5 - My mate

Godiva's heart shattered together with each broken piece of the expensive android phone on the floor. Her mind was in jumbo. How was she going to continue communicating with Theresa? She hadn't even sent her location and neither had she gotten theirs. Theresa would be greatly worried about her.

Her fistful glare met Rocks' frightful one. Her anger multiplied, her loathe for him unending. "Why?" She questioned, her rage unabated. He disconnected her from her sisters and she couldn't forgive him. Every fibre in her screamed hate for him. What was he doing here anyway? Isn't this supposed to be her room?

"No calls," he coldly said and turned to leave but Godiva wasn't going to make it easy on him this time. Not after what he just did. She quickly ran in front of the door, covering the way with her small frame, as compared to Rock whose height was one and half her size. His shirt hung seductively around his torso, his black hair pulled back like he just got out of the shower and she confirmed that he looked attractive. Still, his manners were uncouth, warranting no admiration.

"You could have told me without destroying my phone. I demand a new phone and an honest apology," she said altogether. It seemed a pill of courage had dropped into her mouth the moment her phone hit the floor.

Rock squinted. How could he explain to her that destroying the phone was a way of protecting her? She refused his mark and now this. He was a man who explained himself to no one and he wasn't going to start with her. "Move," he retorted.

Godiva folded her arms to her chest, unmoved. What could be worse than her father selling her? Putting the pieces of the day together, she feared no more. Let death take her. At this moment, it would be best for her to rest with her father. Rock was scary and she was willing to test his limits. After all, all he ever did since they met was protect her, with reasons unknown. "And if I don't?" Her voice was daring.

Rock took hasty steps forward till he was close to her. Godiva's heart began thumping so hard, she feared the walls were going to fall. He stared into her daring eyes and muttered in a mellow tone, "mark you."

Godiva knew that he meant he was going to mark her, her reflexes instantly dropped, as she moved away with the speed of lighting. She hated him and she would never bear his mark. The corner of Rock's lips curled but she didn't see it. He walked out and just after shutting the door, she knelt before the broken pieces of her phone with a heavy heart. One thing was certain. She was going to make him pay for this. If she was going to live in this pack, then she was certainly going to make his life miserable.

Rock laid on his bed but sleep eluded him. Finally, he moved to his balcony, met with the cold refreshing breeze that calmed him. He had never thought about anyone the way he did Godiva. She was so tenacious, making him helpless. Somehow, he felt he could have just taken the phone from her and not smashed it but how could he be sure that she would comply and not make more calls? 

He reminded himself of the events of the day. When he woke up this morning, all he had in mind was redeeming his fathers' purchase without any idea of what to do with it. He wasn't in agreement with the transaction when his father suggested it four years ago but it had already been done.

He already had someone even though they had lost touch for years. By then, he never thought any other girl would-be prettier than her. Meeting Godiva, he felt grateful to his father for the first time. She made his heart thump and his hairs stand on end. The mate bond was very strong with him but sadly, she couldn't feel it yet but she was his, and that was enough for him.

The door to the balcony pushed open and from the scent, he could tell that it was Xena and didn't turn around. She had a calming effect on him. Among rageful men, Xena carried her mother's aura that could calm any storm. She placed her hand on his hand on the railing. "She was sold to seven Alphas, not just you. I thought you should know what you are battling with," she said casually, perhaps regretting it.

She could feel Rock's hand tighten underneath hers, as a low growl escaped him. She discerned it was a possessive one but continued to speak casually. "You are the seventh and I think you should let her know. Per her understanding, she is running away from seven Alphas and if she realizes that they are only six and you aren't just protecting her from a good heart but the fact that she was your purchase, she would get upset and try to run away from you."

"My mate," Rock growled, turning his neck 360. Xena could hear crackling sounds but stiffened, upon realizing that everything got even dicier. All along, she thought Rock wanted to mark Godiva to protect her. She never knew they were destined, mates.

"How? Did Dad know?" She asked curiously. Before Rock responded, Steel appeared at the balcony doorway.

"He must have," Steel said, joining them at the balcony. "Dad never did anything without reason. He must have sensed it," he tactfully concluded.

"I see why you are certain to mark her before time. She would still be yours anyway," Xena said to Rock.

"She disagrees," Rock growled. By the way Godiva flinches and tries to escape at the sound of being marked, he knows that it won't be as easy as he wanted. Steel and Xena understood his few words than anybody else. Rock wasn't like most Alphas. He didn't have to talk much to make himself understood and he hated noise.

"Rock, I think we should let her know that you are among the buyers. After all, you weren't the one who made the purchase. If she finds out herself, she will hate us," Xena said after a while.

"No," was Rocks' curt response.

"What?" Xena couldn't agree to this. It would mean betrayal for things to turn the other way but the men seemed to have the same mind.

"I agree. Godiva is already trying to run. I think we should tell her after she recognizes him as her mate and the mating process is completed," Steel suggested. 

"I strongly reckon that you guys should think through it again but you also have to think about her school." Xena's instinct was very strong. She discerned it wasn't right but how could she convince them? She was even more disappointed with Rocks' next response,

"No school."

She couldn't take it any longer. This was the first time they had a female in the packhouse after her mother and father passed on hand in hand two years ago. They had died a natural death and their bond was unbreakable. She couldn't afford to lose Godiva, seeing her as an elder sister. "Rock, you can't do this to her. You will ruin her life."

"He means for now. As soon as we make amends with these Alphas, she will continue with her education," Steel conveyed the meaning behind Rocks' words, which made her a bit steadfast but she still wanted all loose ends tied.

"Rock, at least let her know the purchase was made for you before time, please."

Rock never made promises. He understood Xena's concerns but also had his reason, which he couldn't explain to her. Xena was rasped in disappointment at his last words, "Good night." Rock was dismissing her and she knew what it meant. He wasn't ready to continue this discussion.

After Xena and Steel left, Rock's mind was still in a mess. He hadn't been able to decide exactly what to do. He was just knowing his mate who was yet to turn eighteen. He went back to lay on the bed but still couldn't close his eyes to sleep.

He decided to take a walk around the pack and just as he stepped onto the corridor, he smelled a strange presence. Sniffling the scent, it was coming from Godiva's room. He could differentiate at least six different scents from her room, making him raged.