Chapter 6

MAELIS

A mate was the last thing I expected to find in Eryndor.

I’d expected rogues, the harsh brutal cold, even death but the one thing that had certainly not crossed my mind was that I would chance upon a male fated by the Moon Goddess for me.

The man in question was tall, with long black hair that fell wildly over his chiseled face. His aura was incredibly imposing, and there was no mistaking the Alpha air that surrounded him.

However, his look was the last thing I could focus on, not when my wolf was jumping at the mere prospect of having him in close range.

It was ironic, considering the fact that days ago, I had been betrayed by the man I considered my mate.

Ronan.

The memory of him standing atop that dias, with my child in his arms while he loudly proclaimed Serina his Luna seared through my mind, evoking anger and pain so violent that blood surged into my throat, filling my mouth with a metallic taste.

Not even the vile words from the rogues earlier had angered me so much, their words hadn't cut so deep.

My body's protest at the recollection was visceral, and my fingers dug into the thick layer of snow beneath me as I scrambled backwards, wrapping my hands around myself like a human fortress warding off threats.

I could feel stares on me. The gazes of the warriors lined behind him were trained on me, but I could hardly look away from the man who had killed with terrifying speed and accuracy, who now stood frozen in front of me, with a mark glowing vividly on his neck.

The very same mark that was now burned into the skin of my wrist when it had never existed before.

It stood out like a sore thumb against my blood streaked skin, a confirmation of the horror I refused to accept, that the Moon Goddess had dealt me a hand so cruel it felt deliberate.

My wolf whimpered, pushing against my rejection, desperate to get close to the male standing a few feet away.

I silenced her with all the force I could muster.

"Mate," he said again, his voice strangely low and commanding.

I flinched.

The word sounded like a curse.

His eyes remained fixed on me, dark and piercing, like he couldn't understand why I wasn't reacting to him, why I laid there like a child who had seen a ghost.

I even thought I caught a faint thread of disappointment his eyes.

Understandable. I looked a mess with clothes that were torn in different places from the near assault. Blood covered my body like markings and the mangled feeling atop my head spoke volumes of the state of my hair.

"I am not your mate."

I spat the words out like bile, watching as his brows shot upwards. He studied me for a second then muttered.

"You are."

"I said I'm not!" I hissed, irritated at his certainty. I would rather choose to believe I had died and awoken in hell than accept the fact that I was tied to another man by fate.

His pressed his lips together, face stretching taut, then took one step towards me. My body reacted before my mind could.

"Get away from me!" I growled, clawing violently at the space before me. My fangs that had retreated some moments ago jutted out once more, and my lips upturned into a snarl.

The Alpha stopped, nostrils flaring with an exhale. The pull of the bond tugged at me then, and I knew he felt it too because his gaze deepened.

However, to my utmost surprise, instead of moving closer, he took a step back.

My snarl faded abruptly, then resurfaced.

"Don't come near me," I bared my teeth in warning, intent on making sure he made no move towards me.

Something shifted in his expression, something like a glimmer of understanding.

"You must be in shock," he stated, like it was verified information. "I am Raegan, the Alpha King of Eryndor. I'm only trying to help you."

Help?

I nearly scoffed at the word. I didn't need help, I didn't need anything. Taking someone's word at face value was the last thing I would let myself do again, and I certainly wasn't going to trust a man who called himself my mate.

Not even when my wolf was actively trying to convince me otherwise.

The last time I had allowed myself to trust someone, they drove a blade straight through my heart.

I could never let that happen again. Not now, not ever. I was done being a fool that could be manipulated by mere words.

Gathering myself, I wobbled to my feet, ignoring the stares that followed.

My eyes scanned my surroundings, taking in the dead rogues whose bodies littered the ground around us. I paused briefly, then my gaze hardened again.

"I am not your mate," I bit out, projecting my voice so he heard me loud and clear.

"I do not need your help either," I added, spinning around to take my leave without waiting for his response.

However, I had barely taken a step when the world spun. My knees gave out, and everything faded into nothingness.