Chapter Five

ELORA’S POV

If I had stayed with Beta Hunter a minute longer, I wouldn’t have had to face my mate with his slut in his arms once again. Obviously, my wolf was hurt. Unexpectedly, so was I…

I wanted to curse the mate bond for feeling this way and yet I knew that this was a bond with divine origin. It was created by the moon goddess herself, making it both sacred and indisputable. 

So I guess I had no choice but to deal with this shit, not until I found a way to run away from this hell.

Yeah, that’s the plan. 

And so, I continued walking. I paused and curtsied when I became nearer before dismissing myself with my head held high. I almost heaved a sigh of relief when Alpha Dominic didn’t say a thing but my nightmare was far from being over. 

“What is that smell?” Ashley asked, walking toward me and sniffing deeply. Seconds later, her face lit up. “I knew that smell, it was from Beta Hunter. Wait, don’t tell me you moved your interest in him now? Did you flirt with him?”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. It was pointless to deal with this ambitious woman. The more I talk, the more she gets provoked, and so I remained silent and held back my anger toward her. But it was already too late as her remarks already piqued the Alpha King’s interest. 

“What were you doing with Hunter late this night?” the Alpha King queried. 

Our gazes met, and I could see how he was annoyed with the reason that only he, knew what.

“Speak when I ask you,” he demanded. This time, anger filled his voice.

Realizing that he would never let me pass without getting an answer, I finally stated my reasons. “Hunter and I just talked.” My gaze went to Ashley, who narrowed her eyes at me. “Unlike some women, I am not a whore.”

Then, I turned my gaze to the Alpha King. “He just consoled me, Alpha King. He soothed me after some man told me vile and unacceptable things.”

Alpha Dominic made a low growl. Under any other circumstance, I should fear his sudden show of aggression. And yet, I was too tired to think about it. This had been a long day. All I want was to lay on my bed and sleep. 

 I was about to walk out, but Ashley grabbed my arm tightly. Seriously? She wasn’t done getting on my nerves to think that it was already midnight.

“Let me guess, you can’t take the Alpha King on your bed, so you tried to seduce his Beta!” Ashley exclaimed. “You are acting like a saint but deep inside, you are a slut who would use her body for her advant—”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, my lady, but I am nothing like you!” I interrupted, full of sarcasm. “Don’t compare me with your ways. I had survived this life without spreading my legs to anyone who would be willing to fill my needs.”

“You bitch! How dare you disrespect me like that!”

I scoffed. “Why? I am only telling the truth, didn’t I?”

She growled and raised her hand. Her nails grew into sharp claws, ready to strike my face with it. But before she could hurt me, Alpha Dominic grasped her hand to stop her.

Ashley’s eyes were filled with shock, and she turned to the Alpha like a hurt kitten. “What are you doing, Alpha? This rogue insulted me in your front. She deserved to die!”

But instead of saying something, Alpha Dominic just shook his head. Hesitantly, Ashley put down her arms. I could see that she was utterly disappointed but didn’t dare to oppose the Alpha King’s wishes. 

Alpha Dominic’s eyes turned to me. His brows were furrowed, and I could sense the impending danger in the way he looked at me.

“From now on, you are not allowed to leave your room without my permission,” he remarked with finality. 

My eyes widened at what he said. “No, you can’t do that to me!”

“Oh, yes, I can, rogue. So deal with it,” he said coldly. 

He looked at me disgustingly, a constant reminder that he would never accept me as his mate. Without looking away, he called the two wolf guards near us and commanded them, “Don’t let this rogue out of her room. Make her and you will both lose your life.”

“Roger that, Alpha King,” the two guards exclaimed in unison. 

My eyes burned with tears as I glared at Dominic. His bed warmer seemed satisfied in yet another torment in my life as he escorted her out of my sight. I bit my lower lip until I tasted rust inside my mouth. And then, I uttered some words I promised to keep until I die. 

“Time will come that you will crawl my arms to ask forgiveness. And when that time comes, I, your mate, will never give it to you.”

*****

Just a while back, I thought that I would fall into slumber the moment I lay on my bed. But unexpectedly, my eyes remained open thinking about what had happened earlier. 

There was no doubt that the Alpha King succeeded in destroying my self-esteem, as I feel like I was nothing but a piece of trash that he would never grow to love. It was a tough pill to swallow but I should start teaching myself to accept it. 

“Care to share what you are thinking?” It was the familiar, sweet, innocent voice of Maira that led me back to my senses. 

“Why are you still awake? It’s already late,” I asked after turning to her side.

“I can hear you gritting your teeth. Did something happen earlier?”

A sigh escaped me. “The Alpha King has insulted me again and this time, he imprisoned me in this room. If only there was a way to get back at him.

“There is,” Maira exclaimed, “inside your head”

I laughed so hard at her joke, making me forget my misery for a short while. Maira and Beta Hunter had been nothing but kind to me. I felt bad that I would be leaving them tomorrow but this was for the best. 

Shutting my eyes, I prayed to the Moon Goddess to bless my decision. I prayed for a better place, somewhere where I could live in peace regardless of my social status. The face of Alpha Dominic showed up in my mind, along with the deep, seething pain that lingers inside of me. 

‘You still have time to think about it, Elora. What if one day Alpha Dominic realizes his mistakes and wants us back—’

I shook my head at Arwen. Waiting for the Alpha King to change his ways was wishful thinking.  It would never happen!

‘Elora…’ Arwen sobbed in my mind. 

“Our mate let us down multiple times. What’s the point of staying in this hell? It is better to live as a rogue than to live like this,” 

After a few minutes, my eyelids felt so heavy that I could no longer open them. Meanwhile, Maira continued to talk but the call to sleep was more powerful to actually understand what she said. 

“An Alpha will be visiting the Alpha King tomorrow. I bet everyone will be so...”

My mind could no longer take it so I let the darkness engulf me. Tomorrow was yet another day of torment so I better prepare my body for it, especially with my plans on leaving.