The Princess's Unwanted Mate (Book 8 of the Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

11

She nodded. She'd figured as much. Mating him when she was Dominic's mate would be very difficult to get through. It would make her an emotional wreck and it wouldn't be a good way to start a new relationship.

"Go talk to him, Gabby. You need to figure this out before you decide you want to mate me. If you need to stay here for a while, you're welcome to," he said quietly.

She nodded and followed him inside the house. He took her back to a room and she walked inside. He didn't follow her in.

Her father and Daniel both were inside and they came forward and hugged her.

"Gabby, next time you take off, please tell us where you're going," Caleb said.

"You figured it out," she reminded him.

"Rules are rules, Gabby. You need to follow them," Daniel told her.

"Alpha Axel said Dominic is here?" she asked.

"Yes. Do you want to talk to him?" Daniel asked her.

"Yes." Hopefully he'd cooperate this time.

"I'll take you to him," Caleb said, wrapping an arm around her.

She followed him down the hall, and into another room. Dominc's scent hit her immediately and she breathed it in. She sighed.

"Do you want me to stay or go?" Caleb asked her.

"Go."

He nodded and left the room.

She turned back to Dominic, and frowned. He looked worn out and stressed, his hair a disaster.

He stared at her for a long moment. "Gabby, I need you to tell me what you truly want."

She sighed softly. "I don't think I can do this. I've dreamed so many times of you telling me you don't want me. I can't do this."

"I wish you would have come to me when you turned eighteen," he told her softly.

"Maybe it would have been different then." She was fully crying now.

He wanted to go to her and hold her tightly in his arms. His urge to comfort her was very strong, but he knew this wasn't going to work. Deep down, he knew. He hated it, but it was the truth. "Say it."

She whimpered. "I, Gabrielle Remington, reject you, Dominic Beckham, as my mate."

"I accept your rejection," he whispered back, feeling his heart crush into a million pieces.

She gasped and sat down, and he walked out of the room. His gaze met Daniel's as he walked by. "She needs you. I am leaving. Take my things back with you. I don't know when I'll be back."

Daniel nodded. "I'm sorry."

Dominic didn't respond. Instead he walked outside and shifted, allowing his clothes to shred in the process. He didn't care. He didn't care about anything right now except the pain and heartache that he was experiencing. He disappeared into the woods. He'd eventually find his own way home.

Gabby felt her father's arms close around her. Her heart was broken and she'd expected that, but her heart had technically been broken for the last five years. It was over now and she was glad. Now she could begin to heal.

"I made a mess out of this," she said to Caleb.

"You did but it is what it is. At least there will be somebody else eventually," he said.

She nodded. At the moment she didn't want anybody else. But she knew she wouldn't always feel that way. Eventually she'd want someone else, just not now. She hoped Dominic would get another mate at some point too but who knew. "Where did he go?"

"He left."

She nodded. She wouldn't ask any more. It was no longer any of her business.

"Gabby, when was the last time you slept?" Caleb asked her.

"I don't know, it's been a few days," she murmured.

"Why don't you rest and we'll leave and go home in the morning."

"Okay, I'm fine with that."

"What about food? When was the last time you ate anything?"

"I don't know."

"You need to do that first and then rest," Caleb said.

"Okay." She really wasn't hungry but she knew she needed to eat. She knew the only reason she wasn't hungry was because she was so upset. It had been over twenty-four hours since she'd last ate.

"Well, let's go get some food," Caleb said.

The minute she walked out the door. A scent hit her. It was intoxicating and reminded her a bit of the night she'd realized Dominic was her mate. But this scent was different. It smelled different. "Oh no," she muttered.

Caleb glanced at her. "What's wrong?"

"I really don't want a second chance so fast." Why now?

"Your second chance mate is here?" Caleb stared at her.

She nodded.

"Well, given what happened with the first one, you need to just dive into this wholeheartedly because putting it off is not a good idea."

He was right. She didn't want him to be right. But he was.

"Just ask whoever it is to take it slow."

She nodded. "Let's go eat please."

"Okay but he's going to come looking for you."

"I know. He can come find me." Why oh why did she have to find her mate here of all places?

Daniel looked up as they walked down the hall.

Caleb met his gaze. Her second chance is here

His eyes flickered in surprise. Does she know who?

No she's just caught his scent
She's hungry. She needs to sleep.

Daniel nodded. "Axel is in his office. Let me see what I can do about food for us."