DEMANDING AN APOLOGY

“Is this one of your witchcraft things… your powers?” He asked, narrowing his brows at me.

“No, I swear!” I refuted his claim. “My mother taught me, she said that it was used to stop wolves who had gone berserk years ago.”

“That's not how I remember the story.” Aleksander said, his voice dominating the forest. “It only works if you have a true connection with that particular wolf! You must share an intimate bond with them for it to work!”

As Aleksander spoke, I was dumbstruck by his words but I didn't have the strength to argue further.

“But it did work on you.” I let out. “So, let me go!” I cried as I forcefully wriggled my hands away from him.

Aleksander loosen his grip on me and we both stood, facing each other. Our eyes brimming with a lot of unspoken words.

“What are you doing out here in the first place?” Alexander asked, his voice commanding.

“I seek solitude and peace.” I answered, staring back at him.

“Why?” He questioned further coldly, almost taking a step towards me.

“I am being hunted by the pack members. They see me as a traitor and want to harm me. The forest is the only place that I could think of. I know that I will be safe in it, no matter what.” I said to him, my voice cracking slightly.

It went silent for a minute. Aleksander's face was cold and his expression unreadable.

“Do you not have a mate to protect you?” He inquired, a smug grin on his face.

I felt slightly ashamed but I tried to hide it. “I do not know who my mate is and frankly, I do not think that they would come forward or even accept me. After all, I am the most hated person in the whole kingdom.”

“You are right! You are the most hated person, who would dare to love you?!” Aleksander uttered with disgust. “You deserve to die alone!”

I tried to speak but I couldn't. I was totally taken aback by his words.

“For a second I thought you actually came to the forest to visit my father's grave, to atone for your sins but I guess that isn't it, right?” Aleksander asked, piercing through my soul with his brown eyes.

I stood on the spot as my eyes flickered through the forest, darting in search of the direction towards Alpha Matthias’s grave.

“I… totally forgot about his grave.” I muttered subconsciously to myself.

“You forgot?!” Aleksander yelled as he heaved a sigh of disbelief.

I did not know that he heard my words.

“You are such a selfish and self-centered person and I wish you remain miserable and lonely for the rest of your life!” Aleksander snapped at me, his words stinging at my heart.

I did not know when the tears welled up in my eyes, neither did I know when they escaped, streaming down on my cheeks.

“How can you say that to me without regard to my feelings?” I asked slowly, my voice trembling as my lips quivered.

“I do not care about you!” Aleksander yelled, gesturing with his fingers as he took a step back. “I do not care how you feel. As long as you are not my mate, I do not for one second want to know how you feel! You are of no importance to me!”

I stood there, sobbing. My mouth opened as I tried to speak but couldn't.

“You are one of the people who don't deserve the right to anything good.” Aleksander lashed out on me. “Your whole existence is a problem! You should have been imprisoned along with your brother! You are a walking danger to everyone!”

“Aleksander!” I yelled out with all my strength as I sobbed uncontrollably.

“Don't you dare say my name!” He shot back. “It’s great that your mate did not come forward, I find it pleasing indeed. Who would want to be with such a lying, betraying and cowardice person as you!”

“Wh-why are you hurting me like this?” I sobbed, my lips trembling.

“No one can ever fall in love with such a beta as you are!” Aleksander responded harshly to my question instead. “You are better off dead!”

I let out a gasp of disbelief at his words. I thought that this would be the end of it all but it seems like he is uncontrollable.

“I am highly grateful to the goddess that you are not my mate because honestly, I would never be able to accommodate someone like you as my wife. Such a worthless being!” Aleksander said to me, his voice brimming with bitterness.

I couldn't take it anymore and found myself running away from him, my face filled with tears. I thought that he would come after me but he didn't. I guess he knows just how much he has hurt me. Or maybe he just doesn't care!

I sneaked into my room and immediately threw myself on my bed, curved up, crying my eyes out. His words kept ringing in my ears as I cried, feeling more isolated and hurt than before.

Suddenly , I heard a knock on my door. I immediately shuddered in fear, cleaned my eyes and stood up reluctantly to go get it because the knocking wouldn't stop.

I opened it, and found Ellaine, my friend from the pack, standing there. I went back inside and she let herself in.

“Are you okay?” Ellaine asked, her voice filled with concern and worry as she must have noticed my puffy eyes.

“I'm fine, Ellaine.” I tried to brush it off.

But Ellaine could see that something is wrong, and she won't give up.

“What happened to you? Why are your eyes red? Have you been crying?” She probed further. “And your neck, what happened to it? Why does it have a mark around it?”

I looked in the mirror by my bedside to see the mark that Ellaine was talking about and found it to be very true. I did have a visible mark on my neck.

I turned to look at Ellaine, her eyes searching mine for answers. I gestured at her to sit down for what I was about to say.

Finally, I told her about what happened with the pack members and Aleksander.

Ellaine was obviously shocked and angry on my behalf.

“You deserve to be loved and respected, no matter what happens in the pack.” Ellaine voiced out words of encouragement towards me. “You need to learn how to stand up for yourself and not let anyone treat you like you are less than them, okay?”

I stared at her, my heart moved by her words. I nodded my head in support as she spoke.

“And Aleksander has no right whatsoever to downgrade you as he did.” Ellaine went on. “He is a leader and should always act like one, no matter the circumstances! You do not deserve any of the harsh treatment given to you! Besides, the mating ceremony has not happened yet!”

As Ellaine spoke, I felt the tears build up in my eyes but I was determined to not let them fall. Through her words, I started to feel a little hope for my future.

When Ellaine encouraged me, I felt so highly motivated that I decided to approach Aleksander and tell him how I felt about his words demanding an apology.

“Ellaine,” I called at her as I stood up from my bed. “I am going to give Aleksander a piece of my mind. I am going to tell him that I did not like the way he spoke to me earlier and demand an apology from him.”

“Yes, that's the spirit!” Ellaine cheered me on.

“Where is he?” I asked, my tone steady and measured, looking straight at the door.

“He is in the dining hall of the pack house having dinner with the high ranking pack members.” Ellaine disclosed to me.

“Dinner? Is it that late?” I asked, totally oblivious to how far the time has gone.

“Yes. It's already time for dinner and half of the pack members have already had theirs. It's the reason why I knocked at your door. I came to call you so we could go together.” Ellaine explained.

“Ellaine, I don't have time to eat. Aleksander will hear it from me!” I said as I stood up from my bed, heading for the door.

“Wait, Alina!” Ellaine called me, stopping me in my tracks. “You are not actually going to talk to him right now? In the middle of an important meeting? Why not wait till later in the night or tomorrow?” Ellaine asked, my back facing her.

“I can't wait, Ellaine. This is the best time and I can let this opportunity go. Everyone needs to know the kind of person he is!” I said as I opened the door and walked out.

“Alina-” I heard Ellaine try to call me but I closed the door on her as I headed for the dining hall.

Aleksander, here I come!