Chapter four

               MAJEL

I felt myself lying on something soft and warm, unlike the cold floor I use to sleep on; Although I was awake, I didn't want to open my eyes because I felt like it would be a dream, and I would once again find myself on that cold floor. However, once I recalled what happened, my eyes snapped open and I jerked up, glancing around the big-elegant room I was in. "Where am I?" I mumbled to myself still looking around in awe.

From what I last recall, I was lying on the cold floor inside the dungeon of the jade wolf pack, 'then how did I get here?' I pondered, trying to recall the last event that occurred.

"I'm here to take you and my child," came the voice and images of the man who appeared in the dungeon. Is it my imagination, or it really happened? But then how did he appear in the dungeon out of nowhere? Maybe he's a vampire because they're the ones who have the ability to teleport or probably a ghost. But what did he mean by his child?' I mulled, climbing out of the bed.

Many questions ran through my mind, as I tiptoed to the door, turning the door knob. Luckily, it was open so I snuck out, noticing that my environment was completely different... more profound and beautiful than that of the jade wolf pack. I also didn't come across anyone when I was walking across the hall until I got to a big throne room. 

Hiding behind a golden pillar, I cast my gaze around the hall, until they landed on the handsome man with long dark hair and electric blue eyes from my imagination. He sat on a throne, while two women and a man stood before him. Does that mean I wasn't imagining things?

Lost in thoughts, I didn't realize that their attention had been drawn to me until I heard "Majel, you're awake; come here my dear," the calm voice of a woman rang out in the throne room, and I glanced up to see that they were all staring at me.

Did she just call my name? I asked internally, looking intently at the middle-aged woman, whose hair was completely white. 

"Come Majel," a bright smile appeared on her face as she stretch forth her hand and repeated, seeing as I was reluctant. And slowly, I moved my legs toward her with my gaze fixed on the man who sat on the throne, emitting a dominating aura; His electric blue eyes never left mine as he watched my every step intently.

"Where am I and how did I get here?" I stared at the woman curiously and inquired, the moment I was standing in front of her. 

"My dear, you are in crystal-vale, and alpha Aziz brought you here," she retorted, pointing at the handsome man who sat on the throne, still retaining her bright smile.

So his name is Aziz! But who is he and why am I here?

"What am I doing here?" I voiced out my thought, taking my gaze from the white-haired woman to Aziz, whose face was expressionless as he stared at me. 

"Ashira, take her away, for now, I'd answer her questions once I'm done with Liana," Aziz said in a commanding tone, taking his gaze from me to the blond-haired lady standing before him.

"Come dear, the white-haired woman, whom I guess is Ashira said, trying to pull me away, but at the moment, I was too confused and wanted to understand what was happening or I might go insane thinking about it. So I swiftly avoided, Ashira's hand, before going to stand in front of Aziz.

"I won't leave until I get answers," I said defiantly, even though I was slightly afraid. 

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Ashira immediately mind-linked Kai to take Liana away, as she didn't want her to be involved with Aziz's affairs with Majel. And Kai immediately complied, going to Liana who had a confused look on her face.

"Alpha Liana, please come with me," Kai said politely, drawing Liana's attention to him. 

"What is that woman's relationship with Alpha Aziz?" She asked, staring keenly at Kai. Although she was angry about the fact that Majel stole the spotlight from her, she didn't show it. Rather she kept a calm demeanor, just like her father taught her. After all, she was not just the daughter of one of the most powerful alphas, she was also his successor, and a powerful man like Aziz was who she needed by her side.

"Alpha Liana, it is not in my place to tell you that. Please come with me now_ the matter is between the Alpha and lady Majel," Kai retorted, and even though Liana was reluctant, she went along because she wanted to leave a good first impression.

...

Aziz stared at me with a face void of emotion, standing up from his throne. "You want to know why you are here right? I'll remind you again, as you didn't get it the first time. You're here because the child you're carrying, is mine," He said calmly and I stare at him, utterly confused. "I don't understand, please explain."

Sighing, Aziz was quiet for a while before speaking "Remember that night you lost your virginity, it was to me not your mate. I was the one who came that night, using your mate's face, and if you got pregnant because of that night, it means the child is mine," he explained, leaving me dumbfounded.

"It can't be right! You can't be telling the truth, th..that night it was Alfred, I clearly saw Alfred," I blabbered, not ready to believe what he was saying.

"You saw Alfred, but it was me. I am a hybrid and a shapeshifter," he retorted, but I was still finding it hard to believe until I saw him change in front of me_ he was no longer Aziz but Alfred my mate and I gasp, whilst my eyes and mouth widen in shock.

One moment he was Alfred, the next he was Aziz. Although I read in one of the books my uncle gave me back on the Island that shapeshifter's existed, it also says they are very rare, and none have been seen for over a hundred years. But now one was standing in front of me, saying he's the father of my child; So Alfred was right, after all, I was carrying another man's child not his. I was really carrying another man's child. 

All this while, I thought Alfred was making vile accusations against me but he turn out to be right, even though he brought another man in place of Aziz.

Clenching my fist, I didn't know how I should react. If I should scream, laugh, or cry. I thought something like this only happened in the novels I read, but now it happened to me, I was too stunned to react. Why, why does my life have to be like this? Why is the moon goddess playing such games with me?

Tears brimmed in my eyes as I glanced up to look at Aziz. "Why?" I mumbled the only thing I could at that moment.

"Let's just say revenge," he answered nonchalantly with an expressionless face. He didn't seem the least bit bothered about the situation and that pissed me off.

"Revenge!" I let out, bursting into a fit of laughter. Although it was not out of amusement, but because I was deeply hurt. 

"Revenge!" I repeated, hitting his muscular chest. "What revenge? Why does it have to be me? What have I ever done to you?" 

Aziz shrugged. "Not you, but your mate."

"If you wanted revenge on my mate, then why did you use me, why not him?" I asked, hoping that he would at least give an answer that would justify his action. However, he said, "You don't have to know what he did. It was a mistake on my path to think that your mate loved you, if I knew he didn't I would never have laid with you."

And again, I was reminded that my mate never loved me. I was reminded of how he maltreated me. Although the wounds he gave me physically were healed even though I still had the scars... What about the inner wound? What about what my heart was feeling right now?

"If the child is mine, I..." 

"Yes, the child is yours. Sadly, the child had to be yours because that night was the only night I was ever intimate with anyone. Alfred never touched me," I yelled, cutting off whatever he was about to say. Despite the fact that Alfred never loved me, I didn't want him to be right about the child not being his, but he was_ unfortunately. 

"You've wronged me. You've wronged me and I hate you," I said to Aziz as tears trickled down my eyes. Not only did I hate Aziz, I hated Alfred even more, after all, he did not only take advantage of me, he was also the reason I was taken advantage of by someone else. Furthermore, I hated myself too. If only I had listened to my uncle and remained on the Island, I never would have suffered like this. Before I thought I was kept away because they hated me, if only I knew it was to protect me.

"I don't care if you hate me... You're only here because of my child, once you give birth, you're free to leave and go start your life afresh," Aziz said, before walking away, while I watched his retreating figure with so much hatred. 

Start afresh? He thinks I could start afresh after what he and Alfred did to me; They both used me as a pawn... Alfred for power, and Aziz for revenge. And what hurt the most was that I couldn't do anything to pay them back.

I was powerless against two Alpha kings like them and if I tried to get back at them, I might be trampled upon like a piece of paper. 

My head started to spin, as I was lost in thoughts.  Everything that has been happening to me was too much for me to handle. And slowly, I felt myself losing balance until I slumped to the ground.

...

When I opened my eyes again, I discovered I was lying on the same soft and cozy mattress from before and I was inside the same room. How I wish everything that happened earlier was a dream. How I wish meeting Alfred and Aziz was a dream. But sadly, it wasn't.

Slowly, I stood up from the bed glancing around until my eyes landed on the beautiful woman from earlier. The tall one with blond hair whom Aziz referred to as Liana.

"I see you're awake, why don't we talk about the child you're carrying," she said, glaring daggers at me. However, my stomach grumble at that moment indicating I was hungry since I hadn't eaten anything all day.

"What about my child?" I asked nonchalantly while staring keenly at her.

 From the way she was glaring at me, I could tell that she didn't like me but why, when I have only just met her?

"I want you to get rid of it," she said, pointing at my stomach...

I gasped in shock, staring at her in disbelief. "G...get rid of my child. Why would I do that?" 

Liana stare at me maliciously and retorted. "You have to do it for your own good. Aziz is going to be my husband and mate and I don't want anyone coming in between that." With that, she walked out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

'So he has a mate, yet he still went ahead to do such a despicable thing to me.'

My hatred for Aziz increased instantly as I thought about this and tears welled up in my eyes. 'I'm carrying the child of a man that has a mate, a beautiful one at that, could I be any more cursed than this? What more hurdles does fate have installed for me? 

Sighing I got up from the bed, deciding that I couldn't continue to wallow in self-pity or die because of the severe hunger I was feeling at the moment. Furthermore, I had to survive and regain my strength before deciding on what to do next. With that in mind, I walked out of the room, going toward the throne room. And unlike before, people were roaming around the hallway and stopped to look at me whenever they crossed my path. Nevertheless, I ignored them, going in search of Ashira, even though I wasn't quite familiar with my environment.

Luckily, I met Ashira on my way...

"Majel," she called, with a bright smile on her face,  which I manage to return because I wanted food, but didn't know how to ask. However she sighed, opening her mouth to say something, but decided against it, rather she gave me a pitiful look. "Are you hungry?" She asked instead, and I nodded immediately.

"Come along, dinner is ready," she muttered, pulling me along with her. 

Ashira lead me to a huge-exquisite dining room, which had a big dinner table, with lots of chairs, a fine piece of art hanging on the wall, and other things which I didn't have time to check out because of the people in the room.

Not just Aziz, there were also some men and women whom I guess were his pack members and they turned to give me a curious look immediately Ashira and I walked in.

"Who is she?" I heard them whispering amongst themselves, as Ashira lead me to the chair next to Aziz, whose gaze was fixed on me the entire time. However, before I could seat on it, someone quickly came and pulled out the chair; it was Liana.

"Oops, were you going to sit here," Liana said, acting as though she didn't know I was about to sit there. It's not like I care; after all, I didn't want to be anywhere near Aziz, but it seems like things don't always go my way because Ashira stopped Liana from sitting there just as she was about to.

"Liana, you can go sit beside Kai, Alpha Aziz wants to be close to Majel," she announced, pushing Liana lightly, and making me sit on it before popping on the one next to me. 

Taking a quick glance around, I was embarrassed to speak because everyone's gaze was on me, while Liana stood beside me glaring daggers at me and I didn't blame her after all, she's Aziz's mate and should be the one sitting next to him. Nonetheless, she slowly went and sat beside Kai.

The room was quiet for a while before a tall bulky man with a bald head and tattoos spoke up "Alpha, are you not going to introduce the two beautiful women to us," 

Aziz glanced up to look at the man before tilting his gaze to me "She is Majel and this is Alpha Greg's daughter Liana," he pointed at me and Liana as he introduced us.

"Which pack are you from Majel?" Liana asked immediately with a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. She must be up to something by asking me that. However, it was Ashira who spoke up. 

"She's from the jade wolf pack," Ashira announced, and immediately the room went into a state of uproar.