008

Roxanne's POV

I snorted as I heard Lucia's words. I don't care if he wants a mate or not. In fact, I don't think I want to be with someone like him, a beast who cares about no one but himself. In fact, I'd rather die than be with him. He should just go to hell.

“Are you still with me?” Lucia's voice tore me away from my thoughts and I shifted my gaze to her face.

“Yes, Lucia. I'm here.” I flashed her a forced smile. “And as for your words earlier, I don't care. I don't care to know why he doesn't want a mate. I don't even want to be with someone like him.” I spat with a tone of finality and a startled gasp escaped her lips.

“Come on, Rosebud, don't say that.” She shushed me. “I bet you'll forgive him if you come to know the reason behind his….”

“Don't make me repeat myself, Lucia. I don't care and that's final.”

She exhaled sharply. “Let's go get you something to eat.” She said as she rose up from the bed and I nodded. I knew she did that in an effort to change the conversation and boy, I was happy, because I don't want to talk about him.

All I wanted was to give the beast what he wanted and get the hell out of here. If he ever comes to recognise the mate bond, I still won't accept him. Not after what he did to me.

Lucia took my hands in hers as she led me out of the room, but I pulled my hands out of hers and I heard her sigh. “I'm so sorry.” She whispered quietly, but I pretended not to hear her. I didn't like the way I was acting towards the poor lady, but I just couldn't help it.

I'm afraid that if I wasn't careful enough, my hatred for Alpha Alejandro would be transferred to everyone in this pack. Well, I don't care if it does, because indeed they deserved it.

In no time, we got to the dining room and I sat on one of the seats. I heard her clap her hands and almost immediately, young ladies, some of them around my age, dressed in maids' clothes, began to step out of a room I think was the kitchen. They placed the large trays on the table and my eyes watered at the sight of the meal.

I've never had such meals. The last time I had a good meal was when my mother was still alive and on my birthdays too. Nanny Olivia always made sure that I had a memorable birthday, even though she knows how much my step father forbade her from letting me celebrate my birthdays. One time, he'd have her whipped severely because she went against his words, but the poor woman never let it get to her. And even when I pleaded with her to stop, so she wouldn't be punished, she never listens.

All she ever said was that she made a promise to my mother on her sick bed to look after me and she planned on keeping to her promise even though Alpha Vanthorn hurts her.

As soon as I get my freedom here, I'll take her and her daughter far away from that Pack where no one would ever see us. Even though she's claiming to be strong, I could tell that she was tired of working for my step father, but she had no other choice. If she tried leaving, her sick daughter would die, because my stepfather would take the girl out of the life machine.

I felt someone snap their fingers in my face and when I stared up, I realised that it was Lucia.

“What's wrong?” I let out and she just smiled warmly at me.

“You zoned out.” She replied and I exhaled sharply.

“I did?” I repeated the same words. “I'm sorry.” I whispered quietly as I stared at my palms which were above my laps.

“There is no reason for you to apologise, my dear.” Lucia said in that soft voice of hers. It reminds me about my mother and Nanny Olivia. “You should hurry up and eat your meal so it doesn't get cold, okay?” She urged me and I nodded before digging in.

★

After breakfast , I stepped outside of the house to receive some fresh air. I didn't want to return to my room just yet, because I know for sure that once I get there, I might lose my mind out of frustration and depression.

Lucia had told me to come here, that it was the perfect place for a warm breeze and boy, I must say she's right. I made my way towards the single bench that was there and sat on it.

The place was quiet, save for the chirping of birds and the rustle of dried grass beneath my feet. ‘Perfect’, I thought. This was exactly where I needed to be. A place far away from anyone.

I had only just settled down when footsteps approached. A quiet groan escaped my lips before I could stop them. The last thing I wanted was company. All I needed right now was to be alone.

I glanced up to see an unfamiliar face. Not that I knew everyone in the Pack. At least I know Lucia, Mrs Kaitlyn, Alpha Alejandro ‘the Beast’ and Mason, the Beast's Beta. But those were the only people she knew.

The stranger was new. He was a young man, probably in his late twenties, with an easy confidence in the way he stood.

I didn’t realize how long I’d been watching him until he cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the silence between us. My stomach dropped. ‘Oh no. Had he noticed?

“Like what you see?” He winked at me and almost immediately, heat rushed to my cheeks like a betraying wildfire. I quickly ducked my head, desperate to hide the flush creeping up my neck. My fingers fumbled with the edge of my sleeve, twisting the fabric like it could somehow rewind the last thirty seconds. Why had I just stood there, gaping like he was some museum exhibit?

Maybe if I didn’t look up, the ground would swallow me whole.

The apology tumbled out before I could stop it. “I…I’m sorry.” My voice was barely above a whisper, but just loud enough to make my humiliation complete. I couldn’t meet his eyes. My gaze darted to the floor, the wall, anywhere but his face. “I didn’t mean to—I mean, I wasn’t ‘trying’ to stare, it’s just…”

A nervous laugh escaped me, brittle and awkward. My fingers knotted together, restless. ‘Oh heavens! Why am I like this?’

“You’re… new. I haven’t seen you before.” The words came out in a rush in a clumsy and eager tone. I bit the inside of my cheek, wishing I could vanish on the spot.

“It's fine, darling.” A low rumble escaped his lips. “You are new too. I haven't seen you before. Are you a new maid?”

My brows furrowed slightly into a frown. “A maid?”

He arched a brow. “Yeah. Are you?”

An embarrassing laugh escaped my lips. What makes him think that I was a maid? Or was it because I was poorly dressed? Oh gods! “Of course not. I'm not a maid.”

“Then who are you?” He inquired, as he stared at me with confusion dangling in his eyes.

The words hovered on my tongue; ‘I’m Alpha Alejandro’s mate’....but I swallowed them down like bitter medicine. No. Even the thought of claiming that title made my skin crawl. What would I even say? "Oh, I’m just the unwilling soul sold to a man whose presence alone makes my stomach twist"

Better to say nothing. Better to be nobody at all than ‘his’.

His face contorted into a frown. “Wait a minute, are you the new breeder?”

"Just right." The words scraped out between my teeth. Even now, especially now, on our first gods-damned meeting, he already knew that I was a breeder! I guess my life was more miserable than I thought.

His eyes darkened with an unexplainable expression. It was a look that I couldn't quite place. "Why would you agree to be a breeder for that monster of all people?"