Chapter 5: The Second Mate

~Ioana~

“Over there!” A shout came from behind me.

My breath came out in hurried pants, my heart pounded in my chest like the drums of war.

Twigs snapped, crushed under the weight of something.

I cursed under my breath, swerving to the side just in time for a shadow to flicker past my vision, followed by a crash.

‘How could this happen?’ I sucked in a large breath, steeling myself. ‘Keep running, Ioana. Don't look back no matter what you do,’ I muttered. The fear fueled my legs to keep running, dashing through the forest.

I ducked. A net flew through the air, snapping at nothing. “Wolf traffickers,” I whispered in horror.

‘Damn it, if I knew there were wolf traffickers hunting in the forest today, I wouldn’t have come even if I had to cling to the leg of that high-nosed elder,’ blaming my bad luck. ‘There’s nothing I could do.’

Just then, I skid to a halt. A bush rustled. One… two… three… multiple shadowy figures came out from nowhere, their glowing eyes locked on me. A shiver went down my spine.

My heart sank. I was surrounded.

‘But how come? I'm just an Omega… with no value whatsoever.’

But I couldn't convince myself they weren't here for me any longer as they drew closer, tightening their circle.

There was nowhere to escape through.

I shakily crouched down, my muscles tensed in panic and fear. But when I saw the sharp equipment glinting dangerously in the moonlight and remembered, I shut my eyes.

Wolf traffickers captured and sell wolves for profit to distant places. Sometimes the wolves are dismembered. A chill crept down my spine thinking about what would happen once they caught me.

‘My life might be worthless but…’ my eyes snapped open, a steel glint creeping into my eyes,

‘It's still my life!’

I lunged at the nearest one. At something. My claws were outstretched, taking them by surprise. I clawed at his face, earning a yelp of pain.

“She got Leo!” someone yelled. The man staggered backward, a gap visible. Taking advantage before they could react, I sneaked past their encirclement, weaving through the trees. ‘The odds are in your favour, Ioana,’ encouraging myself.

But they weren't to be underestimated too. They chased after me. A shadow popped out in front of me. Instinctively, I threw a punch which landed on air. He ducked, but that punch sapped away at my energy.

And it became clearer. Each time I fought, I became more exhausted until my breath became ragged, chest heaving, black spots dancing around my vision.

I kicked, punched, grappling at anything my hands could, turning it into a weapon of defense.

But it couldn't go on any longer. Soon, my limbs refused to listen. They became as heavy as lead.

Them.

Off.

I slammed into a wall of flesh, falling to the ground, pain sparking. I swore. Everywhere became silent. Even the cricking crickets shut down. The owls ceased their hooting. An ominous silence settled.

My heart skipped violently.

Whoever or whatever could make these guys quiet must be an influential person or… the boss.

My head hung in exhaustion, sweat dripping down my temples, stinging my eyes from the saltiness. I blinked rapidly, my breath came out as fog.

Footsteps thudded. A boot entering my vision came to me. A calloused hand gripped my jaw, tilting it painfully upwards. I groaned in pain.

What I saw was a muscular tall man, his figure covered by a cloak, and his face by a strange mask black as obsidian, a red scratch mark by the side, faint runes-like carvings shimmering under the moon as dark eyes peered down at me.

I shrank under his gaze, an uncomfortable feeling welling up, as though I was being scrutinised like an object.

His thumb scraped against my bottom lip. "It will do though this order is barely passable."

A low deep voice sounded. His words wracked shivers through me. Order? Suddenly, I feared more for my future.

Just then, something entered my vision.

In his hand was a syringe, unknown liquid inside.

I shook my head desperately. Tears tolling down my eyes without my permission, "Please don't! Spare me," I pleaded. Staring at him, maybe if I beg well enough he'll have sympathy for me but his movements showed no hesitation.

He plunged the syringe into my neck. I let out a yelp, but it turned i to a groan, my body shook violently, 'Someone please save me,' I pleaded at the darkness, my fingers and feet were icy cold, I was afraid, I had no idea what they'll do to me, but hands like clamps held me down. Until my movemts became sluggish, each movement like bricks tied to my limb. I can't win, that's the most painful part, I knew it.

If this is my last time conscious... I won't die like that.

Giving one last defiant glare to my captor, with a prick, everything went dark.

"She's the one. Don't leave a trace." A dark baritone voice commanded, his voice firm.

I was unaware of the true nightmare I was about to descend into.

********

When I woke up again, I was somewhere else.

My lashes fluttered open. I shut them, hissing from the bright light that pierced my eyes. I lifted up my arm, covering my eyes.

Bringing it down a second after, groggy, my limbs like a bag of stone were stuffed inside them, and what entered my left left me stunned.

Fluttering velvet drapes. Beneath me, my arm slid across the satin bedsheets.

‘Is it possible for a material to be as smooth as this? It looks expensive and— Wait, it's not possible for my house to have this kind of thing.’

Like a bolt from the sky, I was stunned.

‘What? Where am I?’ I shot up from the bed in confusion, images flickering through my mind.

Rejected. Banished. Forest. Running. Shadows. A man. Syringe. Unknown liquid. Darkness.

I gripped my hair in pain, letting out a silent scream. My hand reached up to my neck. ‘I was injected with something…’ patting my neck anxiously.

My heart barely settled when I didn't feel anything strange on my neck. Sighing in relief, my attention turned to the strange environment.

‘Where am I?’ I wondered that for the second time. “And what is that?” Breathing in hungrily, the air was thick with a scent. Musk and cedar. For some strange reason, it was enticing. My body burned, like tiny flames flickered across the surface of my skin, turning it a dusty shade of pink.

I took another breath. My head lolling to the side, a low groan slipping past my lips. My stomach tightened. I wanted more.

The scent, like a viper, coiled around me, invading my senses, sending tremors down my body. It's weird. Chilly air brushed over my skin, my head—my gaze dropped downwards and I froze, eyes widened like saucers.

My clothes were gone! In its place was a…

I blushed furiously, a dark shade of red. “What is this!” I stammered.

‘Such scandalous wear.’

Its flimsy strap slipped off my shoulders. I pulled down on the lacy ends that laid at my upper thigh.

Panic began to sprout. ‘Who changed my clothes? Who brought me here? Why?’

Just then.

I flinched. The hairs at the back of my neck stood erect.

A searing gaze landed on me. My breath stilled. Slowly, I turned, my heart in my throat.

By the edge of the bed, partially hidden in the shadows, molten golden eyes peered down at me.

There's someone else in the room! Alarmed, I shuffled backwards, letting out a gasp as the figure emerged from the shadows like a lounging panther claiming its territory.

Towering over me, broad-shouldered, muscles as if carved from stone, hair like ink spilling over his shoulders in waves, he glowered down at me, shorts dangerously hanging off his waist, a particularly obvious bulge propped up.

Burned, I averted my gaze, my cheeks turning redder, burning up to my ears—something I never thought was possible. My back hit the pillar at the edge of the bed.

But just then, for the second time ever, I heard the same voice that spoke yesterday on the day of my rejection.

But this time, its tone lacked the confidence and boldness it once did. It whimpered out the word:

"Mate."

I jerked awake.

‘What, another mate? How was that possible?’ Like a basin of water splashed over me, the haze over me broke. My flushed cheeks turned pale.

Ramon's disgusted eyes flashed through my mind. ‘I don't want another rejection. The rejection was already hard enough. A second mate will be harder.’ I gagged, repulsed by the thought, stomach churning.

I knew who I was. ‘He wouldn't want me—an Omega—for a mate.’

Alarm bells rang in my mind. ‘Run away! The atmosphere is completely wrong!’ I had to get out of here. My eyes searched initially for an escape route.

‘That's it!’ My eyes brightened, landing on the door. ‘If I could escape from this nightmare, then everything will be better.’

Eyes zeroing in on the door, I leaped from the bed, zooming towards the door—

Or at least I tried to.

A hand latched onto my ankle. The world tilted and spun. I crashed into the bed, a weight pressing on me, caging me in. Disoriented, I gasped for breath from my parted lips. My hands clumsily pushed against the body over me.

His hand gripped mine, pinning them above my head. He leaned in, effortlessly parting my legs, a predatory gaze locking on me. He bent, hot breath brushed against my earlobes.

"Run all you want," he rumbled, his voice a low, deep baritone. My stomach clenched.

My limbs became limp noodles. My body betrayed me, sinking in to the dizzying warmth that encased me, my skin a delicious pink. A moan slipped past my lips. Legs tightened, trapping his muscular thighs between them.

"But… you'll always end up right here."

I sharply inhaled. My toes curled. My heart raced in my throat as he leaned in.