#####Chapter 4 : Reject her

Gavino's pov

Mate.

Aurora was still buried in my arms when it hit.

My wolf had roared the word out so loud it nearly knocked the breath out of me. For one second, I went completely still.

Her body now felt too warm against mine, she smelt like fruits and everything that seemed forbidden, flooded my senses at that exact moment.

Fuck, no.

I shoved her away from me like she'd burned me, I stared at my hands that I had just wrapped around her and slowly shook my head. Aurora looked up at me, confused and her eyes still red from crying.

“Gavino?” She called out.

Just the sound of her voice had me taking a step away from her. I couldn't breathe well, heck, I couldn't even think.

“No.” I managed to say, my voice sounding hoarse but firm. “No…this can't be happening.”

I turned and walked out of the room before she could say anything else. The door made a small click as it closed behind me and I kept walking until I reached my office at the end of the hall.

The second I was inside, I slammed the door close hard enough to rattle the frame.

My wolf who hardly spoke to me, stood at attention and said with all certainty.

She is our mate.

“Shut up.” I snapped.

I paced around the room like a caged animal, running my hand through my hair from time to time. For the first time in years, I didn't feel in control.

My hands were trembling. Me. An Alpha, trembling because of one girl.

This has to be a mistake.

The moon goddess had fucked up big time. There was no way Aurora was destined to be with me.

But here we are now.

“She's Daniel's daughter,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

She is our mate.

“I watched her grow up, for fuck’s sake”

So you realize she isn't a child anymore?

I froze mid-step, why?

Because he wasn't wrong. She was no longer that little kid who used to follow me and her day around. I'd noticed the change at one point, but I never let myself look too long.

The dress she had worn during her father's burial. That only made her stand out and had men that were supposed to be mourning ogling over her.

I'd felt like shielding her from the eyes of other men. At that point, I'd told myself it was just for protection. Nothing more.

But it felt like more. For a while now.

I felt disgusted with myself as I stood in the center of my study. What kind of man stares at his best friend's daughter like that?

“Damn it!” I yelled, slamming my fists into my desk. The wood cracked a bit and pain enveloped my hand, but it wasn't enough.

I walked around the desk, sank into my chair and allowed myself to think for a moment.

———

I could still remember that day when me and Daniel had been drinking whiskey on the back porch, after a long night of patrol. We had been talking about the lack, our future when he suddenly started talking about Aurora.

“If anything ever happened to me, look after my little girl. Gavino, promise me.”

I had promised.

Younger Aurora didn't seem to like me that much. She always maintained her distance but became incredibly clingy when she was asleep.

Daniel would tease me with a grin; “I think she likes you more than me, brother.”

He trusted me.

And now, fate wanted me to claim his daughter as mine?

I ran my hands down my face, letting out a sigh. “I can't do this, Daniel.”

The thought of accepting whatever feelings that bond brought felt like disrespecting the dead. Like taking advantage of the one thing he left behind.

My wolf growled in disagreement, but I pushed him down.

Sleep was definitely not happening tonight. I stood up, grabbed my jacket and left the house through the back door.

I headed toward the path leading to the cemetery. It wasn't too far, just past the eastern borders. The walk there gave me a moment to calm down and actually think. The forest was dark and cold, only the sound of gravel crunching under my boots filled the air.

The cemetery gate creaked when I pushed it open. I stood in front of Daniel's grave.

The headstone was simple, just the way he would've wanted it. Fresh flowers were placed in front of it and the way the moonlight lit up the stone only made my guilt intensify.

“Daniel, I think the moon goddess is fucking around with me.” I said softly. “Why her? Why now?”

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. If Daniel were alive, he'd probably punch me right in the jaw. Telling me how it was wrong to insult the moon goddess.

“I gave you my word,” I said to the grave, tilting my head slightly. “I was meant to protect her. Not… this.”

Stop whining about it. She is OUR mate.

My wolf said again but I just ignored him.

“I can't be the man who takes advantage of your daughter.”

The wind picked up, blowing the dried flowers on Daniel's grave off. For a second, I almost wished Daniel could give me an answer. To tell me what the hell I was supposed to do.

But I got nothing. I closed my eyes and made the hardest decision I had ever made after becoming an alpha.

“Tomorrow,” I said, swallowing hard. “I'll reject her.”

The words made my mouth taste weird. I could hear my wolf howling in protest, but I just turned away from the grave and headed toward the exit.

I could feel the bond already pulling at me, trying to get me to walk back to the house. Back to her.

But I knew this was the right thing to do.

For the pack. For her and for Daniel.