Two weeks has gone by like a blink of an eye. Everyone was quickly adjusting to my soldiers and my stay. Aella and Isa, on the other hand, were still quite upset. Aella still won't talk to me. Isa kept throwing glares at me whenever she sees me. Beta Kane has been finding every chance he could get to speak with Aella.

It was getting a little irritating. He would find an excuse to speak to 'his' alpha. I don't like that Beta very much. Aella and I were outside watching Nixon train my soldiers. After a moment, Aella snorted and I turned to her an arch an eyebrow. She shrugged her shoulders and I decided to let it go. I turned back to the training. A moment later, she did it again. I rolled my eyes and turned to look at her.

"What is on your mind?" I asked.

"Nothing." She responded bitterly.

"There must be something on your mind because you keep making these sounds that are starting to irritate me. Now, you are going to tell me one way or another. Don't make me force it out of you." I turned to face her fully.

She nodded her head. "Alright. Fine. Your soldiers are well trained soldiers but we have been doing this routine daily enough for me to see what you really do as a leader. Have you stopped to think that maybe your soldiers are exhausted from all the training? When I place my soldiers on a training schedule, they have at least some time to themselves and to spend with their family.

How long exactly are you planning on staying here? Forever? Eternity? You can't change my mind. If no one is going to challenge me then it is best if I remain as an Alpha and you order your soldiers to go back home to their family. You can't be here watching over me. We don't need you. I don't need you."

"You want a challenge, Aella?" I asked as I crept closer. My chest now pressed against hers, forcing her to look up at me. "Then fight me. If I beat you, your title is mine."

I saw a brief moment of hesitation before it flashed back to her fiery attitude. I hadn't seen that attitude in days. I was glad to see it. I took out my key and unlocked both of our hands. She rubbed her wrist before taking a step back.

By now, people were gathering around us. Curious. I placed my hand on the bottom hem of my shirt and lifted it over my head. I didn't miss the way her gaze ran over my body before she blinked and the lustful look disappeared.

I crossed my arms across my chest. "Let's see what you got."

She was quick. I haven't seen fast speed like hers in years. She successfully landed a few punches on my face and body. I quickly caught on and deflected the moves before landing one on her stomach. I heard her grunt in pain.

If I was right on this, she knew that strength was not in her favor but agility was. She will try to land hits with her speed. I needed to be fast. Her kicks came soon after her fist. She landed a blow onto my thigh and I buckled a little.

When she went down in attempt to knock me flat on my back, I jumped to evade her move. So far, she has landed several punches on me. I could do the same but after hitting her in the guts I felt bad and I found myself just deflecting her moves.

"You're weak, General." She taunted.

"Weak?" I repeated as I blocked another move.

"You're weak and a pathetic excuse for a General. It makes me wonder what will happen if you found your mate?" She taunted.

My heart turned cold. My eyes narrowed into slits and a snarl left my lips. "Don't, Aella."

"Did I hit a nerve? So you did find your mate? Did she leave you because you were weak? Weak and poor excuse of a mate?" She taunted and because I was so absorbed in her words, she knocked me to the ground with a punch.

"Aella, don't." I said again.

She smirked as she came over and straddle my hips, lifting up her fist she was about to punch me again.

"Nobody wants you, General." She said.

A growl left me and I flipped us over. I lost control. My wolf was angry from the rejection. My heart was hurting. I punched her in the cheek, knocking her out cold. I took a step back immediately the moment I saw what I did. I looked up and saw everyone looking at me.

I had defeated their Alpha.

But my heart was still hurting and in turmoil. I felt all kinds of emotions.

Guilt.

Weak.

Sick.

Stupid.

Pain.

"Take her to her room." I ordered. "Make sure she is alright."

Nixon stepped up. "Did you want me to tie her up?"

"No." I simply said before I burst into a run and shifting in mid-air as I ran into the woods.

I needed to control my feelings. The image of me letting go of something so feral, scared me. Aella's words haunt me with every step I took. She was right. I was worthless and weak. That was why my mate didn't want me. That was why she slept around almost every night. That was why I felt pain.

I ran until I couldn't any longer. I then turned around and headed back towards Aella's territory. The sun has fallen. I grabbed a spare short that hung on the clothes line, slipping it on before heading it inside. My mood wasn't any better.

Aella

I awoke to pain on my cheek. I grimaced as I moved to touch it. Sitting up in my bed I rubbed at my cheek.

"You shouldn't have done that."

I glanced up to see it was Major Nixon. I glared at him. Done what? He was the asshole. I can't believe he actually won.

"Go to hell." I muttered.

He sighed and pulled a chair up to my side of the bed. "I'm going to tell you a secret. I hope this will change your opinion on General Noor. He is a fair male. He might act like an ass sometimes but he isn't."

I stopped rubbing at my cheeks to look at him--if he had something about the General than I wanted to know.

"You must promise not to tell anyone." He said. "He doesn't like anyone knowing."

I nodded my agreement.

"General met his mate in London. He went searching for her for years and when he found her. Do you know what she did? She slept with him. The next morning, he asked her to come back home with him but when she learned he was nothing more than a Gamma at that time she rejected him. She believed he was weak with a Gamma title." Nixon said. "He wasn't the same since. He fought for years and became reckless with his life. He never laughed or joked until he met you."

Major Nixon sighed. I remained quiet as I watched him stand up. His eyes lowered in disappointment.

"Don't talk about his mate. Rejection hurts every second of the day and the pain never goes away." Major Nixon said as he walked out the door.

I was left to contemplate the new given information about the General. I never knew he was rejected. I only taunted him so that I could get an advantage. I didn't realize how close to home I hit him. My gaze flickered back to the picture sitting on the dresser and my heart twisted.

Gabriel.

He was my mate.

I swallowed hard as now the guilt now was crawling all over my body and burning into my heart. My words flashed throw my mind and I felt guilty and ashamed. How could I stoop that low? I stood up and went to the bathroom. A bruise was now forming on my cheek.

He had beaten me fair in square-even after I taunted him.

God, why am I such a jerk? How can I do this? I, of all people, shouldn't have used his mate to taunt him. I might not understand his kind of pain but I understand the pain of losing one.

After taking a shower and eating. I went to go find him but his soldier told me that he hasn't come back from his run. I nodded and headed back up the stairs to my bedroom. I was now free from being held captive but how come I felt not happiness but sadness about all this? I stood at my window and looked out, waiting for him to appear. I needed to talk to him. I needed to apologize.

Hours later and he still hasn't come back. The moon was high in the starry night sky. I yawned as I leaned my forehead against the cool glass window, my bottom resting on the ledge of the window as I watched. My eyes were slowly drooping as sleep was pulling in fast. I tried blinking it away but I soon fell asleep waiting for him.

I awoke sometime later to see that I was moved to the bed and tucked under the covers. He must've come in to the room. I can still smell his scent. I turned to see if he had returned to bed and was sleeping on his side of the bed but was disappointed when I saw he was not in bed with me. I felt a painful stab in my heart. I had hoped he would've come back to my bed and I can't help but feel this huge weight of sadness washing over me as I lay in bed awake now.