Page 99 of Broken Souls

“I just needed to be alone.”

“Why?” His jaw is clenched.

“I'm pregnant and hormonal. Can't you give me some space?”

“No, Elora.” Axe raises his voice.

“You have another thing coming if you think you can raise your voice to me while I'm pregnant,” I speak, feeling my temper flaring.

“This has nothing to do with you being pregnant. Jayceon told me where you were yesterday after I fucking smashed the living room because I was so worried about where you were.” Axe's voice is gruff.

“How'd Jayceon know I was here?” I ask.

“He didn't know you were here. He told me about the prison. I had my soldiers run the lands. While I was scoping out the residential area, I came across your scent.”

“Okay.” I let myself go limp in the bed, just wanting to relax.

“Okay? How dare you go into a prison and spend the night somewhere else when you're carrying my fucking child?” There's a vein in his neck that I can visibly see throbbing.

“Back off, Axe. I'm trying to figure out all these emotions I'm feeling and if they're because of the pregnancy.”

“Emotions after seeing Joel? You went to see him, without asking me. The worthless mutt seduced you into feeling sorry for him, did he? Why the fuck do you still care about him? All ties should have been cut when you rejected him,” Axe snaps.

I've seen Axe angry before but not like this and not towards me.

“What are you talking about? Joel rejected me. That's what all this is about,” I say.

Axe's angry eyes slowly return to their colour and I see him calming down.

“Wait. Tell me exactly what happened with the rejection.” Axe comes over and sits on the bed but as far away from me as he can.

“I saw him. He saw me. He said he rejects me then walked off. What more is there to say?”

“Now I get it.” Axe shakes his head in disbelief. “You couldn't let go of Joel because the rejection wasn't done right. Once one side rejects, the other side has to accept the rejection for the bond to break. The bond lessened. It won’t break until you accept it. You still feel a pull to him because you're still tied to him.”

“No one has ever talked about that.” I frown.

I didn't realise I had to accept his rejection for it to be a done deal.

“Fucking hell. People really need to start reading the history of werewolves. Only the leaders seem to.”

“Look, I'm tired and need to eat. Can we talk about this later?” I get out of the bed.

“No. We are going to the prison right now and you're accepting the rejection. Then you're mine a hundred percent.” Axe stands.

“No,” I murmur.

I can't accept the rejection. Not while Joel is in such a bad place. After knowing this, the only humanity he would feel is the tie that's still with me. If I take that away from him, he will truly have given up. I can't do that to a person. Joel's suicide would feel like homicide to me.

Chapter Sixty-Four

What did you just say?” Axe's eyes are black.

“I want to go home, Axe.” I sigh.

“Why won't you accept his rejection? Do you want him? You told me you were in this with me a hundred percent but you lied. Have you been visiting Joel all this time?”

“No. You know I love you. Look, all this is a misunderstanding...”