3. Claimed

Chapter 3: Claimed

REBEKKA

I let out a short gasp as I felt myself free falling into the nothingness below.

Suddenly I didn’t want to die again, whatever it was that I was feeling before, the overwhelming fear of death seized me and I wanted nothing more but to live.

I screamed at the top of my lungs and flailed my hands helplessly, praying and hoping that a miracle would happen.

How could I be so stupid as to think that the way to deal with all the pain and embarrassment was to kill myself?

I didn’t want to die, I didn’t know what I had to live for but still, I wanted to live, I was not ready to die yet.

“Help me!” I screamed and closed my eyes feeling gravity drive me downwards.

A warm palm closed around my wrist in a tight grip and I suddenly stopped falling.

I opened my eyes, they were still wide with fear as I looked up at my savior.

Looking down at me was a very handsome man.

I could not make out all his facial features because the moon was behind him and casting a dark shadow over his face but I could see the outline of his strong jaw, his long black hair billowing in the breeze and those enchanting blue pupils that looked as if they could see through me.

Effortlessly, he raised me up as he got back up to his feet then he dropped me down on my feet gently.

My legs felt weak and I crumbled to the floor.

He was standing over me, still backing the moon, “That was very stupid…”

His voice was flat, not insulting or demeaning.

“Thank you,” I said in a timid voice as I looked down at the grass around me.

“You saved Stephan’s life, didn’t you?”

I looked up at him.

Did this stranger just address the alpha’s only son by his name as if they were equals?

I nodded.

My interest was rising slowly as the adrenaline eased out of my system and left me shaking.

“What is your name, girl?”

“Rebekka,” I said and then averted my gaze again.

“Rebekka, tell me, how does someone with a Bloodline such as yours end up as a slave?”

I looked up at him and my brows furrowed.

He cocked his head at me and then he dropped down to the grass too and sat with his legs crossed.

Finally the moonlight hit his face and I saw his full features, high cheekbone, pointy nose and a light stubble. He was incredibly handsome… How did a man like this exist?

“How did you end up as a slave Rebekka?” he asked, staring at me with those probing blue pupils.

“I… was born one,” came my timid reply.

He scoffed, “What about your parents?”

“I don’t have any,” I answered.

Wait, was I having an actual conversation with someone?

This must have been the longest someone has gone talking to me without shouting or uttering some sort of insult.

What was the catch?

I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, surely, it was not possible for someone to be nice to me.

“Your Master,” he shook his head, “The doctor, Purcell, he didn’t tell you anything about where he found you or who your parents were?”

I shook my head sideways.

He seemed very interested in my origins, the fact that someone was even giving me this type of genuine attention just felt wrong.

I fiddled with my fingers.

“Hmm,” he stroked his stubble. “You went from being the slave girl who saved Stephan’s life to being the slave girl he rejected as his mate.”

Again there was no malice in his voice but that didn’t stop my cheeks from burning with embarrassment and my heart aching with pain.

“That’s okay, I am glad he rejected you!”

I looked up at him, tears were starting to well up in my eyes, why was he saying this?

He gave me a sexy smile that made my broken heart flutter a little, “From now, you are mine!”

I blinked, “What?”

“I am claiming you as my mate… you are mine!”

Was this some sort of joke? Was this handsome stranger making fun of me?

I got to my feet, then bowed low, “Thank you very much for saving my life, sire, but I have to be on my way now, my master would be worried about me.” I started to walk off.

“Are you rejecting me?”

The seriousness in his voice stopped me in my tracks. Was he being serious? “Sire, if this is a joke, please stop it.”

“Does it sound like I am joking?” his tone was even much more serious than before and it caught me off guard.

He got up and turned to face me, “Rebekka… Kent right?”

I nodded.

“I am Caleb Chase and I declare you as my mate. From today, you will be under my protection and you will be mine!”

My mouth hung open, I tried to speak but the words didn't just come out.

What the hell was going on now?

I didn’t know who this man was but he just saved my life and now he was claiming me as his?

A part of me could not help but think that this was some prank by the pack people to further humiliate me.

“She claims that the alpha’s son is her mate but throws herself at the first man that she sees.”

I didn’t want to believe him, how could I?

He walked closer to me and used the index finger on his left hand to lift up my jaw so that I could look up to him.

He was so close to me, I began to breathe hard and when his finger touched me, I felt a trickle of electricity course through my body.

“From today, you are mine,” he said up close, the words washing over me.

I opened my mouth to speak but then... his lips pressed against mine, silencing me!