CHAPTER 6: Ice Cold Dungeon

Arabella

It took me three night to leave the ice cold dungeon.

I spent three night in the dungeon, it was cold and damp, I had no food or water, to relieve myself I was provided the small chamber pot by my bed, the treatment was far worse than when I had been Claws pack, but then I tried to comfort myself that they treated me this way because I was not part of their pack but the events of three days ago when I had been rejected by my mate cruelly a second time.

On the first day I was weak and shaky, the second day my stomach cramped like I was about to die, tears falling from my eyes. By the third day I was so weak that I wanted nothing more than to die, pressed an unable to help it any longer I stood from the floor and stumbled towards the pot, my legs wobbled and I crashed to the floor like a plastic doll on strings. My ribs ached and I winced, as everything turned shades of gray and black.

The door flew open and someone rushed inside, I don't know who, I chose to just lie there.

" You are awake" a voice said and I opened my eyes what seemed like eons later I looked up to find a young girl staring at me, she was maybe seventeen with reddish blond hair,and violet eyes that looked at her with concern. It was not an emotion I was used to and it surprised me, no one had ever worried about me before.

" The alpha had asked for you" she said , I tried to stand but my arms shook and I paused, and I froze, that couldn't be right, I remembered the cold gaze of the alpha I had met yesterday, he couldn't be worried about me.

She cleaned me, instead of a bath, and have me a thin white dress, taking my arm she led me to the dinning room, it was a large room with a cafeteria like setting, she led me to the alpha's table, he looked at me head to toe and I flushed in embarrassment at what I probably looked like , he then looked to Vanessa– I remembered her from three nights ago when she had barged into the dungeon, she was sitting next to him and he ordered her to move. I stared in shock that I'm sure everyone felt.

Vanessa's eyes widened in shock at his request. "But Your Highness, I always sit at this spot during dinner. It is my place," she protested, her voice laced with defiance.

"I did not ask for your opinion, Vanessa. I am the Alpha of this pack, and I have made my decision. Now, stand up and allow Arabella to sit."

Vanessa's jaw tensed, but she reluctantly rose from her seat, casting a venomous glare in my direction. I tried not to fidget at the many eyes on me as I moved to the empty seat with food placed in front of me.

I tried to eat, I was weak from hunger but as the meal progressed,I barely made a dent in my plate, the smell of the food twisted and turned at my stomach,it was made worse by the fact that Vanessa's eyes bore into her with blatant disdain.

The alpha looked to them then frowned, he looked to Vanessa and called her up to leave with him, the whole room watched and I struggled not to disappear in my seat trying my best to ignore the whispers in the room. This pack was large but they likely knew that I had been rejected.

The conversation must have lasted just a few moments, but Vanessa and Octavius walked into the room, sitting down and resuming their meal.

After eating, he ordered the maids to lead me to a room.

The room was small, cold and dimly lit, I sat on the cold floor too weak to actually try looking around the room.

What was wrong with me, why would the mates that fate had given me, two at that leave me in such a hurtful way, tears poured from my eyes making it puffy and red her eyes puffy from tears.

I just wanted a normal life, I didn't need him to love me, just to treat me with respect was that too much to ask.

The door opened and he walked in and stood over me, I cleaned my face, hissing at why I probably looked like.

"Arabella," he sneered,

"Do you honestly believe a pitiful display at dinner changes anything? You're nothing more than a burden, an inconvenience to me."

My voice trembled as I pleaded, "Alpha, please, Just tell me what I've done wrong."

A cruel smile played on his lips. "Wrong? You exist, Arabella. That's your crime. No amount of groveling will change the fact that I despise you. You're weak, and weakness is intolerable."

I clutched at my chest, stifling sobs. The pain from his rejection was unbelievable, to have suffered this pain twice in one night was deadly

He circled me like a predator reveling in its prey's desperation and suffering "You'll always be a stain on my pride, a reminder of what I detest."

I whimpered but held myself together, I couldn't get kicked out, I needed a fresh start even if it wouldn't be any better than what I had buy I would rather face the humiliation of people I didn't know.

. "I beg you, Your Highness, I can't bear this. I'll be whatever you want. Please just stop."I pleaded, folding my hand in my laps, he watched me and huffed in annoyance

"Pathetic weakling," he stated coldly, his voice cutting through the air. "Fate seems to have a cruel sense of humor to bind me to someone like you."

"Why? What have I done to deserve this treatment?" I pleaded, confusion and hurt evident in her trembling voice.

"Deserve? You don't deserve anything, especially not to be here. You're just a burden, an unwanted presence," he retorted, his disdain unmistakable.

"I didn't choose this. I didn't ask for you to be my mate." I cried out, hoping he could understand, but he didn't, he wouldn't. He was an alpha and they were powerful.

"The feeling is mutual. I want nothing to do with you. You're a stain on my pack, a disgrace," he spat, my eyes narrowing in disgust.

I huddled into myself trying to hide how much he was hurting me because he would likely enjoy it . I didn't succeed much

"Why are you being so cruel? Can't we find some common ground?"

"Common ground? There's nothing common between us. You're a liability, and I won't waste my time on someone like you," he scoffed.

His indifference intensified my pain, and the tears flowed freely. "Why are you doing this? Mates are supposed to care for each other."

"Mates are supposed to be worth having. You're just a burden, a mistake," he replied coldly. "I won't let you taint my pack with your weakness. Weakness is ingrained in you, and I have no patience for it."

As I wept, his expression remained resolute almost hardened "I didn't choose this, but I can't change it."

"Save your tears. They won't change a thing. I don't want you, and I never will. You're on your own," he declared, turning away.

He walked away jamming the door behind him, I bowed my head in defeat, and just behind the door I could hear him meeting his lover in the corridor, as she invited him in a sultry whisper to join her in her room. I slumped further into the ground my heart breaking. I cried .