Chapter 06 Plead

Hanna

Where does an unrequited, shamed, and mocked affection get discarded?

Deep, deep within where it is starved of any attention until it finally dies on its own without the heart’s owner even noticing. Only … it seems mine, though withered, still clings to what could be.

I sense him when he moves from the shadows to present himself in front of me. His massive form towers over me and completely blocks my field of vision. Those sensations return instantly, and my heart erupts from joy. The beast beneath me, a thing that’s primal and always lurking, can’t help but be happy in the presence of its mate despite all the pain it went through.

I don’t give in to its instincts. Instead, I square up to Logan. “Down the drain where it belonged.”

“That’s not very nice of you, Hanna. If it belonged there, nothing would’ve happened between us.” He tilts his head to the side while wearing a cocky smile.

“Any chance you can love me again?” he asks nonchalantly.

It’s absurd. This entire thing seems like a game to him. I don’t understand why he wants to torment me so.

To my knowledge, I have never wronged him. We trained together as a pack, studied together, learned to live together, and protected each other in the face of danger. I have never even harbored envy towards him as he excelled in everything, only ever admired him from afar.

So why? It doesn’t make any sense why he’d go out of his way to break me any more than he had.

I suck in my lower lip. This is neither the time to entertain such thoughts nor should I hope for a logical answer. In the first place, Logan is an Alpha. Born to rule and guard the Evergreen Pack. The only son, and the first heir.

Hanna Wells, on the other hand, is an Omega like any other.

Passable. Replaceable. Expendable.

Even throughout history, Omegas are known to be “a good fuck”. Nothing exemplary. Except for his mother, but one woman alone can’t change our fates or our image.

Logan probably pities me, a lowly Omega, who has been mated to an Alpha like himself.

That’s enough.

I’m putting myself down again.

“You’re not supposed to be here.”

“I have every right to see my mate.”

Mate. He keeps throwing the word around like its trash.

“One who doesn’t value the bond has no business talking about mates.” I’m face to face with his chest, but in this situation, I can care less if he isn’t on speaking level. He can kneel before me if he wants me to look at him with disgust.

I promised myself. This man will not dictate my sense of self.

“I’m not your mate, Logan. I told you I’d meet you tomorrow with Dean. You should go back now.”

“Heh. No one around here can order me around, little mouse. Can’t you see it’s a privilege exclusive to you?”

Dean hasn’t returned yet. With every passing second, I wish he’d come right around the corner and interfere.

Little mouse. His little mouse with deep brown hair and honey eyes. His little mouse to pet then toss aside when he’s done.

It’s a fitting nickname … for who I used to be.

“With all due respect, Alpha, this is too much, even for you. If you wanted to stop by, there are more appropriate times. Has Evergreen stooped this low under your leadership?” I say firmly, doubling down on his rude behavior.

Logan scoffs. “The Alpha himself, your mate, came in person to see you. Guess what he heard—a disgustingly sweet confession from a low-ranker who doesn’t know his place. How do you think that made him feel?”

“As lowest rank, I don’t care about his feelings.”

He never cared about mine.

Logan cups my cheek like I did to Dean earlier, and I stiffen. Something lurks beneath my skin, crawling and electrifying when he caresses the pliant flesh with his thumb.

I hate it. Hate this. It’s because of this bond that I threw caution out the window, and it came back with a vendetta to bite me in the ass and make sure it scarred. I don’t want to be hurt again simply because of a bond that’s out of my control.

I’m tired of being tethered to him even when we’re miles apart. Of Logan occupying my thoughts when I’m sure he’s considered me dead these past five years.

“Reject me,” I whisper, my chest tightening.

It’s exhausting to hold on to anger and resentment. A new life is waiting for me, one I forged from the iron-filled lemons that life mercilessly threw at me. But I can’t move forward with this collar on my neck tied to a chain being pulled by him.

“Reject me, Logan,” I repeat, my request sounding more like a plea.

Gentle fingertips tap along my cheek then down my jawline. They rest there for a moment. Then he lifts my chin so I’m forced to look at him.

Darkness surrounds us. The lights coming from the dining room fall onto his beautiful face like he’s the sun pushing the darkness away. I see my favorite color in his eyes, studying my face as if searching for something, perhaps a tell to confirm a lie.

But he’ll find that there is none.

“Why?” he asks so softly it shocks me. “I feel our bond just as much as you do. Why should I reject what we have? Why should I reject you?”

‘We’re not right together, Hanna.’

How could you ask me this?

“You already have, Logan, five years ago. I’m asking you to do it properly this time.”

I touch his wrist. Big mistake. More of those sensations settle on my stomach, making me feel more nervous than I should.

 “I didn’t reject you then, Hanna.”

‘This was a mistake. You should go after I leave. If Mari sees us together–no—never mind. I’ll leave first.’

It hurts to breathe when these memories are forcing themselves out of their chests. With them returns years’ worth of pain slamming into my heart at once, breaking it all the more into a million shards.

His hand is warm on my skin. His scent comforting. Just like before.

“You did it wrong, Logan. Do it right this time. For both of our sakes.”

For Esme’s sake.

--CC_GN--