Claimed By The Mistborne Alpha Chapter 28: Depend

The mont the massive doors of the Council room fell closed behind , my body betrayed and my legs gave out.

I had already noticed the growing weakness in my body that was growing up like a gnarly root but I had chosen to ignore it all while facing the mbers of the Council and humiliating Darek.

But now, the pain was starting to feel endless.

At first, I had thought it was just the nerves. After all, I was in a room full of Alphas, pretending to be confident, pretending my hands weren’t trembling as I kissed soone else in front of Darek.

But now, I could barely walk as I clawed at the stone wall, trying to stay upright, hoping for the pain to lessen.

I had no idea what was happening to . One minute I was rejecting Darek with my head held high and the next, my knees were almost touching the floor as I doubled over with my hands clutching the fabric over my chest as the white hot pain left gasping for air.

I wanted so badly to do whatever I could to numb my nerves as liquid lava poured through my veins.

What the hell was happening to ?

I pressed my forehead against the wall and tried to slow my breathing as my vision swam and beads of sweat rolled down the sides of my cheeks.

Is this what death felt like?

I thought rejecting him was supposed to set free. Maybe not completely, but at least a little bit. But now, it just felt like cruel torture.

His weak scent alerted my wolf even though my human form was begging to be released from this world. This wasn’t how I wanted to die. Not this early. Not when I just rejected my mate for freedom.

The familiar sound of boots echoed and stopped again right by . Just like the first ti we t at the White Hall. This ti too, my eyes failed to look up at his towering form.

The bond, even though it was weaker than before, still pulsed like a failing heartbeat.

"Maeve," the voice touched my mind and the pain seed to recede a little. Enough so I could inhale a large breath without my chest splitting in two. It montarily dulled the worst of the agony as if he were the balm to the curse I was going through.

I hated that.

I never wanted him to be the reason for the relief to my pain. I wanted to run as far away from him as possible and never let him touch or even step on the sa air as .

But I was too weak now. And I hated that he had to see in that vulnerable state after everything I had just done to not seem so pathetic, and so weak.

I had to get away.

I pushed myself up, supporting myself against the wall, and staggered forward, away from his voice, away from him. I took one step and the pain drilled into my chest and up my skull.

He caught in his strong arms before I collapsed entirely on the smooth ground. They were so warm and protective, caging against his chest and I rested my head on his chest as the weakness faded inch by inch.

But no, I couldn’t.

"Let go," I rasped, shoving at his arms and chest weakly. "I’ve already rejected you in front of the–"

"You foolish girl," he whispered against my head. His grip on only tightened and the hypocrite in voluntarily found myself leaning more against him. "You have no idea what you have done."

I forced myself to look up at him with barely pried open eyes. He didn’t look amused, he wasn’t smirking, he didn’t look like he wanted to make fun of my situation either. Right now, he looked sad.

And that surprised enough for my eyes to fully open.

"I told you, Darek," I said as my voice steadied more in his arms. "I don’t want this bond. I don’t want you. You’ve done too much to warrant any kind of forgiveness. I’ve already rejected you."

His jaw clenched and his heart beneath my ears beat harshly against his chest.

"Say it again then," he murmured dangerously. "Look at my face again and say that you reject ."

"I reject you, Darek."

Pain exploded again like an arrow passing through , and I stumbled again, but Darek seed to expect it.

He bent down and put his arms under my knees and lifted , sweeping completely off my feet and into his arms again. I was about to protest but he shushed imdiately.

"Stay quiet for a minute," he ordered.

He carried through many hallways I hadn’t even dared venture to, and I lost track until I ca to a heavily ornate door, even more than the one in my room.

My eyes were too tired to register anything as he pushed open the door, walked a few steps, and then placed over the cool and soft feathered mattress.

I wanted to close my eyes, let the sleep take over my body even though Darek was right there. The man who was willing to sacrifice his morals to get what he wanted.

No, I couldn’t lose myself now.

I grabbed his hand as he moved away from the bed.

"What’s happening, Darek? Why do I feel this way?"

His lips tightened like he wasn’t sure if he should say anything right then but then he shook his head, giving in.

"You’ve already done sothing you shouldn’t have. You rejected on a blood moon night instead of the night of the green moon and the mating ceremony. You’ve gone against the power that let us be fated to one another, you’ve gone against everything that this power stands for." He took a deep breath as if he had yet to say the worst thing that ca out of this.

"You rejecting early has weakened you now. The bond between us, the fact that we were fated together, ant that both of our powers depend on each other unless rejected on the night of the green moon. Since you’ve rejected , you’ve transferred most of your powers onto and will have to be close to at all tis and feed off of my powers for you to survive."

I could feel my blood freezing.

Darek straightened, his lips twisting into his gooddamn smirk again. Promising nothing but danger.

"In other words," he said softly again, looking almost apologetic. "You’re going to be staying close to at all tis. Eat at my table, sleep in my bed, bathe under my showers. You na it, Maeve."