Ch 6- Mate

Isabella

“ Violet was right!”

He was incredibly handsome and extremely breathtaking. He looked like a demigod, with his shoulders squared, and a well-defined jawline, his hair was dark like the night and was perfectly coiffed. His body proportions were perfect like he was sculpted by God. His eyes were sharp and piercing even across the room. I could see the perfect emerald-green color of his orbs and they were cold.  Cruel and furious and I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me that his anger was directed at me. I felt this urge to slide down in my chair and hide under the table or maybe run away from the hall. But I tried my best to be strong even though my heart was pounding excessively. 

The entire room was filled with the most exquisite and intoxicating scent. Could it be his cologne or his aftershave balm? He smelled really really good. Like the sweet-scented smell of summer rain and lavender.  Somehow I was tempted between running away from those cold and angry eyes or the desire to hug and bury my head in his neck and inhale that sweet and intoxicating smell. His lips were pressed into a flat hard line which ruined the effect of his pouty and salacious lips as he strutted over to the royal table. I was a bit surprised that it was just two of them that came in for dinner. I remembered that Violet had mentioned that they are three brothers but where is the other one? I decided not to dwell on that maybe he would come in any moment.

Still lost in my thoughts I didn't notice when the other brother extended his hand toward me for a handshake and the Queen nudged me out of my reverie. He had a warm and friendly smile on his face and he seemed to have more of his mum’s genetic features.His eyes were golden brown and his blonde hair was neatly trimmed. He was not as big or as intimidating as Arden, and he had the same petite figure as the Queen.

“ Hello, sis-inlaw, it's nice to meet you.” He said and shook hands with me. I smiled back at him and he sat directly opposite me and continued “ I'm  Lance, the youngest of the house.”

I smiled and replied to him, “I'm Isabella, it's nice to meet you.” 

He grabbed a goblet from the table and took a sip “ Hope you don't mind if I call you Bella.” he asked Anyone you choose to address me with is perfectly okay, I answered and he took another sip from his goblet and smacked his lips together. “ Thank you!” he replied and focused on his food.  

“ Arden,” the Queen spoke and there was a sharp edge of disapproval in her “ It's nice of you to join us. I want you to meet Isabella.”  

Arden pulled out a seat and instead of offering me a handshake or greeting, he snarled at me. He growled at me and for the first time since I came to the Blood Moon Pack, my inner wolf whined

“ Mate” she muttered

No. No way! 

How could I possibly be mated to him? Arden’s demeanor was cold, dominating, and even intimidating. 

My mind fought it even as my body was responding to the sensation that was emitting from him. I looked at him and noticed he was also feeling the same thing as I am but he had absolutely no intention of accepting it. He must have despised me so much to be able to shrug off the mate bond and shred his chicken as if nothing else mattered.

My wolf kept whimpering “ He hates us! He doesn't want us! Our mate doesn't want us!”  I tried my best to shut her off. 

I picked up my cutlery and tried to keep myself calm and not think of the worst that could happen. It's weird that I was forced into an arranged marriage and the husband forced on me turned out to be my mate. Could it be that I was truly cursed? How could my mate hate me, immediately he sets his eyes on me. He hadn't said the words but I can sense the atmosphere of rejection drifting off him. How cruel and unfair could life be? Was I meant to suffer all through my life? Is this how the Moon Goddess has chosen to make my life an object of mockery?

“What am I going to do?”  I'm not going to cry in front of him, I have to be strong.” I shoved my shoulder back and lifted my chin and stared straight into his eyes as I took a bite of the spicy grilled chicken, but at that moment it tasted nothing close to the delicious aroma. I contemplated whether to spit it out but I didn't want to give Arden the satisfaction of knowing that I lost my appetite because of him. 

Never!!!

So I munched and swallowed my food even though I was trying my best to force it down my throat, the pain inside of me was making it difficult. Arden met my eyes briefly and then turned to his brother Lance and completely ignored me. It felt as if my presence irritated him. 

I noticed the way Lance was gaping at me and Arden like his eyes were moving back and forth to his brother and then across the table to me and back again and he sighs and nibbled on his food. My nervous self could not stand the tension charged in the table, as if Lance knew he cleared his voice and started 

“ Mum, where is Malcolm? Is he not coming down for the feast?”

“ So sorry love, He went to the Crescent North Pack with the warriors to fight off the rogues that invaded the North. Sorry, I didn't tell you earlier, he will return tomorrow or next.” Queen Selena answered him with a smile 

“ Okay, mum but Malcolm needs to take some time and rest,” Lance replied 

And the Queen chuckled and said, “Talk to him about that, I'm sure he will listen to you.”

Lance turned to me “ How are you finding it here, Bella? Is your room comfortable? Do you need anything?” 

Yeah, everything is perfectly fine.”  I said and smiled at him 

I managed to finish the food on my plate and the omegas came in serving almond and date cake and Maltesers tiramisu as desserts but I had lost my appetite to enjoy the desserts even the sight of sugar wasn't appealing at the moment. I stared at the man across the table and it annoyed me the way he was completely unaffected, he was relishing his meal, chatting, and acting like I wasn't there. As if he knew I was staring at him, and our eyes met, his bright emerald green eyes became dark and there was a fire of rage and hate flashing through his eyes. I felt my heart prickle with fear and I looked away immediately.