002

~BREE~

I was excited that Rain was back, but I knew if Alpha Zander or any of the pack members heard of it, I would be tortured, and he would summon the witch to bind my powers and Rain because I knew whenever Rain was here, my powers were also back.

I quickly moved back. I knew Beta Kaden just wanted to get rid of me; he didn't need me to check the champagne as it was always enough—Luna Rosa, Alpha Zander's mother, can never go a day without a glass, so when my back hit the wall, I got to my senses and dashed out of the kitchen and went straight to my small room. Yes, I had a room, or, let's say, a shoe closet, as there was a little bed; it used to be a shoe closet, but the time they started torturing me, they moved me here as it was inside the mansion since they didn't want me far away in case one of them wanted to release stress.

Reaching the little room, I closed the door and rested my back on the door as I caught my breath.

My head moved up and down, and I placed my hand on my chest to try and calm down. The thought of Alpha Zander finding out Rain was back was unsettling.

‘Is our mate responsible for this?’ Rain asked, and I almost started laughing as I knew who she was referring to, and it sounded funny, but when I looked up, I found that I was not alone. Someone was seated on my small bed, with gold eyes and his rich, dark brown hair neatly styled at the back. I don't know why, but each time my eyes landed on him, I felt like my heart stopped doing its job.

‘Alpha Zander?’ I asked Rain, and she confirmed. I don't know why I didn't jump or get scared at his presence like usual; maybe finding him in my room made me feel this. Alpha Zander had never stepped foot in this room. Of course, I slept here as I was close to them for when they wanted to vent their frustrations, but he would order guards to get me and then take me to the torture room.

"Yes, Bree,” Alpha Zander said in his dark tone as his fingers trailed the lip of the old-fashioned glass he was holding, his eyes not leaving my face. I don't know what was wrong with him, but he looked like he was drugged or something as his eyes were barely open. He then stood up after taking a swig of his glass before throwing it in my direction, but with years of experience, I dodged it as it hit the door, causing it to break into pieces as the pieces spread on the floor. “You're my fucking mate,” he sneered.

“I…I…” I didn't know what to say. I've spent years hoping to find my mate, someone who would save me from him. I didn't expect it to be him. I mean, how was he going to save me from himself?

“Don't fucking say a word, you whore; is that the reason you killed my two mates so I could become your second chance?” He asked as he took steps toward me. I was already at the door, and even if I had a chance to escape, I couldn't; my life was in his hands; I was alive to his mercy; everyone wanted me dead; they said I didn't deserve to live, and no matter how weird it sounded, I agreed with them, as death was way better than living this pathetic life.

“Alpha I…”

“I said don't say anything!” Alpha Zander roared, which made me flinch in fear. He was now standing in front of me, “Look at me!” He instructed, and I slowly looked up at him but didn't meet his eyes. “I said fucking look at me!” He yelled, then forcefully grabbed me by my arm. Alpha Zander was rough, so his hold always left marks and unbearable pain. “I want you to look into my eyes when I reject you.”

“Y-you…”

“I know that worthless wolf of yours is back,” he said, and I started shaking my head as the realization hit it. I somehow hoped Rain made a mistake that Alpha Zander was not our mate—not that I didn't like him; I did. I loved him, but he was supposed to be with my sister; he was my sister's mate.

I couldn't even for a second think of him in that way.

“How could Selene think you're the right mate for me? You are weak and a murderer; you don't deserve a mate; you deserve nothing but pain!”

He didn't need to say it out loud; I knew that was all I deserved, so I nodded my head, holding in the tears that threatened to fall out of my eyes. I've been through a lot to cry for a mate.

“I...” he started without even warning, “Alpha Zander, alpha of the Moon Valley pack, reject Aubree Swan, as my mate, and I strongly reject this bond.” He exaggerated—rejecting me was the same as rejecting the bond, but before I could think of anything more, I felt a sharp pain hit through my chest and a scream, involuntarily escaped my lips. The pain was unbearable; it was worse than the tortures; it was worse than a knife being stuck in my stomach, as this felt like a dagger was rather stuck to my chest, slicing through the folds of my heart.

I felt Rain’s pain too as she sobbed in pain; it felt like she was being set on fire, but no, I was not going to cowardly cry in front of him. I will cry, but not just now. “I...” I struggled to stand on my feet. "I, Aubree Swan, accept your rejection,” I said, and the same pain hit through my chest again. I could have sworn I heard Rain refuse, but what was the use? I'm sure if I couldn't accept his rejection, he could lock me up and force me to accept his rejection.

He freed my arm and placed a hand on his chest. It's like he felt the pain too, but it didn't matter; he was going to be with Ruby, his chosen mate. They were announcing their engagement today, as I've heard he had been courting her for the past two months now.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I felt Rain’s screams hit through my ears. I couldn't believe it. Alpha Zander was my mate, and he was announcing his engagement to someone else today.

For the past five years, I endured it all as I hoped when I turned 21 my life would change, that my mate would find me and rescue me from the ruthless hands of Alpha Zander, but how wrong was I as Alpha Zander, the ruthless alpha I wanted to escape, turned out to be my mate—there was no escape for me; my life was not going to change. I mean, it might, but only for the worst, as I'm sure now Alpha Zander was convinced I killed his two mates just so I could have him to myself.

God, why did it have to happen like this? Why did my life have to be so difficult?

First, my parents were killed in my eyes, then I was adopted and met a rival who made my life hell on earth, and now my mate turned out to be my torturer and the man who hated me the most!