Chapter 05~Safe Haven

~ARIELLA~

I saw a man staring at me weirdly while I was still gripped by fear as I looked at my angry mate, who was being held by the man.

When he said, "Lock him up, he's a rapist," I couldn't help but feel safe for the first time in a long time.

Never did I think someone would stand up to my bullies one day. I never thought I would be protected from any of them, but standing here, watching my mate punch and beat Dante up so mercilessly, seemed soothing.

"Sir Jaden, you're..."

"I will meet you at the hall. Ensure he's properly locked up and do not let anyone order his release until I say so," Arthor Jaden said icily, and the man who had been staring at me the whole time nodded.

I could see fear in Dante's eyes, and somehow, it filled the void in my heart.

I watched them grab him and roughly bundle him out of the room, and I couldn't help but sigh deeply after the door was closed roughly behind us.

For the first time, I felt so relaxed, relieved, and I could breathe in fresh air without being bothered.

I couldn't believe I had been holding my breath for so long, not until I let out a deep sigh of relief with tears streaming down my face at the worst scenario.

Gosh! How could he be so mean and heartless?

He actually wanted to rape me. He could have succeeded in molesting me, and he would have gone free without anyone supporting me.

I allowed the tears to stream down from my eyes without daring to stop them. This was it. I had reached my breaking point a long time ago, and right now, today seemed to be the perfect day and time to let it all out.

"It's okay! The monster is gone now, you don't have to cry," He said, and I stiffened. I didn't know he had been staring at me all this time, not until he said those words.

"Did he touch you?" He asked again, and I nodded.

I tried not to remember how he brutally beat me up just so he could have his way with me blindly.

"I'm here now. I should have been here earlier. I am sorry for being late and for letting a scumbag touch you ruthlessly," He pleaded.

I only nodded. I tried to control my tears. I had never been this emotional all my life, and seeing that someone was actually apologizing to me only made it worse.

I was used to being the one rendering apologies, even when I wasn't at fault, and I didn't think Arthur Jaden would one day stoop this low to my level.

"Thank you," I emitted the words out of my mouth as I lifted my head up, and my eyes landed on his.

His caramel blue eyes were staring at me all this time, and I didn't even notice. I felt butterflies in my stomach as I was lost in his eyes.

God, this man was a demigod. I didn't know what I was feeling right now, but all I knew was that his presence was forcing my wolf to want to make some random decisions.

One that we may regret bluntly, after it happened, and as much as I tried to restrict myself and go farther away from him, my legs reluctantly moved towards him.

I was held back by the fact that my shirt was too dirty for him. I wouldn't want to stain whatever he was wearing.

I had thought it was all over, and maybe, just maybe, he would leave immediately, but what I didn't expect was what he did next.

Arthur Jaden hugged me immediately after I took a step forward. His cold, diminutive hands embraced me so tightly, and I could feel his heart beating so very fast against my chest while I was lost in his arms.

I had never imagined someone of a very high caliber would hug me despite looking so tattered and ungiving.

"It's okay, he doesn't deserve you. I'll make sure he pays for every pain he has caused you," He said gently, as he continued to tap on my back.

I wanted to hug him back desperately, wanted to be close to him. I knew this wasn't my work. I knew my inner wolf was pushing me towards him, but either way, I wanted this.

"You're mine now, no one would dare hurt you anymore," He added, his voice seemed soothing, and it calmed all the pressure within me.

I had never been this consoled all my life, and experiencing this for the first time caused me to want more of this.

It made me realize how badly I had wanted someone to console me, even though it wasn't coming through.

Tears brimmed in my eyes, but I quickly blinked them off. For the first time, I felt so safe with someone.

He was my safe haven, and his arms seemed so calming.

The way he tapped on my back made me want to stay in his arms, at least for more minutes or perhaps hours.

"Mate! I want him, right now!" Just when I was enjoying this moment, my inner wolf cried out in my head.

At first, I had wanted to ignore this, but I found my heart beating fast, and I was suddenly craving this man. I didn't know if this was right, but right now, I was sexualizing the man who was hugging me.

He was my mate, I needed him. I craved him, and his scent wouldn't help either.

"You smell so nice," He said, inhaling my scent.

"Your scent is so enticing, and I want to be close to you always," He added, and that made me flush.

"See, he wants us, mate, please!" My inner wolf begged. I ignored her completely.

Slowly, he finally disengaged from the hug, only to start staring deeply at me.

"My wolf wants you," He stated, and I couldn't help but feel so embarrassed.

No doubt, mine also wanted him badly, but I had thought he would blindly reject me the moment he found out I was his mate.

"How long have you been here, and did they ever treat you rightly while you were here?" He asked.

He had suddenly diverted the question when he noticed the tension in the room.

"All my life," I answered truthfully.

"And no! They never treated me right. I am a slave, not a full-born, and I don't belong to the pack either," I said, staring at him with my thundering heart.

"Oh," He muttered, nodding his head.

I watched him toss his hands into his suit pocket, his eyes never leaving mine, even while doing that.

"Be my woman!" He declared, and my heart dropped dead as I stared at him.

What?

His woman?

Did that mean I wouldn't be rejected by him?