Rejected by My Alpha Mate; Nyra's Awakening

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Bond Is Cursed

ONE MISSED CALL FROM JULIAN.

There’s also a message:

Julian: See you tomorrow, pretty?

His expression darkens instantly, jaw tightening. freewebnøvel.coɱ

Who the fuck is Julian?

Adrian hadn’t even said the words out, but a hot, possessive wave of jealousy had surged through the bond, making Nyra’s head snap up.

"What the hell, Adrian!?" She snaps, snatching her phone off the couch before he can lean in further. "I thought we both agreed to mind our business?"

Adrian can feel the jealousy flooding his veins, his traitorous wolf howling in anger.

Adrian watches her clutch the device tightly to her chest, glaring up at him.

"You don’t get to interrogate me about anything after everything you pulled last night and today. Back. Off."

Adrian doesn’t argue. His silver eyes narrow, full lips opening for half a second before closing again.

He doesn’t retort. Doesn’t try to use his Alpha command.

Just gives a heavy stare that makes the hair on her neck stand on end. For a moment, the bond mocks them, pulsing alive like the Goddess has decided to use their drama for her own personal entertainment.

Adrian breaks the moment first, straightening slowly. He doesn’t even glance at her again as he turns on his heel and walks away without another word.

His bedroom door clicks shut behind him, the sound louder than it should be in the quiet condo.

What the fuck is his problem?

Nyra stares at the closed door dumbfounded, wolf surging with the instinct to soothe its mate.

She hisses at it to shut up as she quickly types a response to Julian before she locks her phone and heads to her own room.

In his room, however, Adrian is spiraling.

He paces the space like a caged animal, running both hands through his hair, tugging at the roots until it stings.

"What the fuck is wrong with me?" he mutters under his breath. "Julian. Some random dude calling her ’pretty.’ Who the hell cares?" The words taste bitter even to him. "It’s none of my business. She’s right. I shouldn’t care. I bet the bond’s screwing with my head."

He drops onto the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, silver eyes fixed on the floor. His wolf is restless, urging him to go back there and demand answers.

Then it unhelpfully supplies memories from the press conference today--Nyra in that emerald dress on stage, the way she’d carried herself beside him.

Almost like they belonged together.

No. Ew. Bleh. He shakes the images away.

If not that the Goddess decided to play this stupid joke with them, she had literally been the lowest-ranking wolf in their pack for years.

There’s no way they’d belong together.

He stands abruptly, resuming his pacing. "Anna is the one I chose. Nyra’s just the bond messing with my head." His jaw is tight. "The press conference bullshit doesn’t change that!"

His phone buzzes on the nightstand. He grabs it, half-expecting another earful from his parents. Instead, it’s John.

John: Yo man, I’m really sorry about the video. Didn’t think it would blow up like that. My bad on the scandal.

Another notification.

John: On the bright side, combat practice starts back up next week for the inter-pack competition. You in? Need to get you back in fighting shape, Alpha heir.

Adrian exhales, typing a quick reply.

Adrian: Yeah, I’m down.

Adrian: And don’t post shit without clearing it with me next time.

Combat practice. Good. At least that can take his mind off things--he needs to let out all this pent up energy.

John is still typing back a response, when the phone starts ringing.

Mom🌹

Adrian sighs and answers, leaning against the wall. "Mom."

"You both did well today," Luna Selene says clearly satisfied. "The pack is buzzing positively now. The press conference smoothed over most of the damage. They say you look really good together."

Adrian rolls his eyes at the last comment. People ship anything these days-- their words don’t count.

"It had to." He runs another hand through his sweat-stained hair.

She hums, then sighs, her tone shifting into that nagging voice he knows too well.

"Adrian, I mean it when I say give Nyra a real chance in private too. Not just for the cameras. She’s your mate. The Goddess chose her for a reason. Try talking to her. Be civil. The bond also has its perks if you stop fighting it so hard."

He rubs his temple. "Mom--"

"And one more thing," she continues, cutting him off. "Have a personal credit card prepared for her. She’s the future Luna...she needs proper clothes. What she has now isn’t befitting for someone in her position."

"Why don’t you and dad just do it?’ he grumbles.

"Because she’s your mate and your responsibility." His mother retorts plainly. "Take care of it. No more of those plain t-shirts in public appearances."

Adrian curses under his breath. "Okay, yeah, I’ll handle it. Send the info...I’ll go pick it up."

"Good boy," Selene says, sounding pleased. "We’re proud of you both. Call if you need anything."

The call ends. Adrian tosses the phone onto his bed and leans his head back against the wall. "Take care of her," he mimics mockingly.

He’d choke her if he’s given the chance.

He changes for the nights, showers, dries his hair. And by the time he’s settled back in bed, he realizes there’s a message from Anna sent ten minutes ago.

The preview shows a video thumbnail.

He opens it, quickly, mouth watering when he sees the content.

Anna is in her bedroom, wearing only his oversized hoodie, the fabric hiked up around her waist. She’s on her knees on the bed, arching her back teasingly for the camera, fingers trailing slowly down her body.

"Missing you so much already, baby." She pants, "Wish you were here stretching me out...miss your huge c*ck."

Heat floods Adrian’s veins instantly. His cock swells fast against his sweatpants, throbbing at the sight of her familiar curves and the way she moans softly.

It’s exactly the distraction he needs. Sexy. Direct. Anna.

He locks his bedroom door with a quick flick, shoving his pants down to his hips. His hand wraps around his aching length, stroking firmly once, twice.

A low groan escapes as he replays the video. Anna’s voice, that arch body, the way she bites her lips... This is right. This is what he wants.

But then his mind betrays him.

There’s a thin wall separating their rooms. Nyra is right on the other side, maybe still dressed up or changing, moving around quietly.

What if she’s listening in on him right now?

The thought slams into him, his cock throbbing harder in his grip, leaking precum. He remembers how flushed she’d looked while he touched himself in the Blackwood mansion.

His hand moves faster and more desperately.

"Fuck," Adrian hisses through gritted teeth, scowling deeply at the ceiling when he realizes-- his thoughts have drifted from Anna’s video completely.

He forces his hand to stop, chest heaving. But the arousal doesn’t fade, if anything it’s stronger now.

And the fact that she didn’t have to do anything-- just the thought of Nyra overhearing, her wolf reacting through the bond. It turns him on so bad.

He yanks his pants back up angrily, cock still hard and unsatisfied. "No, there’s no way! This bond has to be fucking cursed."

Adrian grabs his phone again, breathing hard. He types a flirty reply to Anna before he can overthink it.

Adrian: Damn, you look so good in my hoodie. Keep it warm for me. Rut’s coming soon -- I can feel it.

Adrian: We’re spending every second of it together. Just you and me. Gonna fuck this whole mess out of my system and remind you who you belong to.

Anna replies instantly with a string of hearts and teasing promises that make his blood run hotter. Good. That’s the plan.

He’ll spend the rut buried in Anna, drown out the bond’s pull, forget Nyra’s stubborn fire. He’ll forget how she looked in that dress.

He drops the phone and punches his pillow once, hard, willing the rut to come faster so he can finally break free of this torture.

-

In the room next to him, Nyra lies with her eyes wide open, panting hard.

She’d been trying to sleep, heck she was almost drifting-- when suddenly she felt a rush of strong arousal through the bond. Burning and raw.

Adrian must’ve let it slip unintentionally-- does this mean he was thinking of her?

The thought sounds bizarre.

The same boy who has called her ugly so many times. Bullied her for years-- is now thinking of her sexually?

Not just this. The jealousy earlier, the way he’d looked at her after the makeover.

No, no, no. Damn Adrian and his gorgeous face, and sexy body-- Fuck! It doesn’t change the fact that he’s probably the biggest jerk in all of Moon-Crest.

And she still hates him!

Right...?