001

Find your mate and live happily ever after they say.

Catching sight of her mate, Alpha Damien, Stephanie felt her heart leap into her throat, and not for good reasons too.

Truth be told, she cared about him probably more than she should, considering his horrendous ways with her... but he was her mate, and she was his Luna.

He treated her like crap, a mere possession to use and discard as he pleased.

"Here you are; of what use are you to me" He barked on reaching her

Stephanie is taken aback by his words, his temper not so much. She would never do right by him no matter how hard she tried.

"Did you need something? What can I get you?" Stephanie asked in a low voice, pushing away the hurt creeping into her heart

Alpha Damien hisses at her, his anger evident in the way he looks at her. He cursed softly at his father for insisting he get married to her. He had wanted another but his father and the moon goddess had other plans, now he had to settle for less.

Without another word, he started to walk away towards the direction he had come from. His giant strides echoing on the floor.

Stephanie hesitated briefly as she contemplated whether to follow him or remain. She knew he had a temper as venomous as a volcano, he would be angry if she did not follow him and she feared him greatly. He could be beastly at irrational moments and his temper was a source of great fear to her.

He expected her to know what he wanted of her even when he did not verbally express it.

Lifting her long dress, she followed him almost running to meet up with him.

He stopped in front of her room abruptly and waited.

Stephanie's heart sank, she understood what this meant.

The truth was that she had always loved Alpha Damien even before she found out he was her mate. She loved his luminous blue eyes and firm jaws, he had a body that could be likened to that of a god. But mostly she loved him for him and not for his title as Alpha or his general look.

However, Alpha Damien had never looked at her or longed for her the way she had always done.

When he touched her, it felt lifeless devoid of passion.

Being an Orphan, she never expected to be mated to anyone of higher rank, much more Alpha Damien. What a shock she felt on the night of the moon ball when she heard her wolf scream mate she turned and her eyes found and met that of Alpha Damien. She had felt an excitement bubble within her which was immediately shut down when he scowled at her and walked out of the ball hand in hand with his girlfriend Ava, the most beautiful girl in the pack.

Stephanie had always looked forward to the day she would find her mate, she was sure it would be the happiest day in her life but she was shocked by Alpha Damien's behavior.

She had heard stories of how mated pairs reacted to each other the first time their wolves recognised their mates, so she had waited expectantly that he would grab her and plant a kiss on her lips and they would live happily ever after.

Maybe he was shocked and did not know how to react-she concluded. How relieved she was when he sent for her a few days later, but he had a huge frown on his face when she arrived and for an instant, she feared he was going to reject her.

However, he asked her to marry him even though it was more of a command than a proposal.

They were married the next day.

The night of the wedding she waited for him but he never came. He came in drunk the next morning, he had the smell of a man who got a lot of sex.

Stephanie did not utter a word, she helped him out of his clothes and brought him a cup of strong coffee and some snacks. She had hoped for an apology when the alcohol wore off but she got nothing rather he pretended she was not there.

Stephanie could not bear it any longer after being ignored for some days.

"I…I…" She stuttered before continuing "Why are you ignoring me" she asked

He looked at her his face unreadable. "This…This marriage is a sham, so don't get ideas into your head or feel you matter to me because you don't."

"But I am your mate." Stephanie said feeling a bit bolder even though she was nervous

"I never asked for this, and that mate bond means nothing to me." He rose from the bed. "I will be staying in the other room from now on, you can have this room." He said and walked out of the room.

"Stop staring at the knob, you moron. Open the damn door will you." He shouted, making Stephanie jump and get out of her reverie.

She quickly opens the door and steps in, Alpha Damien follows from behind. He had a presence that made it look like he filled up the room.

"Strip." He barks at her and Stephanie draws back. She hated the way he came to her for sex, this was not supposed to be the norm but yet.

"But Alpha, I am not too well" She stutters

He swears at her "You dare to refuse me. You know why I married you woman." He says in a low voice his menacing eyes locking with hers "Know your place or contend with my wrath."

Stephanie blinked back the tears, it never solved anything. Sometimes she wondered why the moon goddess cursed her with a mate like Alpha Damien.

It was almost a year since they married, she had yearned for him, wanted his look of approval and acknowledgment. But that never happened. Instead each day became worse with his demeaning words and attitude.

"Strip or I'll help you." He challenges her, his eyes darkening. The last time she delayed he had torn the clothes off her body injuring her in the process.

She begins to take off her clothes, as each layer of cloth falls, it feels as if she was stripped of her dignity. Soon she stood naked before him, for the briefest second she thought she saw desire cross his face.

“Bend over.”

Stephanie did as she was told, refusing to allow her mind to dwell on the humiliation she was feeling.