my mate

CHAPTER 2

LIAM'S POV

“Scum!” A shrill and loud voice echoed through the room immediately after I stepped into the living room.

I winced, digging at my ears.

Damn it!

I had just finished dueling with my instructor and I was immensely exhausted. My plan had been to go take a quick nap before I had to face my father, so I most definitely didn't want to walk in on such a scene - my mother was hitting my half-brother, Ethan, on the chest and calling him all sorts of profanities while he stayed still with his head lowered.

I rubbed my forehead tiredly. 

I was so not in the mood for all this. What has happened now? What could guarantee such violence so early in the morning?

“You're an ungrateful scum. You are a pest.” She screeched shoving at him. “There is no difference between you and your disgusting mother.”

“Mother!” I scolded, not pleased with the way she was attacking a dead person.

Hearing my voice, they both turned towards me, obviously shocked as to when I had arrived there. 

“When did you get here?” Mother didn't wait for me to respond before she continued her complaining. “Whatever. That is beside the point. Why are you following this scum to shout at me? Was what I said wrong?”

“Or is his mother not a leech who milked off the Alpha till the day she died?”

Ethan gritted his teeth, obviously trying to hold back his words. 

He was honestly too good for this house as I was sure that if I was in the same position as him, I would have wreaked havoc. 

His mother had been a lowly omega who had a Cinderella story with the Alpha, my father - Alexander King. She found that they were mates. She had done her best to be Luna but because of her lowly status as well as her birth, she was scorned and ridiculed. All her efforts were also seen as useless as she was labeled a gold digger.

Even after she gave birth to Ethan, the scorn did not stop nor reduce in the slightest. 

What I hated was that the Alpha didn't protect her back then. Something I would never do to my mate.

My mother, who was a beta as well as the daughter of a reputable elder of the council, was infatuated with my father back then and, from what I heard, even caused some ridicule on Ethan's mother back then.

When Ethan's mother passed away due to an illness, my mother wasted no time in accepting my father's proposal, and a year later, they bore me.

Honestly, if I wasn't born to my mother, I would have hated her and her vixen attitude but since she was, I could only stand by her - even when she was wrong.

“Mother, enough of this! What did he do to you so early in the morning?”

She scoffed. “There you go again. Acting like I'm the villain.”

Goddess! The dramatics.

“For your information, everything I was saying was for his good and that of our pack. I mean, why the hell would he move out to god to be with some low-class girl from the slums???”

“After everything we have done for him! He wants to drag our name through the mud. What would our subjects say when they hear that the Alpha's eldest son started living in the slums? They would all say that I mistreated him and chased him out. How would I be able to show my face then?”

I sighed in frustration. 

“Mother, there is nothing wrong with people from the slums. Besides, he's her mate.” I tried explaining.

“Why are you not shocked?? Did you already know?” she gasped and looked at me like I had done the worst thing to her.

Of course, I was already aware. Ethan had come to me previously to seek my advice and I had asked him to follow his heart.

We weren't the closest of siblings, as even I would resent the son of the woman who always bullied me, but we talked from time to time and asked each other for advice when we were lost.

I wasn't aware, though, that he wanted to move out. I couldn't blame him, though, as this house was tiring, even for me, the Alpha heir.

The pressure to always be perfect, the nagging, the dictatorship - it was all so stifling.

Besides, I knew Victoria King like the back of my hand. Even if Ethan had said that he would bring his mate over here, she would have still opposed it.

I'm sure her excuse would have been the same. I don't want people from the slums living in my house. It would sully my reputation.

That was all she cared for. Her reputation and her husband.

Not even her own child came first.

“She's my mate and I want to be with her. I'll make sure to take her far away with what I've saved so you needn't be worried about your reputation.” Ethan finally couldn't take it as he piped up.

“I. Don't. Care.” Mother said, punctuating each word. “You're not allowed to leave and that is final. If you dare bring this up and disrespect me again, be prepared to take it up with your father.” 

With that, she turned and walked off. Groaning, Ethan sunk into the couch while rubbing his forehead, obvious signs of fatigue from the eye bags below his eyes. He threw his head back and closed his eyes. 

I felt bad for him so I decided against a nap and took a seat beside him. 

“What's it like?” I found myself asking. 

His eyes fluttered open, and an eyebrow arched at me, obviously confused about my choice of words.

“Finding love. Finding your mate. What does it feel like?”

I hadn't found my mate yet and I couldn't help but wonder if I did find her, would our bond be strong enough that I would leave everything I've ever known behind just to live only for us - Even if we suffered while trying.

Ethan smiled, a wistful look appearing on his face. He looked like he loved her so much.

“Like you found a piece of you that you didn't even realize had been missing a long time and everything just makes sense. That is for finding love. For finding your mate, things are a bit more complicated.” 

I frowned. “How?”

“Well, some people feel like a mate bond is equivalent to love but I beg to differ.” His expression became somber for a reason and his eyes had traces of hate and a faraway look. “Instead it's just an invisible thread pointing you to who the universe thinks can be a perfect match for you.”

“It's no different than an arranged marriage set up for us by our parents. It may work and it may not work.”

Wow. I was enlightened.

“Just like…” He added, trailing off, but I didn't need him to finish before I knew who he was referring to.

His mother.

“It's just so stupid to hold on to a bond that makes your life a living hell, don't you think?” He digressed and I could hear the hidden meaning in his words.

“Well,” he started changing the subject. “Forget about all that. I see you haven't gotten your own mate, right?”

I nodded.

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Well, one thing I can tell you is that you should pray fervently to the moon goddess that you fall in love with your mate or else, in this place,” his eyes wandered around the living room. “your bond will crumble in the blink of an eye. And then you'll be left feeling empty for the rest of your life.”

He then stood up and left after asking that I take care of myself.

A few minutes later as I was thinking over what Ethan said, a guard came to inform me that my father had summoned me.

I groaned in frustration. I was so engrossed in my discussion with Ethan that I forgot to get some shut-eye before Father called me.

I stood and walked to his study after mentally preparing myself for what he wanted to say.

It was never going to be good.

“You sent it to me, Father,” I said, my head bowed as I stood before him. 

“Alpha.” He corrected me.

“I'm sorry, Alpha.”

“You know why I sent for you Liam, so let's not act a fool.” He stared at me sternly, disappointment and anger coloring his eyes. 

Of course, I did, but I still acted like I was clueless. He hated when one acted too smart.

Insecure bastard.

“I'm not sure what you mean, Alpha.”

“Your instructors reported to me about your embarrassing performance at school.” He started. “It is utterly disgraceful for the future Alpha to be so weak. I also heard that you refused to shift no matter how much the instructors asked. How are you going to lead the pack like this?” 

He was at it again. Picking at my every flaw.

“I apologize, Alpha.” 

The problem with me was not that I was weak. Not at all. Instead, I controlled my strength so much that it made me seem so. He knew and that pissed him off. Especially since I refused to tell him why when he ‘asked’ me.

I just couldn't tell anyone why.

My father, though, failed to see that I was probably dealing with something, and instead, he criticized me at every turn.

“This will be the last time I'm telling you. Next time, I'll show you exactly why I'm an Alpha.” 

He then focused back on what he was doing after waving me out. I stepped out quickly, unwilling to give him a chance to pick at me anymore. 

I sighed and massaged my brows once I was out the door. 

It's too damn early in the morning for all this chaos.

I needed a breather.

I headed downstairs to outrun in the woods and let my wolf breathe, but I was barely down the stairs before I was blocked. Yet again. 

“There you are. I was looking for you everywhere.”

I groaned. “What do you want, Daniel?” I tried to sidestep him but he blocked my path again.

Daniel, my closest friend, couldn't read the room and it made me want to smack him in the face sometimes.

Couldn't he see that I didn't want to talk?

“Where were you?”

“None of your business!” I retorted snarkily, hoping to make a quick break, but either he wasn't aware of my haste, or he just didn't care.

“Judging by your expression, I can tell the meeting didn't go well.” 

So he knew and was just playing with me?

I growled, grabbing at his collar.

“You!” He raised his hand in surrender, a sheepish smile on his face.

“Hey! Hey! I'm sorry.” He said with a chuckle.

I shoved him and started walking away angrily. 

“I'm sorry man. I was just joking,” he said as he jogged and caught up with my strides.

“By the way, what did your old man say?”

“The same old stuff. The instructors talked to him about my performance.” 

Daniel scoffed. “Like he was perfect during his time. I've heard rumors you know? Rumors about him being an absolute loser during his time.” 

I smiled at that. The image of my ever-powerful father being weak and struggling, I knew that Daniel was trying to make me feel better about my flaws, and I appreciated it.

“Yeah. I heard them too.” 

We both burst into laughter. “So where are you heading to now?”

I hummed. “I'm not even sure. I just want to go for a run. At least get some alone time.”

By now, we were at the gates and the guards bowed at me insincerely before going back to their posts - it was that same way for every warrior in the pack as they saw me as incapable because I kept holding back.

I didn't give a shit, though, because flipping out at one of them would bring unimaginable consequences.

Suddenly, I started to feel breathless as it seemed like sparks of electricity sizzled through my veins. My whole body felt hot and I had the inexplicable urge to strip down.

Oh no. I recognized that sign. I needed to get out of here. 

“Do you want me to go with..”

“Daniel, I got to go. We'll catch up later.” With that, I didn't wait for him to reply before I sprinted off into the woods.

I could hear him curse at me but I didn't give a damn.

My heart was racing so fast in my chest that It felt like it would explode any minute.

I could feel my eyes change color as my vision changed, and I saw everything clearer and sharper.

Fuck! I needed to be faster.

I pushed my legs faster but I stumbled soon after as one of them made a crackling sound before bending into an odd and nearly impossible angle.

Pain radiated through them and I fought the urge to scream.

I couldn't have the guards running after me after hearing my screams

My second leg soon gave out and I could only crawl while whimpering in pain.

I needed to go as far away from the pack as possible. 

I couldn't let him out near the people I loved. I couldn't let that monster out.

I was able to make it out of the pack boundaries before I collapsed, letting the change take over me.

My vision blurred and I blacked out.

I groaned as pain radiated from all parts of my body. A sharp sting came from my chest, and I raised my hand slowly to check what was wrong, only to register three shocking things.

Firstly, I was stark naked. I checked multiple times just to be sure.

What the fuck had he done this time.?

Secondly, I was badly injured and I had no idea how.

Thirdly, I found a handkerchief on me. It had probably been used to clean my wound which was now healing as there was mangled flesh and blood stains all over it.

That was not what surprised me. 

What surprised, not shocked me to the bone was the scent of the handkerchief.

It smelt like a herbal scent mixed with plum flowers.

It was a scent that the monster in me recognized.

It was my mate.