Chapter 3.

Astrid's POV

“Found you, Mate!” he suddenly uttered with a mischievous sneer curling up on his lips, making me both stunned and shocked.

“I... I don't get it. What do you mean?” I asked, stuttering, trying to understand and know what he meant by what he had just said to me.

His hand pulled my chin closer to his face, and just then, he leaned in closer to my ear, cold shivers coursing through my nerves.

“I own you now, Mate!” He pulled back slowly, and with his eyes locked on mine, he smiled before letting go of my chin and standing to his feet.

At this point, I was more shocked than ever. Was the Moon Goddess just playing silly tricks on me, or was she trying to make me realize that I didn't have a choice to make?

Last I checked, I hated Alpha Dane so much—I disliked every single thing about him—and here I was, realizing that I was being mated to the ruthless Alpha of the Redmoon Pack.

“No! That can't be possible! I reject your bond! I can't be your mate!” I stood to my feet, asserting myself with my fist clenched tightly as I tried to act tough.

I was scared of him, but there was no worse nightmare than being mated to my enemy Alpha.

“What did you just say?” he asked as his veins creased. His hand slid into his pockets as he kept his menacing glare fixed on me.

“I... I said I... I reject your bond!” I fought to say, still trying to act bold before him. I just didn't want to show him that I was a weak Alpha.

“You reject my bond?” He began to walk closer to me, and getting nearer, he rolled his eyes and started walking around me in circles, his next move unknown to me.

The fear of him standing closer to me made me expect the worst.

“Well, dear princess...” he halted right behind me and, right in the hall, his arm curled around my waist and pulled me closer to his body.

He placed his head close to my ear and, with a husky voice, whispered, “You can't reject the bond... not when I, the Alpha, haven't declared it! You are mine now, and I'll keep you!” He stated clearly, and before I could utter a single word, he let go of me.

“Miriam?!!!” he called out as he walked past me.

“Yes, Alpha!” A lady about five years older than I was rushed out from the doors behind his throne chair.

“Take her away and get her ready for the night!” he commanded, and Miriam, as he had called her, obeyed.

“On it, Alpha!” She bowed her head as she rushed toward where I was standing.

“Don’t lay your hands on me!” I demanded, hoping she’d listen, but as it stood, I had no other choice but to comply.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t obey that!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me forward and behind her.

“I can’t accept him! I can’t!” I yelled at the top of my voice, trying to make things clear, but who was I kidding? He wouldn’t listen to me, not even a little.

I was pulled into a dark and lonely room against my will, and no matter how hard I tried to escape, it just wasn’t possible.

Just then, the door opened, and Miriam walked into the room with a white dress in her hand. She looked nice but was tough.

I rushed toward her and, without hesitation, grabbed her hand in mine, my eyes digging into hers.

“Please... I can't stay here! I need to leave! He can't be my mate!” I begged.

“You can't reject the Alpha, Astrid! And besides, he is Alpha Dane. No one rejects him! I’d advise you to play his game and let it be! That’s the only way to make Alpha Dane reject you,” she declared, which made sense a bit.

But if I was going to play his game, then I must have my own game too. Just then, I recalled that Alpha Dane was Alpha Halfdan's enemy. They hated each other, and this was definitely the only chance I might have to get revenge on both my cousin Camilla and Halfdan.

My fist clenched at the realization of this, and immediately, I was willing to play by the rules. He would use me, and I wouldn't hesitate to use him to my satisfaction too.

Seeing that I was willing to stay still, Miriam began to dress me in the transparent white gown that she had brought into the room earlier.

Once she was done, I saw a smile grace her lips. I bet she was happy to know that her Alpha would have sex with me for the night.

She bowed her head and left the room. I turned around and gazed out of the window, my thoughts hovering.

Within the span of a month, I had been rejected by the Alpha I thought was my mate, betrayed by him and my cousin sister, got pregnant—which was going to be a secret at this point—and I was also banished by my own father.

Now, even worse, I realized that I was mated to my enemy Alpha, the one Alpha I hated. I let out a deep sigh as a tear rolled down my cheek.

I was still lost in my thoughts when suddenly, the doors opened. I was thinking it was Miriam, but turning my face to the door, I saw Alpha Dane trudging swiftly toward where I was standing.

Before I could say a word, he had already gotten closer to me and, swiftly, he held me by my neck and wrapped his arms around my waist.

He immediately took my lips and kissed me so possessively without letting go, but then he stopped and tightened his grip on my neck even more.

“What do you say, Princess? Are you still willing to reject your mate or accept the bond? And mind you, a silly response might prompt me to get pissed, and trust me, Princess, I do crazy things when I'm pissed.”

“I don’t know what I might do to you right now if you piss me off!” he warned menacingly, his glare fixed on me.

I gave his words a quick thought, and because my heart was clouded with revenge—to make everyone who hurt me pay so dearly—I was willing to accept the Alpha Lycan's bond.

“I accept your mating bond!” I declared, and almost immediately, I felt a rush coursing through my veins as he stood closer to me.

“You’ve made the right choice, Princess!” A half-smile curled up on his lips as his gaze narrowed at me.