Chapter 4

NADINE.

As soon as he left, my heat came. And it was the worst feeling that I ever had in my whole life. I was burning and miserable.

In the beginning, I kept myself composed and did my best not to even flinch at the first sign of pain when it came. But as time went on, I couldn’t stop myself anymore.

I was burning. I thought I was about to die. I couldn’t stop my cries anymore. So I just let the pain consume me and added my mate’s name to the list of people who had wronged me. 

I thought Xander was different. I thought being his mate would make me special in his eyes. But I was wrong. He was one of the worst kinds. 

I spent the whole night crying, cramped up in my little bed. I didn’t know when and how I fell asleep. Or maybe I passed out. 

I woke up with my clothes soiled from my sweat and tears. I was sure the whole room was reeking of my juices because of how many times I touched myself until I couldn’t remember anything anymore. 

I was the only one in the bunker, but I felt used and violated.

My eyes darted to the camera attached to the roof directly in front of me. I saw three cameras around the room but this was the only one that kept blinking last night, letting me know that someone was watching me.

I was sure he was at the other end. He probably watched me with his men, and they all enjoyed themselves or laughed at me while I touched myself during the peak of my heat.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as my lips quivered.

I felt like an open show. 

The camera wasn’t blinking anymore but I turned my body around so my back was on it and I was facing the wall. Only then did I let my sobs go again. 

I would cry so hard that when all the tears had gone dry, I would pick myself up and start my plan again. I would not let Xander derail me from reaching my goal. 

I had no idea how long I had been in this position when I heard the lock of the metal door click, but instead of smelling my mate, I smelled the Alpha. 

I closed my eyes and whispered to my wolf, asking her if she had the energy to help me fight off Alpha Maddox if he attempted to harass me because I was already drained out of it from all the screaming and thrashing I did the whole time I was in heat. 

Before my wolf could answer, I felt my body being hoisted up, and I had no choice but to place my hands on the chest of the person who carried me in bridal style. 

No words were spoken, and I kept my eyes closed. I had no idea if the Alpha knew I was awake, but at the moment, I didn’t want to talk to anyone. 

I felt my lungs expand as I was able to take a breath of fresh air. I was out of the bunker, but I had no idea where he would take me. My eyes remained closed until I heard footsteps approaching and my mate’s scent swirled around me.

“You can give her to me.” Xander’s voice came out cold, as expected.

“No.” The Alpha answered in an equally cold tone. “If I knew you would put her in the bunker, I would have taken care of her myself during her heat.

“Give me my mate, Maddox,” Xander growled at him. It amazed me that he was not afraid of the Alpha. Maybe because they were brothers. 

“Out of the way, Beta,” Maddox told him without stopping from walking. 

“I said, give me my mate!” Xander roared, and I felt his aura rising. “Or I will fucking grab her from you and I would not care if someone gets hurt.”

I opened my eyes, curious to see the Alpha’s reaction, but then he lowered my body to the floor, and I had no choice but to stand on my feet. 

My chest was heaving as I slowly tilted my head up, and it was only then that I realized there was another person beside Xander — a petite female with olive skin tone and long, straight black hair. An Omega.

The Omega smiled at me before she took a step forward. “Let me help you, Lady Nadine.”

“I don’t think she wants your help, Mindy.” Alpha Maddox scoffed sarcastically, and my face heated up.

Pain hit my chest, and in an instant, I pulled my arm harshly from her touch before I threw a deadly glare at Xander. I wondered if he spent the night with her while I was suffering from my heat. 

I felt like I was the Omega. I looked like a peasant — my hair was a big mess, and my clothes were soiled from my sweat — compared to how fresh-looking Mindy was with her neatly comb-haired and ironed clothes. 

My eyes pooled with tears, but I didn’t take my gaze off Xander, who was also meeting my gaze with a deadly look. 

“Let me walk you to your room, Lady Nadine,” Mindy spoke again in her angelic voice, but she didn’t attempt to hold me this time. 

I wanted nothing but to scream at her and tell her to stop pretending to be nice to me. But instead, I answered in a calm but sarcastic tone. “I’ve got feet. I can walk on my own.” 

“Don’t help her if she doesn’t want to,” Xander told her and my hands coiled onto tight fists as I kept myself from tearing up. 

I turned my back to all of them and walked up the stairs. I had no idea where I got the strength to keep my head high and to keep walking despite not having any energy at all. But somehow, I was able to walk arrogantly and made it out of their sight. 

If Xander wanted war, I would give him a war he never expected.