Chapter 8

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

"You?" I voiced out and was immediately pushed into the house while Ryder stepped in and closed the door behind him.

I staggered but stabilized myself when he wrapped his arms around me in support. I glared at him in anger as I pushed him away from me.

"What are you doing here?!" I asked as I took three steps back. How could he come here when I was very happy that he wouldn't show up at my doorstep because of his coronation? I was happy being alone and being able to think straight.

Besides, it was raining! Who in their right mind would even think of coming to visit a person in the rain?

Ryder just watched me with eyes filled with longing. I should be feeling disgusted or maybe feeling irked by that look in his eyes, but that wasn't what I felt right now.

I suddenly felt the need to reach out to him and touch him, his perfectly sculptured face, sharp jaw, long hair, and every other perfection on him.

The moon goddess definitely cheated in the aspect of creation.

I soon snapped out of the stupid trance I found myself in. I shook my head to clear that damn love fog. What was that just now?

How could I harbor such thoughts about my students?

"Why do I feel this way, Layla? Is this your doing?" I asked my wolf to know the reason behind this sudden weird affection I felt towards him.

"Yes, it's me calling out to his wolf. He seems friendly." She responded and I frowned.

"I don't care if they're friendly, just stay away from them." She sighed and I faced Ryder again.

"Ryder Blackthorn, why are you here?" I questioned him using that tone I always used for all my students.

He ran a hand through his long hair as he released another sigh. His gaze shifted from my face to my nightie and it took me a while to realize that I hadn't worn a jacket over my flimsy nightwear.

I had no bra on, I was literally bare before him.

I hurriedly shielded myself from his eyes as I glared at him.

"Ryder!"

"Relax, Xena. I only came because I didn't see you at the coronation." He said.

I gave him a bewildered look. Why would I ever attend that party knowing that Ryder is my mate and the mate bond could make him spill the truth in front of everyone?

"Ryder, please leave," I said without looking up at him.

I felt his gaze on me and the next thing, he began to laugh out loud like some psycho.

"Xena, you're impossible. I was just made Alpha, but I left my own coronation, got into the rain, and drove all the way here to find out why you couldn't even come to see your mate crowned Alpha." He said through clenched teeth, but I wasn't scared for some reason and just looked him dead in the eyes.

Even if he was way taller than I was, I still didn't care and just watched his gray orbs that looked like a bottomless abyss.

"Ryder, please I beg you. Please don't ruin my life this way. Please reject me, please" I said, cupping my hand this time, my eyes shining with hope as I watched his face fall.

Ryder took a step back from me as if I had shattered something in him.

"Xena why? Are you ashamed of me? What's so wrong with being paired with me?" He asked me and I could swear I saw a hurt flash in his eyes. But I felt nothing.

My career was at stake, my dignity. I would be bashed and laughed at for being mated to the same person I taught in class.

It would be a shame to be seen with the same boy that I was 5 years older than.

It was such a huge shame that I might not even recover from it. I can't be mated to Ryder! I just can't!

"Ryder please, just reject me. I don't want you, I don't even love you the way you see me. I love you like a student. Please Ryder, please just stay away and please just reject me" I pleaded again and took a step closer to him.

"I promise you that no one would know about this," I said to convince him, but the hurt in his eyes Intensified. He shook his head in maybe disbelief?

Then said, "Xena, you're selfish. You don't want to be mated to me because I'm younger than you are and you feel I would ruin your career and name? How would I? I'm the Alpha now and no one would dare to say a word. Besides, this is not the first time such a pair existed and you taught us that." He paused, "Xena the first day I saw you, I fell deeply for you. I swore that when I reached the age of 18, I would pray to the goddess to end up with you. When the goddess finally made my dreams come through after all these years, you tell me that I should reject you?"

I shut my eyes as his words sank in. Was I really selfish? But this was embarrassing.

"Xena, listen to him." Layla said to me, but I shut her out. The thunder clapped matching the sudden atmosphere of pains that covered my living room.

"Xena, is the moon goddess stupid? Is she foolish to match you with me?" He asked me seriously, this time walking up to me in slow but deliberate steps.

I watched the look of anger flash in his eyes as I took several steps back in defense.

Was he going to kill me for not wanting to be mated to him?

I shivered at that thought. Ryder couldn't possibly be that stupid, right?

"Answer me, Xena. Is she foolish to have paired you with me?!" He thundered and I shivered as hot tears fell from my eyes.

I was hurting everyone, but I really didn't want to be mated to him either. I just didn't want to.

"Xena listen to him." Layla kept chanting in my head like a mantra, but I just didn't want to listen to anyone.

"Ryder, stay right there." I warned.

"Or what? What will you do? I love you, alot! Why can't you just let my love be the only thing to guide us? We can build this, you know, forget about age." He reasoned again, but I shook my head.

"Listen to me, Ryder_"

"No, I'm not listening"

The damn thunder clapped again in a dramatic way and I so wanted to scream in anger.

"Please say yes, please?" He came to stand before me and grabbed both of my hands, squeezing and looking into my already glistening eyes.

I tried to shake his hands off me, but he wouldn't budge.

I was trembling with rage as he suddenly pulled me into a hug, holding me tight and not letting go.

I was mad as I kept shivering in his arms.

I gathered enough strength to push him away and before he could realize what was coming next, I slapped him across the face.

We both froze In shock.