CHAPTER ONE: THE MATE

BEATRICE’S POV

“Retrieve the document and burn down the damn house!” A voice yelled outside, and the door creaked under the intense banging. The unpredictable slams were both unsettling and nerve-wracking.

My hands trembled as I watched Father scurry to hide the brown envelope he held.

“Go hide. Now!” He ordered, fear written all over him. But I was just seven. My feet remained frozen, and I let out wails, a piece of my chocolate birthday cake in my palm. 

“Daddy…”

“Go pumpkin. You can't let them find you.” He picked me up, ignoring my wails as he rushed towards the back door. His breathing had gotten so heavy, and the voices from outside sent my fear on a spiral. I was holding onto his shirt as he put me down. “Don’t look back. Run until you get to the end of the world. Don’t let them get you.” 

“Daddy…” My voice broke. “Can you come with me?” 

I was scared of the dark. Of the outside world. Even though I was nothing but an Omega, my parents had done everything to protect my innocence. 

I watched him wipe his tears. “We love you, pumpkin. Mother and I.” Pulling the door open, he pushed me out and locked it. No matter how much my frail hands hit the door, nothing happened.

I could feel the darkness closing in, and all I could do was call out to them. I should have known something was up when they had shown up with the bleeding stranger five days ago. The one Daddy told me not to tell anyone he existed.

My heart pounded loudly. I knew I had to save Daddy and Mummy. Just like they did with me every time I fell and cried. Sniffing back my tears, I ran as fast as I could. My little legs deceived me because, at once, I froze. 

There they were, tied up against one another, screeching in pain as the fire consumed every inch of them. For a second, I couldn't process anything, but when I did, I ran toward them, calling out to them.

“Mummy….Daddy…” I sobbed, hoping they would run and pick me up.

Someone did. A strong arm grabbed me. His breath held a strong smell that made my gut retch.

“That is what they deserve for forgetting who they are.” He laughed devilishly.

“Don’t talk about my mummy and daddy like that,” I screamed in my tiny voice and bit his hand with all the strength I could muster. 

“Aaah!” He let me go, and I fell with a thud. “You wench!” He raised his hand to slap me, and I cuddled myself up. But the slap never came. His eyes bore into me. “Bring her. I won’t let her off so easily.” He seethed and walked up.

Another male grabbed me, holding me firmly over his shoulder, and no matter how much I called out to my parents to save me. They just watched the evil men whisk me away.

“Daddy…” I screamed out and jotted awake to find myself back there. In the hell hole, I had lived for thirteen years as an enslaved person and a wolfless Omega with no mate. 

Wiping my teary face, I dragged myself up from where I sat. I was far behind the others arranging the flowers, and no one had attempted to wake me. They sent me glances that spoke of their untold tales. Of how much they despised me, just the way I despised Fred, the male who ruined my whole life and made me dread birthdays.

“Sleeping on duty!” My heart leaped as my eyes connected with Samantha, the maid's head. Her extensive eyeballs rolled as she accessed me while she munched on chewing gum. “The rest of you leave. Beatrice stays.” 

Everyone hurried out in fear, and my body trembled because I knew what awaited me. ‘A Calculator’ as she loved to refer to it. It meant someone had gone to report me.

“You know what to do.” She seethed—a long whip in her right hand. My fingers shook as I pulled my worn brown gown up, the only one I had, to reveal my thighs. “Now, hold onto the table. You move, and I restart.” 

My eyes were soaked with tears, but I bit my lips and held them back. I had made a promise to myself not to cry. Not anymore. 

Each lash made me grip harder onto the table. My nails dug in even though it caused me so much pain. It was twenty lashes for every misconduct, but sometimes, she whipped me more.

Pain coursed through me as I held onto my breath. 

“5…6…7…” She counted.

The door flung open, and a footstep approached.

“The Alpha has a guest coming. He wants all the dishes served now!” Yuri informed, and Samantha gritted her teeth. She knew not to disobey the Alpha nor his right hand, Yuri.

“Praise your misfortune, girl. But the next time, I won’t let you off so easily.” Humping, she walked away.

I let the dress fall back, and it rubbed against my sore butt. It was one thing I was used to now. Sleeping on the bare floor would cure it in no time. 

I staggered as I joined the others to serve the dishes. I could hear Pearl and her friends mocking me. Even though I pretended to be calm, sadness consumed me.

“Everyone leave!” Alpha Fred’s voice shook through the room the second he entered with the tall masculine man who followed him dressed in a light blue shirt that showed a small amount of his chest and deep brown pants. He had shade on. “Now!” 

“Mate…” A weak voice that I had never heard before whispered. But I knew I had to be hallucinating. How could he be my mate? I had no wolf.

“You!” Fred’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I realized I was the last one standing. I attempted to run outside, but he put his hand in the way. “Who do you think you are?” His green eyes bore into mine, and my heart jumped in fear. I had never seen a man make green look so evil.

“I’m…I’m sorry, Sir…” I stammered, fright crawling through me.

His eyes darted over me for some seconds, and I could have sworn that he wanted to snap my neck off. “Get out of my sight!” 

I ran past him. My breathing was unstable, only to be held by this stranger. I turned to look at him, and he slowly pulled the sunglasses off to reveal the purest bluest eyes ever. My heart stopped for a while.

“I’m Kai, and you are my mate.” He announced.