Finding Love With the Enemy

I used to think nothing of the way they greeted me, but now the sarcasm in those words was painfully clear. I must have been too blinded by love to notice before.

Mason looked up, meeting my gaze. He was clearly drunk, leaning against Kara, surrounded by their friends.

“That’s all in the past,” Mason muttered, his voice heavy with regret, but he didn’t deny anything.

I wasn’t sure what expression I wore, but I felt utterly ridiculous.

The struggle between the strength of a mate bond and the desires of the heart had always been a dilemma for our kind—one that had ruined lives for generations. I never imagined I’d be caught up in such a tragic situation myself. But now, everything made sense—the feeling of being an outsider in my own relationship.

“Guys, Ella is Mason’s mate. We’re here to help them make up, remember? Stop bringing up the past,” Kara scolded, and they quickly changed their tune.

“Right, we’re here to help.”

“Ella must still be confused. She’s been through something traumatic, and now she’s seeing threats everywhere…”

That was the last straw. A growl escaped me, more primal and fierce than I knew I was capable of. They were making light of the fact that I’d nearly died, and Mason wasn’t saying a word.

Fury overtook me as I rushed toward them, ready to snap necks, but Mason stood up, grabbing me and holding me back.

“Elle, they didn’t mean any harm…”

“Get your hands off me, Mason!” I snarled.

“Come on, babe, calm down.”

Ugh! That endearment made my skin crawl.

I threw my head back, smashing it into his face. But I wasn’t done—I followed up with a knee to his gut.

Everyone gasped. Kara rushed to his side while Jena and her brothers hurried to pull me away.

“I’m not deaf or stupid, Mason. I know what I heard. Don’t even try to weasel your way out of this—your words and actions have never matched!”

I didn’t care if I was causing a scene. This madness ends here.

“Ella! You’re out of control! Why are you being so cruel to Mason for saving me?” Kara’s voice cracked as she fought back tears. “If you’ve got a problem, take it out on me!”

I scoffed, “Shut up, Kara! Not everything revolves around you. Get over yourself.”

I shrugged off Jena’s brothers and stepped forward. “Get this through your heads. I’m not just angry about Mason running to save another woman while I was about to be killed. I’m furious with myself for clinging to such an unfeeling man just because the moon goddess willed it.”

For the first time, I saw real pain in Mason’s eyes. His emotions were laid bare as he realized what I was about to do. The irony was almost too much—he barely flinched when I was on the brink of death, but now, he looked like I was about to shatter his world.

“I, Ella Hawke, reject you, Mason Ryder, as my mate,” I declared, making sure every word hit home.

“No…” Mason’s voice broke, barely more than a whisper.

I laughed bitterly. “Don’t act like you’re the victim, Mason. In three years, you never truly tried to understand me or make any compromises.” I hesitated, then asked the question that had been gnawing at me, “Did you ever even want to share your life with me?”

“I’ve been sending you flowers every day. If that wasn’t enough, I’ll do anything—just please, take your rejection back.”

“Flowers, Mason? You sent me tulips! I hate tulips!” I snapped, my anger flaring. “Who convinced you that was a good idea?”

The room fell silent. Their friends, even Jena, avoided my gaze. Jena finally whispered, “White tulips mean ‘I’m sorry.’ They’re… Kara’s favorite.”

I let out a harsh, incredulous laugh and lunged at them. I was going to shred them to death, but Jena and the others grabbed me back, dragging me out of the pub.

The moment we were outside, the tears I had been holding back came pouring out. I collapsed to my knees, wailing in agony. They tried to comfort me, but the pain was too overwhelming.

I was the one who broke our bond, but it felt like I was the one who had been rejected.