Chapter 15

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

The cold from earlier disappeared without a trace and warmth enveloped the space. I felt much better, compared to the time I returned home. A sweet scent mixed with the pure warmth in the room made me frown and moan at the same time. I frowned because it never smelled like that in my room, then I moaned because the smell was intoxicating.

My eyes fluttered and I opened them to the always bright light in my room, dimmed. I frowned at that. I was always very scared of the dark, that was why I always left my lights turned on. But seeing it dim now made me almost run out of my room.

I tried to get off the bed to turn on the lights, and that was when I realized something. Someone was holding me and keeping me wrapped in their arms. I blinked as panic began to set in, who the hell had me in their arms?

I slowly reached out a hand to turn on the bedside lamp, then turned around when I heard a growl from the figure that held me.

My heart was banging as I turned to look at the person's face. His scent was there though to tell me who it was, but for some reason, my brain couldn't process anything.

When I looked up, the face I saw was the last one I expected to see, Ryder was lying there with his eyes closed. His perfectly sculptured face looked so peaceful as he slept and reminded me of years ago when I took him to that amusement park.

I had the sudden urge to run a hand through his face and hair. For some reason, I felt immense peace just staring at his face. He looked very handsome and adorable. Looking very mature as well.

Was it normal for an 18-year-old to look this way?

"Yes, it's normal of course. The moon goddess is crazy." Layla said in my head and I chuckled at her words. She always looked for ways to get me in trouble.

"Xena, before you go about ranting and trying to kill Ryder, please show him love for once. He was here to take care of you and make sure you didn't die." She added and a frown found its way to my face.

"I will only show him that jovial and playful side of me again if he accepts to reject me and let me live normally," I mumbled In return, earning a deep sigh from Layla.

"I wonder why you're so stubborn."

"I'm not stubborn, I'm just trying to avoid misfortune."

"And what exactly is unfortunate about ending up with your fated mate?" She asked in annoyance, but I wasn't about to listen to her. "The fact that this fated mate is 5 years younger than me."

She stayed quiet as Ryder suddenly stirred, his eyes opening to look into mine. I felt shy all of a sudden, but I made no effort to avert my gaze.

I was so close to drooling because of his looks. Did anyone always look this good after waking up from a deep sleep.

I was pulled back from my fantasy world when he smiled at me and extended a hand to touch my face.

"You're awake? How are you feeling now?"

His deep voice made my body tingle, but I tried not to feel it.

Soon I realized that I was actually still in his arms. I immediately jerked out of the bed, keeping a safe distance from him as I hardened my face.

"Ryder? What the fuck are you doing here?!" I asked without looking into his eyes.

Instead of giving me an answer, he sat up in a sitting position and smiled again.

"I now know that all I'll always have is wishful thinking. Here I was thinking that once you wake up, you would be happy to see me and realize I took care of you all through the night. But your expression tells me that you don't even care."

I felt my heart squeeze at his words. Was I being that harsh? But I was doing this for his own good and mine too.

Couldn't he just understand that I didn't want a young Alpha as my mate? Even if I didn't get an Alpha as a mate, I didn't mind mating a man who was several years older than I was.

I just can't be with Ryder.

Without looking into his eyes I muttered, "Thank you for taking care of me the way you did, but I'll still say you should have never come here. Whether I die or not has nothing to do with you. Besides, I saw you leave with your girlfriend earlier." I felt disgusted by my own words, how could I vomit such nonsense?

"So it's better you go back and stay with her. We'll see in class." I said with a straight face and Ryder's gaze darkened.

"Renee? You are angry because I left with her?" He questioned, but I rolled my eyes. "Why would I be angry that my students who are in a relationship left school together? Besides you're the Alpha and you can leave with all the girls at Cold Zone. What does it have to do with me? The only reason I'm angry is because I don't want to see you in my house. I want you to leave my house!" I yelled the last part and watched the look that flashed in his eyes.

"Xena you're doing it again, you're chasing him away again." Layla reminded me and tried to plead on Ryder's behalf, but I shut her out.

"Ryder Blackthorn, please leave my house and never return." I gestured towards the door while looking him dead in the eye.

He seemed to have seen the mean look on my face as I stood before him.

After a while of just watching me like I was some kind of moron, Ryder nodded his head and climbed out of my bed.

"If that's what you want, then so be it. Give me one week to speak to my parents about our bond, then we'll fix a date for the rejection." He said without looking at me as he put on his jacket.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and hummed a reply. "Better."

Without saying another word, Ryder walked out of the room and maybe away from my life for good.

My legs gave up on me again and I went on my knees to cry again. This time, he might never come back.