The Alpha's Rebel

Chapter 14

It's no surprise to me that Maddox makes the first move. Taking two giant steps forward, he's standing right in front of me, a whole head taller than I am, and I tilt my neck back to look at him.

My hearts starts beating rapidly in my chest at Maddox's close proximity. His body has never been this close to me. Our chest are just barely touching. He's close enough where I can hear his heart beating in rhythm with mine. At least I'm not the only one.

I'm not nervous. My heart may be pounding, but I stand up tall, not looking away from Maddox's intense gaze. The racing heart is from the anticipation and excitement of what could happen next.

Maddox and I continue to stare at each other, daring the other to make the next move. I smirk, ever so slightly tilting my head to the side. I made a huge move tonight; Maddox can make the next few little ones.

He brings a hand up and brushes my hair out of his face, his fingertips grazing my cheek bone. The feeling sends an array of sparks through my face, and I close my eyes, leaning into his touch. After tucking my hair behind my ear, he brings his palm to my cheek.

I open my eyes to stare into his again. Their normal color is a dark, dark brown, so it's already hard to tell how much control his wolf has over him. They're pitch black right now, though. There's no denying that his wolf is just barely on the verge of taking full control.

"Harper," he whispers. I inhale sharply at the sound of my name. The way it sounds coming between his lips weakens my knees.

I want to hate it. Nothing weakens me at the knees. Not even Thay. He brought on emotions I never thought possible, but I was never left feeling weak around him. I never felt like my legs would give our from under me. Thay left me begging for more while still remaining in complete control.

Then suddenly Maddox comes along and I can barely stand up on my own two feet. I feel like I'm going to fall apart if something doesn't happen soon.

Like I said, I want to hate it, but with Maddox touching me, I can't.

I can't hate something that feels this good.

After accepting the mate bond, all the feelings seemed to explode within me. Every touch of from Maddox sets my skin on fire, and I want him. Every part of my body is aching to be explored by him, begging to feel hand against my skin or a graze of his fingertips.

I thought the strongest thing I would ever feel is in my love for Thay. I feel like a traitor for so letting that so easily change. I feel like I'm betraying Thay right now as Maddox holds my face in his palm.

I'm not betraying Thay, and I need to stop think about him right now. If things are going to work out with Maddox, I can't constantly compare the two of them.

Thay is and always will be my first love, and he will never not be my best friend. Maddox is my mate, and I have no idea what's in store for me and him. All I know is I can't ruin it so soon because of what I still feel for Thay.

"You drive me fucking crazy," Maddox whispers. The sound alone sends a shiver through my spine. Maddox smirks.

I raise an eyebrow, a small smirk settling on my lips. "What are you gonna do about it?" I ask seductively, watching his eyes impossibly darken even more.

With one hand still cupping my cheek, he smashes his lips to mine and holy shit.

My mind can't even comprehend what's happening right now. My body takes control, knowing exactly how to respond to Maddox. My lips are moving furiously against his.

His free arm snakes around my waist, flushing my body against his. I wrap my arms his neck, holding myself to him as tightly as I can. His hand moves from my cheek to the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my already messy hair.

I thought what I was feeling for him couldn't get any stronger, but it did. It is. Every emotion for him is ricocheting through my body. My skin is tingling, my heart is pounding, my head is on cloud nine.

Maddox and I stumble as he backs me into a tree, hoisting me up so I'm forced to wrap my legs around his waist. He impossibly deepens the kiss, pressing his body harder up against mine.

I'm so high off this kiss I don't even realize the rough bark of the tree scraping against my back.

When we finally pull apart for air, I lean my forehead against his shoulder. I'm taking deep breathes in and out, and I hear Maddox's husky breathing against my neck. We stay in this position, my back up against a tree and legs around his waist, until our breathing has returned to normal.

I pull my head away from Maddox's shoulder, meeting his dark eyes. The sight of the lust in them causes a smirk to grow on my lips. His eyes glance at them, and I can tell all he's thinking about it kissing me again.

"You handle losing control very well," I whisper, twining my fingers in the hair at the base of his neck. He smirks at his words, and my eyes stare at the way the corner of his lips turn up.

Those lips are beautiful.

I start thinking about what our next move is. We could go and complete the mating process. It sounds exactly like something I would do.

I can't, though. Not tonight. I don't want to throw myself headfirst into being in a relationship with my mate. I was so stubborn about not wanting one for so long. I fought Maddox and the mate bond as hard as I could.

And I gave in.

I'm not mad that I did. I don't hate myself for it. I hate that I hurt Thay by giving in, but I know one day he'll meet his mate and everything will be okay.

I can't go into things with Maddox all at once. No matter how on edge my senses are from being so close to him and after the kiss we just had. I need to take my time. I would feel wrong breaking up with Thay and completing the mating process all in one night. I don't want it to happen like that.

And I tell Maddox this.

"I don't want to do things quickly," I whisper, and the smirks fall from both of our faces. Not because we're upset, but because this is a real, serious conversation about us. "After everything I put you through and how hard I fought the mate bond and breaking up with Thay—"

Maddox's growl cuts me off.

"Hey," I warn, narrowing my eyes.

"I can't stand the thought of you with another man," he says under his breath.

I unwrap my legs from around his waist and attempt to stand back on my feet. If it wasn't for the tree behind me, I would crumple from how weak I still feel from our kiss.

"Maddox," I say sharply, "Thay and I have been together for almost five years. I don't regret it, and I'm not going to pretend like it didn't happen." I watch him struggle to remain in control as I talk about Thay and I together, but I keep talking. Maddox needs to know how close Thay and I are, and he doesn't get a say in the matter. "He's been one of my best friends since preschool. We may not be together anymore, but he will always be one of my best friends. I chose to be with you, but that doesn't mean I'm cutting Thay out of my life. Understood."

Maddox struggles to regain his composure, his breaths ragged and uneven. I bring my hands to cup his cheeks, forcing him to look into my eyes.

"I chose you," I emphasize, because that's the biggest problem. He's thinking about me with Thay, and he needs to realize that I'm with him now. Not Thay. "I chose to be with you, okay."

And for good measure, I stand on my toes and press my lips to his again.