Page 78 of Claim Me
Mate Rejection only happens in two cases: when people have marked each other’s glands and formed a mating bond, or in the much rarer case when a True Mate Bond begins… and is then severed.
Those are the only two scenarios I’ve ever heard of, and neither of them applies to us. Right?
Maybe I’m just too nervous, and everything simply overwhelmed me.
What I did in the pool was completely out of character for me. I don’t usually have that much confidence, or that level of insistence when pursuing an omega…
Reaching for his glands… that’s actually insane. Even for a confident alpha, it would be too much, since glands are intimate areas that should only be touched by the closest person. Which makes what I did twice as insolent and intrusive.
So what happened?
I’ve always been an extremely shy and sensitive kid. When I was little, my dad said I got anxious and cried over basically nothing, and my half-brother Dallas used to call me a crybaby, so maybe this is just an echo of that part of me. I overreacted, shocked myself, and then, bam, I hit the floor.
I clear my throat, lift my hands, and rub the back of my neck.
What an embarrassment. I’m a fucking alpha, damn it, and I’m lying here like a helpless kitten, another reason for people to feel pity for me, another reason… not to respect me. No surprise that Blue doesn’t want such a loser.
"I would appreciate it if you all left my room," I force out through a constricted throat.
"You lost consciousness…" the doctor begins, but I cut him off.
"But I’m conscious now," I clench my jaw, then add through my teeth, "and I appreciate you, Mr. Lowen, for calling medical assistance, but it’s no longer needed." I keep my gaze fixed on the wall, avoiding Blue’s sapphire eyes that are watching me with intense focus.
"Of course, I’ll leave right away," the doctor says.
"Send me your account details. I’ll pay you for your time," I say flatly.
"There’s no need. Mr. Lowen already took care of—"
"I said I’ll pay it myself," I snap sharply, desperately trying to reclaim some control, some independence, some dignity.
They pulled me out of my own vomit, dragged me here in nothing but my wet boxers, and tucked me under a blanket like some small child. What a humiliation. I can’t stand the thought of it.
A silence falls, and the doctor walks toward the door, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Then just transfer the payment to Mr. Lowen. I’ve already been compensated. Thank you. Get well soon. If this happens again, I’d recommend a neurological examination, since we can’t rule anything out at the blood test stage."
"Yeah. Thanks. Goodbye."
The doctor leaves, and James follows right after him, quietly closing the door.
Silence. I wait for Blue to leave too, but he doesn’t move.
"Take it from my salary," I say, still not looking at him.
"Stop it, Gabriel."
I shut my eyes. I’m not staying in the same room with him any longer. This whole situation has made me feel extremely upset. Enough of this.
"Can you leave, Mr. Lowen?" I ask, keeping my voice steady through sheer effort. "I deeply apologize for what transpired in the pool. It was a horrible overstepping of your boundaries, and I regret what I did; it won't happen again. Right now I just want to be alone. Please."
A short pause of silence. Then he simply walks out without one word.
Finally.
What a relief.
I collapse back onto the bed, feeling like I might pass out again, though I have no idea why.
