"What’s the last condition?" Jada repeated herself.
"I need to accept it." I stuttered, turning towards Jada who looked utterly confused.
"Accept what? Talk to me Maria."
I took a deep breath. "The guardians don’t grant their blessings to people with lingering mate bonds. It says they should either be bonded or severed. I need to accept his rejection."
"You never told me you found a mate." Jada said with a raised brow.
"He rejected me." I muttered, forcing the words out of my mouth like bile. "After the failed wedding, I went to a tavern and ended up having a one night stand with a stranger who turned out to be my mate." A tint of red crept to my cheeks as I felt slightly embarrassed of revealing my sexual encounter.
"And he rejected you?"
"Yes." I nodded my head slowly.
"Oh goddess." Jada exclaimed. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Why didn’t you accept his rejection?"
"I thought it would hurt for me to accept it."
"Of course it will hurt, but you have to choose between that brief moment of pain, or your gift."
Jada’s advice sank deep into my mind. What she said made a lot of sense. I need to choose between two things.
"I would accept his rejection." I announced firmly. "But, how do I meet him again?"
Jada bit her lower lips and folded her arms across her chest. She hadn’t thought about that part.
"Don’t you know what he looks like or his name?"
"I don’t know his name, but I recall his looks, and he also said that he’s an alpha."
"That’s it. There aren’t a lot of alphas. We’d just search through the alphas. Since you know what he looks like, we can find him easily."
I looked at Jada with eyes full of thankfulness. She was like the elder sister which I never had. I wondered what I could have done without her.
"I would find him and accept his rejection." I assured her.
Jada gave an approving nod. She held the book and looked at the contents.
"It’s still blank to me." She muttered, then held my hand. "I’m so happy for you, Maria. We should tell your family about the big news."
"Only after I’ve accepted the rejection and gotten the guardians’ blessings. I don’t want to raise their hopes for nothing."
"Sure. Till then." Jada said with a warm smile, before burying the book in my hand. "You can read more of it in your room."
"I would." I assured her.
After our session was over. I went back to my room and placed the book gently in the drawer.
A maid entered the room with a cup of herbal tea. Even after my recovery, my mom insisted that I take herbal tea each evening, before having dinner.
"Dinner would soon be served." The maid said as she waited to take the empty cup from me.
I raised a brow slightly. It was barely 5pm.
"Why are we having dinner so early?"
"Alpha Reynolds is inviting people over." She informed me and left. For origınal chapters go to novel·fiɾe·net
I felt hungry and didn’t hesitate after the maid left. I took a warm bath and wore a purple dress, then combed my hair to fall freely on my shoulders. I didn’t want to give the guests a wrong impression as the alpha’s daughter.
Once I was sure of my looks, I left for the dining hall. My parents were already seated. The table was filled with different delicacies, and the aroma penetrated my nostrils, making me salivate.
However, my appetite disappeared once I caught sight of Sasha seated at the far end of the table with her husband. I gritted my teeth in annoyance and restrained myself from cursing at her.
The maid dropped a jug of water on the table, concluding the meal setup. I saw some unfamiliar faces seated at the opposite side of the table. They obviously were the guests father invited.
Mother noticed my hard glare on Sasha and rubbed my palm, trying to soothe me. Then she whispered, "Your father invited them over as well. Don’t fret please."
I allowed my mother’s words to sink in and tore my gaze away from Sasha. Cutleries clinked as everyone busied themselves with the meal.
"Would the alpha still come?" Reynolds addressed the guests. "I was expecting him."
"He should be on his way. Pardon his lateness." A corper haired man apologized.
My mother glanced at me from the corner of her eye, trying to signal me that I was eating in an unladylike manner. I didn’t care. I was too hungry. My food rush halted as I saw the shadows on the wall opposite me.
I watched the shadows closely, and they lingered on the wall for about five minutes before disappearing.
"I’m afraid the alpha may not arrive." Father sighed as he glanced over at the hourglass which was running out of time.
"I’m so sorry, Alpha Reynolds. Perhaps he would honour your invitation some other time." One of the men said.
"Fair enough," Reynolds muttered, and didn’t utter another word.
I was done eating and was ready to get up from the table. I didn’t want to linger around when Father was having a meeting.
I stood up from the chair, excusing myself. A voice interrupted the light clinking of cutlery.
"I’m so sorry Alpha. I had duties to attend to." A masculine voice which sounded oddly familiar said to my father.
I halted in my tracks and saw a man hanging his coat by the door. He walked over to the table and father welcomed him.
"It can’t be." I muttered to myself. He had the same black hair and grey eyes from the last time I saw him.
Before I could move another inch from where I saw, those grey eyes locked with mine and there was a flash of something like excitement in his eyes, as though he recognized me.
"You’re the one." He chuckled, causing everyone at the table to turn towards me.