Chapter 5

He stared at me for a few seconds and slowly, he made his way towards me. He looked so frightening with his very intimidating look. I was trying my best not to do something stupid like trying to run again. That would be a very dumb idea.

I held my breath as he continued his way towards me, closing the space between us in a slow but steady stride. He was a really beautiful man, he looked like something the gods took their time to design and send to earth. What is wrong with me? this can’t be the thought running through my mind at this moment.

Out of my peripheral vision, I noticed the two men standing beside me do a little bow. What the fuck? Did they just bow, who is he? Surely he looks very scary and intimidating. No way, I gasped, my eyes widening with the sudden realization. He is the…

“My lord,” the guards holding me down said at the same time as he got closer.

My eyes widened in shock and fear. Could this day get any worse? He closed the distance between us standing very tall in front of me. If I had thought he was just beautiful from afar then I thought wrong. He was mesmerizing, drop-dead gorgeous. His brown orbs stared at me with unwavering attention, his brows furrowed slightly showing his concentration. The afternoon air disheveled the jet-black mop of locks on his head. I would love to run my hands through it.

What am I thinking staring this man in the eye? I must have hit my head too hard because I am not thinking straight right now. Rumors have it that he could kill a person just for looking at him straight in the eye and here I am staring him right in the eye. I must have a death wish or something.

I looked down quickly, carefully doing the little bow I had seen the guard do. I tried calming myself down, praying to god that he wouldn't rip my heart out for looking at him.

The Beta caught up to him and stood beside him.

“The guards saw her wandering close to our pack and..”

“Look at me” The Alpha king spoke for the first time, cutting the Beta off and causing a shiver to run down my spine.

Oh now he can’t be serious, what does he mean look at him, is he looking for an excuse to kill me? My mind was racing.

“I don’t like repeating myself” he growled and my breath hitched.

I looked up again and just as our eyes met, he took a long breath closing his eyes for just a second, as if there was a sweet scent in the air.

I could feel so many eyes on us. People were trying to understand what was happening but were too afraid to stay and watch. So they either slowly walked past or pretended to be working in a close range.

“Alpha? What are you doing?” Noir questioned

But he ignored him, reaching out his right hand towards my face.

Is this it? Is this how I’m going to die? gods please no, my sister needs me. I drew my face back with my eyes tightly shut in fear of what he was going to do next.

“I said look at me” he barked and my eyes snapped open again.

He drew a little bit closer grazing his fingers across my cheeks. A shudder ran through me and I felt the world pause for a minute. I felt a surge of excitement and connection at the touch. He was all I could see for a moment. A warm sensation spread throughout my body and I closed my eyes in ecstasy. He needs my eyes open, I reminded myself, but I was basking in the feeling inside of me.

“Mate” he whispered.

My eyes widened at the revelation, I stared at him like he had sprouted a second head.

“Mate!” He growled at the guards pinning me down and they jumped back.

“What?!” Noir asked in what I guess was surprise and shock but I wasn’t looking at him.

I was still staring at my… Mate.

I might not know a lot but I’m pretty sure a ‘Mate’ is a companion or involves becoming one. So is he trying to say I’m his companion or something? The universe got some shitty joke going on today, I’m sure the gods are having a blast with what’s happening to me.

He drew back slowly and I missed his touch immediately.

“Are you being serious?” Noir questioned unbelievably.

I don’t blame him because what does he mean by Mate? This must be some kind of joke. I would have laughed if my death wasn’t a mistake away from happening.

“She is human,” Noir said again in utter disbelief.

“And don’t you think I know it” he snapped at him, eyeing me.

And just at that moment, I felt a tingling sensation at the skin a few inches beneath my left breast. It was cooling at first but then I felt a hot sharp pain at the same spot. My vision blurred as I crouched. I clutched my sides wondering what was happening to me and then it stopped. I straightened looking at the Alpha king and his Beta wondering if he noticed what just happened. Is this part of the mate thing he talked about?

“Take her back to the dungeon” he barked an order to the guards and turned away without a second glance.

The beta stood, observing me with confusion written all over his face. Then he turned to the guards.

“Take her back and make sure the cell is well guarded, do not let her escape” he left without waiting for a response from the guards. He jogged towards the retreating Alpha. He was mouthing some words to him but the Alpha didn’t respond, or maybe he did, I just didn’t know because they were already too far away to be heard.

The guard on my left yanked me up roughly by my arm. “Stand up,” he said through gritted teeth.

The second guard scoffed. “A human mate, this is definitely a mistake,” he said, disgust lacing his voice.

I stood up quietly. I was as dumbfounded, just as shocked as everyone is. I felt a harsh shove to my back and almost lost my footing.

“Move!” The first guard said with another push.

“Where has this ever happened? A human can’t be our Luna”

I walked silently as they discussed like I wasn’t there.

“Since we are taking her back to the dungeon, then the king doesn’t want anything to do with her”

“I believe he’ll still kill her, he is just trying to figure out what kind of trick this is and ways to kill her”

I shivered at the thought, I can’t die now. I can’t leave my sister too. Knowing that my sister is somewhere out there and all alone by herself has been the only thing that has kept me strong and going. She is the only surviving family I have left. My parents died trying to save us from these monsters and somehow I’m mated to one. What does that even mean? My heart clenched in pain at the memory of the loss of my parents.

I took a long breath in, in an attempt to ease the pain in my heart and keep the tears from falling down my eyes.

“He doesn’t torelate weakness, there is no way he’ll take a weak human as his mate”

Now that I think about it, he stormed off in anger after realizing I was his mate.

How great. If I had a chance of surviving, being his mate just squashed it. Now I’m going to wait for my death to come depending on when the king is irritated enough with my presence.

Damn this day. I should ask for today’s date and cuss it out every fucking year, well that’s if I survive. He didn’t even ask for my name. Not like I cared but still, that’s how pissed he was.

We walked back towards where I had ran out from, passing many inquisitive eyes. Since they can’t smell a wolf on me, just like Sheila told me. They must already know I’m human.

I lowered my gaze as we continued down the field, I didn’t want to come off as a threat, I doubt I even looked like one to them. But to be on the safer side, I needed to avoid trouble, I’ve landed myself in enough already.

I noticed they were two sets of slaves from the colors of their uniforms. Some were putting on a cream-color and light blue uniform and the other was a cream and brown color. The ones wearing the brown colored skirts were very few outside. I only saw three of them rushing past us.

I looked up, noticing for the first time a very big castle to my right. How did I miss that before? There were few guards stationed right in front of it and I could make out more of the brown skirt slaves moving around inside.

I heard a loud grunt behind me and I hastened my steps. Aren’t they supposed to be directing on where to go? I don't even know where I came out from.

“This way” the meaner guard said as if he had read my thoughts, he dragged me back pushing me towards my right.

We were now headed towards the castle, I’m very sure I did not come out from there. I looked behind me and noticed a very thick wood with large and tall trees. It looked really eerie and scary.

“Don’t even think about it, there’s no escape for you” the second guard said to me.

I wasn’t thinking about that but now that he mentioned it. I might work on that. I needed to do something, I can’t remain here. Juliana needs me and I know my parents are counting on me.

I thought we were heading inside the castle but then we took another turn down a pathway. We entered a hallway and I recognized it immediately. The guard positioned there looked at me before turning to the mean-looking guard.

“Who is she? what did she do? She almost got everyone in trouble?”

“Just a pesky human. She claimed she stumbled here by mistake”

I was not a claim but a fact, but I didn’t bother to defend myself. I’m exhausted and still confused from the whole mate thing.

We walked down the flight of stairs and made another turn to our right arriving at my cell. Sheila was in a corner with her knees folded as she hugged herself. She looked up as she noticed our presence. The cell door was opened and I was pushed inside. I threw out my hands as protection to avoid hitting my head on the floor. My skin sliced open from the impact and I hissed in pain.

“Oh my god, Jade are you okay?”

I sat up examining my hands seeing that the cut wasn’t anything serious. I watched as the guards locked the cell door and left.

“What happened, I was so scared for you?”

“But you said I didn't need to worry, I’ll just be returned to the human king, so why were you scared?” I couldn’t help but direct my anger at her.

Her shoulders dropped in what looked like guilt and she pulled back a little.

“That is how it’s done here, and I thought that’s definitely what would happen” she whispered looking down at her fingers.

I sighed feeling bad for the way I snapped at her, it wasn’t her fault, she is in a similar mess with me and I’m being nothing but an ass to her right now. But I didn’t say anything. A headache was beginning to form in my head and I massaged my temple to calm it. I was exhausted and I needed a proper bath and food. We haven’t had anything since today.

I decided to lie down and take a little nap. A few hours passed and I kept turning and tossing on the hard floor. My whole body ached from constantly sleeping on this floor for days now. I sat up in annoyance, stretching my body. I looked at Sheila and she was still tucked away in a corner. Her head was resting on her knees and she wrapped her hands around her legs. I felt a tug in my heart recalling the way I snapped at her.

“Sheila, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m just so confused. After I left with the guards I met the Beta and a lot happened”

“Beta Noir?”

“Yeah, Noir, a beta is as high as the Alpha right?”

“A Beta is the second in command in a pack, not quite as high as the Alpha especially not Alpha Keanu, but yeah, close”

I thought back to my encounter with the Alpha. I wondered if I should tell Sheila what the fuck just happened to me. Will she see me as a weak human too? Will she hate me? All this doesn’t matter, I just need to get out of here.

I moved back resting my back against the wall. Sheila was still looking at me expecting me to continue.

“What is a Mate?”

“What? A mate?” She asked, arching a brow at me and I nodded

“Beta Noir has a mate, I know he is good-looking, but trust me, he has eyes only for his mate”

I rolled my eyes at and before I could reply to what she had just said, we heard footsteps approaching.

Noir walked in with a guard behind him. He opened the cell door moving to the side for me to come out. I remained in my position staring at him in confusion.

“Follow me,” he said turning immediately

I glanced at Sheila before standing up and walked out of the cell. I followed him till we were back at the interrogation room. And just as he moved to the side I looked up coming face to face with the Alpha