Page 82 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

“No! You don’t get to do this!” Her voice cracked.

Athena’s chest rose and fell with ragged fury. “You don’t get to waltz back into my life, glower at the people I talk to, who I smile at, and act like I’m some lost property you suddenly remembered you left behind.”

“I’m trying to protect you!”

“From what? A friendly conversation?” She shoved him hard enough to make him stagger. “Or is this just another excuse of yours?”

Marcus went very still. The only sound was their ragged breathing and the distant rush of the river.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to…” He ran a hand through his hair again, stepping back. “I just—I couldn’t stand seeing him with you. I lost it.”

Athena blinked. “You’re jealous?”

His silence said enough.

She tilted her head in surprise. “Why?”

“What do you want me to say?” he raised his voice.

“Anything!” she screamed. She had had enough.

“You never say anything. You never explain anything to me, like why you act this way toward me now and even before. But you know what, Marcus? I won’t let you keep doing this with me.”

She started to walk away.

“Athena,” he grabbed her arms.

“What do you want, Marcus?” she questioned, her voice rising high.

“You!” he screamed out.

“No, you don’t want me. You are simply angry.”

“Because you don’t understand how I feel.”

“Then make me! Why did you push me away six years ago?” she exhaled.

“Because I was trying to protect you!” The words burst out loudly from him, and he let out a long breath like he had been holding in the words for a long time.

Athena fell silent, watching him with her green eyes in confusion. She stared into his eyes, and his emotions shone through him.

“What do you mean by that?” she managed to finally say.

“Tell me, Marcus,” she breathed.

Marcus rubbed a shaking hand over his face like he struggled to piece his words together.

Finally, he spoke.

“I overheard the elders discussing with my father,” he said.

“After... after that night. They were talking to him about accommodating witches in the pack. He had explained that he wasn’t against it, seeing that the pack was in a way indebted to witches.”

“But they were adamant and claimed that witches were manipulative and could one day be a threat to the pack. A particular elder had taken an interest in you. They said you were dangerous. That your bloodline was too strong. And your magic was unpredictable.”

Her breath caught in her throat, and her mouth parted in horror.

“It was why I couldn’t have you close to me anymore. I didn’t want them to raise any more suspicion about you. But then, word had spread that your magic had surfaced. And the elders had decided to bind your magic.”