003

AZRIEL’S POV

“The car is ready to leave, my King. Your bag is inside the car with the necessary documents needed.” I looked over at my Beta, Trevor. His use of the word ‘My King’ irritated me more and more these days, even though I had heard it for most of my life.

Lastly, I felt trapped in my kingdom; by the status as the ruler of all wolves. The elders had been pestering me to take someone else as my mate since my mate was yet to be found. I had been searching for her for the past seven years, visiting all the packs in the Kingdom.

I decided I needed a break from the pack. I would be visiting my companies in the human town and also resting there for a week or so. 

“Let's go,” I said as I stood up from my chair and left my office, entering the car.

I turned to Trevor, “Take care of the pack and only call me if there's trouble.” I warned strictly.

“Yes, My Lord.”

And with that being said, I ordered the driver to drive . Finding my mate was my top priority; I needed to find her before the year ended.

We finally got to the human town, so I asked the driver to stop me at a bar, wanting to cool my head.

We arrived at a small but busy bar, crowded with people drinking and talking. I turned to the driver, told him I would call him when I needed him and he bowed his head in understanding.

Immediately I entered the bar, an intoxicating scent hit me hard, making my wolf feel restless. I walked further into the room, and that was when I saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life.

She had olive skin and mesmerising blue eyes. Her curly brown hair was a bit messy, and she was petite. Her tiny, pouting lips made me want to kiss her that instant.

She was busy arranging some drinks, so I decided to move closer to her. Her scent was divine and exquisite, and I didn't mind that she was a rogue.

When I spoke, she didn't turn around immediately but inhaled deeply, goosebumps forming on her arms. My ego flared, knowing that my voice impacted her as much as hers did to me. I had been told about a mate's scent, but to experience it was something else.

She turned around and her beauty left me speechless, seeing her up close. Any man would worship the ground she walked on, and I thank the Goddess for giving me a beautiful mate.

Some time passed, and I saw her leaving the bar, looking stressed, so I decided to follow her and see where she lived. But she went to a park instead to have a drink, then I revealed myself, and she was shocked to see me behind her.

This little mate of mine has a sharp mouth, and I didn't know when I kissed her, but thankfully she didn't pull away from me. I mind-linked my driver to come to the park, and when he came we went to my hotel room.

Seeing her breathless and helpless on the bed fuelled my desire to mate with her. Her scent was driving my wolf crazy, urging me to mark her as mine. I wanted her permission before doing anything drastic. I didn’t want her to regret it later on.

Once we were done doing the devil's dance, she fell asleep in my arms instantly. I went to the bathroom and brought out a wet cloth to clean her legs before going into the bed, pulling her back into my arms.

*********************

It had been five days since I'd been waking up in bed without my mate beside me. I decided to give her time to process what happened between us before meeting her again.

Today, I decided it was time to meet her again. I have given her a lot of time to process things. I left my hotel room and went to see Daniel, my driver, already waiting for me in the car.

I got in and told him the destination. We arrived at the bar, and this time it was less crowded. I went to the counter, and there was a bartender there serving people. I scanned the room with my eyes to search for her, but she was nowhere to be found.

Where could she be? Was she hiding from me? My wolf growled at the thought of my mate running away.

“Where is Paige?” I asked the other bartender. He looked at me, clenching his jaw.

“Who are you? And why are you asking for Paige?” He questioned back. This little boy was daring me.

‘Let me out so I can teach the little boy a lesson.’ Jax, my wolf growled in my head.

“It's none of your business, boy,” I growled slowly, intimidating him with my huge stature. “I'm going to ask again, where's Paige?”

“S-she…she called in sick.” He stuttered. I could smell the fear emitting from him.

“Do you have her address?”

“Yes.” He nodded, took a piece of paper and pen, and wrote down her address on it before giving it to me.

I took it and went back to my car, giving the driver the address, and we left. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at an apartment that looked horrible to live in. I couldn't believe my mate stayed in such a place.

I got out and went into the building. The interior looked better than the exterior. I knocked at her door after finding her room number, my heart was pounding in my chest.

It took a few seconds before she opened the door, and when I saw her, my heart fluttered. She looked so beautiful.

“Azriel, what are you doing here?” She looked at me in shock.

“Because you left me that day. And I went to your workplace, but you weren't there.” I told her.

She sighed and opened the door wider. “Come in.” She said, looking tired with dark circles around her eyes.

“Is everything okay, Paige?” I asked, holding her arms.

She looked at me and returned my question to me instead. “Are you my mate?” 

“Yes, I am. Is that wrong?” She didn't reply to my question, her expression remained neutral.

“Answer me, Paige,” I yelled out in frustration.

“YES! Everything is wrong,” she exclaimed. “I can't be your mate. I don't want a mate.” She voiced out, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Are you rejecting me?” Jax whimpered as I said the word.

She looked at me with sorrow in her eyes, “I am not the right mate for you, Azriel. You deserve a better mate.”

“So you're rejecting me because you think I need a better mate,” I growled out.

“I'm not good for you.” She said, looking worn out. She doesn't want to reject me. Something must have happened for her to say.

“I'm not going to reject you, Paige,” Those words echoed in the house. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. “Can you tell me the problem?”

“Let's sit.” She directed me to the couch, and we sat down together.

She started narrating her story, telling me how she was falsely accused and banished from her pack. Then, she went on to tell me she was once betrothed to someone, but he later rejected her after she was accused.

How could a father do something so horrible to his child? He tried to take advantage of his daughter. I was really happy her engagement with her fiancé was called off because now she had me.

“Paige, I still want you,” I said, touching her cheeks slowly.

“There's more, Azriel.” She whispered.

“What is it, Paige? You can tell me anything.” I reassured her.

Her eyes were locked on mine, and I saw a hint of fear in them. “I'm pregnant.” She finally said in a low voice, and all I could feel was shock.

Pregnant! Like she was having a baby.

Before my brain could fully register the information, she added with tears in her eyes.” And it's for my ex.” 

*******