Chapter 06~A Marriage Proposal and the Disappointment

~ARIELLA~

His words hung in the air like steam fog. I kept staring at the man who had just walked into my life. 

And each time our eyes met, I was reminded that the most feared and respected Lycan king was my mate. 

Right now, he had abruptly claimed me. He was asking me to be his woman, and these words felt strange—especially coming from him.

 The same man who was known for being fearless, heartless, arrogant, and rude.

I still couldn't believe the man standing before me, his eyes locked onto mine, he had just asked me this question out of the blue . 

The same man I had thought would immediately reject the mate bond. 

He wanted to claim me. My body wanted him, but I still couldn't accept it. It was too beautiful to be true, and I doubted his sincerity. 

I had seen the look of disappointment on his face when he first found out I was his mate.

 How could he suddenly accept me? 

Again, didn't this seem a bit weird and awkward?

"You want me to be your woman?" I asked, finally gathering the courage I thought I had lost while glaring at him.

"Yes," He answered. 

This time, his voice was void of emotion, as if he had suddenly realized he was being too clingy. 

"I want you to be my woman." He paused, slowly gazing at me awkwardly. 

"Not in the form of a mate or an intimate and promising relationship," He added, wincing after he said the words.

I didn't know why, but I felt a sharp pang in my stomach. It came so heavily, with an unbearable pain. 

I had expected him to reject me. I knew this was too good to be true, yet my wolf still wanted him.

"In what form do you want me then?" I asked, a lump formed  in my throat, while glaring at him.

 No! 

Moon Goddess, please tell me I am not going to be rejected a second time. 

I knew this was what this was about,a rejection.

 And the thought of it made my legs tremble as I stared at the man whose expression was hard and icy, just like the first time I met him.

I kept wondering where the vulnerable part of him had suddenly gone. Maybe he was only vulnerable because I had been hurt, and he had felt the pain as my mate.

"I don't want a mate," He said. 

The words I had been dreading to hear since I met him. They stung in my head, and my heart thudded painfully.

 It was as if a part of me had been ripped off, leaving me as nothing but a shadow of myself.

"What? You..."

"Yes. I don't want a mate, but I want a breeder or a contract relationship," He revealed. 

This time, his gaze was void of emotion. How could he say that so easily?

 Did he not think I would be hurt by his declaration? 

My second-chance mate was suddenly rejecting me, and he thought I should just accept it?

"A breeder?" I scoffed. 

That's how low I am, I guess. Even my second-chance mate isn't any different. 

For a few moments, I had thought he was an angel. What was I thinking? That Arthur Jaden would accept a low-life omega like me as his mate? 

Scoff!

 Joke's on me.

"It's okay if you won't do it. But there's a chance for you to be respected as a Luna and the queen of all Lunas while you just focus on giving me an heir," He suggested.

Was that what I was worth? More or less than a whore? I wanted to ask him, but the words formed a lump in my throat as I swallowed down something that had been stuck there all along.

"It's okay, you don't have to rush it. You can think it through."

"There's nothing to think about. You want me as a whore, and you are my mate. Either way, it's a win-win situation. Everyone has already rejected me, and you aren't any different," I said boldly.

"Watch your tongue, he's—" 

Before the man who had been glaring at me earlier could complete his statement, Arthur raised his hand to stop him.

"We should head out. They might be waiting for us," He said, stretching his hand toward me in an offer to help.

"I have legs. I am not disabled or crippled. I can walk."

He nodded and let me walk out of the room before following suit. We soon arrived at the ceremonial hall, and everyone was glaring at me. Some with respect, while others did so spitefully.

"Whore! How dare you try to seduce my mate and lie about it to King Arthur Jaden?" Lora said, attacking me grievously and forcing me to lose my balance. 

She wanted to slap me, but the man who had been walking behind us held her hand.

Meanwhile, Arthur Jaden caught me before I slipped, and my heart couldn't help but beat even faster at his coldness.

"You good?" He asked gently, his eyes were  burning with desire as we stared at each other. 

I had forgotten he was the man who had just rejected me a few seconds ago. And yet, the only thing clouding my mind was pure desire.

"Sure," I muttered.

He smirked and nodded before ensuring I stood on my feet. It was at this moment I realized all eyes were on me.

"You!"Arthur Jaden paused for a few seconds, he ruffled his hair gently. I can tell, he's very pissed and he was trying to control his anger.

" She's my mate! How dare you try to harm my mate?" Arthur Jaden yelled, and everyone, including Lora, flinched.

"I could have cut your head off if only—"

"My king, please forgive me. I didn't know she was your mate!" Lora fell to the floor, pleading.

I was amazed by how frightened she was. 

Arthur  Jaden remained silent, simply gazing around as the pack members withdrew to the corners of the building. 

Tension filled the atmosphere.

"She will judge you and decide. If she lets you go, I promise you'll walk out alive with your slut mate." Arthur Jaden was staring at me when he said these words.

"Honey, what do you think?" He asked. 

"Over to you," He added.

I felt an immense peace. Lora was frightened. I could tell through her eyes that she was secretly praying to the Moon Goddess.

"Let her go. Dante isn't worth it," I declared, and everyone sighed.

Arthur nodded before looking toward the man who had been close to him all this time. 

"As my Luna has commanded, let them go. And let it be known to all that Ariella Green is my mate, and under no circumstances should she be treated like an outcast by anybody."

He paused and winked at me.

"Not even a single soul."He added , he takes my hand into his and my heart thuds loudly.