Chapter 4:

DARLA

"Will you come with me for a second?" I heard my mate voice suddenly boom in.

My heart panted heavily, what does he want to say?

I could only nod my head, and I could see the amount of relief that flushed through his face. I walked forward, He led the way. we walked towards the same lake where we met in the morning.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked slowly, my eye lids fluttering in confusion.

"I found a way." He said, gazing at me, his voice a little cold.

I frowned.

"What way?"

"You can reject me if you want." Bluntly, he said.

What?! what was that all about? reject?

I felt a tug on my chest, something squeezed my chest and I couldn't explain what it actually was.

"I don't want to reject you." I gazed elsewhere.

He looked surprised at my answer but it was replaced with a frown, I actually don't want to reject him.

"I know we are forceful mates of each other. And we are also each other's second mate. I know the pain of rejection. I don't want you to go through it. But if you want to reject me then I won't stop you." He said.

Did he actually want me to reject him?

"No!!" I couldn't bear another rejection.

"Don't compare me to your former mate, please." He looked stressed out.

Realization dawned onto me as my deep eyes widened.

"I'm sorry. I… I didn't realize that." I quickly added.

"It's ok. But will you give us a chance? To work this whole thing out?" He asked, his deep eyes boring into mine, hidden emotions.

Hidden agenda.

"I will."

I could only offer him a genuine smile.

"So will you tell me about yourself?" He asked nervously biting his lower lip. Why in the heck will he even ask that?

He nodded his head, noticing him sit on the plain grass and face me, I couldn't help but do the same.

"I'm the Alpha's daughter. His first born basically. My mom died of childbirth." I paused noticing his reaction.

However, he just stared blankly.

"My dad then brought home Laura as his second mate. But I know Laura wasn't his mate. She just doesn't seem like one. They had an affair. As my mom was gone, their path was clear. They mated each other and Ashlyn was born."

He only hummed.

"My wolf is weak. So I was basically removed from the heirline. And Ashlyn is the first in the heirline. For that very reason, I was told to exchange mates." I said and I could tell his mate was angry.

"What about you?" I asked.

He was startled and that was for sure, his eyes widening a little, maybe he wasn't expecting that kind of question.

"I was kicked out from my previous pack. After that I was attacked by some rogues when you saved me and found me wounded. There isn't much about me. My parents are no more in the world. I had a sister who found her mate when I was kicked out. I couldn't endanger her life." He brushed his hair.

I stared at him for a long time.

"How old are you, Ken?"

"25, what about you?"

"20!"

My eyes widened, he is 5 years older than me.

"What do you hate the most?" His question made me think for a moment.

Why would he ask such sudden question?

I went quiet, and I could see a guilty expression on his face.

"I hate deception." I finally said.

He averted his eyes.

"We should go back. We can do this some other day." He quickly added.

I could only say 'ok'. We started walking towards the pack house. He was walking a bit slower than I so that he could see how the pack members behaved with her, so I thought.

"Look, who is coming?"

Ashlyn's annoying voice echoed in my ears, as usual, I tried to ignore.

"Two totally useless mates. Darla, how does it feel to be marked by a rogue?" Ashlyn walked towards us.

His wolf surfaced ready to tear apart the person who is insulting his mate.

"Ashlyn, at least I'm not snatching away someone else's mates. Good luck with my used one." I squinted my eyes, embarrassment flushing through her.

Ashlyn's eyes were red from anger. She was about to slap me when Ken stepped forward and held her wrist in my hand tightly.

I was touched, for the first time, someone actually stood up from me.

"Don't you dare to hurt my mate in my presence." He barked angrily, He looked different from the time in the garden, he was fierce, his eyes Turning hostile.

Ashlyn snapped, taking in the tears.

"Y-you are hurting me." Her voice came out in a whisper, however his hands tightened more.

"Wait and watch, you will pay for this." She said, after he freed his hands, her eyes moistened with tears, but she kept them all in.

Ashlyn stormed away from there. Ken turned around and looked at the other people. They scattered away seeing his hard glare.

Good!

"You shouldn't have done this."

He frowned at my words.

"Huh?"

I sighed.

"Now, she will complain to dad and Goddess knows what he will do." My eyes moistened a little.

He shrugged his shoulders. Noticing his glare on me.

"What do you want?" I hazily asked.

"Will you cook something for me? I'm really hungry at this moment." He smiled.

I could only nod.

"Give me 10 minutes. I'll cook something for you." I smiled. 

He nodded at me and I went away. He stood there looking at my disappearing figure when an old man came to him. The old man squinted his eyes at Ken.

"May I help you?" Ken asked, stepping back a little, a hostile expression on his face.

 But the old man laughed out loud before saying,

"You are not who you are showing. You will regret this. Regret this."