Rejection Attempt
ISABELLA’S POV
Xavier’s question hung in the air, and for a moment, I was frozen. I didn’t expect him to ask. that… I didn’t even know why. I didn’t know how to react. It was a very simple question – yet its weight pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.
Our eyes locked, and that’s when I realized that there was something different about him now. He had always been so relentless, so sure of himself in every encounter we’d had these past few days. But now, the fierceness… the tenacity that once ablaze in his orbs was now gone, only replaced by a weariness I had never seen before.
Exhaustion and helplessness flickered across his face, and his voice, that was always sharp and commanding, now carried a softness that took me by surprise. It was as if he was afraid of the words he spoke… as if he was treading carefully on a fragile ground.
For the first time, I saw a vulnerability in him, a c***k in the armor he always wore so tightly around him. And it tugged at something deep within me, something I wasn’t ready to face.
Before I realized what I was doing, I found myself nodding despite my internal turmoil. I was lost in his sudden shift in demeanor that I didn’t realize he was now crouching down to Lily’s level.
My breath was caught in my throat as I witness him hesitantly place a hand on Lily’s head, patting her gently while a small, almost tender smile curved his lips.
“Goodnight, little one.” He said in a low tone that was filled with an unfamiliar warmth as it
entered my ears.
I could only watch in silence as that painful tug in my chest continued. It was as if my heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, clenching it painfully. His tenderness toward Lily only deepened the conflict raging inside me.
Lily’s giggle snapped me out of my chaotic thoughts. I realized that Xavier had already stood up and put a safe distance between us once more. I didn’t know what to feel or how to
respond. But soon afterwards, the worry came crashing back to me once more.
“Let’s go, sweetheart.” I turned to Lily, speaking in a steadier tone. I pulled her to my side, grasping her little hands in mine.
But just as I was about to turn away with her, Xavier’s voice slipped into my mind through our
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Rejection Attempt
long–dormant mind link.
“Can we talk?”
Hearing his voice through the mind link made me stiffen. The loud pounding of my heart rang in my ears as I halted in my steps. His voice in my mind felt foreign, and it took me a moment to process that it was indeed him speaking through the mind link… after so many years.
Yet realization dawned upon me. We were still mates, and the mate bond still connected us,
even after all this time. That could be the only explanation.
I tightened my grip on Lily’s hand as I turned to look at him. His expression was unreadable,
but there was a weight in his gaze that made my heart race faster.
But before I could respond, I heard Raymond’s voice calling out to me from behind.
“Bella!”
Raymond was with Hailey as they approached us. Their eyes were wide with shock and
vigilance as they took in the sight of Xavier. The tension in the air was palpable, however, I
knew that now was the time to face the inevitable.
“Take Lily back to the packhouse, first.” I said, trying to force confidence into my voice.
Raymond hesitated, his eyes flickering between me and Xavier as he looked at the latter
darkly. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I nodded my head at him, my expression straight. “I’ll be fine. I just need to talk to him.”
Lily stared up at me with curiosity and confusion, but I bent down and kissed her forehead,
flashing her a smile. “Go back with Uncle Raymond and Aunt Hailey first, okay?”
She nodded obediently at me, but I didn’t fail to notice her stealing a glance towards Xavier
behind me. Raymond and Hailey finally took her back. Once they were out of sight, I felt the
cold air seeping into my skin, carrying with it a heavy silence that suddenly surrounded us.
I glanced at Xavier, noticing the intent look he was giving me. With a heavy heart, I took a deep
breath. I knew this conversation was long overdue, and as much as I dreaded it, I couldn’t avoid it any longer.
“Fine,” I steeled myself and finally spoke in a steady voice. “Let’s talk.”
His intense gaze made me feel slightly uneasy, but it wasn’t the same piercing stare that had
always made me cornered. This time, it was softer and more searching… as if he was looking for something in me he couldn’t find.
“I need to know the truth.” He finally said with a low and measured voice. “She’s my child, isn’t
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There was a certainty in his tone that made my heart skip a beat. I had anticipated this moment… this question. But I didn’t expect it would affect me so much this way.
I could feel the walls I had built over the years starting to crumble as the weight of the situation pressed on me. But I knew I couldn’t back down now.
“And if she is?” I met his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest as I made my decision. “What difference would it make?”
For a moment, I saw how his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he hadn’t expected my response. But then, his face quickly hardened, his jaw clenching as he replied.
“Of course, it changes everything.”
“What will you do?” Emotions started to surge through me as I tried my best effort to stay strong and stood on my ground. “You can’t take her away from me!”
“That’s not what I mean, Isabella.” Xavier’s expression softened, and for a moment, he looked almost… hurt. But I was facing a storm of turmoil inside me too.
“Then why are you here, stirring everything up?” I shot back at him, my voice rising. “What do you want? We’ve been doing fine all these years, Xavier. We’ve built our lives without you…”
“You tell me you’ve been doing fine…” He frowned, pressing his lips into a thin line as he stared at me with those dark orbs. “But what about me?”
I stiffened at the raw emotion in his voice. There was a hint of slight vulnerability on it,
something I had never heard from him before – a c***k on his usually composed demeanor.
I froze on my spot, feeling my heart pounding loudly at his sudden tone as he continued speaking.
“You disappeared for years, Isabella –
“Isn’t that what you wanted?” I cut him off, my own emotions bubbling up inside me. “You had someone else… someone you loved, and you wanted me out of the way. I only gave you what you asked for. You wanted to be free and be happy with her, right? I gave that to you.”
His face twisted in distress as I spoke those words.
“Is that really what you think I wanted?”
“What else am I supposed to think?” I snapped back at him, pressing my lips tightly. “You never treated me like your mate, Xavier. I was just your tool, something you used when it
suited you.”
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Helplessness flashed across his face but I didn’t falter and continued speaking.
“But I’m done with that. I owe you nothing now, and you can’t decide to stake your claim on
- me. You can’t just decide to come back whenever it pleases you.”
Silence enveloped us, my chest was rising up and down from the surge of emotions I was feeling. When he finally spoke, his voice was now quieter and even had a hint of sorrow. “What about our daughter? Why did you keep her from me?”
“Because I won’t let her suffer the way I did. I’ll protect her from everything.” I met his gaze
head on, my voice hardening.
“Do you really think I would hurt you? Or her?”
“You already have,” I spoke in a cold tone, trying to hide the pain slowly creeping up in my
chest. “And I won’t let it happen again.”
“I’m her father. I have the right to be a part of her life.” His tone now turned serious, but still carried one of helplessness as he continued.
“I’m still your mate.”
It struck a chord deep within me, igniting a complex mix of emotions swirling in my chest. The
realization hit me hard. The truth was indeed undeniable.
We’re still mates. Our bond, despite everything that happened, it was still there – a proof of the connection we had. But thinking that this very mate bond was the reason for all the pain and sorrow all these years, my heart clenched painfully.
“If that’s what’s holding you back, and if you’re burdened by that fact, then let’s end this once and for all.” I snapped, struggling to maintain control of my own emotions.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to be clear despite the heavy weight on my heart.
“Let’s cut the root cause of all these problems. If you want to be free, if you want to move on, then let’s sever all ties. After this, you should also stay out of our lives completely.”
Xavier’s jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with a mix of anger and confusion. A growl emanated from his chest. I could see him struggling, but I was determined to follow through, even though the words felt like a knife to my own heart as I finally spoke.
“I, Isabella Morgan, reject y
Before I could finish, Xavier moved with a sudden intensity, closing the space between us. And before I knew it, his lips crashed into mine in a rough, demanding kiss.
The force of his sudden advance caught me off guard, taking my breath away. I found myself
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powerless to resist, my body trembling under the influence of the mate bond as he kissed me
deeper, his tongue roughly exploring every inch of my mouth.
The kiss was fierce and unrelenting, leaving me breathless and struggling against his strong
arms trapping me.
When he finally broke the kiss, his dark eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race. “Don’t you dare, Isabella.”
His voice was low and rough, almost aggressive but was filled with a determined edge as he
continued.
“Haven’t I made myself clear? I want you back.”
