003

~BREE~

My legs were shaking; I could barely hold my weight, but knowing better, I took the pain and forced myself to stand on my feet because that's all I could do. Alpha Zander didn't give a shit about me, so crying or falling to the floor would just give him a reason to punish me.

“Alpha Zander,” someone pushed me off the way and rushed to Alpha Zander; I guess he mind linked him and asked him to come here.

“Kaden,” Alpha Zander sounded like he was in a little pain, but he did well to mask it as next he stood to his feet, and I don't know why, but I was now watching his every move. He whispered something in Kaden's ear, which he didn't need as he usually said, and did anything in front of me.

“You piece of shit! You…” I wasn't expecting Kaden to kick me in the stomach, as when the pain hit me, I fell on my knees and held my stomach, which felt like it busted from the inside—a man's kick is painful. “You killed them for yourself; I bet you're a witch or something because how did she know she was your mate?” He turned to Zander, who didn't care as he sat on my small bed and ran his hands through his hair.

“Maybe she forged the bond I don't know, but all I know is that she can't be my mate.” I couldn't believe my ears. I mean, why would I forge a mate bond just to be with my tormenter?

“And she's going to confess,” Beta Kaden said, then walked to me. My hands were still on my stomach as I still felt the pain, but he didn't care. He held me by my hair, causing some strands to fall off, but it didn't bother him as he pinned me against the wall and then demanded I tell him the truth. "Who the fuck are you working for, bitch?” he yelled, and I shook my head as the tears I once held in slowly rolled down my cheek. No, it wasn't the pain that made me cry but the fact that my mate watched me being hit by another man and he did nothing.

I thought mates were supposed to protect you; I thought they were supposed to be there for you not to watch you in pain and, most importantly, not to cause you pain. Well, I guess that's just a belief because your mate is surely your worst enemy; your mate is your nightmare.

“Tough huh? Let me just... ” He didn't finish his sentence as he raised his left hand and used the back of his palm to hit my cheek, which was so painful that I felt a buzzing sound in my ear. He didn't give me a chance to feel more as his hand landed on my other cheek, then another, and suddenly I lost count as all I heard was the sound of his hand meeting my cheek, the buzzing sound in my ears, and then the pain.

Pain.

The sharp stinging sensation that I was now starting to feel—I know I should be used to it as I've gone through this over and over, but it had been a while since someone repeatedly slapped my face. Lately, my torturers have been using knives, daggers, and all torturing tools as they didn't want to get their hands sore. Only Zander enjoyed using his hands as he took me as a punching bag.

My face felt sore; my skin was throbbing, and from experience, I knew it would take two weeks to recover. I couldn't even imagine the bruises his rough hands would leave.

"Oh, she's challenging me,” Beta Kaden said with a smirk on his face. My eyes were barely open, but I could see his face. He yanked my hair and then raised his hand, which was in a fist, but just as his hand was about to reach my face, Alpha Zander stopped him.

“That's enough. I will deal with her myself later. My mate is on her way. I don't want her to suspect anything,” Zander said, and Kaden hesitated but freed me, which was rough as I fell to the floor.

“Whatever you say, Alpha,” Kaden said as he fixed his shirt collar.

“Good, tell Stephen to call the witch; it seems her stupid wolf has returned; we need to take care of that as soon as possible,” he said as he walked toward the door.

Reaching it, he turned and looked at me. I had Rain, so I could feel his gaze on me. “She must be ready; I would like to see her face when I announce my engagement to everyone,” he said, and I don't know why the words pierced through my heart as my chest tightened, so I had to gasp for air.

As if rejecting me was not enough, now I had to watch him embrace another she-wolf.