I slowly opened my eyes, frowning when I realized that I was in the room I had at Aelia's house. Turning towards my side table, I took my phone. No call from my parents. Just a message telling me to take care. They never come home. I understand that with my dad's job, he won't be able to come home often but my mom? How many cases did she have that she was never home? Rolling my eyes, I put my phone down and turned only to find Xerxes sleeping in my couch. Looking at the window, I realized that it was night. This man definitely didn't understand English. He just didn't understand the words, "leave me alone." Even when I had rejected him, he still refused to leave. He was older than me by seven years. I wanted someone younger.
"You're awake," I heard him say. "You're not welcome here." I told him. He sighed and spoke, "I know. I just wanted to make sure that you are safe." I rolled my eyes. "Xerxes, stop doing that. I like someone else." He asked, "Xavier?" I nodded affirmatively. He nodded. "As long as you're happy with him, love." Saying, he stood up and walked out. Why did seeing him sad make me sad too? Annoyed, I went to take a shower. I went downstairs to grab something to eat. As I entered the kitchen, I saw Aelia's parents grinning. "Good evening," I greeted, wanting to know what had got them happy. "Good evening, darling. Xavier's awake." Aunt Calista squealed.
Happily, I went to hug her. "Really?" They nodded. "Let's go to the hospital, then." I said excitedly. "Why are you so excited, kid?" Uncle Daniel asked. I shyly tucked my hair behind my ear. "I like him, uncle." Immediately I replied, they both stopped smiling. Was something wrong? Did they not like me? "My dear, you are Xerxes' mate." Aunt Calista spoke. "I have rejected him." I revealed. Uncle Daniel's eyes widened. "What? It could kill him! No wonder he has just left looking like a dead man." He spoke.
"I'm sorry, Clarissa but I cannot accept you for my son." He spoke and I teared up. "It's not like we don't like you, dear. You are someone's soulmate." Aunt Calista spoke. I sighed. "It's not like Xavier likes me back anyway. He is into intelligent people and I am average so he doesn't want me." I spoke and walked out of the house. While walking, I burst into silent tears. As I rounded the corner leading to the school, I noticed someone was following me. Alert, I stayed calm. Before my stalker could know what I was up to, I sprinted for my life. My stalker ran after me. I entered the woods, too scared to even notice my surroundings.
I tripped over a stone that sent me sliding down the hill. "Clarissa!" I heard Xerxes's voice, filled with fear. I looked up to find him getting down from a tree and landing in between my stalker and I. "Beta King." My stalker growled while I stayed in the background. My stalker tried to punch Xerxes but he blocked his attacking arm and punched him hard. My stalker was sent stumbling backward. Xerxes grabbed my stalker by his neck with one hand. My stalker struggled for his life and when I heard a bone break, I knew that Xerxes had killed him. Dropping the lifeless body, Xerxes growled and turned around, storming towards me.
"You could have gotten yourself killed, Clarissa. What were you doing out here so late in the night, huh?" He growled as he reached me, checking if I was hurt anywhere. Tearfully, I stared at him for a while before I slowly wrapped my arms around his torso, putting my head on his hard chest. I listened as his heart beats began to race. He seemed surprised because he didn't hug me back for a while then he slowly wrapped his arms around me. "I'm sorry for everything. For being rude, for not wanting you, for rejecting you", I cried in his arms.
Pulling away a bit, he asked, "Xavier doesn't like you back, does he?" I shamefully shook my head. Xerxes chuckled, his eyes turning teary, "Right, so I am the substitute, isn't it? Because Xavier doesn't like you back, you have come to me. I am the Beta King of the werewolf community. If I am to play substitute, it will only be when Alpha is not around, not when my mate has been rejected by her lover and she wants someone to free her from loneliness." He pulled away from me. "No, it's not like that. You don't understand, Xerxes." I tried to defend myself even though I knew that was exactly what I was doing. Making him replace Xavier.
"Then help me to understand, Clarissa. Just about an hour ago, you were telling me you liked Xavier so I should stop looking out for and and now you're here apologizing to me. If Xavier hadn't rejected you, would you have ever apologized for the things you said to me? Answer me, Clarissa." I remained quiet. Scoffing, he turned around and stormed off. I ran after him. "You're only coming to make things more complicated for me, Clarissa. My wolf and I had finally decided to give up since mates cannot live without each other and you had rejected me. The rejected one suffers the most and it is very rare for a wolf to be rejected by his mate." He ranted, annoyed.
"So you were about to commit suicide?" I asked, shocked. He shook his head. "I would have stayed out here until the month had ended. After a week of rejection, the rejected mate starts to die slowly. As the month comes to an end, the rejected wolf dies, end of story. The one who rejected his or her mate gets to have someone of their choice." Well that's a cheat, both of them are supposed to die. I thought to myself. "But why are you mated to a human being?" I asked. Xerxes replied, "Every warrior has a human mate. That's because if the mate is relatively weaker, the warrior will be more alert and vigilant as he would be fueled by the desire to protect his mate and the pack." I understood that.
Following Xerxes, I hadn't even realized that he was going to his house. I rushed past him and entered the house. It was a luxurious penthouse. "Wow!" I was in awe at the sight of the masterpiece. The house, both interior and exterior was painted white with the doors and windows being dark brown. The furniture were black. Shaking his head, Xerxes walked upstairs. I was hungry so I wondered off in search of the kitchen. I found it close to the hall. I looked around and ended up gathering ingredients for noodles with fried chicken. I busied myself after checking if there was water.
Just when I was almost done, he came downstairs while sniffing. "It's almost ready. Grab your seat and wait for some time." I smiled, checking for the readiness of the chicken. Because I practically grew up alone, I learnt everything on my own and I learned to love house chores. Anything about cooking and cleaning was my specialty. Looking at Xerxes, I told myself that I was going to allow myself to fall in love with him. He was the only one who wanted me. Even if it's because of the mate bond, he still wanted me so I was going to want him back without making him feel like a substitute.