Sawyer

“I’m sorry?”

There was no doubt that Clare Parker, who was staring at me with wide eyes and parted lips, was shocked at my request, but it still irritated me how shocked she was.

After all, considering what was between us, it was reasonable that I would ask her out, wasn’t it? It wasn’t like I could go worship the moon goddess to get a new true mate, was it?

In fact, when I saw her at the start of the school year, locked gazes with her and discovered that she was my Moon Goddess given true mate as well as the other half of me, I had rejected her from the bottom of my heart because I truly had never considered having a mate.

I’d expected her to come after me, trying to use the true mate bond to get close to me but it’d been two weeks already and other than her whispered discussion with Lissa Evans about being interested in dating me in the school cafeteria, she had mentioned nothing about being my true mate. Every time I saw her on the school premises, I steeled myself, getting ready for her to approach me and mention the bond between us while trying to ignore the feeling of anticipation threading through my body as well.

However, she hadn’t.

So I’d had to draw two conclusions. Conclusion one, she knew I was her true mate but wasn’t interested in mating with me, which was impossible because I was a super handsome, rich guy and the future Alpha of my pack. So I had chosen to go with the second conclusion. For whatever reason, Clare Parker had no idea that I was her true mate.

I didn’t like repeating myself, but for her, I found no issues doing so. “Will you go out with me?”

Her expression shifted in a way I hadn't anticipated. Her eyes widened for a moment, a flicker of panic crossing her face. She forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Instead, they darted around the room, as if searching for an escape route. Her hands fidgeted nervously at her sides, and she bit her lower lip, hesitating.

"Uh, that's really nice of you," she started, her voice shaky. "But, um, I have a lot going on right now with school and...pack duties. I don't think I can fit in dating right now." She glanced at me, clearly anxious about my reaction. "I hope you understand. It's not about you, it's just...bad timing."

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As I watched her, the confidence I had felt moments ago ebbed away as I realized she was trying to let me down gently. She looked relieved as she finished speaking, but still tense, as if bracing for my response.

The room became heavy around me as I realized that there was a strong possibility that the reason why Clare hadn’t come to declare that I was her mate was because she wasn’t interested in mating with me.

“But…” My voice sounded croaky, so I cleared my throat and said, “But I thought you said that you were interested in dating me?”

Doubt flitted past her gaze as if she didn’t remember saying that.

“When you were speaking to Evans…I mean, Lissa Evans.” I tried to remind her.

Her brows furrowed as she asked, “You eavesdropped on our conversation?”

I rushed to defend myself. “I didn’t eavesdrop. You were talking in a public space and I have very sensitive ears. When I heard my name, I tuned into your conversations and heard what you said.”

Her face first formed a scowl before it became expressionless, making me realize that she was very unhappy about me overhearing what she said.

Before I could say anything, though, she responded to my question with a nonchalant look. “Well, I’m sorry, but that was just small talk. I’m not really interested in dating anyone right now.”

She said that, but something told me that she was just not interested in dating me. For whatever reason, she wanted nothing to do with me, and I really wanted to know why.

“I don’t really believe you.” I said.

Realizing that I sounded confrontational, like some guy who couldn’t take rejection, I softened my tone. “Can you tell me why you really don’t want to date me?”

She sighed and then looked up, meeting my gaze with those compelling light blue eyes. “I’m truly sorry, but I just…am not ready to date right now. I’m in a new pack and I’m just trying to…get used to the new environment and all. The last thing on my mind is dating anyone.”

Seeing how earnest she sounded, I decided to believe her. “Okay…well, can you consider me when you decide that you’re ready to date again?”

Her eyes widened a smidgen at my words before she nodded, “Alright, no problem. You will be at the top of my list.”

I nodded and stepped away from her, allowing her to leave while believing her words.

However, when I went to the Lounge to get some drinks with my friends so I could forget about her rejection, I finally saw her words for what they were—nothing but lies.

Because the same girl who earnestly told me she was not ready to date, not only flirted all through her bartending shift with my future pack Beta, Elijah Shepherd, she also danced with him for more than thirty minutes after her shift ended.