2. Mate.

~ LAYLA ~

I open my eyes and pull at the chains around my wrists again.

”I see you’re awake.” His voice is deep and smooth, but there is mockery in it.

I don't react.

I don’t say anything. Not yet.

It is smarter to stay quiet for the meantime, at least until I know what is going on.

I hear his footsteps approaching me slowly. They stop just as his figure steps into the soft pale yellow light now at the center of my cell.

My breath catches in my throat.

It is really him.

Raelin Michaelson. The Midnight Alpha.

I know it the second I see his face. I have seen pictures of him, but this is the first time in my life that I am physically seeing him up close.

And to be honest, he is.... sinfully gorgeous.

The powerful energy around him nearly knocks the air out of my lungs. The ‘M’ carved into the golden ring on his finger, and the pack symbol on his jacket, they all confirm what I already feared.

I am hanging in front of the one Alpha who would rather see a rogue like me dead than breathing in his presence.

And the worst part?

He is my MATE.

Silence hangs between us like a death curse, so cold and poisoned with something far more dark and dangerous than contempt.

Hatred.

He hates me.

I can feel his disgust towards me. His alpha aura bleeds it and the scowl on his face is so evident. He is tall, broad-shouldered, and intimidating, thanks to his aura pressing down on me like a storm I can't escape.

Also... those dark teal green eyes... I can't look away from them. They are currently piercing into my own as he keeps studying me.

He is looking at me like I’m trash.

Like I don’t deserve to live.

Like I'm nothing and not even worthy of the oxygen he is wasting on me right now.

“I can’t believe the goddess chose you to be my mate,” he confesses bitterly, the venom in his words cutting deeply into my heart.

He knows we are mates.

Well... great.

Looks like the hatred between us is already mutual.

I hate him too and besides, I never asked for this.

I never asked for this prison. This bond.

Especially not with someone like him.

He is an Alpha who hunts and kills rogues without blinking. Right now, I am sure he knows I am a rogue.

But why I am still alive when he hates me so much?

Why hasn't he killed me yet?

Surely, the reason is not because of the mate bond.

No way.

He can’t possibly care about me that much.

The thought of him 'caring about me' almost makes me scoff a laugh, but I keep it in.

“Did you just ask why am I here?" I manage to speak. "I am here because I lost my way. Besides, I can already feel your hatred towards me and I should be dead, but why are you still keeping me alive? What do you want from me?”

My voice is scratchy with each word that leaves my lips, my throat burning even more. I feel so parched and thirsty and I can’t even remember the last time I drank water.

Not even a measly drop of water.

"Did you just ask what I want from you?" He raises an eyebrow and repeats my question like it’s a joke. Next, he takes a slow step forward, his lips twitching into something that is not quite a smile.

It's more like a degrading smirk.

I retreat, hitting the wall behind me and of course, I have nowhere to run to.

The cold bricks bite into my skin, but still, I hold my head high.

He is close now. Too close to my face. I can feel his heat, his energy, and the heady combination is so strong and overwhelming.

However, I won't back down or cower in fear.

Yes, I am the prisoner here and he is the one with power, but that doesn’t mean I have to show him my fear.

Clenching my jaw, I watch as his eyes trail from my face and drop down to my neck where my locket necklace is resting between my breasts.

My fingers twitch, wanting to cover and protect the necklace, but I am chained.

Fuck.

The necklace is the last thing I have from my family. From Erin.

Now, this ruthless Alpha is staring at it like he wants to snatch it away from me.

A wave of instant fear burns through my veins.

Please dear goddess, don’t let him take the only piece of my family I have left.

After what feels like forever, he finally lifts his eyes back to mine and I let out a breath of relief.

“You asked what I want,” his voice darkens even deeper now. “What I want is to know why a filthy rogue like you was trespassing on my land.”

The way he calls me 'filthy rogue' nearly makes me want to spit at his face. He said those two insulting words with so much disgust like I am so much worse than dirt.

I swallow hard, my mind racing with his question.

I can’t tell him the truth.

If I do, he might kill me.

Or worse…

He might send me back to Kaliq.

Even thinking about that monster right now makes my skin crawl.

If I ever go back to him, I won’t survive.

Captive or not, I will be dead the second I get near Kaliq and I am sure my death won't be quick and easy.

However, to avoid going back to Kaliq, what should I say to this Alpha now?

What lie should I say to make him believe me?

“Are you deaf or just too dumb to speak?” he suddenly snaps, his angry voice making me flinch.

“I wasn’t—”

“And don’t you dare even think about lying to me,” he cuts me off with a warning. “I can smell your fear. When I found you, you were running from something, or someone.”

Found me?

My heart spikes.

Did he just say he found me?

But where? How?

Stay calm, Layla.

Think carefully.

“I... I wasn’t trespassing,” I begin, my voice coming out hoarsely. “I don’t even know how I got here. I was running… but that’s the last thing I can remember. I don’t remember much else.”