4. Rejection.

"What on earth are you-"

Faye jumped.

Before her legs could go out the window, Emris' strong arms reached for her; grabbing her by the stomach and pulling her in.

He staggered back and fell to the floor, his arm still around her.

Faye felt his warmth enveloped her, unfamiliar and intoxicating. She wasn't sure she was ready to let go.

He smelled sweet, like cinnamon and vanilla.

Her pleasure was cut short when Emris shoved her away.

She watched him stand on his feet; dusting her scent and the feel of her off his body.

His steely gaze met her stare and she shot up from the floor, stepping away from him.

*What should I do? Should I apologise?*

"I'm sorry." The words left her mouth before she could make a decision.

Emris' brows shot up in disbelief. "You talk afterall."

His tone was sharp, and Faye moved further back, hitting the wall.

She clenched her fists when he approached her. She had nowhere to run now.

Emris stopped just a few inches from her, his body towering over hers like a six o'clock shadow. Then, he leaned his face close.

"There are no words for how angry and disgusted I am to see you here." His growl made her knees buckle.

It took everything in her not to fall to the floor.

"And to make matters worse," his jaw clenched. " Fate made * you* my mate?"

Faye froze.

*What did he just say?*

Two words she never believed in; fate and mate.

She met his eyes. "You're my mate?"

He glared when the words left her mouth, and he backed away from her.

Faye watched him pace around the room in distress, unaware of what could be going through his mind.

Then, it dawned on her.

What else could come next when his hate for her was so obvious?

"Do you want to reject me?" She held her trembling hands to her chest.

The thought of her soul being ripped in half- just like every other part of her was- was terrifying. Before she knew it, tears welled up in her eyes.

Emris paused when he looked at her, and his eyes widened.

Just like before, she was crying blood.

"Don't." She pleaded, but it strangely sounded like an order to Emris. "Don't do it."

He parted his lips to speak, but he couldn't. Her eyes held a multitude of emotions, but the fear in them were louder.

"Please." Faye continued. "I can't handle any more torture."

Her body trembled from the memories of her skin being cut, slashed, punched and burned.

Emris heard Titan whimper within him, and he tightened his jaw.

"Don't make this any harder than it needs to be."

Faye knew her plea would fall on deaf ears, but she was willing to try.

"I, Emris Rune," Emris started.

In that moment, Faye couldn't help but recall the words her sister said to her while she bled and held back a scream from being burned;

*"You cannot be loved if you're not willing to burn." *

And like the deafening effect of a heavy downpour, the world around her went dead silent.

Emris froze, and his eyes widened at the lifeless expression in her golden eyes. She looked lost in thought, or rather, like she'd just realised something.

And in a low, cold tone she breathed;

"But, fire hurts. Fire hurts a lot."

"Hey..." Emris called out, his voice laced with worry as he stared at her motionless form.

She didn't respond.

Desperation gripped him as he reached for her shoulders to shake her awake. Then, she looked at his hand.

"If I'm not willing to burn, then I must not want to be loved." Faye continued, meeting his eyes once again.

She let out a low and bitter chuckle as her bloody tears slipped down her cheeks.

"I must truly not deserve love."

Her statement fell on Emris like a giant boulder to the head. He felt her pain- raw and disturbing.

His eyes searched her blood shot eyes that were devoid of life, and a flicker of rage crossed his eyes.

*Who would dare traumatise her this way? *

He froze up at his own thoughts, then he quickly let go of her shoulders.

*Did I just feel sympathy for a Werewolf?*

How could her frail and trembling body affect him this much? The look in her eyes were haunting and he resisted every urge to hold her tiny body in his arms and gently wipe the blood off her face.

He looked at Faye as she stood still; staring back at him with a soulless expression.

She was waiting.

But, what for? She had no clue.

She thought maybe, just maybe he could hold her like he did when she jumped out the window, or tell her that he wouldn't reject her no matter how much he hated her.

Perhaps he would smile kindly at her.

She wondered just how beautiful his smile was. Was it similar to Gwen's, or was it just as unique as he was?

Or maybe, she was waiting for him to refute her statement. To tell her that she was worthy of being loved.

Their eyes remained locked for a few more seconds, and Emris clenched his fists, turned on his heels and stormed out of the room.