A Mate I Never Chose

Natalie's POV

A pounding headache greeted me as I struggled to pry my eyes open. "Ahh..." I groaned as the harsh light seared into them, forcing me to shield them with my hand—only to realize it was tightly bandaged. The memory hit me like a ton of bricks—Nora had viciously ground her heels into it, causing the injury.

But who had bandaged my hand, and where on earth was I? My mind was foggy with confusion as my eyes wandered around the vast, opulent bedroom filled with ornate furnishings and intricate decorations. Everything was unfamiliar, and I had no idea where I was.

I remember correctly, I was at the auction house and that green-eyed man won my bid. Then what happened next? Was I in his residence or some kind of a hotel? I tried to rise, but the pain from my injuries made it difficult. Then I noticed I was no longer in those filthy clothes, but instead wearing pink silk pajamas.

Who could have done this? Was it the man who won the bid?

Dark clouds of confusion and questions surrounded my mind. I struggled to sit up, wincing in pain, and leaned back against the bedpost. Just then, I heard the click of the bathroom door opening, and a strikingly dashing face with sea-green eyes emerged, looking hot wrapped in a white robe that revealed his well-toned chest.

That must be my bidder. He is too handsome, but the mask had hid him well, before. I was mesmerized by his manly charm, but realization hit me when he moved closer, eliciting a flinch from me.

A wave of fear washed over me, knowing he wouldn't release me without a struggle. Clutching the comforter tightly to my chest, I swallowed nervously, don't want to know, what might come next.

"Rest assured, I have no intentions of hurting you,"

His voice was surprisingly gentle, resonated with a soothing quality that I hadn't expected, as if he could sense the fear in my eyes.

Right, like I can trust that. He spent a fortune to have me for the night, not just to exchange pleasantries. There's no way I'll let him take my dignity. With a firm resolve to resist, I turned my gaze away from his captivating face, summoning all my courage for a fight to the end.

"May I know your name?" he asked, raising an eyebrow while casually rubbing his wet hair with a white towel, looking incredibly dashing and fluttering my heart.

Damn, Natalie, what's wrong with you? Control your emotions. But why does his voice have to be so comforting, almost enticing me to let my guard down? I should just ignore him.

"Okay, if you won't tell me your name, can you at least tell me if you recognize who I am?"

Ah, so this is his true agenda revealed. My bidder and master for a night expect me to acknowledge him and serve his whims. Absolutely not, that's out of the question for me.

"You're the one who outbid everyone else and 'won' me,"

Even I don't know why my reply was laced with sarcasm. I couldn't help but notice the shift in his previously composed expression; his brow furrowed, his eyes flashing with an unsettling red hue, sending a shiver down my spine.

Did I just make him furious? My heart raced as adrenaline surged through me. I scanned the room frantically for means to defend myself before he made a move against me. Great, I'm lucky; there's a wall hanging containing a set of silver daggers conveniently near me and out of his immediate reach.

I sprang out of bed, snatched a dagger from the decoration piece, and aimed it squarely at him.

"What are you doing?" he roared in fury, his angry voice reverberating in my ears, causing my hands to shake as I gripped the knife tightly. Despite the trembling, I refused to let go of it, instead tightening my hold and nervously licking my dry lips.

"If you dare to force me, I won't hesitate to kill you-or myself."

Summoning every ounce of courage, I stated my ultimatum, but it seemed to have no impact on him. He remained unfazed, he continued to advance towards me with relentless determination.

No, I won't allow him to touch me.

I vowed to protest vehemently, blocking out any other thoughts. I shut my eyes tightly and brought the knife to my wrist, intending to take drastic measures. But before I could act, he moved with surprising speed, seizing both of my hands and pressing me against the wall, rendering me powerless as he held my arms above my head.

The next moment, I met his furious gaze. Anticipating his reaction, I shut my eyes tight and titled my head, bracing myself for the impending punishment-a harsh slap or a scathing rebuke based on my past experiences. I was taken aback when he calmly retrieved the knife from my grasp and disposed it in the trash can. Instead of meting out punishment, he surprised me by tenderly cupping my left cheek with his right hand.

"Relax, I have no intention of harming you. Why would I ever force you when you're my mate?" He softened his voice delivering a news to me, and his eyes filled with affection as he gazed into mine, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb.

Another mate bond? My emotions were a whirlwind of shock and disbelief. After enduring so much pain with my previous mate before being rejected, this is too abrupt to accept. I felt a numbness wash over me. I was at a loss for how to respond to him.

"Can't you sense it as strongly as I do?"

Though the question was reasonable, it stirred up a bitter realization within me. The fact is I had never felt the mate bond, neither with Asher before nor with this guy. While I may have felt a faint attraction towards him, I couldn't define it as a true mate bond.

I don't understand why I can't feel it like everyone else. Is it because I haven't found my wolf yet, or something else?