Chapter 9: Won't Mate With You

Kyra's POV 

I shook my head, clinging to my lie, though I knew it was painfully obvious I was lying. 

I didn't know how to handle situations like this. It always made me panic, but the fact that I wasn’t crying like a child yet was progress.

"No, it wasn't Sarah," I said, trying to sound convincing. I rubbed my knees together to stop myself from trembling.

"So you admit that someone helped you, just not Sarah?" 

I winced. I didn't like these mind games.

"No one helped me escape, Alpha Roderick." 

Roderick's face turned red with rage, and his eyes bulged out of their sockets. I swallowed hard, rubbing my wrists and knees nervously. They were probably red by now. 

Don’t lie to me, Kyra!” he thundered, his voice echoed through the room, and I flinched. Goosebumps prickled my skin, and sweat dampened my forehead.

“I know it was her. I know she’s been helping you. The fake injury, her hurting you to cover it up, only confirmed my suspicions. 

“Bring her in!” he roared, each word dripping with menace.

My heart sank as the guard nodded and hurried out of the room. I didn't even know a guard had been inside this room all this time. 

I had to think fast, or else Sarah would be in grave danger. My mind raced, desperate for a plan, anything that could change his mind.

"Wait!" I cried, but Alpha Roderick just turned away from me, still filled with rage.

The guard returned moments later with Sarah. Her eyes were wide with fear, her face pale. She looked at me, then back at Roderick, terrified.

What have I done? Tears threatened to spill, but I blinked them back.

“Do you know that helping the Luna of the pack in escaping is considered treason?” Alpha Roderick’s voice was calm now, calm in the most terrifying way as he circled her like a predator. 

"Yes, Alpha."

“So what made you do it?” His voice was like silk over a blade.

“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered. My heart ached for her.

“There you go, lying to me, just like she did.” He sneered, his fist clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.

“Do you really think I wouldn’t find out you tried to help Kyra escape, not once, but twice?” He spat.

“Alpha Roderick, please—” she began, but he cut her off with a brutal smack across her face. 

The sound made me yelp.

Sarah stumbled, clutching her cheek as tears welled in her eyes. Rage and helplessness surged through me, choking me.

“You dare defy me?” Roderick sneered, raising his hand again. My body screamed at me to move, to stop him, but my feet didn't move.

“Please, stop!” I begged, but he didn’t even look at me. His attention was solely on Sarah.

“Get me the whip,” he ordered.

The guard who'd dragged Sarah here left and reappeared seconds later with a whip in his hands and two other guards. He handed it over to Roderick while the others held Sarah down.

Roderick’s lips curled into a cruel smile as he struck her with the whip. 

The lash cracked against her back with a sickening sound, and Sarah screamed, her body jerked with each strike.

“Stop! Please, stop!” I screamed.

Tears streamed down my face as I watched, unable to stop the brutal punishment; my heart broke with each lash. 

Roderick only laughed—a sound so hollow, so merciless, it made my skin crawl.

When he finally stopped, he turned to me with blazing eyes that could burn your soul. His voice is low and poisonous.

"This is what happens to those who defy me, Kyra. I'm sure you've heard rumours about me. I want you to believe them, all of them.”

“What makes you think I would stop simply because you said so?" His words dripped with malice. 

“Please—” My voice broke. I was overwhelmed with guilt. I was the reason all of this was happening to Sarah

“I’m willing to make a deal.” He tossed the whip to the floor, and relief briefly washed over me.

"What kind of deal?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I’ll spare Sarah’s life,” he whispered, eyes glittering with cruel pleasure. “But only if you agree to mate with me.”

His words were like a punch to the gut. 

Mate with him? Never. 

He was a monster. A demon, and he has done enough to prove it, why would I mate with him?

“I won’t do that,” I spat, forcing down the bile rising in my throat. His face hardened.

“What did you just say?” His voice was quiet—too quiet. His stare burned through me, making me feel small.

“A bitter laugh escaped me. “You’re delusional,” I said coldly. “I’ll never love you.”

He stepped closer to me.

“Fine, refuse me. But know this, Kyra, Sarah will pay the price, and I'll make sure you watch every second of it.”

Cold dread crept down my spine as I realized the true extent of cruelty.

Terror clawed at my insides. “Please,” I begged. “Don’t hurt her, please.”

“Then agree to mate with me.”

I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, with no escape.

“I...I need time to think," I stammered, trying to stall.

“You have until tomorrow. After that, Sarah’s fate is sealed.”

Roderick walked away, leaving me to drown in despair.

***

The next day, the maids came to prepare me. I was dressed like a queen, but I didn't care about that. 

I sat on my bed, dreading what was to come.

After much argument yesterday, he let me sleep in my own room for the night. I needed space to think.

I had agreed to mate with him, but now that the moment was here, I couldn't go through with it.

The maids escorted me to his room and left me at the door. My heart raced with fear and revulsion as I stood outside the door. It took everything in me not to run back to my room. 

I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Alpha Roderick stood waiting and anticipating.

I stepped into the room and stood without saying a word. Roderick walked over and shut the door behind him.

He held my waist from behind and buried his head in my shoulder.

"Kyra," he murmured, his voice low and husky. "I'm glad you finally decided to see things my way." 

His words disgusted me, but I forced them down. I had to do this.

“Let’s get this over with,” I said flatly.

“Oh, no,” he purred. “We’ll take our time. We’ll savour every moment.”

His touch burned against my skin. It felt like ants were crawling on my skin. I scrunched my face and shut my eyes tightly. 

I tried my best to endure his touch for Sarah's sake, tried not to think of his hands on me, but I couldn't.

I just couldn't.

His lips were just inches away from mine, brushing against each other, when the word burst out.

“No!”

His eyes narrowed dangerously. 

“What do you mean, no?” He growled.

My heart pounded in my chest as I decided what my next words would be.

“I mean, I won’t do it,” I said. “I won’t mate with you.”

I didn’t know where the courage came from, but when I saw the fury in his eyes, I knew one thing for certain.

I was done for.