The hate you possess for me

Winter awoke on the second day to find herself ensconced in a luxurious chamber, cocooned beneath a velvety blanket. 

The surroundings were eerily familiar, for as a princess, she was accustomed to such opulent chambers. A sense of unreality washed over her as if this were but a dream.

"You've awakened after two days," a voice she knew all too well chimed in. 

Winter's senses caught the unmistakable scent of her mate, and he materialized before her eyes. It dawned on her that she was not in the afterlife, and a fleeting memory resurfaced: her last recollection of fainting in the dungeon.

Winter jolted when Raphael's warm hand touched her forehead and she yanked his hand away, making him chuckle. "Is this the way your way to answer the person who showed kindness to you?" he playfully quipped. 

"Why didn't you just let me die?" Winter questioned, her eyes locked onto his with a glare that held a hint of accusation. "Killing me would have brought an end to your revenge, allowing you to find peace," she added, her words stinging Raphael's heart. If she weren't his mate, perhaps it would have been easier for him to carry out his vengeful intentions.

Raphael settled himself in front of her, his gaze unwavering. "Your tongue has suddenly grown sharper. They say Princess Winter was known for her quiet demeanor," he remarked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Winter's gaze fell away from Raphael, and she gripped the blanket tightly, her knuckles turning white. She had no anticipation of Raphael's next move. 

Suddenly, his hand closed around her throat, pulling her close. His eyes shone red, his jaw clenched, and his words brushed against her lips like a menacing whisper.

"I won't grant you an easy death," he declared, his tone laced with malice. "You'll suffer. You've lived as a princess, but now you'll serve as the King's maid, fulfilling my every desire," he proclaimed, sending shivers down her spine.

Tears welled up in Winter's eyes, but she summoned her courage and spoke defiantly, "I want you to kill me because I'll disobey you."

"You won't," Raphael said and let go of her throat. He ducked his head to her neck and he kissed her right below the ear. 

Winter widened her eyes and she decided to move away. But Raphael's strong arm on her back made her immovable. He had a massive strength being an alpha and overpowering him in that was impossible for her. 

"Don't do it," Winter urged. 

Raphael stopped kissing her neck and whispered in her ear, "Didn't you want that? The moment our eyes met, you knew we were mates decided by the Moon Goddess." 

"Not with the hate you possess for me," Winter said. Her head was aching because she hardly had any meal. She didn't know how was she even surviving. 

"You are right. You must remember this hate until your last breath," Raphael said and left the bed. "Starting today, you'll serve me. You must freshen up, have some meals, and then come to my chamber," he asserted and left her sight. 

A female servant entered, introducing herself as Doris. She told Winter how she was instructed to help her in getting ready. Winter somehow got down the bed and moved slowly toward her. 

"Doris, is there a way I can run away?" Winter asked a question, which made the servant widen her eyes. 

"I'm afraid, but you may get punished severely. I'll be punished too," Doris stated. 

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her father was killed right in front of her eyes. Though he never treated her with warmth, in the end, he was her father. She had the most terrible fate, she thought. 

Winter thought after meeting her mate, she would live happily with him. But that dream of hers shattered completely. Raphael hated her from the bottom of his heart. That wasn't only visible in his eyes, but also in his voice. 

"Winter, you shouldn't be crying. You're still alive, and that's what truly matters," Doris gently comforted her, slowly helping Winter regain her composure.

With Doris's support, Winter wiped away the tears from her cheeks and followed her to the washroom. After a while, as she immersed herself in the warm water, she could feel her tense muscles gradually relaxing. 

However, as she inspected her arms and neck, she couldn't help but notice the deep red bruises that marred her skin, a stark reminder of the ordeal she had endured.

Doris shared some valuable information with Winter as she arranged the bathing essentials. "Winter, the water in this pool comes from a hot water spring, known for its healing properties. Did you know that His Majesty specifically asked me to bring you here?" she revealed.

Winter was taken aback by this revelation. "What?" she exclaimed in surprise.

Concerned about the bruises covering Winter's body, Doris asked, "Why do you have so many bruises? Did all of this happen just two days ago?" Her worry was evident.

Winter chose not to disclose the true source of her injuries, instead offering a vague response, "Hmm." She kept hidden the painful experiences she had endured at the hands of her abusive father and a mentor who had trained her in her werewolf abilities.

Doris couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pity for Winter. She had once been a princess, but her current condition was a stark contrast to her royal past. Winter's appearance had been reduced to that of someone who seemed to be treated as nothing more than disposable.

After Winter had finished her bath, she changed into a simple attire typically worn by maidservants in the palace. 

It was a plain, long white dress with a wide, golden waist belt that cinched at the waist. The dress had no sleeves, much like the attire of the other maidservants. 

Doris took care to tie Winter's hair into a neat ponytail, securing it in place with hair clips to ensure she looked presentable. 

Doris made sure that Winter had her meals and took the prescribed medicine before escorting her to the King's chamber.

As she left Winter in the chamber, Doris advised, "You should wait here for His Majesty to arrive. I'll check in on you later." With that, she departed, leaving Winter in a room that appeared surprisingly dark despite the bright day outside. 

Winter's attention was drawn to the massive windows, which were shrouded in heavy, dark curtains, casting an eerie gloom over the room.

Lost in her thoughts, Winter turned around, only to collide with something solid. A strong arm immediately wrapped around her back, and she met the sharp gaze of Raphael, her mate.