Chapter Five - He Wants To Punish Me

Avaline

I thrashed in desperation while he grunted and got out of the car. My eyes widened with fright as I watched him come over to my side and yank the door open. No, this couldn’t be happening. No one would know if he threw me into Death Valley and left me there to die. Tears of helplessness pooled in my eyes as I frantically tried to hold my ground. I didn’t want to die at eighteen.

“Get out of the car, or I’ll dump you there to die!” he hissed, gripping my wrist and yanking me out of the car.

With my limbs tied, I stumbled to the ground and grunted in pain. He growled and scooped me up in his arms. “Stop fighting me, Avaline, and face your punishment.”

It was the first time he had used my name. When younger, he used to call me A. Just A. The tears spilled and streamed down my cheeks. I had thought he had forgotten my name.

Punishment for what? Was he punishing me because I was his mate? Why couldn’t he reject me if he hated me so much? I struggled to get free, but I was a hostage at his mercy. It was the most hateful feeling in the world for an independent soul like me.

He strode into the dense forested patch overlooking Death Valley. Amidst the tall trees, almost hidden from view, was a tiny log cabin. My eyes widened, realizing his intention. Would he lock me in there?

I thrashed more, but he grunted with fury and dropped me to the ground. “Fight me, and I’ll throw you there to die.” He gritted his teeth and gestured toward Death Valley.

I closed my eyes and winced as my back hit the uneven ground. He was merciless, unforgiving, and here to carry out his threat. There was no way I could escape this time. He stormed ahead and unlocked the cabin while I lay there, unable to move an inch.

When he returned for me, I flinched, my eyes filling up with tears. They couldn’t move the monster. He hoisted me onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and strode into the tiny cabin. Once inside, he dumped me onto the couch in the living area. “This is your home. I’ll provide for you all your life as long as you obey me.”

Disbelief reflected in my eyes as I glared at him. Did he think I couldn’t earn my living? What an arrogant fool? I shook my head vehemently, using my tied-up hands to take off the tape.

He leaned over and peeled off the tape in one yank. “I’ll never accept you as my mate. My family has already chosen Valerie for that role. But I’ll be kind. I won’t reject what the Goddess has blessed me with. You can still be mine, live here comfortably, and please me in return. I’m sure it’s more than you’ve ever dreamed of.”

The blood boiled in my veins as I gave him a look of pure disgust. “So, you want a mistress for life, huh? You want to make me your se* slave, and you expect me to dance with happiness? I can’t believe this!” I gritted my teeth as I glared at his arrogant face. How could I ever love such a worthless wolf?

He frowned, surprised by my reaction. His face hardened as he stood glaring at me. “Yes, that’s what I want. You should thank your lucky stars that I’m keeping an outcast like you.”

I scoffed at him, hatred building inside me. “What if I disagree? I can look after myself. I don’t need your charity. Even looking at you makes me sick. So do us a favor and reject me. I’ll leave the pack forever rather than see your disgusting face every day.”

His face flushed with color as he trembled with fury. Before I knew his intentions, his hand shot out and slapped me hard across my face. My head reeled, and I sank against the couch. “Then I’ll use you and throw you in Death Valley for good.”

My eyes widened with fear. Would he use force on me? “Please let me go. Don’t kill me.”

He laughed and picked me up roughly, walking towards the bedroom with me. Panic settled in my heart. I couldn’t let this happen. “Don’t do this, Jaxon. I’ll leave the pack forever. I’ll never show my face to you again. Let me go, I beg you. Why can’t you be happy with Valerie?” Tears streamed down my cheeks, but they failed to move him.

His face was grim as he dumped me on the bed roughly. I winced, but the pain was nothing compared to my fear.

Just then, his phone buzzed with an incoming call, and he grunted with impatience. When he checked, I noticed Valerie’s name flashing across the screen. He accepted the call while glaring at me.

“What do you want?” he barked into the phone.

“Where are you, Jaxon? I’m waiting for you at the diner. You promised to drop me home,” she yelled from the other end.

“I’m busy. Hitch a ride with someone else.”

I could hear Valerie yelling at the other end. “What the f*ck are you doing, Jaxon? Are you with her?” He disconnected the call abruptly and threw his phone away.

I frowned at him. Was that how he spoke to his chosen mate?

He stood at the foot of the bed and regarded me with a dark and thunderous gaze. “Accept your fate, Avaline. I’m your mate, and you’re stuck with me for life.”

I sighed and closed my eyes to block him out. What else could I do? I surrendered to my fate for the first time in my life. I wasn’t weak, but this time I ran out of options. “Fine, do what you want with me. Kill me after you’ve used my body. You have already killed my feelings for you, Jaxon. My soul just died. You want to abuse my corpse. Do it and get this over and done with.” I didn’t open my eyes to look at him, waiting for his move. My soul had rejected him forever. This monster could never be my mate.

“Open your d*mn eyes, Avaline. I don’t fu*k corpses.” He yelled as he lunged at me to grip my shoulders and shake me vigorously.

I did not open my eyes or respond to him. He erupted with fury like a volcano, but I lay there, tied up like a criminal. He untied my hands and feet, desperately wanting my reaction. But I turned my face away and lay there like a corpse. “F*ck you, Avaline! Open your eyes!” he yelled, losing his mind.

His body pressed against mine, while his arms on either side of my face held me captive. He caught my chin to turn my face toward him. Yet I refused to open my eyes, blocking him out like a piece of dirt in my life. “Open your fu*king eyes and look at me.”

“Do what you have to and throw my body. Just do it,” I spoke slowly and quietly with a hopeless sigh.

He lost his composure and gripped my chin to crash his lips to mine. Anything to make me react to him. It was nothing short of possession, a claiming. Nevertheless, I hadn’t expected my first kiss to be this way. His mouth was hard and insistent as he stroked along the seam of my lips. I knew what he wanted, but I didn’t let him in. He bit my lower lip, demanding entry. I intended to make this as difficult as possible for him.

But maybe fate had other plans for us. With the mate bond wreaking havoc with our senses, and his erection digging into my lower belly, I could feel my arousal spiking through my body.

“Avaline, kiss me!” he snarled, losing all his restraint.