyanna. Just go with the flow,' getting the push from Reyna's words, I reached around Xander and grabbed his hand that held the knife, and I immediately felt him stiffen, as his hand tightened on the knife handle.

I felt my heartbeat pick up for reasons I was afraid to find out, as Xander slowly turned his head to look at me, and I gulped heavily before speaking.

"I, uh... Let me help," I said, and I felt his grip slowly loosen as he let me take the knife before stepping away and walking over to the stove.

My eyes kept darting to him as he fried the bacon, and I racked my head for what to say.

'You're making a huge deal of this; just talk to him, Lyanna. Seriously, it can't be that hard,' Reyna sighed in annoyance, and I mentally scowled at her.

"It's easy for you to say, Reyna; it's not like you're the one who's been put in this awkward situation."

What does she know about human interactions anyway?

'You do remember you brought this whole thing on yourself, Lyanna. Don't you?' Reyna said, and I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Yes, I remember, Reyna; thank you so much for the kind reminder. Now, could you please try keeping quiet for a few minutes so I— Aahh!"

I yelled in pain, quickly dropping the knife as I held onto my bleeding finger.

I'd been too distracted with my argument with Reyna that I'd accidentally cut myself.

"Lyanna!?" I heard Xander's panicked voice, and next thing I knew, he was standing in front of me, my bleeding finger held gently in his hands.

I swear, I forgot about the pain for a moment as I watched him wet a paper towel in water and gently wiped the blood off my cut.

I could see his lips moving, but I couldn't care less about what he was saying as I continued to stare at him.

'This would be a good place to start,' Reyna's annoying voice sounded in my head, effectively snapping me back to my senses, and I blinked twice before quickly pulling my hand out of his hold.

I immediately realized my mistake when Xander's eyes snapped up to mine, a hint of hurt passing over them for a split second before he quickly masked it and looked away.

I felt his warmth depart from me when I took a few steps back, and I almost begged him to come back.

"The cut is not too deep. It should heal in a couple of hours," my face cold and voice completely void of emotions as I spoke before turning around and heading back to the stove.

Xander was back to ignoring me all through breakfast, and when he was done eating, he walked out of the kitchen without a word.

'Now you've really done it, Lyanna. Just so you know, this time, you're on your own,' Reyna's angry voice sounded in

my head before she completely shut me out.

I heard the sound of the main door shutting after a few minutes, and I assumed that Xander had gone out, leaving me all alone in the house with my thoughts.

I sighed heavily and shook my head. Reyna was right.

I really have done it this time...