Chapter 19. Rejection

I say nothing, stay deathly still, silent tears escaping from my closed eyes as they begin to pour down my face. Warm, bitter, stinging rivulets of despair. He can feel me and hear my thoughts, so he knows my acceptance is in my silence. My pain is his; my distraught agony in knowing this is over before it began is all around and in between us. He knows what to do. His breathing gets heavier, labored, as he struggles to compose himself and push the last of the words out in a voice I barely recognize—low and strained. Ravaged and hoarse. He clears his throat and swallows loudly as though to pull himself together.

“I… Colton Juan Santo, son of the Alpha of the reigning Santo pack, and future Alpha of Mount Radstone… I’m sorry, baby, don’t hate me for this… reject you as my chosen mate and deny the bond of imprinting. I set you free… to…” He swallows hard again, voice wavering, choking on his tears, pulling me into his embrace, crushing me with strong arms to find the will to car