Chapter 3 Saving 'Someone'.

(Ariel's POV)

Time: Year 2200, five days until the next round of genetic testing.

I glared at him with the corner of my eyes as I fumed with anger, and a gush of disgust ran down my body.

Mark smiled and pulled up my chin, "What do you think about my proposal?"

I gritted my teeth and tried to shake him away but his grip only tightened. "You're the perfect candidate to be my surrogate."

I looked away, scoffing. "Let me go; otherwise I'll report you for cheating."

Mark laughed aloud when I flinched, and he approached me closer. "Do you think anyone would believe you? You're the slave, and I'm the owner."

I bit my lips while clenching my fist as I glanced down. It hurt me, but this was true. There was no one who would believe me over him. He was the rightful owner, mated to the Beta.

"Don't you feel ashamed to cheat on your mate?" I gritted when he pulled me closer.

"She's barren, and fret not, you'll be nothing more than a surrogate to me to bear my child. You're the perfect candidate for it." He said while caressing my hair when I backed away.

He sighed with a smile on his face. "You're so smart. My children must be smart if you're their mother, aren't it?"

I took some deep breaths, trying to control my anger.

Calm down, Ariel. You can't be reckless. You're now a watched target. He can't do anything to you, and you can't do anything to him either. Now.

I took some steps back as I glared at him without a word when he laughed at my response.

"But my offer is good, isn't it? No one would be able to find out you're mated to anyone. As long as the genetic test passes, you'll be an unprotected target. What do you think will happen to you?" Mark threatened with a glare. "Everyone will shred you to pieces, or you'll get killed. I can protect you." He added with a smirk on his face.

I tightened the grip of my fist. If I could, I'd have punched him to death here at this moment. But I can't. I picked up the keys and was ready to leave the factory when Mark added again.

"Unless you find a way to escape this jurisdiction, I'll always be able to find my ways to capture you. It doesn't matter whether you agree or not. I'll just imprison you here."

I dug my nails deeper into the skin as I felt my hands itch. This was the only way I could control my anger.

As I walked towards my home, all the memories of taunts, mockery, shame, and disgust rushed inside my head.

Why did all of these dramas have to happen to me? First, I was betrayed by my sister. And now, Mark…

I thought Mark was different from others. He was a ray of hope to me. He was the one who helped me at my difficult times, but he was nothing different. How dared he threatened me?

As all the anger and sadness filled me, I was back home. I stared blankly, without moving an inch. I couldn't bring myself to go in. I didn't know how to face Alice. Maybe if I saw her, I'll end up fighting with her.

"I can't do anything to her," I said in frustration as I finally took the courage to push open the door.

I frowned as I walked in, and strangely, no one was there. "Looks like she isn't home," I thought to myself as I heaved a sigh of relief and walked upstairs, feeling good that I didn't have to encounter her just as I returned home.

However, as I walked upstairs, my feet froze. My hands trembled before I grasped the railing and grabbed it tighter.

"Ahhh… Ahhh, Jack…" Shivers trembled down my spine as Alice's moan entered my ear.

I gritted my teeth before I stomped on the stair and left. I didn't want to stay at this disgusting house any longer. First, she betrayed me. Now, she invited a werewolf home and is having sex with him, not even caring about my situation.

I took a deep breath and ran to the suburbs, trying to calm my nerves down. However, it was futile. Her face, words, and moans constantly bothered me.

"Darn it!" I screamed in anger as I punched the tree. My hand hurt as a stinging pain spread over my fist, but I couldn't care less.

I hated how things were progressing. It was never according to what I wanted, how I wanted. I hated all these iron laws created to enslave humans. And, even now, all humans have give up all their hope on freedom and accepted this rule.

I frowned, closing my eyes as I recalled the upcoming genetic testing.

Thankfully, I never got mated and this time… There won't be a chance to be detected as the Alpha King's mate. After this was over, I could live freely in the precincts and no one could bother me. Just then, Mark's face flashed through my mind and I couldn't help but punch again on the tree.

Mark was going to take away my last chance if it were to be like this. Just, what am I going to do? Accept this reality, and submit to it? I can't and never can. It won't be me if I accept this, and I'd rather die than accept it.

I gritted my teeth while I clenched my fists tighter. Are there any other humans who hated all of this as much as I do? The system, the laws, and everything!

I humphed in anger before I flinched, feeling a sudden pull on my dress. "WHO?" I screamed and stood up to take a look when I found no one.

"Hng…" My eyes widened as I glanced down and saw someone dragging himself out of the bushes.

"Are you okay?" I exclaimed as I approached him, and looked at him with worry. His body was athletic, and tanned. His chestnut-colored hair covered his eyes. I immediately pulled him up to sit when I saw his eyes. I gulped. His emerald eyes immediately drew me into it, as if he was trying to bewitch me.

"Help me…" His voice was hoarse and weary when I was immediately pulled back to reality. I nodded in a trance while my eyes roamed toward the trail of blood in the woods.

I gasped as I looked at his blood-covered dress. "You need immediate treatment!" I exclaimed while I pulled him up and supported him to Ron's infirmary.

I have never ever met this person before. He mustn't be from this pack. However, I couldn't ask him presently while his life was barely hanging through a line. Rushing to the infirmary, I desperately knocked on Ron's chamber.

"WHAT'S THE MATTER?" Ron exclaimed in anger as he opened the door, but his face soon turned horrified when he saw the man beside me.

"Please help him, Ron." I begged as Ron took him away from me.

"How did you get so injured?!" He questioned while he rushed for the treatment. Before he could even answer it, he questioned again, "I've never seen you here before, where are you from? How did you end up here?"

I looked at the man again with curiosity. I had the same questions as Ron. I had never met him before, and how did he end up getting so badly injured?

He clenched his hands, while glancing down for a moment.

I gulped and turned my gaze toward Ron. Were you not supposed to ask that? "You—" I was about to comfort him when he looked up with a smile, a painful smile.

"I'm a human… I'm not from this pack so, it's normal that you haven't seen me before." His voice turned weaker as he said, "I was hunted by the werewolves. That's how I got so badly injured, and I decided to escape. That's when I met you," He pointed towards me with a smile when I couldn't help but feel a bit of warmth in my heart.

I helped someone. This made me happy.

"How did you escape?" I asked in curiosity when Ron glared at me and I gulped again.

He smiled and said, "I crossed the border illegally. I didn't know how I escaped either, but I continued to run, and I ended up here."

My face turned gloomy. This is how humans were treated! Like slaves, like pests. We are just their playthings, and they can take our lives at any moment! I gritted my teeth, feeling anger at his situation when Ron flicked my head, bringing me back to reality.

I took a deep breath and clenched my fist. "These werewolves treat everyone like their slaves, and abuse them."

He looked at me, tilting his head. "Are you a rebel?"

I gulped and clutched onto my dress as I was left speechless. What if even he couldn't get me, and persuade me to change my mind? Worse, betray me like my sister?

I glanced down as I opened my lips. I couldn't lie, either. However, I was interrupted.

"I'm a rebel."

I glanced up and my eyes sparkled. Did he just admit that he was a rebel?

My smile widened as I nodded at his words. This was the first time I've met a rebel. I never thought I'd meet another rebel in this way.

I pursed my lips and glanced at him. I was keen to know more about them.

Sighing, he added as if he caught onto what I wished to know, "There are many rebels like me outside, and it's very organized."

"But isn't the strength gap between a human and a werewolf a lot? How can humans take down werewolves?" I asked in curiosity.

"There aren't only humans in the rebel army. There are also werewolves, who wish for our freedom and peace. Not every werewolf is the same, Ariel. Some werewolves wish to protect the humans. And, also, except for the werewolves, we also have advanced weapons which can take down a werewolf easily."

My eyes glimmered with hope as he completed his words. However, I was still shocked at the first part. Werewolves at the rebel army? Are there really some werewolves who would want the humans to regain their freedom and overthrow their rule?

I bit my lips as my heart raced with anticipation. I couldn't wait to join them. I'll leave here soon, and join them.

Just then, Ron stomped his foot. "Please leave after you're done healing. We can't afford to keep you here. Neither legally nor financially." Ron asked when I frowned in frustration.

"Ron!"

However, he simply glared at me before he turned away again and said, "I've only agreed to help you heal him. I don't want to get involved with any more mess."

I put on a defeated smile when that man coughed, and took our attention. "I'll be leaving soon. You don't have to worry. I've to be somewhere, so I'll be leaving. I won't get you into trouble. You already helped me enough, I can't bother you for long either."

I looked at him with concern when he nodded, smiling and politely. I decided to shake off the thoughts. It was his decision. I already saved his life. And, maybe, just like me, he also needs to be somewhere else and has something to protect. I can't hold him down.

"Hmm… What happened, though? Why did the werewolves want to kill you?"

My heart raced in anticipation while he was about to answer. I wanted to know what happened, was he on a mission? Was his identity found out? But before he could answer, someone knocked on the door of Ron's infirmary.

Ron and I glanced at each other as we looked at the man. We have to hide him.