Chapter 10

*****Xena's POV*****

My eyes fluttered before I opened them to the bright lights of what seemed to be the hospital room. The beeping sound of the monitors was enough to make me realize that I was currently in the hospital. I groaned at the blinding lights and shielded my eyes with my hand.

Thankfully, I felt someone move to lower the lights of the room. Finally, I could see the room clearly without the pain caused by the lights.

"Thank Goodness you're awake." I heard a deep voice beside me, that was when I realized that the intoxicating scent that woke me up just now belonged to no other person than Ryder.

I froze in my tracks, refusing to look at him. He sighed in what seemed to be exhaustion before he came forward to help me sit up.

I reluctantly turned my head to look at him instantly.

He looked a mess, his hair was disheveled, he had dark eye bags and his lips were dry.

Wait, what?! Lips?

"What are you doing here?" I subconsciously asked even before I could hold myself back. Ryder gave me a pitiful look as he heard my question.

I could clearly remember how he acted like I was some kind of fly when he walked into class today.

"Xena, you've been out for two days now. I'm just here to take care of you." He said in a husky voice, making me curl my toes at the tingling feeling that settled in the pit of my stomach.

I was asleep for two days? Were my health issues that bad?

"Of course, he has been here the whole time taking good care of you," Layla added in my head and I frowned. "He had been here the whole time?" I asked surprised and she hummed in response.

I glanced in Ryder's direction, but seeing his face reminded me of the bond we shared, a humiliating one.

I sucked in a breath and shut my eyes, "I'm ok now, thank you for taking care of me. Now leave." I said without opening my eyes. It would hurt a lot to look into his eyes while he left, so I just kept on a poker face and shut my eyes tightly.

"Xena, please don't pu_"

"Ryder" I cut him shut, opening my eyes to look at him. "Please leave, and know that I would never accept this bond between us. We are not meant to be together, someone of your age and status is out there as your Luna, not me. So please leave and once I get better, I will come find you so we go over the rejection process, understood?" I said through gritted teeth and the hurt in his eyes Intensified as he watched me.

I averted my gaze immediately, turning to look at the window and waiting for him to say a word.

My heart was in pain, so much pain. But I couldn't accept the union, it was a crazy union that I could never accept.

Ryder remained quiet for a while and afterward, he pushed his chair backwards to stand on his feet.

"If this is what you want, then I'll do it to make you happy. I'll leave and I'll not come back. You can come find me to get rejected." He said in return, my heart shattering at each word that came out of his mouth.

Did he accept just like that?

"Well, that was what you asked for, so he obliged. Don't come acting all sulky here." Layla warned and I shut my eyes in pain.

Ryder turned around and walked out of the room without turning to look at me.

The moment the door clicked shut, I let the tears that pulled from my eyes fall, staining my face.

We haven't even gone over the rejection process and I was this heartbroken, what more when the time for rejection came.

"You know Xena, I see no crime in accepting Ryder, you know?" Layla began, "You're hurting yourself and hurting the poor boy too. You heard him earlier when he said that he had been looking towards the day the moon goddess makes you his mate, and the day finally comes, you treat him like a worthless piece."

"I treated no one like a worthless piece, I just don't want someone like him as my mate. He is the Alpha, but that doesn't mean I'll fall at his feet because we're paired together. I can't be seen with a child, that's humiliating and embarrassing." I corrected Layla and just relaxed properly on the bed.

"Are you sure about that?" Layla asked me and I got pissed instantly.

"Layla please shut the hell up, you aren't helping matters here." I said through clenched teeth and she sighed. "I hope you don't regret this." She said and I scoffed, "Why would I regret anything? He is a kid and I did the right thing."

Layla said nothing more to me and I did the same.

Just then, the door was pushed open and I turned to scold Ryder, thinking it was him, but I was surprised to see Valkyrie.

"Oh, you." I let out and huffed in what seemed like a disappointment.

Why would I be disappointed?

"Yes me, who else?" She asked me with a smirk and I just rolled my eyes.

"You're sick! I just got the news now!" She yelled dramatically and strolled to where I sat. I rolled my eyes at that and just hummed in response.

"And what caused your sickness?" She asked me and placed the entire thing she brought over, on the table.

I just shrugged, "No idea" I said as my eyes drifted to the items she brought. "What did you bring?" I asked and stretched out a hand to pick one, but she swatted my hand away and glared at me.

"It's not for you to touch until you tell me what happened between you and the Alpha."

I glared at her and just huffed. I leaned back in my bed and shrugged again.

"I don't know," I said.

"These are your favorite pastries, coffee and meatballs." She announced and my head snapped to her immediately.

"I sent him away again."

Valkyrie instantly frowned at my words. "why?"

"Cause it's never gonna work." I responded, "Now can I have the meal?" I asked hopefully and she eyed me. "You messed things up and you expect me to give you this?" She raised the sack, "Never, now have a Nice Day."

Without a response from me, Valkyrie directly walked out of the room, leaving me watching the closed door like a fool.