chapter 19

Mira’s POV

My heart pounded in my chest as I stumbled to keep pace with Navier's quick, hard steps, his hand clamped around mine tightly, as he dragged me upstairs, taking two steps at a time.

I managed to tug my hand free at the top of the stairs, panting soundlessly.

“Where are you taking me to?” I gestured in quick, desperate succession.

He didn’t even glance at my hands, and in response, he growled so deep that I fearfully placed my hand back in his tight hold, regaining my position, in order not to anger him further. My mind raced with a series of questions as we went upstairs.

This was jealousy, it had to be. Because, why else would he beat up Cole like that if he wasn't possessive over me? I felt a wave of stomach-tingling hope coupled with fear wash over me.

Navier shoved me into his room and the door slammed shut with a bang that echoed in my bones. My back hit the wall hard enough to knock the air from my lungs.

“Undress”

‘W….….h……a……t!’

“I said take those clothes off, whore.” He says, shoving me against the wall and trapping me there.

Whore?

I flinched, at the insult. I struggled to comprehend the reason for that until I saw the rage, and hatred in his eyes.

Foolishly, I thought it was jealousy I saw in his eyes earlier. That I mattered enough to make him lose control.

My chest tightened, as reality crashed into me like a truck. I’d have preferred he struck me instead.

‘W…..a….i... .t!’ I forced myself to talk incoherently, I had to clear up this misunderstanding. ‘I…….. have ……no ……lover….Cole…..’

“Shut up, do not ever say his name in my presence. Ever!” Navier yelled, his finger curled tightly on my chin. “You must think I am gullible, stupid? You think I don't see what you're doing right under my nose?

I shook my head, but he kept going.

“Right under my nose. In my pack? You already started showing off your true colors.” His spat like the words were poison, gripping my chin in his hands and forcing me to look at him. “I should’ve known. A stealer wolf—what else would you be good for except to latch on to men, to satisfy your itching pussy.”

The word hit me like a slap. Stealer wolf. Itchy pussy.

Is it too much to ask to be treated with compassion, love, like a human being? By Navier and the damned world?

Tears rolled down my face, as I rubbed my hands together in a pleading gesture for him to let me go.

“Stop crying damnit.” He drove his fist into the wall, leaving a small dent and a crack in it. “That's all you do, shed crocodile tears. Portraying yourself as the innocent! You fucking mute. I know you've always been a slut, but to be cockheld by my own men? To make matters worse, you mocked and disrespected me by flaunting it in my presence.”

‘No! That's not true!’ I signed with my trembling hands.

“Another denial from your mouth, and I'll go out there and kill your lover right in front of your eyes.” He cut me off with a sharp chuckle, taking a step backwards. “None of this is your fault. It's mine. I was lax, thinking you deserved a chance. A crazy thought on my part. But it ends now.”

His hands went to unbutton his shirt, slow, deliberate. “About time you get started, on your role as my mistress.” He leaned closer, his voice a low, dangerous rumble as he repeated the command. “Since you want it so badly, I'll give it to you hard. Take your clothes off.”

My stomach tightened at his order. Is this how my first time would be, raped, ravaged by a man burning with hatred and rage for me? All night I lay awake imagining, becoming one with my mate as we confessed our true, undying love, will it be this way? No, I haven't even had my first kiss, not to mention sex.

My eyes darted to the door, my body moved even before my brain processed it, and I took a step.

“I dare you.”

I froze mid-step, backing away from him as he crossed the room in seconds, clutching my dress and ripping it in anger.

“I’ll mark you, break you, and train so hard your body and soul would only crave and your legs would only open for me.” His eyes laced with lust, as he parted my legs with his knees.

The room blurred. The air suffocated me as his voice twisted, blended with people, a chorus of cruelty in my head. It was his voice, but also theirs.

"You’re made for one thing, to sate the loins.

"Worthless. You’ll never amount to anything, except to serve and breed. It's madness to crave more.”

My vision fractured into flashing images. Hands grabbing, voices laughing, my silent screams echoing in my head.

No.

No.

Don’t hurt me!

The words ripped through my mind, but my lips never moved. But his sudden, sharp laugh made my knees buckle, and I slid to the floor, clutching my head, my wolf whining in my head.

‘Stop……..please……… d…..o…n't hurt ……me!’ A high screech tore from my lungs. My knees buckled, and I crumpled to the floor, clutching my head like I could crush the memories out of it.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn't think. Only that plea. Stop! Please!

Through my blurred vision, I saw him staring with repulsion like I was filthy… and then turned, stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook in protest.

‘Why? Why me?’

‘Who did I offend in my past life to have cursed me with such a cruel, wicked fate?’

For a long time, I stayed there on the floor in my protective state, as the thud of his boots faded down the hall. My heartbeat didn’t slow down, nor did my hands stop shaking.

I lost count of the hours I spent on the floor, self-loathing, self pity till a knock sounded on the door.