Chapter 2 His Rejection

Nyx's POV

The warmth of his lips still burned on my skin as I walked back into the office. My heart wasn't in my chest anymore-it was back to the thought of that night, wrapped up in his touch, his scent, his words.

Mate.

The word echoed over and over in my mind like a whisper I couldn't silence.

I thought he felt it too. I know he did.

So when I received the message the next morning to report to Zane Blackwood's office, I didn't question it. I barely slept, my nerves twisting inside me, but I held onto hope.

Maybe he wanted to talk about it. About us. I even smiled a little as I took the elevator up to the top floor.

The doors opened into a cold, sleek office that looked like it had been carved out of steel and shadows. Everything was dark-black floors, charcoal walls, gray curtains pulled half shut. Zane stood by the window, his back to me, hands in his pockets.

"Sir," I said softly.

He didn't turn around. "Close the door."

I did, heart thudding in my chest. Something about the way he spoke felt... wrong. Detached.

He finally turned to face me. His eyes didn't hold the fire they had last night. No heat. No pull.

Just ice.

"We need to get something straight," he said, voice calm but razor-sharp. "Whatever you think happened last night-forget it."

I blinked. "What?"

He stepped closer, each movement controlled and cold. "There is no us, Nyx. Whatever bond you think you felt-it was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened."

The words hit harder than I expected. "But... we felt the mate bond. I know you did. You said-"

He cut me off. "I said nothing. And even if there was something-" his eyes flicked to me like I was a stain he wanted to erase "-I don't want it. I don't want you."

My breath caught in my throat.

"You're human," he added, voice like a slap. "Weak. Emotional. You don't belong in my world. And I refuse to be chained to something that doesn't deserve my name."

My hands trembled. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

I felt like I was shrinking like the walls were pressing in. My cheeks burned with shame. Humiliation. Anger.

"I didn't ask for this," I whispered, voice cracking. "I didn't ask to be your mate."

Zane's eyes narrowed. "Then we agree on something. Do yourself a favor, Nyx-walk away. Pretend it never happened. Because that's exactly what I plan to do."

He turned away, back to the window. Like I didn't even matter. Like I was just another intern, another nobody.

I left before the tears could fall. Not going home right away. I walked. For hours. Through streets filled with cars, voices, and the blur of city life. But none of it touched me.

His words kept repeating in my head. You don't belong. I don't want you. Weak.

I told myself I wouldn't cry. That I was stronger than that. But when I finally made it to my apartment, I collapsed on my bed and let the pain in.

The ache wasn't just in my chest-it was in my bones, in my blood. Like something had been torn from me.

The mate bond wasn't just a feeling. It was real. And now it was like a string had been snapped inside me. I didn't eat. Didn't shower. Just lay there, staring at the ceiling, hoping sleep would come.

But then my phone buzzed. From an unknown number. I almost didn't check it. But something made me swipe.

"Tell your brother to watch his back. You've made enemies you don't even know about yet."

The message didn't have a name. No number. Nothing else.

I bolted upright.

Adrian.

My little brother. My everything.

Panic wrapped around me like a vice. He lived alone. No pack. No protection. We had no family left-just each other.

I called him right away.

He answered on the third ring, his voice groggy. "Nyx? You okay?"

I swallowed hard. "Are you okay? Did anything weird happen? Anyone following you?"

There was a pause. "No? What's going on?"

I didn't want to scare him. "Just... be careful. Please. Stay home tonight. Lock everything."

"Nyx, what's wrong?"

"I'll explain later," I said, forcing my voice to steady. "Promise me."

He sighed. "Okay. I promise."

I hung up and stared at my phone for a long time. My hands shook.

I didn't need anyone to tell me this had to do with Zane. Or at least, with being involved with someone like him. His world wasn't made for people like me.

And now it was bleeding into mine.

I didn't know who sent the message. But the threat was real. And if something happened to Adrian...

I couldn't risk it.

********

I left before dawn.

No note. No goodbye.

I packed a bag, emptied what little money I had from my account, and caught the first train out of the city.

I didn't look back.

The further I got from Blackwood Industries, from the tower, from him, the more I tried to breathe. Tried to forget.

But the bond didn't forget.

It stayed with me, quiet but constant. A dull ache beneath my ribs. A whisper in the back of my mind.

He rejected me.

And I still couldn't stop thinking about him.