Chapter 18 There he was. All 6 foot of his muscular gorgeousness stood before her with a grin like the cheshire cat, and one eyebrow raised, leaning in the doorway of the elevator. "Well, you've changed Naomi". Her initial shock turned to anger as she sensed the smugness radiating off him. "You have got to be kidding" she responded feeling fury rising within her "That's what have to say to me? For fucks sake" she muttered turning and walking off in the opposite direction. you Naomi always wondered what her first reaction to seeing him again would be. She thought it would be fear or horror bur the wave of anger that had swept over her at that moment shocked her. It wasn't helping that Artemis was in her head telling her to go back and see their mate. He's so close she was whining in her head god he smells like heaven. Naomi had to tell Artemis to calm the fuck down before she threw her in a cold shower. Naomi had just got as far at the sliding doors to the outside world, away from that smug alpha when she felt and arm snake around her waist, stopping her in her tracks and then pulling her against a hard muscular torso. "Oh no you don't sweetheart" Theon said close to her ear, the feel of his breath on her neck sending a shiver down her spine. "I've spent three years looking for you. You aren't going anywhere." Struggling against his grip Naomi was becoming more infuriated, "Let go of me before I rip you apart" she said through gritted teeth. At that same moment she stamped backwards onto his foot, harder than he thought she could, and it achieved her aim, she felt his arms let go of her as he cried out. Whirling around to face him Naomi was ready for all the negative emotions she had been repressing over the last three years to come to the surface. She was ready to feel hate and resentment and bitterness upon seeing him but she just felt like she had found something she hadn't even known she was missing. It was like something clicked inside and gave her comfort instead. Artemis had never been calmer than she was at this moment. Theon seeing that she wasn't about to fly at him with a punch grabbed her to him and wrapped both his big strong arms abound her, she could feel his heart beating in his chest and he kept placing gentle kisses on the top of her head. "Naomi. I've looked for you for so long. You look different and you smell different but your still my girl aren't you." She nodded in agreement. Why was she nodding in agreement? This damn mate bond and his scent. That was the problem. She needed to back up at least 10 feet from him to try and regain some control over herself. 1/3 Realising her reaction was all kinds of wrong Naomi freed herself from his strong grip and backed away from him. "Oh no you don't!" she shouted at him, "You don't get to use the bond like that and try and manipulate me" Theon held up his hands in mock surrender. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry, can we talk?" "No." Was Naomi's simple reply as she started to walk away again. She did owe him anything and every step she took away from him gave her a feeling of relief. Then she realised she was missing an opportunity. Turning she walked back to him. "Actually, I have something to say." Said Naomi seeing a proper chance to escape this mess. I, Naomi Clarke formerly of the Halfmoon pack reject you Alpha Then as my mate" Instead of responding Theon stood with an insufferably smug look on his face. "Well, this puts us in an interesting place" he said raining his left eyebrow. "I could refuse, which is what I want to do but then I have a feeling even if I accept nothing will happen. There has to be a reason nothing happened in the first place don't you think?" His attitude was beginning to grate on Naomis nerves and she found herself saying through gritted teeth "Accept the rejection or so help me goddess I wont be responsible for what happens next" Theon laughed softly. "It wont do anything. Clearly the goddess has a plan for us. Naomis eyes grew darker as Artemis was trying to push to the surface. In Naomi's head she was growling and asking to be set free to tear the smile off his face. "Fine. I accept your rejection" he said calmly. For a second Naomi was elated. In her mind she was going home for Alex and they were going to run again but then she realised nothing happened. There was no pain, no sense of loss. Not even a flicker of emotion in her to tell her of the loss of the bond. Theon stood looking insufferably smug. "Wow. See we have an unbreakable bond. What are they once, twice in a generation?" He stepped forward tyring to reach to for Naomi again. She stood rooted to the spot frustration and hurt welling up inside her. Tears threated to spill out of her eyes but she didn't want Theon to see he could have such an emotional effect on her. "This is not fair." She said with a look that could murder Theon on the spot. "Why couldn't you stay in New York? I was so happy and now you've ruined it all" Theon looked genuinely saddened by her reaction. "Can we at least talk please?" he asked sounding hopeful "Not right now." Naomi responded shaking her head. "This is too much. I need to go. Just give me a day okay?" and with that she turned and walked away from Theon, leaving him stood staring at the spot where Naomi had stood, already feeling like there was a hole in him that she had filled by just being there moments ago. Bonus