Rejection and Defiance

It took every ounce of Enzo's self-control to refrain from crossing the room, grabbing Nadia, and claiming her right then and there. Her scent was intoxicating, an overwhelming mix of sweetness and something wild that sent his senses into overdrive. He could feel his heart racing as he struggled to keep his thoughts focused on the present. But nothing, nothing at all, could make him forget about her, about the mate bond that was already consuming him.

The party, the people, the night, they all faded into the background the moment he locked eyes with her. She was everything he had ever wanted and never dared to hope for. And yet, here she was, sitting in front of him, unmoved by his presence, a look of disapproval in her eyes.

For a moment, his chest tightened with disappointment. He had dreamed of finding his mate, of building a life with her, but not like this. Not with someone who was already so guarded, so distant.

He had almost given up on the idea of a mate. For years, it had seemed like the dream of a mate was beyond his reach. Wolves were meant to find their partners in their twenties. By the time he reached thirty, he had resigned himself to a life without her. And then she appeared out of nowhere, turning his world upside down.

Seeing her tonight felt like a miracle, but there was something in her eyes that unsettled him. She wasn't as eager to meet him as he had hoped. Was she resistant to the bond? Did she not want a mate, or was it him she was rejecting?

And then she dropped the bomb. She had been with Jaxon for only a few days, and they were already talking about marriage. The thought of it sent a rush of anger through him. A mate was meant to be sacred, and here she was, considering someone else for a lifetime commitment. He wanted to destroy Jaxon for daring to touch what was his, but he reminded himself that the man was innocent, unaware of the bond.

He cleared his throat, using every shred of self-control to stay calm. "When did you meet Jaxon?" he asked, his voice strained but controlled. He didn't want to scare her away, didn't want to show her just how much the bond was already affecting him. But she had to know he wasn't going to let her go that easily. He needed her to want him, to crave him the way he was already craving her.

"Just a few days ago," Nadia replied, leaning back with a defiant gaze that only made his pulse race even faster. He had thought she was strong, but this fire in her, this intensity, was something he couldn't ignore.

"And you decided to get married already?" His voice took on a slight edge, disbelief in his words. It didn't make sense. He wanted to understand, but a part of him was already growing frustrated. What was her game?

"Yes, it was love at first sight," she said, her smile almost too sweet, too knowing. "A whirlwind romance. I can't wait to be with him." Her words were like a punch to the gut, and it took everything in him not to lose it. The sheer thought of her with Jaxon touching her, holding her, loving her had his blood boiling.

The wolf inside him howled, already plotting revenge on the man who had stolen a moment of her attention. But Enzo kept his thoughts focused. Jaxon was innocent. He was the one who had to be patient.

Still, the question remained: why was Nadia rejecting him so vehemently? Did she truly not feel the bond, or was she pushing him away for another reason?

"I see," he muttered, his anger simmering. "Then why did he leave you?" His gaze flicked to her, watching closely as her defensiveness flared.

"You scared him away," Nadia snapped, her voice sharp as her eyes glinted with annoyance.

Enzo couldn't help but smirk at that. "Rightly so, because you're mine now," he said firmly, the words slipping out before he could think better of them.

"No, I'm not!" she retorted fiercely, her eyes flashing with fury.

For some reason, her reaction stirred something deep within him a deep, possessive craving. Her fire only made him want her more. There was a strength in her, a wildness, that he found intoxicating. He felt more alive in her presence than he had in years.

"You don't seem pleased to be my mate," Enzo commented, his voice softer now, almost a challenge. He was testing her, trying to understand the depth of her rejection.

"You're not what I asked for," she muttered, her tone bitter, her eyes avoiding his.

The words hit him like a physical blow. But instead of retreating, he stepped closer, his heart pounding as he took in her every word. What did she ask for?

He could feel his own desperation building, his desire to make her see him, to make her want him. "Then what did you ask for?" he asked, his voice low and serious. "Tell me, and I'll provide it for you… anything."

The words felt foreign on his tongue, yet he meant them with every fiber of his being. He didn't care about anything else money, power, prestige. If she didn't want him, then he wouldn't know what to do with himself. His world would fall apart.

She laughed in his face, the sound sharp and mocking, as if she found him amusing. "You don't know what you're talking about," she said, her eyes dancing with mischief.

Enzo's frustration flared, but he found himself intrigued. She was a challenge, and he was more than ready to take it on. "I don't?" he asked, stepping closer. "Then tell me what you're talking about."

Her laughter only deepened, and Enzo found himself drawn to her, to the defiance in her eyes, to the spark that was both frustrating and exhilarating. He wanted to know everything about her, what made her tick, what made her laugh, what made her feel. He needed to unravel her, piece by piece.

"You're underestimating me," he said, his voice firm with conviction. "I'm the Alpha of the Shadow pack. There's nothing I couldn't do for you."

Her eyes flickered with amusement, curiosity, maybe even admiration, but it was a look that only made Enzo want her more. She was his challenge, and he was eager to rise to it.

"I see," she said with a knowing smile, her gaze never leaving his. "I'll think about it, but I must leave now. I don't like my boyfriend to keep waiting."

Enzo's blood boiled at the mention of Jaxon, but he fought the urge to snap. Instead, he smirked, his resolve only strengthening. He wouldn't give up on her. Not now, not ever.

"You're mine, Nadia," he said softly, but with an intensity that left no room for doubt. "And I'll prove it."