Bane’s usually confident demeanor falters. He looks almost vulnerable. “Josh, I...” He pauses, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows hard. “I don’t know what to say.”
Well, that’s not a no. He’s not laughing in my face. He seems more shocked than anything. There’s hope.
I push the watch into his hands. Willing him to accept the gift. To accept me.
Bane examines the gift, face blank as he runs his fingers over the smooth surface. He holds the watch almost delicately, and my hope begins to build. Maybe he’s considering what I’ve said. I can’t say how much time goes by. Enough time passes that I’m almost used to standing here with my heart and the watch in his hands.
Then something changes.
Bane’s face hardens, his lips twisting into a scowl of disgust. “No way. You’re fucking crazy. You’ll never be my mate.”
“I already am,” I whisper as the despair threatens to overwhelm me. “We’re fated. We could be mates if we just accept the bond—”
“Fuck that. I don’t want you!” he growls.
He flings his arm and tosses the watch away. The sharp crack as it hits the rough stone wall echoes through the dungeon like a gunshot. The broken watch falls to the ground, the pieces scattering.
My chest tightens, and I struggle to breathe while my heart shatters into a million pieces, just like the gift he destroyed.
Unsure what else to do, I pivot and move to collect the broken watch. Hovering over the pieces, I fight back tears.
Bane’s harsh voice cuts through the silence. “Don’t make me the bad guy here. You’re unbelievable.”
Why is he so angry? Because I dared to want more than our casual arrangement?
“God, I shouldn’t have told you my chances to become Alpha were so good,” he mutters to himself. “All I was missing was the right mate. Stupid, so stupid. This was your plan the whole time, wasn’t it? I gave you the perfect opening to finally make your move.”
“Plan? What are you talking about?”
When I turn around, he’s standing to his full height. No more vulnerability. His fists are clenched, practically shaking with anger, and he’s glaring at me like he hates me.
Like I’m his worst enemy.
“Don’t play dumb. Aren’t you getting tired of acting innocent and pretending you care?” he scoffs, shaking his head. “But dammit, I gotta give you credit here, this was your best performance yet. You even had me going there for a second.Ialmostbelieved you. But it’s so obvious you’re only crawling back now that I’m on the verge of power.”
Power? What the—
“You missed your opportunity,” he spits the words in my direction. “I may sleep with you, but it willneverbe more than that. I refuse to give you another chance to break my heart.”
Bane waltzes away, leaving me in the dungeon alone.
Huh.
…
So. That happened. Um... what now?
Time to see myself out. The Iron Pack isn’t exactly hospitable and welcoming. Bane left me alone, but it won’t be long before someone comes to escort me out. Or they’ll decide to throw me in one of these cells.
But it’s hard to move, hard to breathe. I was rejected by my mate. It should be crushing. Instead, I’m confused. What the hell was he talking about?
He didn’t reject me because I wasn’t strong enough to be an Alpha. Or even because he didn’t like me. He… well, I heard what he said.
But it makes no sense.
I stare at the broken pieces of the watch on the floor. I was going to pick them up, but I don’t really care anymore. There are more important matters to attend to.
Like figuring out what the hell is going on.
