“I'll be expecting you tonight, Daphne.”

She should turn around and leave. 

The embarrassment was too much - much more than what she's seen in The Mistwood Pack. 

“I, Alpha Caius, reject you as my mate.” 

The words kept resounding in her head. Even though it was a while since the rejection happened. What did she do to deserve this? 

She was an innocent woman who had committed no crime - none at all. When will all these end? 

These and more thoughts ran around in her head. The more she tried to make sense of it, the more senseless it sounded to her. A man who took her against her wish - turning out to be her mate. 

Did the moon goddess hate her so much? 

She should turn around and leave - she knew. 

But none of that would happen- not until she hadn't gotten the answer she knew she deserved. 

So she stayed. 

Settled on the floor, sobbing quietly while waiting. The Alpha took long - longer than any man should take when bathing - but she didn't care. She would wait until he was outside and then they would talk. 

And just as she wished, it didn't take long. 

The door creaked open a while later. The Alpha - Caius, led his way in. He was humming a song, dripping wet while a towel wrapped his waist. 

“We need to talk about this.” 

The song he hummed, stopped. Caius looked in the entranceway of his chamber - his eyes opened in shock. “What the fuck are you still doing here?” 

Now she got up. 

The hurt she felt could be seen. 

Anyone who looked at her could see it. Maybe not the Alpha - he didn't have compassion for her. He didn't give a fuck about her - as he's been acting. “What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be taking a bath, weak wolf? Speak already. I am asking.” 

Standing straight, Daphne chuckled. 

“We're supposed to be together - we're mates. Why do you reject me when you can accept me?” 

Shocked Alpha Caius could only mop. 

Daphne continued. “You took me against my will. And tell me we're mates, only to reject our bond. Why would you do something like that? You and I are supposed to be together, Alpha Caius—” 

The Alpha - he still didn't speak. 

The man moved closer to his bed. Instead of getting changed as he planned, he sat on his bed. “You have some guts. Guts I really admire. I am not surprised - weak wolves have more guts than the rest of us in the strong category.” He looked at her now - standing up on his feet - catching up with her and looking into her eyes. “Who are you?” 

“My—my name is Daphne.” 

“Daphne who? Daphne guts? ‘Cause you've got it.” 

“You shouldn't reject—” 

“You will leave my chamber before I call on my guards to do it for me. Believe me, Daphne. You're not going to like the outcome of this.” 

“I just want to know—” 

He could see tears gathering in her eyes. “I need to know why you're rejecting me as your mate.” 

Oh. 

She didn't know. 

He thought she did. Closer, he walked - and they stood a few inches apart from each other. 

“I have explained before. I will explain again.” 

She looked at him - not taking her gaze. 

“You're a weak wolf. An Omega Wolf - the weakness from such wolves cannot be overemphasized. You know already - you're one. This is the reason why I cannot take you.” 

She thought he was done - but he wasn't. 

“You can't imagine a strong man - an Alpha like me, settling with an Omega Wolf. I didn't plan on having a Luna soon but even if I did, it wouldn't be you, Daphne. I hope you understand better now. You're never going to be my mate, okay?” 

Those tears that gathered around her eyes - they fell now - in many manyvlines. Daphne held herself from crying in his presence but she couldn't help it. Wasn't it obvious at this point? 

She was cursed. 

“Get out of my chamber already. Unless you want to watch me change into my dress, then stay.” 

Without any more words from the Alpha, he turned and caught up with the closet. Daphne, shocked from everything, still stood, her many thoughts wandering around in her mind. She let out a sigh at some point and turned around. 

“I'll be expecting you tonight, Daphne.” 

She didn't speak. 

What could she say? 

Her poor legs led her out of his chamber. 

A place she wished she wouldn't return to - but how can that even be possible? She cried out more, trying her best to hold back these tears. 

Good thing she caught up with her chamber's door in moments. One push and she was inside - she shut the door, reached her bed, and screamed. 

It was a loud one. 

Although the pack was built specially - not many people could hear her scream. 

Why does her life have to be this way? 

Her hands gripped the sheet covering the bed, more tears trickling down her face. She had never been humiliated this way before. Of course, she had been insulted many times by Alpha Edgar and his stupid Luna - then their daughter who took a place that was meant for her. Ah, did she forget Adrian? A man she thought would be hers. 

The one her step-sister ended up taking. 

But none of these experiences from The Mistwood Pack could add up to this. According to Daphne, this was the worst she would encounter. 

In a very long while. 

She was supposed to run away from him. 

Only to run into him. 

Why?! 

And - wasn't he supposed to come take a wife? 

She turns out to be his mate. Shouldn't he accept her? Why did he reject her like this? These thoughts - many more ran around in her head as she tried to place a hand on the situation. 

But it wasn't coming. 

The puzzle wasn't getting solved anytime soon. 

A hand on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. Daphne looked up. She thought she locked the door - she didn't want anyone in here. 

But the door pushed open. 

The woman from yesterday walked in, smiling. 

She wore a different uniform from yesterday - although familiar in a way. “Good morning, Daphne.” She shut the door and walked closer. “I'm hoping you had a good night's rest?” 

One glance at her. Daphne shook her head. 

“You know I was raped. Why do you ask such questions? Was it you who told Alpha Caius my name? I don't recall telling it to him myself.” 

“Yes. He asked me - I obeyed. There are consequences for disobeying the Alpha. Death.” 

Death? 

Sincerely, Daphne would love it for her. 

Not just her - everyone living in The Howling Abyss Pack. They all deserved it - yes, they did. 

“I have come to bathe you.” 

“I can bathe myself.” 

The woman walked closer. “Please, don't make it harder than it already is. I am begging you. Whoever serves the Alpha in his bed, I take care of her - bathing and checkups. Let's do it already.” 

She didn't have a choice, so she got up. 

They were in the bathroom soon enough. Daphne cried - once again. It was hard to believe all of these things were happening to her. She should have been used as meat - instead of a sex toy - the same man she was trying to run away from. 

The worst thing had happened already. 

What's worse than this? 

“It'll be alright. I promise.” Someone sounded, snapping her out of her thoughts. “I know how you feel about this whole thing. But don't worry, you'll be alright. I assure you, Lady Daphne.” 

They soon walked out of the bathroom. 

Her legs were still hurting from the night before. 

“I'll get you something to eat—” The maid says. 

She caught up with the closet and took out some clothes. “Dry up.” She caught up with the bed where she dropped the clothes. “We'll get you dressed when I'm back with your food. But before that, we need to check you down there, Daphne.” 

Daphne's eyes opened. 

Down where? 

And why? 

“Wh—why would you do that?” 

“It's a thing we do before you go into the Alpha. I need to know if it's safe—” She pushed Daphne whose head hit the bed. “—or not.” Her hands reached for her legs and they spread them open. 

“I'm sorry but this is for your safety, Daphne.” 

It took a while. 

Daphne, embarrassed, didn't know what to say. The maid looked for a while - spending more than enough time looking before bringing the legs back together. “You're good to go for tonight. The Alpha should be expecting you. I'll get your food now.” 

Before Daphne could even say a word, the door opened and shut. The maid was out of her sight. 

Now she sat up. 

When would all of these be over? 

Would it even be over? 

She looked around the room. 

It was beautiful but she preferred the less finer one from The Mistwood Pack. 

More tears gathered in her eyes. 

And it wasn't long before they trickled down.