Page 16 of Elusive Alpha
He had accomplished so much, and I was only beginning in some ways.
Rook was older than me, by almost ten years, so that wasn’t entirely illogical. But at my age, he’d already made strides toward his great success.
I looked at him as we sat on the back porch steps. We were both packed to leave soon. He was driving to his home.
He hadn’t asked me to come with him.
I hadn’t asked him to come home with me either. We both had lives. I had a job to get back to. Rent and electricity still had to be paid.
And the truth was, I was still coming to terms with who he was. I should’ve forgiven him easily, but it pained me to know that my mate could’ve stopped it. Sold the company to someone else. Anyone else who would’ve handled the people with care and compassion.
“I feel you pulling away from me,” he said, not turning to meet my gaze. Instead, he looked out over Franklin’s yard while leaning back on his hands.
“I have to go soon, and so do you. This weekend was nice but…”
“But what?” He finally turned to see me. “I wear your mark on my chest. This wasn’t a weekend fling for me, omega. I can’t believe you’re talking like we might not ever see each otheragain. Unless this was just a weekend for you. You said we were mated. I said things last night that I’ve never said to anyone else because I never wanted to. I love you, Idris. Can’t you see that?”
I sighed. Arguing wasn’t my plan in talking to him. The last thing I wanted to do was leave on a sour note. “I came here excited to find my mate.”
My alpha purred at me, and there was nothing nice about it. “Then you found out who I was and changed your mind.”
“I haven’t changed my mind. But yeah, I’m still hung up on who you are. What you did.”
“I’m not going to give up easily,” Rook said.
“You gave up the company easily.” The words flowed from my mouth as though they’d been standing at the gate, waiting to be released.
“No, I didn’t, but no amount of explaining will convince you, it seems. I’m going to go before we say things we don’t mean.” He got up, and my heart instantly ached. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. We were supposed to make promises and plans and never let each other go. Fate chose us to be together for the rest of our lives, and she didn’t make mistakes. Franklin never made mistakes.
Why was I fighting what I truly wanted?
I stood in front of him with tears welling in my eyes. “There’s a chance it will work out,” I said. My voice trembled with the words.
“Only if you want it to, mate. Idris. If you can ever get past the one mistake I made. I…never mind.” Rook kissed my forehead and walked away through the house. I followed him as he retrieved his bag and then to the front door. He turned at the bottom of the stairs.
“Text me once you get home.”
“Goodbye, Idris.” Not mate. Not omega. My name had never sounded so bittersweet.
Hours later while I was still in the air, I received a text.
Home.
I didn’t even reply. What would I even say that could make up for my unwillingness to move on from a business decision he was innocent in? He’d explained everything to me. He thought the company would be in good, capable hands. He’d been taken advantage of as his employees had. He’d put trust in someone who betrayed it. He was going to try to make it right.
The problem was me.
My mark ached as I wondered if there was a chance we would make it. Could our lives somehow combine to have us live our happily ever after?
I cried most of the way home. By the time I got back to my apartment, it was late. I glanced at my phone several times, but Rook hadn’t texted again. The hurt pulsed through our bond. Even though we were only together for two days, our bond was strong, but I didn’t know if it was strong enough.
I texted him after a shower and unpacking.Good night.
Rook didn’t text me back.
Chapter Seventeen
Rook
