Chapter 55 : Rejection and Proposal

Karenina

Her chin was caught in the grip of a strong hand while her lips were gripped by his powerful mouth. She was frozen in front of him. Her eyes were wide open even as he closed his own. He didn't press further, just planted a warm, chaste kiss on her lips until she calmed down a few seconds later before she felt his tongue licking her lips.

She refused to open up to him, but she resisted no longer. It was all she could do to resist the attraction she felt for the Alpha of the Westwood Pack, even as her body melted against his as he held her close to his chest. She knew he could force her to open her mouth if he wanted to, but he didn't.

This embrace was different from the others, restrained, but no less passionate. Was he trying to comfort her? Or maybe to show her that he was going to try to fuck her with more than just lust? She was confused, but she gave in and returned his kisses, wrapping her arms around his neck and opening her mouth to his.

His hands were on her back, making sure she was pressed against his body so she could feel him, only him. He kissed her passionately before trying for more, but this time asking silently. He knows that he can't give her the love that she craves, but he can show her that he wants more than just her body, so he doesn't force the issue when she refuses to open up to him.

However, he notices that she does not push him away. Then she holds on to him and opens up to him. He stroked his tongue in her mouth with slow licks, tasting, savoring. All he wanted was for she to understand. He wanted her, yes, but not just as a woman to be fucked and then discarded, as she accused him of being.

When he broke the kiss, she was breathless, her eyes glazed with passion as she looked up at him. "We can't go on like this, Xavier. Besides Rylan, you're looking for a mate. I can't - I refuse - to be part of a relationship that's going nowhere." The words came out shakily, but she really meant them.

"You want commitment, right?" He repeated her words, his body screaming at him to take the girl as his own.

Swallowing, she nodded silently, unable to ignore the passion she saw reflected in his gaze. How such a powerful and handsome Alpha could look at her like that, she had no idea.

He leaned down to cuddle her forehead, breathing in her scent mixed with desire. "I have found my mate, and she is in my arms right now."

She froze, only realizing that her arms were still around his neck as she lowered them to place her palms on his chest. His shirt couldn't hide his hard muscles or his heartbeat, which skipped a beat at her touch. Karen pushed him slightly, and he responded by leaning back to meet her gaze once more.

Actually, he wanted to keep this a secret for a little longer, especially in her current state. But he couldn't let her keep thinking that he was taking her only to dump her for someone else later. Xavier couldn't help himself. He knew she was not ready for this information and would probably reject it. He gritted his teeth at the thought and refused to let that happen.

"Wh-what are... you saying?" she asked breathlessly.

He continued to hold her as he spoke. "You are the only female left in my contest, Karenina. By the laws of werewolves in our pack and others, you are now my fiancé and mate."

She was very surprised and could only mutter, "But I'm a hybrid."

"Your origin doesn't matter to me."

She began to feel depressed as she spoke without thinking. "So that's why you kissed me, touched me. You think you have to do it out of obligation! Let me go, now!" she struggled in his arms, wanting to get away from him.

It wasn't even because of the lust in him! He didn't want her, not even for her body. His laws only forced him to be near her!

"Stop struggling, Karenina." His grip on her tightened.

"I thought you wanted me," she babbled. "But you only kissed me because you thought you had to. Well, let me tell you, you're free of your obligations! I'm a hybrid, so your werewolf pack laws don't apply to me; now let go!"

She realized that she had acted rashly, but then again, she hadn't chosen herself. Rylan would always choose Carolina, her heart knew, while Xavier was only with her because the law said he had to be. Why didn't anyone want her for themselves? Was there something wrong with her?

"I want you, Karen," he said firmly, no wavering in his voice, though his eyes radiated sincerity and deep desire.

She stopped moving and sat there, panting from her heightened emotions. He hardly ever mentioned her nickname, and when he did, it made her feel strange, made her hesitate.

It was something she couldn't understand. She was a hybrid. He despised humans, he loathed hybrids. How could Xavier expect her to be his mate when she could only produce half-breed offspring? He really didn't make sense.

"I'm a hybrid, a half-human, not a full-blooded werewolf, and I'm not even fit to be the mate of an Alpha like you," she said again, lowering her head so that her hair could cover her eyes. "I'm sure you realize I could never give you a full-blooded werewolf child." Why did she mention children?! She wouldn't mate with him, let alone have children at her young age!

******

Xavier

He sensed another trap. He spoke carefully. "You are more than just a hybrid, Karenina, or have you forgotten the strong wolf aura within you? I am sure that the child that will be born between us will be strong."

However, he did not say that their children would be pure-blood werewolves, and that Xavier was not afraid to create hybrids with her. He knew she would not be happy to hear that.

"My wolf aura is so strong? That's what allows you to mate with me, isn't it? Otherwise you wouldn't be allowed to." Somehow she knew that it was true. Xavier was a powerful Alpha of the Westwood Pack who should probably choose his mate carefully.

Thinking quickly, Xavier admitted, "I was attracted to you even before I noticed your strong wolf aura a few days ago."

She blinked, surprised by his confession, forgetting their discussion about children. "Really? You don't act like it."

"As you said, I have restrictions placed on me by my position as Alpha."

She could not believe what she was hearing. First Xavier confessed to being attracted to her, now he confessed to wanting to mate with her. She was dreaming; she had to be. She raised her hand to her face and pinched her cheek rather painfully. No, the pain meant that she was awake.

Xavier tilted his head, confused, wondering what on earth she was doing as he saw her pinched cheek turn pink from her actions.

Shaking her head, she tried to ignore the absurdity of the situation and think about it as logically as possible.

"I can't be your mate, Xavier. I don't love you, and I know my situation with Rylan isn't perfect, but I love him."

His face was expressionless, so close to hers, but he felt like he was growling.

"You claim to want love in a mating, but you're willing to accept my step-brother in the absence of love, and yet you're rejecting me?"

She looked away from him, unable to answer. He was right. His words were like daggers, piercing her already wounded heart.

"I would like to propose something to you, Karenina."

She looked up at him reluctantly, only to realize that her hand was still on his chest, his arms still around her, and she pushed him away to see if she could put some distance between them and the attraction Karen felt for him. Xavier released her without a fuss, and she stepped back a few feet, her eyes never leaving his as Xavier knelt before her like a Greek god.

She involuntarily licked her lips. "Um, what was that?"

He watched the movement of her tongue, his eyes darkening with desire. His voice was deeper and slightly hoarse. "Rylan doesn't feel the same way about you, Karenina. I'm offering you the same chance you gave Rylan to get close to you. If in the end you still refuse my mating, I will not insist further."

"Do you promise?" What was she supposed to agree to, she wondered aloud. Why should she give Xavier the chance to mate with her? The better question was, why does Xavier want her? Why is he so persistent? She couldn't ask that, not now. There were too many revelations this night. She had to think, if only he would leave!

"Yes, do we have a deal, Karen?" he said her name with malicious intent, her mind immediately turning to carnal pleasures, her insides tingling with her very clear thoughts.

When Karen nodded, she saw his nostrils flare and she blushed knowing he could smell her growing arousal. Xavier got down on his hands and knees and followed her. She squealed in alarm, her need peaking at the sinful movements of his body as she tried to crawl backwards but hit the window seat, her back protesting the impact. He held her, his arms on either side of her, his face over hers. Too close!

His golden eyes devoured her with a single glance. He lowered his face to hers and whispered against her lips. "My sweet Karen."

"Y-yes?" she whispered before her mouth was captured in a searing kiss, a kiss she couldn't resist as her hands squeezed his shirt.

Minutes later, he lifted his head to look at her, their breath mingling.

"Allow me to assist your powerful wolf aura along with your spiritual energy. Allow me to help you." Xavier had to strengthen their bond. He would not let her go! But this time he demanded that she let him in.

Caught by his intense gaze, she nodded her head, breathless. Then he kissed her again, and she thought he was going to penetrate her body again with his powerful aura, but he just kissed her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, with one hand in her hair, holding her close, and another hand at the small of her back, holding her close.

She was only seconds away from ripping his shirt from his chest to feel his skin against her chest, needing the contact, when the glow of his powerful aura rose and flowed from his mouth into hers, resisting the urge.