TWO

_AVA_

"How... How... How are you my mate?" He stammered, his face dark and contorted with rage.

I hadn't expected him to be happy to meet me, but being this furious because he met his mate was weird and it threw me off for a moment.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to remain calm and be as polite as possible.

"What do I mean? I'm asking what sort of joke this is, and you're questioning me? Who the hell are you to question me?!" He fired at me, furious.

I stepped back subconsciously.

I felt scared.

I wasn't raised being yelled at, so I didn't know how to respond to someone who had so much rage filled inside of him.

I decided to stand my ground, even though the aura emitting from him was strong and filled the whole atmosphere. It doesn't even help that my suddenly awakened wolf was trying to leap out to jump on the stranger's body.

"I am Ava Chester, daughter of Alpha Chester of the Silvermoon Pack, and you shall not speak to me in that tone. I forbid you." I said sternly, tightening my facial muscles.

"You forbid me?" He started walking towards me, and I stepped back continuously. 

"You forbid me?" He repeated, following me into my room, not stopping in his tracks even for a moment.

I got caught up, the back of my legs hitting the cushion at the foot of my bed.

He raised his hand and I looked down, not sure of what to expect, but I felt a light touch on my cheek instead.

His fingers felt light and feathery on my cheek, almost in a loving, tender way, before it moved to the back of my neck and he yanked my hair.

"You can't forbid me, Princessa. I am your mate after all." His fingertips danced on my neck, and he leaned in to sniff my scent.

I held my breath, willing myself to not breathe. There was something about him that seemed to make the hairs on my skin stand.

"Leave. My. Room. Before I make my father come get you himself." I ordered, with just the right amount of courage to conceal how scared I was in this moment.

What rank does this guy hold for his aura to make me feel so small beside him when I am of full royal blood?

"Your father?" He asked, a tinge of amusement in his tone.

"Yes, my father." I stood my ground, refusing to cower before him.

"Oh trust me, little bird, your father can't do anything to save you." He paused just by my earlobe, "And if I so wish it, I can have you to myself here and now, and no one would bat an eyelid."

I wanted to think otherwise, but from the power his words carried I knew he was probably right and that scared me.

I felt his hand on the bodice of my gown, and he squeezed the side of my stomach gently, then my waist, his face still hovering by the hollow side of my neck.

"I hate the fact that you are my mate, and that I'll be seeing you downstairs at the mating ceremony." He said, and I could hear that tone of rage in his words distinctively.

Wait... Forget his tone.

What was he talking about?

He'll be seeing me downstairs at the ceremony? As what? As a guest? Did he come with Alpha Hayes' entourage?? If so, what was he doing up here, touching and caressing me?!

"I'd love nothing more than to reject you here and now, but it's going to be fatal for my Pack, yours, and every other pack involved." He paused, and drew back.

I realized only now who he was, as it clicked in my head that only an Alpha could emit this type of aura that made me want to cower and hide. It was Hayes himself.

I hadn't thought about the possibility of the man I was betrothed to being my mate because it could be anyone, right? But with what he just said and the strong aura emitting from him, I was sure of one thing.

I had been in Hayes presence all this while—Of the person I was to be mated to in a few minutes. Hayes Reid, Alpha and Lycan King of the Eastern Packs?! The one I've heard so much about?

And what more?

He is my mate?!!

This has got to be a cruel joke.

Tears burned at the back of my eyes.

This wasn't how I had imagined the beginning of our relationship at all.

"To fulfill my duty I will go through with the mating ceremony, but I will never accept nor acknowledge you as my mate. You're not worthy of being that." He completed, and tears burned at the back of my eyes.

How could his words sting so bad when I've just met him? Is this the mate bond whatever where you feel everything being done by your mate in a more intense manner?

"What– what do you mean?" I stammered, trying to not break down in front of him when I had just met him. "Unworthy? How am I unworthy? You don't even know me."

"I don't need to know who you are, little bird; and even if I know you over and over again for several decades, you'll never be worthy of being called my mate. None of you female folks do." He completed, finally letting go of my waist.

I felt stupid. Useless, even.

"Hayes!"

I heard someone yell faintly and by the way he turned his head to look at the door, I could tell he heard it too.

I glanced at the door, waiting for whoever was yelling his name to show up in the hallway.

"Son of a—" Hayes muttered under his breath, running his hand through his hair. He left my side and walked away, headed for the door.

I trailed behind him, curious to see what was going on and feed answers to the several questions floating around in my head.

"Fuck, Hayes! I thought I had lost you there for a bit!" The person who had been yelling his name exclaimed as soon as Hayes walked out of my room and he saw him.

"The ceremony starts in less than five minutes, we have to hurry and get you seated before your betrothed arrives." He added.

Hayes turned to look at me, as if on cue, and he smirked.

"You heard him... The ceremony is about to start. Get ready for hell, my bride."