2

ALINA

It wasn't him, the Wolf slayer but it sure as hell wasn't Santa Claus.

It was James, the Alpha of another pack. It wasn't the first time that he would be attacking us. He always came here frequently and we were never prepared for him.

“Move it, bitch! You're holding up the line.”

I looked at the guard who was talking, giving him a nasty look. Why did everyone just think that they could knock me around and nothing will happen? I mean, not that I could do anything, really.

The guard looked at me and slapped me, causing me to fall to the ground in front of the other girls.

“You have something you want to say to me, girl? Say it! I'll knock the teeth out of that precious little face of yours.”

I didn't have the guts and even if I did, I didn't want to die so I just let it be. After that, they huddled us up in one place, sitting us on the floor while they went around, chasing all the male wolves.

One by one, they gunned them down, throwing knives into their chest or running the knives across their necks. I had to watch as all the men of the pack were slaughtered like goats, and I couldn't even cry for anyone.

“My apologies for making you all see the gruesomeness. My men have no consideration for women like you.”

As I heard his voice, I already rolled my eyes, not even bothering to look up because I didn't want to have to see him. He made me sick and the way he always looked at me, like he didn't know I was a child.

But when he finally came to stand in front of me and I could see his shoes, I had to look up to ask what he wanted.

I was suddenly so confused. Heat rose from my stomach to my chest and my arms and then, it was like that single gaze had been a trigger for whatever this was.

My heart was racing fast in my chest as I stared up at him and he held my gaze, not looking away for even a second.

“It’s you.” He whispered.

He threw his sword in the sand and leaned down to be at my eye level. I was so confused because why did I really want to touch this man that I hated so much?

He raised his hand up to touch my face and I winced because my cheekbone hurt and I naturally recoiled when he was around me.

“You’re my mate.”

My eyes flew open and looked at him like he had been drunk when he said it.

What? His mate? No, that can't be. Surely the goddess couldn't be that cruel. She knew who he was. James had been tormenting my pack for years and now, he had done the final one.

Being the mate of the man who killed half the pack and kidnapped the other half meant that I was basically an enemy to my people.

He got up and laughed, walking away from me to his men.

Why was this happening to me? The whole group might not have heard it but the people beside me did and before long, it had spread to the other women sitting on the floor with me.

The dirty looks that they were giving me weren't all that new. I mean, I wasn't the pack's favorite but this time around, they had a valid reason.

The girl beside me, leaned in to me.

“I never liked you and now, see how you have betrayed us. I should have known from the beginning that you will sell us out. So worthless and stupid.”

Betrayed them? Did they really think I wanted this? I could hear the whispers and the insults and for some reason, I just couldn't take it anymore.

“You think I want this? Do you think I woke up one morning and hoped that that monster who destroyed my pack would be my mate? How dense can you all be? If anybody were that greedy, it would be one of you and not me. So please, if you have any rubbish to say, I would advise you to put it in a bag and shove it where the sun doesn't shine because frankly, I don't give two shits what you think about me anymore.”

They acted like they were better than me before? Well, I guess there was no more class now because we were all about to be shipped off as sex slaves for these animals.

Only someone as sick as they are would wish for that.

“What did you say?”

My heart fell down to my stomach, remembering that we were not alone. He had heard me. James had heard me.

I turned around to look at him, seeing the anger and confusion in his eyes.

Great going Alina, now you're going to get yourself shot in the head.

Well, anything that would get me away from being with him, I didn't mind.

He grabbed my hair and pulled me up, throwing me on the ground in front of him.

“Who the hell do you think you are?! You think I'm a monster?! Don't even try to deny it! I heard everything you said! You want to make a ridicule of me?”

He slapped me and my eyes spun. I felt like passing out but he grabbed my hair and raised my eyes up to look at him.

“I will make an example to others. You all need to learn that you can not disrespect me and get away with it! I reject you, as my mate! You will be a cast-away. No one is to speak to you or be seen near you.”

He rejects me? What gives him the right to think that he can treat me that way? There is nothing he wants to do to me that I've not already gone through.

“Screw you! I reject you too! You make me sick! I'd rather die than be your mate!”

He pushed me and I fell to the floor, hitting my head and passing out.