Denied by Destiny Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond novel Chapter 335

~ Josie ~

Just concentrate on work, by the time you get home he will have gone. He will have grabbed his clothes, his belongings and exited your life forever.

I didn’t expect him to be at the bottom of my stairs this morning, thankfully I wore one of my new outfits…something I bought to make me feel better. Not that it did…but sweet justice; I knew I looked cute in it and it was the perfect time to see him again.

I returned home to change after training for about twenty minutes, listening intently to avoid running into him again. I’ve spent the last few days crying over a male that didn’t want me so why should I even bother to see him.

Why would he even want to see me anyway, he fled like a thief in the night…I’m surprised he is even back.

I’ve worked extra shifts, putting all my energy into work. It takes my mind off the pain, rejection and growing anger within me. Anger at him…but mainly anger at myself for letting things get this far, for falling for him. For allowing myself to be vulnerable.

Doctor Abel has been more attentive than usual, which really is saying something. He’s not left me on my own at all and constantly checks my body temperature.

I’ve assured him that I feel much better and the almost hypothermia is a thing of the past. But once a doctor, always a doctor.

Busying myself with restocking the medical cabinets on the ward, I hear footsteps in the distance…Dad’s voice laughing. Doctor Abel hears him also and makes a point of walking down the corridor to greet him.

“Alpha, Knox…what can we do for you?” I freeze as I reach up to place clean laundered linen on a shelf. Oh goddess, what was he doing here.

Don’t give him the time of day Josie, don’t look into those dark brown broody eyes. Stay strong.

That was the plan, until I forgot just how delicious that scent of his is. Especially in this sterile smelling environment, that leather and sandalwood aroma completely overpowers my senses.

Alone again, I place my hands down on my work top…letting that inner stress of his return settle back down. Determined to push myself through the rest of my shift without thinking of him…I find that even more difficult when he clears his throat behind me.

My resolve starts to crumble as his scent enters my safe place…my little cupboard in the wall.

I slowly turn, placing my hands firmly behind me and trapping them between the edge of the worktop and my lower back…because I want to touch him. I want to run my hands through his hair, touch his muscular arms…taste those lips…

“Can I help you with something?” My voice is a little more shrill than usual.

“We need to talk…” It isn’t lost on me that he is wearing the same clothes he left in. I wonder where he went…

“Talk?” I scoff out, the time for talking was in the meadow. He said all he needed to say.