Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

If I sneak out now, nobody will notice.

I know I shouldn't, that I should stay well clear but I can't. It goes against my very nature knowing she is somewere alone in pain...pain that unbeknown to her, I am causing.

I don't need help tracing her movements, her sweet scent still lingers in the cool evening air.

The new moon entering into her waxing crescent phase still manages to dominate the darkening night sky, which is clear from clouds...offering a beautiful canvas of stars either side of her.

I follow her scent towards the meadows that Josie adores so deeply. I haven't been here since returning home.

This was always Josie's domain, where she would practice her shooting skills on a daily basis.

My eyes flick up to the cabin...Josie's place of solitude that she used to spend every pack run hiding away in.

How she must have felt being alone when the entire pack would shift and run as one.

I'm hesitant at first, I shouldn't go any closer but when I spot a figure moving in the lit up cabin...my feet start walking for me.

She's finding solitude alone, just like Josie used to.

Pushing the cabin door open I find her standing in front of the mirrored wall, blankly staring at herself. She is so consumed in self thought that she doesn't even notice me entering, or calling out her name. She's just staring into her own eyes...which are the brightest I have ever seen them.

Turquoise large blue eyes, that look like balls of water, reflecting back through the mirror with a soft glazed cover over them.

She was talking to her wolf.

I go to leave, knowing she was well...I didn't want to disturb her when she just wanted time alone.

I also didn't trust myself being alone with her right now.noveldrama

She sighs out, a sigh that threatens my resolve.

She was preparing herself...rebuilding her strength to re-enter the dinner party.

I'm a fucking jerk.

My own mate stands before me, having to smile at another female by my side.

I'm just grateful that she has picked up on the bond between us, that after tonight I promise I will stay away forever, until she claims another. I owe her that.

I tell my wolf to leave but he's gaining distance towards her, putting unadulterated fear into me.

He's getting closer and I can't seem to stop him.

"Cleo?" I lowly growl out, my hand touching her shoulder to shake her out of her thoughts.

But she's stuck so far in her own mind that she doesn't react to my touching her...so my wolf

thinks it would be better to shake her out of her mind...like the animal that he is.

Both my hands grip at her shoulders...pulling her around to face me.

"Cleo." I'm louder this time, her eyes snapping back to the present as she shrieks out to find my face inches from hers.

"Jace? What are you doing here?"

"Checking up on you."

"Why?"

"You disappeared..."

"I'm just getting some fresh air.."

"Well, that was an hour ago and I wouldn't say the air in here was particularly fresh...more stale from exercise elasses." I try to break the tension between us with light.

hearted humour but it falls flat.

There was a time she laughed at my silliness all day long. I guess the old me wasn't around much anymore.

"Got it. You can go...I'll be back shortly." Her eyes are cold as she pushes off me, my hands feeling lost now not touching her.

"I can walk you back." Her cold demeanour is something I've never experienced from her before and I know she hasn't forgiven me.

"That's not necessary."

"Why?"

"Where's your mate." She looks behind me as if Callie was standing there, as if she had followed

me here.

“Where's our mate? Right in front of

us." My wolf bitterly snarls in my head, forcing me to push him back down but in doing so I've given Cleo an opportunity to distance herself further from me.

I turn to find her walking over towards the cabinets, her phone placed on the side.

"She's back at the house. Look, I owe you can explanation..." My hands run through my hair as I head towards her again.

"No." She bluntly replies.

"An apology then.."

"No, you don't owe me anything

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Jace, and long gone is the time I expected anything from you." Her words are beyond cold, it's as if she's put an ice wall up and no

matter what I try...I don't think it will

ever melt away now.

I shouldn't have let her wake up alone, I should have had the decency to at least be there in the morning.

"Cleo.." I want to explain everything to her, but I don't know if I can...or where I would start.

"Just...leave me alone Jace. I'll be back in a bit...carry on without me." The final words are close to a sob, I can hear her own lips trembling as she tries to hide the pain I am causing her.

I want nothing more than to take the pain back, to take it from her.

"Cleo.." Without thinking I close the distance between us, turning her in my arms...my full alpha

frame towering over her.