Chapter 4

Freya pov 

My eyes twitched at the sight of the morning sun, pulling me awake. My body still aches from the previous day's ordeal. Maybe it was the wedding where I fell or the long ride to this new home. Yes. So far so good, it felt like home even though my brain couldn't understand why. Still recovering from my tiredness, I flipped to the other side thinking I might get the rare chance to see him while asleep but I released a sigh of frustration when my arm met an empty bed. 

Did I sleep here alone? I can't say or guess anything because it looks like nobody slept here but me. My eyes roamed around the room and for the first time, I saw the detailed decoration. Everything is designed and made of gold and the chandelier shined with diamonds but I still cannot figure out how I got here. Perhaps I sleep-walked my way. That's the only possible explanation. I shoved the blanket aside and slumped my feet into some fancy slippers. 

Shower.

That's all I wanted at the moment. A huge room that is almost as large as the one I awoke from came to sight. The sink, shower and every other thing my eyes got hold of are gold colored. And for a while, I thought he had an obsession with gold. The water flowed down my body as I let myself in. It feels nice, far better than those at Eastwood. 

Memories of the previous night are still fuzzy but every drop of water made them vivid. I didn't sleep-walk after all. I remember being in his arms the whole time. I blushed when I remember the taste of his lips, his warmth breath and how I moaned beneath his manly stature. He found no difficulty when he slid his rod into my wet hole. I bet he saw how vulnerable I was.

I bashed my palm on the wall. The thoughts won't stop coming. Maybe the water brought some charm I can't explain so I turned the damn thing off.  

Well, since my backpack was thrown out of the SUV, it means I don't have anything to put on, except the gown I wore on my weird wedding, which now stinks. I'm not entirely sure if Iris has bought the clothes. So for a while, I stood in the middle of the room, wrapped around a towel and confused on what to wear. But by some dumb luck, I found a rob in the closet and shrugged it on. 

On my way to look for him. 

The elevator hit the ground floor soon. Two men with white tops and black trousers bowed when I stepped out, something I didn't get yesterday. Perhaps my mate had told them to treat me with respect. I nodded in return. It would be unwise to be rude on the very first morning in my new home—because it damn feels like home already. 

"This way!" said a blond-haired skinny lady. Her black skirt fell just below the knee. And teeth, so white that I thought she just came back from seeing a dentist. Her waist swung left to right as I trailed behind her. Soon, we reached a double glass door. His scene hit my nose instantly. 

He is here. 

You can go in!" She motioned and smiled, revealing the perfect white teeth once more. Yeah. I guess she has been to the dentist but when the door swung open, my thoughts centered around him. Only him. 

There he is, seated at the far right of the table that stretched across the entire space. On it are various dishes I have never set eyes on and I wonder if all these are meant for one man's breakfast. 

"You either stand there and keep staring, or you can join me if you choose!"

The tone of his voice seemed to have changed ever since we arrived. Rather than the harsh-threatening tone he gave back at Eastwood, a softer version seemed to have emerged. I strolled and found a seat next to him. The mate bond didn't do any good as it kept pulling, and I struggled to glue my ass down. 

His jaws barely moved as he chewed and his lips left no stains on the glass cup whenever he drank.

"How did I get to your room?" That's the first question on the long list of questions in my head. I need to know who to put me to bed. At least a 'thank you' would be good. 

He cleared his throat before sipping from the glass. "You seem to forget so easily," he blushed.

Is he teasing me? Yes. The smile on his face said so. Well, I remember the steamy night but I don't remember going to the steamy room. Maybe he should do that part to me. Also remember being in his arms. I sigh. Maybe I'm just dumb after all. How do I not see all the dots connecting before me? And here I am, still asking some stupid questions. 

But wait. Is he a vegetarian? Because all I see are some green leaves, some other green stuff before him but the person is sensible enough to have left me out.

"Since you decided to sit all night in the common area, the least I could do is convince you to come upstairs." I could hear him chew. "Don't worry, it was great," he teased.

Did he just say that? Well, If I understood correctly, he carried me upstairs and we became steamy. That wasn't necessary for him to say. 

I chuckled. "So werewolves are now vegetarian!" I blurted. The words came forth before I could hold them back. What I'm thinking?

"Yeah, because we are different..and stronger!" he replied. He is way too arrogant this time. I mean, who wouldn't be arrogant in his shoes? He has the right to be so. The vast empire he ruled, the men he lord over, everything gives him more power and control. So he has every goddamned right to be arrogant. 

Control freak. 

"So, where did you sleep?" I just hope I'm talking too much because the last I checked, talking over breakfast isn't good manners. And pray he doesn't get pissed at my questions. My mouth won't stop talking. 

Stupid mate bond, so eager to know her mate. 

"Beside you!"

"How come I woke up—" 

"Enough talking about me," he blurted, cutting me halfway. I'm damn right that my questions are now a thorn on his flesh. I'm just curious to know why— for some reason only known to him—I woke up alone. Maybe he wasn't that pleased with the events. Or maybe he had enjoyed himself and felt irritated afterwards. Or maybe… 

So many maybes for my brain to scan. I searched and pondered every possible 'maybe' but nothing. So I gave up, but my thoughts drifted back to the man I couldn't take my eyes off. 

"So, tell me about yourself!" he asked. My face flushed, realizing that for the first time, he seems to have taken interest in my miserable life. 

Well, there's nothing much to say about my years of misery and slavery but I need to keep the conversation going. 

"Huh! Well there isn't much to say. What can I say except that I'm still alive!" I'm particularly sure if that's the perfect reply and he looked displeased with the scowl on his face. 

"What was it like before you found out I'm your mate?" 

My eyes flared wide open. Did he just call me his mate? That means he knew all this while and still spoke with his cruel tone. He must have felt the connection during the wedding, or even before. But I don't remember seeing him prior to that day. Maybe he saw me somewhere, and that might be the reason for the marriage despite being a slave. 

"Huh. Hmm!" The words couldn't come out so I struggle to reply. The word 'mate' actually caught me off guard. 

"Don't pretend you don't know. Don't you feel the connection!" a slight grin escaped his lips when he spoke. 

Wait. Is he teasing me or what? Is the murderous alpha Artemis teasing me?

"Well, you can keep pretending, or accept the harsh reality of the matter." He sounds arrogant this time but I don't give a damn. He seems to have me under his charm. 

"So you do—" 

A buzzing came from a cell phone. A gold colored object emerged from his pocket. 

Yeah. I was right. He has an obsession with gold. 

"What! What do you mean?" he grumbled. His face furrowed as he continued to listen. I could hear the voice from the other end, thanks to my now-active werewolf ears but I can't make sense of the words. All I hear is "your presence is needed at the company." 

Maybe there is some trouble in an unknown company and his attention is needed. 

"I'm on my way."

Trouble 

And my doubts were confirmed when he found his feet. Without saying a goodbye to his mate, he dashed out of the room. 

That must be urgent but I will see him later

***

And I saw him hours later when he walked through the front door, tired and looking like hell. His face gave it all away and I figured it must have been a rough day.

No word 

He marched to the elevator without saying a word. 

Follow him 

No. My wolf should learn some control. I will catch him later, I resolved. And that's after I explore the area that has become my new home. I pray to not get lost but even if I did, at least I would be found. 

The huge library came to sight and I wonder what sort of books these seemingly different species of werewolves do read. My feet sauntered forward as the sweet smell flowed down my lungs.

 For some unexplainable reasons, I seem to feel at home and I can't understand why. Maybe it's the stupid mate bond that kept pulling me to him. My wolf can't contain the excitement of finally meeting her mate even though he turned out to be a murderer. Well, she seems to forget that in case I get killed in my sleep, we both die.

I strolled to each section of the library but there is a particular section that seem different. The books are few as I glance around. Few shelves with neatly packed books, mostly with animal pictures as I stared but my eyes didn't fail to notice the paintings hanging on the wall. They seem to come alive with the way they stared back, threatening to tear me apart at any sign of aggression. 

I sigh. It's time to head back. It would be a bad thing to keep my mate waiting. He is probably sleeping. Well, not that I'm here to steal anything. I can read, thanks to my adopted parents who saw it fit for me to go to school, but I wouldn't want to read anything even if I could. 

But the book I saw sitting on a particular portion of the library caught my attention when I turned to leave. My eyes roamed around, and seeing no one was paying attention, I paced towards the glass that housed what seemed to be a special kind of book. From what I can see, it's a pretty normal blue-covered book but why its inside a glass remains a question. 

Always curious, my trembling hands reached for it. I couldn't fathom why my hands trembled but for the first time in my eighteen years of existence, every bit of my nerve wanted to read, or at least know something I don't already know. But when I flipped the pages one after the other, I screamed. My brain couldn't comprehend the whole thing as I struggled for every possible explanation. 

And at that moment, I knew the whole mate thing was a mistake.