3

There was momentarily silence before the man quickly backed away from me, fright mixed with shock was evident in his eyes after hearing the Alpha's words, his head completely lowered as he silently conveyed his most sincere apologies. 

“My apologizes, Alpha”

"Release her... " He ordered, and another man was quick to undo the binding holding me hostage.

All these while, I was trembling and Whether it was from fright or from sheer excitement and nervousness, i didn't know, but i definitely knew that something warm and unnatural was surging through my veins just having the alpha this close and that smell, it was all him.

"Come." He reached out a hand to me. I hesitated for a moment before I took an unsure step forward. 

Alpha Alex took me by the hand, his eyes taking note of how my skin was covered in fresh bruises  but nonetheless, bringing it up to his lips to kiss it, inhaling my scent as well? Wait, did he just sniff me?

My hand felt really small compared to his large ones but it fitted just as perfectly. I noticed a small grin appeared on his face before peering up at my face again.

His eyes continued to scan me before he stopped where they was  bloody slash on my neck, and I noticed his eyes darkened and my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, wondering why his expression had changed so suddenly.

Was it because he found me unworthy to be his mate Or he could smell me out as the traitor's daughter who has come to steal from him.  I wasn’t sure but either way, i kept my head lowered and fingers crossed, hoping for the best.

"Who is responsible for this?" He deep baritone voice rang out while he softly grabbed my neck to scrutinize the wound around there. 

The man who had whipped me came forward and suddenly fell to his knees and bowed to the ground. 

"Forgive this lowly servant, Alpha. I didn't know who she was until now." His face was almost kissing the floor.

I let out a relieved sigh. It was not as i had feared. Seems the Alpha was concerned about the treatment i was given by his men rather than me being a traitor.

"Please forgive me." The man pleaded further, this time, his gaze looking at me pleadingly.

"Andrew." Alex called for another of his pack warrior who was standing by his side the entire time, waiting for his order. 

"Yes, Alpha." 

"Lock him away In the underground dungeon without food or water for three days." 

Despite the punishment, the man still lowered his head to the ground as he thanked the Alpha, happy that his life was spared.  

"Come with me." Alex whispered as he turned to face me again, and In a state of enchantment i followed him without resisting or questions and he led me into the house and further down to his room where he showed me to a chair.

Realizing the hesitation in my eyes, he turned to face me before motioning with his head.

“Go ahead and sit, I won’t hurt you” He assured me and i nodded before settling on it.

He disappeared for a moment, only to return with a small box in hand and went to kneel beside me on the chair.

I flinched back in fright before he could lift his hand to touch my face. “It's okay. I won’t hurt you. I just want to clean your wound if you would let me”

I bite down on my lips, comptemplating whether to say yes or not. 

“Okay” I said with a silent nod.

As he silently dabbed at my wounds, I found myself scrutinizing him, clearly having the advantage to study his features more closely and i concluded once again that he was indeed a handsome man.

I recalled his statement from earlier and wondered if truly we were mate and what his reaction would be if he found out I was on a secret mission to steal from him.

If that was to happen, I have no doubt it would be the end of me but still i couldn’t help but think of the people back home. Without the gem stone, my father would never let me see my mother again just to make sure i regret ever defiling his orders.

I was so lost in my own thought that, i didn't realize he had finished tending to my wounds until he slipped a hand behind my ear and I turned to face him, our eyes locking in a heated gaze for a moment .

"All done. Do you have a cut any where else you would like me to tend to?"  

My cheeks tinted red as i contemplated whether telling him there was another at my lower back, but I was naked underneath my cloth and probably should be left hidden. 

"You do, don't you?" He asked with a knowing grin and my eyes widened.

"We're mates... I can tell what you're thinking by just looking into your eyes. Come on now, show me." 

My eyes misted at his compassion and kindness, and i was in disbelief that the Alpha whom i had heard terrible things about was so softhearted and kind. 

Turning away from him to hide  the unshed tears in my eyes, I slowly peeled the fabric off my shoulders, exposing my entire back for him to see. 

I dared not look over my shoulders to see his expression and only covered my breasts with my hands.

He got to work once again, his hand moving ever so gently across my back, an annoyed groan erupting his mouth when he stopped at the fresh cut on my back. 

“I’m sorry you went through such torture in the hands of men. If you want, I can go rip out his throat right now”

“No, please no”

Alex looked enraged as his eyes bore into mine for a moment before he finally nodded, his hands starting to move once more. 

When he was done, he covered me up before wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me closer into his chest.

Startled by his behavior, I tried to break away from him but he held on tighter. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you. I just want you to know you are safe here with me. So just relax. No one can hurt you ever again”

With a sigh, i closed my eyes and leaned my head into his touch as i allowed myself to be held by him some more, enjoying his warmth even. I can’t even remember the last time someone worried or cared about me.

That moment was like a dream. Maybe it was a dream and i would wake up sooner than later and be back to reality again but for the moment, i wanted to drown in the comfort of his arms around me and I did as I let my eyes clenched shut, a small sigh escaping my mouth.

However, the door was suddenly thrown open and a strange woman walked in with clenched fist, fire blazing  in her eyes as she glared coldly at our position on the sofa.

“what disrespect is this?” she barked, her hangs swinging to hit me.