Chapter 40

"You are my mate!" Xander's yell ended in a howl. His body shook, my rejection pounding through us both. "I am your Alpha! You can try to reject me, but I won't let you."

Ridiculous man. Couldn't he see I didn't want to do this as much as he didn't want it done? Couldn't he see me breaking into pieces in front of him? The first love is self love.

How could I love anyone if I didn't love myself enough to stand up for me? Being forced to just accept the decisions Xander wanted to make for my life was, at best, enabling his superiority complex, and at worst, spiraling into a toxic relationship. I had enough of men deciding they knew the way the course of my life should play out.

"I am a person, not a doll that you can just play house with." My words were gritted out through my clenched teeth. The pain was overwhelming. I struggled to my feet. "We could have discussed this, like adults in an actual relationship. But instead you decided to take away my autonomy. And still you refuse my r