Igma💙;

I stare at Alana as she drops my tray of food on the table. A whole day and she’s barely said five words to me.

I feel my heart twist as I watch her. Did I do something wrong? Is she pissed at me??

Why does she seem so cold??

"Queen Cassia said we’d be sharing a hut." I break the silence, an dher hands freeze as she holds out a cup.

She looks up at me as I take the cup from her, and instead of that usual gentleness... and innocence in her eyes... All I see is... malice.

It’s so strong it almost looks like hate.

My heart drops into the pit of my stomach as I stare at her eyes. She quickly blinks and looks away from me, and I just stare.

The whole day, she busied herself with tasks, and I didn’t have time to see her. Now, it’s late at night, and she’s still keeping her distance from me. Why??

"A-Alana, why are you—" I begin, but she cuts me off.

"Why did you come?" She demands, with her back turned to me, and arms folded over her chest.

I stare at her healthy brown hair and the numerous flowers threaded into it. Her posture is rigid, and her voice is upset. Like I’m a pest who showed up out of nowhere to disturb her.

"Alana, I thought you were in danger," I note, and she whips around at those words. Her eyes are wide with what seems to be shock.

"W-why would you think that?? I’m right in front of you, aren’t I? People must have told you that I was here, and I was fine. So why did you have to come??" She replies, and the... coldness in her voice pierces through me so viciously, it hurts... physically.

I shoot to my feet this time, unable to understand why she’s upset.

"Alana, you never responded to any of my letters!" I point out, and she just blinks at me. "You never updated me. After the attack here, you used to. But after the letter where you informed that you were going to Elian in Nagari... You just stopped. I got worried!" I point out, and she scoffs.

"Oh, you sound like a fucking clingy bitch! I’m right here, aren’t I?! If I don’t write to you, or respond to you, wouldn’t common sesne tell you that maybe, just maybe I do not want to talk to you!?" She snaps, and my mouth falls open.

I freeze as I stare at her... at... at the version of her that I... never thought I’d see.

I remember our last night together at Howleroot. She was so... different. And– and now...?

"You travelled through nights.... On one horse... took the risk of moving without guards or comforts of maids, just to get to a woman who’s been ignoring you. Are you that love-deprived, Igma!? You’re supposed to be ruling a kingdom, and you’re bugging over letters I didn’t respond to!?" She adds, and I don’t realise how deeply her words cut until I feel a tear slide down my face.

She huffs and looks away from me, and for a split second... My mind runs ahead. I picture a life without her. I picture her casting me aside and rejecting our mate bond. Shivers run through me at the thought, and I nearly stagger.

"Alana, I just—" I begin, but she turns back to me and takes a step forward, with her index finger pointing at me.

"Listen here, Igma. I don’t want you here. In case you don’t get the memo... I don’t like you. I—I tolerated you back at Howleroot cause it was your kingdom, and I was scared that if I pushed you away, you could hurt me. But I’m free now. So I’ll spell it out. I. Don’t. Like. You, Igma. You’re pesky... and nosy... and just... Annoying. I do not want to date you. I would rather eat gravel. I pretended long enough, and I’m not doing it anymore. When the sun comes up, get on your horse and leave. Because as you can see, I’m perfectly fine, I’m not in danger... and above all... I don’t need you." She says, and I feel my heart rip apart in my chest.

I immediately remember that night. How... fragile and open she seemed with me. How happy she looked to know that I love her. And— and now... Now, she’s asking me to leave?

I stare at her face... and my eyes stay glued to those eyes. Those defiant... angry eyes. Where is the warmth...? The timidity those eyes always used to carry?

Alana never looked at me like this before... In fact, she... she never spoke to me this way.

She was always shy and flustered. She was so flustered that she could never call me by my name like she has done tonight.

She always called me ’Alpha Igma’ and tonight...

There’s no way she was pretending. This... isn’t like her. Something is wrong. Did someone threaten her to do this?? This isn’t my Alana.

I rush forward and grab her hand, and she nearly recoils in what seems to be disgust. That alone hurts me, but I don’t let go.

"Alana, do you remember what I said to you the night before you left Howlertoot?" I ask, and her eyes widen for a fraction of a second before her expression hardens again, and she looks away.

"Of course I do." She replies, and I raise a brow.

"What... did I say?" I ask, and she looks back at me with wide eyes.

There’s fear in them. Like I’ve gotten close to something she doesn’t want me to find, and I tilt my head in confusion.

I pull her closer to me by the waist, and the fear in her eyes increases as I hold her against myself.

"Alana, if you truly remember... say it to me. Because it seems like you’ve forgotten..." I plead, and her expression hardens.

She suddenly stomps on my foot and shoves me aside.

"I don’t care what you said. I remember, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I don’t want you here, and you need to leave. I’m sorry if I led you on, but I’m an omega. I do whatever it takes to survive, and you were just a shield from Alpha Liandria. For your own sake, I hope you make peace with that soon." She spits, and I freeze over.

"Also, you can have the hut tonight. I’ll rather sleep in the woods than share a hut with you!" She adds as she shoots me one last venomous glare before turning around and marching out of the hut.

I stumble onto the bed behind me and clutch my chest as my heart feels like it’s about to rupture.

What... what just happened??

Is... Is Alana rejecting our bond??