CHAPTER 5 – LOVE CONFESSION

Sloane P.O.V.

One week has passed at light speed, and with the preparations for the events I haven’t had much time to run after Nathan, who is purposely avoiding me. I have been to the Glowing River Pack every day for the last seven days, and I have caught only a few glimpses of him.

Today the combat boot camp starts, and I will move with the kids to the Glowing River’s packhouse for two weeks, for the entire duration of the camp. I feel terrified and excited at the same time; I will have more opportunities to see him, but that also means he’ll have more chances to reject me, if that is his plan.

We get to the pack borders, and the guards let us through. We are travelling with two full buses, it’s going to be a nightmare keep all these kids in line, but I brought along a fair number of warriors, plus Daniel, and we should be enough to keep them at bay.

The buses stop at the packhouse’s entrance, where Axel is waiting for us, with his Beta and the packhouse staff. I am a little bit surprised by his appearance; he is an Alpha, he didn’t need to come in person to welcome us, he could have let his Beta or his staff handle it. I wonder what game he’s playing at.

“Alpha Sloane, children, welcome to the Glowing River Pack! I am very happy that our packs have this opportunity to strengthen our bond of friendship, and I hope you’ll enjoy your stay here. My staff will show you to your rooms, and we will start with the opening ceremony at eleven.”

Axel keeps his speech short, which is a good thing, these children are too excited to listen to anything. I hope they will be less frenzied when the lessons start, otherwise it is going to be complete chaos.

Axel approaches me and takes my luggage from me.

“Come, I’ll show you to your room,” he says amiably.

“You don’t need to do that, I can ask the staff..,” I reply frigidly, trying to snatch my luggage back.

“I want to do that,” he says firmly, not listening to my complaints, and leading the way upstairs. He’s definitely up to something.

We climb to the second floor, and we make our way to the end of the long corridor, where he opens the last door on the left side and walks inside.

“This will be your room; I hope you like it. Mine is the opposite one, so that if you need anything, you can easily find me,” he says, smiling sweetly.

I don’t like the idea of him sleeping so close to my room, but I guess I can’t request a room change, it would just be too rude, we still need to cooperate for the duration of the event, and I don’t want to start on the wrong foot.

“The room looks perfect, thank you. I want to thank you again also for accepting my proposal and hosting the event; I really appreciate it,” I say formally.

“I did it for me really, if this was my only chance to spend time with you, I wasn’t going to pass on it. I like you Sloane, I want you to be my Luna, and I will do everything I can to have you by my side.”

He tries cupping my face with his right hand, but I immediately move back, a little freaked out by his words and his move.

He doesn’t practically know me, we just interacted a few times, and he wants me to become his luna. Plus, I am an Alpha, why would he ever think I’ll accept to become his Luna?

“I am sorry, but I am not interested in you romantically speaking, and I don’t plan to become anyone’s Luna, I am an Alpha, I will not renounce to my title,” I say with determination, hoping that he gets the message and decides to pursue someone else.

I have a mate out there; I am not going to start a love relationship with anyone but my mate. Plus, Axel is not to be trusted, he is a playboy, he’s probably just planning to make me one of his next victims, and I won’t let him do that to me.

“You are strong and determined, it makes me like you even more,” he replies with a seductive smirk, “you don’t need to reciprocate my feelings now, but I can assure you that I will win you over, and I can’t wait for the day that I will make you mine,” he says, gently tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. Yuk! That just makes me want to burn my ear off.

He doesn’t wait for my reply and exits the room, closing the door on his way out.

I take a deep calming breath, my heart hammering in my chest; that was intense. Why did HE have to say THOSE words to me? Why isn’t my mate trying to claim me like he just did?

I am both unnerved at that self-assured Alpha, and sad for the crappy love situation I am in.

I fall face down on the big bed, punching my fists in frustration. I need to find Nathan, I need to get him alone and talk things out between us, I can’t keep staying in this limbo, where I don’t know where we stand at. I still have an hour before the opening ceremony; I need to hurry.

I put on a sexy outfit, hoping that my curves can lure him in a little. A red sweetheart-neck strapless corset top, paired with skinny jeans and black flats. I go to the training grounds, hoping to find him there, and sure enough, I see him talking to two other warriors, just at the entrance of the gymnasium.

They stop talking when they see me approach, and I take it as my chance.

“Mr Anderson, can I talk to you for a minute?” I try to keep my voice emotionless, although I am a ball of wrecking nerves inside.

“I am busy now,” he replies coldly, not even looking at me.

It appears my curves have no effect on him, maybe I’m just not his type. I don’t miss the lustful gaze of the other warriors, who are shamelessly checking me out; so, it is not my problem after all, it is all him.

“If you don’t mind, I insist; it is important,” I continue stubbornly.

“I do mind, as I told you, I am busy.” He doesn’t give in; his cold tone now laced with an underlying of anger.

“Come on, Nathan, don’t be rude, you are talking to an Alpha, you must be respectful,” one of the older warriors scolds him, before they both nod politely and leave us alone, much to Nathan’s annoyance.

He keeps looking anywhere but me, his hands stuffed in his pockets, a tense air between us.

“Didn’t you want to talk? Then talk.” His tone is as glacial as ever, colder than the winter itself.