Eryn - 1

'Keira,' I hear him in my mind. I can't see him, but I know his voice. It is our Alpha, and his wolf is calling to mine, calling to his mate. But I have no interest in his egomaniacal temperament. No need for his primitive human games and just because my wolf, Keira, is his mate doesn't mean that my human side, Eryn, wants him. 

'Keira,' I hear him again and turn to see him peering at me from across the crowded room. This is it! This is the perfect time to do this! He wouldn't dare throw a tantrum in front of the entire pack in the common room. He begins toward me and I to him. With every trembling footstep, I solidify my decision. 

"Eryn," he says in a velvety tone that could make any woman melt, but not me. 

"Yes, Asher?" I remark, though the disdain is apparent in my voice. 

'Mine,' I hear his wolf cry out to Keira in my mind. 

'Kai,' she howls back as I can feel her waver in our decision.

"I've been looking for you," he continues, his soft voice falters under my gaze. 

"Awaiting my decision, no doubt," I spat at him.

"And?"

I take a deep breath, my shoulders shaking as I prepare my words. They are simple words, but not so simple to say. Before I can utter a word, however, Michael, our Beta calls Asher away. I growl at myself for my failure. Damn guys, always in the way when you have something important to say.

This had been the hardest decision. Every wolf has a chance at a soul mate, one mate to connect with fully in mind, body, and soul. Once lost or rejected, we can choose a mate, though it would never be the same. I couldn't imagine a life with someone so... Asher. My decision to reject him had not been an easy decision, especially since a true rejection to sever the sire bond between mates, both the human and wolf must agree to sever that bond.

Now that my opportunity to reject Asher in front of witnesses had been spoiled, again, I had decided to return to my room. I walk in and fall onto the bed; Keira begins fighting with me. She wants nothing more than to connect with her mate, but I want nothing to do with him. He is an arrogant, pompous, bad-tempered prick. He is rude and entitled. 

Suddenly, there is a pounding at my door that nearly knocks it off the hinges. He hasn't said anything, but I already know that it is Asher. Before I can even gather my thoughts to get up, my door swings open violently and he is standing there, red-faced, and angry.

"You still haven't answered me!" he roars making me flinch.

I open my mouth to say something, anything, but my words fail me. Keira is adamantly fighting me, and I cannot say what I really want to say. What I need to say.

All at once, he leaps forward, and I can feel the harsh feel of his hands on my arms. He is glaring into me with fire in his dark, golden eyes and I begin to tremble with fear of what he might do to me. There are no witnesses, no reason for him to hold back his temper if he should lose it. He growls my name again from deep in his throat and a shiver runs up my spine. Keira has finally let go of her fight and is agreeing with my decision.

With new confidence, I stand up straight and begin, "Asher, I reje..." I am stopped by his lips on mine. They are cold and almost rough against mine; his nails are digging into my arms, and I can feel the fire of the broken skin. 

He pulls away and looks into my eyes as he whispers, "You are mine and no one shall have you but me. You will accept me as your Alpha and mate, or you will die!"