Chapter 6: Jealous And Connection

His words hit me hard, making me want to throw painful words at him. But I couldn't voice it out and pretend I didn't hear him nor believed we were a mate. It was apparent, but rejecting me sounds better to give me peace of mind looking for another deserving mate to love me. 

He had a standard I couldn't meet, but would he change his perspective on me if he knew I was a Luna before on our pack? 

Telling him my real identity sounds off, and it wasn't the time for him to know it. 

After the Alpha told me those, he returned to the club. Hera would be as disappointed as me, but I couldn't blame Hadar for acting like that. It might be his way to cope with the sorrow within his heart. 

'This seems to be our destiny already, Nila. We better wait for the Alpha to take an oath to reject us,' I said, walking back at the pack with my shoulders slumped. 

'He's fortunate he's our mate. If not, I will fight him, even though he's an Alpha,' Nila replied, dismayed with him. 

I nodded, reached the pack mansion, and headed inside the servant and slaves' room. On the other bed beside me, Marga and Lori were already in deep slumber while other servants were snoring on their beds.

With a sigh, I lay in bed, didn't mind my misery, and compelled myself to sleep. 

A day had passed. I accepted it already that I was bound to be rejected by the Alpha, awaiting for the oath of rejection he would do. Until now, it never transpired. Alpha Hadar still treated me coldly, not even eyeing me. He hadn't recollected every word he divulged to me that night. 

I wanted him to remember it alone, but it would be better if he forgot. 

"Nyla, you're overthinking again," said Lori as she placed her hand on my shoulder. "Are you thinking about Alpha Hadar again?"

Before I could respond, Marga, who entered our room, said, "Dream on, Nyla. He won't accept you as his mate. He still loves Hera and seems not to be looking for a second mate. Well, he tries to when he's about to marry his runaway bride, but destiny stops him from marrying anyone."

Since I couldn't help it, I told them that Alpha Hadar and I were mates, but Marga and Lori's reaction was to laugh at me. Although they apologized for laughing, they explained it was too impossible.

"She's right. Come on, I told you, we're done with our work! We deserve to have fun!" Lori let me sit at the side of her bed. Our beds were beside me, and Marga's on my other side. 

I sighed, recalling how she pleaded with me to come with her and look for a new possible mate this evening at the club where Alpha Hadar went. 

I didn't want to go there, but Lori might be right. 

"This pack has a lot to offer. There are a lot of single guys out here. Forget that Alpha Hadar is your mate. Maybe you think that he has already rejected you ...." Lori added. 

"Yeah, right. Why would I force someone to be mated with me if he doesn't want me?" I told them, eyeing both Marga and Lori. "I realize I'm too stupid for this."

"Gosh, it takes too long for you to realize this, but yes, you are dumb," replied Marga.

"Ouch!" I pretended to be hurt and placed my hand on my chest. 

"Well, it's true. Don't overreact." Marga walked towards the door. Before she went out, she glanced back at me. "Anyway, I hope you enjoy the night and find your true love."

Once Marga was gone, Lori let me borrow one of her favorite dresses and sandals. Luckily, we were the same size. After dressing, Lori and I left the room and went to the club. 

She led the way, and we went into the dance floor packed with male pack members. Most were the same age as me and were attractive as hell. 

As I looked around to see if Alpha Hadar was there, I didn't see him, not even his shadow. That sounds good so that no one could destroy my pleased moment.

"Look, that guy is looking for you!" Lori whispered, shouting it in my ear while dancing seductively on my side. "He's so damn hot. Grab that opportunity. He seems good."

I followed where she stared and found that handsome, fit man, staring at me, sitting at the side. He placed an empty bottle of wine on the table and moved toward us.

"Hi, handsome man," Lori began. "This is my friend. She's beautiful, right? You can be her mate if you want…"

I slapped Lori's shoulder out of my humiliation and seemed to blush. 

"Don't do that again. You're making me nervous," I whispered to her. 

Instead of stopping, she continued, "You can talk to her…. I'll be back in a minute. Enjoy you both!"

She winked and left me with this unknown guy. I am not ready to meet another man, but I could try if this would work out. 

"Hi." I barely looked at his face. "Sorry about my friend."

"Nah, it's fine. She's right, you're beautiful," he admitted. "Out of any beauty here, you stand out. What's your name, by the way?" 

"Nyla," I replied, looking behind to see where Lori was. Unfortunately, she was with another man, so I needed to handle this alone. "How about yours?"

"Mark," he responded with a bright smile appearing on his face. "Let's dance…."

I nodded.

I was forced to dance, swayed in every beat of the music. Mark did the same, even laughing at me, while his eyes kept staring at me. I find it odd. Luckily, he was attractive. 

"Nyla, how about we talk outside?" Mark went closer and whispered those words. There's a lot of drunk in here, and the music is deafening."

Since I want some peace, I agree. He looked genuine, telling it. 

Outside, only the sound of the wind and the shout of those people were heard from us. I didn't know where we were heading, but I only walked with him. 

Silence was between us, but I didn't want to break it. I only glanced at him from my peripheral view, appreciating his attractiveness.

"Have you ever mated with someone before?" 

"I do, recently, but it seems my mate is not interested in me," I confessed, not trying to mention any names. "That's why I'm here, looking for someone to connect with and be my mate."

Mark halted and faced me. "That someone is blind, not seeing your beauty inside and out."

"He still prefers loving his mate who has already died. But I can't blame him for that. There might be a deeper reason why he does," I added, staring into his eyes. 

Unlike what I felt for Alpha Hadar, I didn't feel any spark, any potential signs we were a mate.

"Well, destiny seems to find a way for us to be together." He smiled, stepping closer to my standing. "I think we're destined to be mates. I can feel it."

I faked a cough, not prepared to hear much from him. Even if we were forced, Nila and I wouldn't be joyous or excited to see him. Yes, he was attractive, but not to the point of making him my mate. 

In a blink, Mark already went closer to me. He held my hand, but it remained the same. There was no spark. It just means we weren't mates.

"I'm so happy meeting you here. But to finally have you as my mate, I'll mark you as mine…."

My eyes widened, but his lips were already on my neck before I could say something. I could feel his teeth were about to bite my skin. 

Before he could mark me, we both heard a voice from the side shouting.

"Stop it if you don't want to be killed!" It was the voice from the Alpha. 

For an instant, Mark moved and looked where the voice came from, stunned to see it was Hadar. 

"Alpha…" His voice trembled. "I did nothing, and we're only dating. I just found my mate…." 

"She's not your mate!" Alpha Hadar roared in outrage as he went closer, staring at us coldly. "I'll give you a chance to leave her alone, or else I'll kill you!"

"This is too much…" I was about to react, but Mark halted me, signaling he could handle this. 

"Fine. If that's what you want, I'll go," said Mark and faced me. "See you soon, Nyla."

"I bet this is your last time seeing her. Once I catch you meeting her, you'll be dead," he warned.

"What?!" Mark couldn't help but ask. But soon, he had no choice but to nod and dash away. 

Alpha Hadar and I were the only ones left here, but he still had a cold gaze on me.

"With all due respect, Alpha Hadar, you seem to be crossing the line already. At first, you didn't want me to be your mate, but now you're jealous when someone is with me." It was obvious to his actions. It seemed his inner wolf was affected by meeting Mark. 

"Jealous? My ass! Why would I be jealous of a slave like you?" He smirked sarcastically. "You better be thankful then that I saved you.  He’s a jerk."

"Whether I am your slave or not, you better be serious. I admit we are destined mates, but if you can't accept me, Alpha Hadar, reject me.” 

Instead of receiving a response, Alpha Hadar turned and was about to leave, but he stopped again, slightly moving his head to the side. 

"Rejecting means cutting our bond. I still don't want to, not until I can find clues about who you are and what is your connection with Hera and to that to my damn runaway bride ...."