CHAPTER 5

I couldn't believe what I just heard. He was my mate? How was that possible? The Alpha Thorne was my mate? It didn't sound right when I repeated it in my head.

"Who are you?" His voice was gruff and insistent, demanding for a response immediately.

"Ava" I answered immediately, submitting to the alpha command in his voice.

"Who are you and why are you here like this? Who are your parents" he grabbed my arms tightly and I jerked back instantly. He let me go but his focus stayed on me.

"My father is Jackson Coleman" I mumbled. I saw the shock in his eyes.

"Jackson? I didn't know he had a daughter" I wasn't surprised. How could he know? They didn't take me out like they took Jonathan. I was always introduced as a slave so even if he wanted to, he couldn't know me.

"Why are you like this? What are you doing here?" He asked again.

I didn't know how to answer his questions. How do I tell him that I was the daughter of the mistress, so hated by her family that they treated me like the help? Most of all, I couldn't believe that I was speaking with him. That he called me his mate. Alpha Thorne who was feared even amongst the alphas. I felt calm but at the same time, my mind was going haywire.

"Ava" he called my name, coming impossibly closer and a shiver ran down my spine.

"I asked you a question" he growled at me but I stared at his lips, lost in the beauty of them. I wanted to answer his questions but my brain lacked function.

"Ava" he called again in an impatient voice, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I...I am not the daughter of his wife" I said and his eyes widened. His shock was clearly visible in his eyes. I could tell all his emotions just by staring into his eyes.

Maybe because he called me his mate but the rumors said he was cold and he never gave anything away. How was it so easy? Was he relaxed around me?

"Come with me" he grabbed my hand again and a tingle shot through me from the point of his tough. My whole body felt alive and a small moan escalated my throat. He let go of me at the sound.

He took the tray, setting it carelessly on the stand and then he sat me on the bed. I was conscious because of my current state. I didn't want to get my filth over his bed.

I tried to stand up but he pushed me back to the bed.

"I don't want to stain your sheets"

"Don't worry about the damn sheets. I don't give a fuck about them" I blushed at his choice of crude words.

"Jackson is your father?" He asked impatiently, suddenly angry about something.

"Yes"

"Then why? Why does he let you live like this?"

"Not a slave" I quickly said. If Bianca heard it there'll be hell to pay.

"Don't tell me that" he snapped and I flinched, terrified of his temper.

"Sorry," he mumbled and I became even more shocked.

He was apologizing? I stared at him long and hard. Maybe the rumors were false. He wasn't anything they had described him to be. I thought I had to be conscious of myself and scared of making a mistake but I was far from that. I felt extremely relaxed.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty"

"When did you turn twenty?"

"Today," I said, reminded of the fact that it was my birthday.

"For fucks sake" he cursed under his breath, taking his hand through the thick mass of dark curls on his head. He was upset about something and it made me worried. He paced continuously in front of me, engaged in a conversation with himself.

I writhed my hands as I waited did him to say something else.

"Have you lived here since you were born?" He asked again and I nodded.

"Have you ever been whipped....or abused?" My eyes widened at the question and I remembered Lady Bianca's threat.

"No," I said immediately. He paused his pacing and stared at me.

"Don't you dare lie to me" he growled in my face.

"Only when I did something wrong. Nothing serious" I lied. He didn't believe what I had said but he didn't utter any other word. The door opened and I jumped, scared to be found seated on his bed.

Our alpha mate entered the room with a shirt, her eyes landing on me and I quickly averted my gaze.

"What are you doing....."

"Enough leave us" Alpha Thorne cut in rudely. Luna said nothing and walked out of the room.

"We're going to see your father now" his voice was harsh as he pulled on the shirt. He was doing the button when he stopped and looked at me.

"Never mind. Go in and have a shower and wear this" he dropped the shirt.

"Did I do something? Why are we going to see my father"

"Just do as I say now" he snapped and I moved. It took a while, but I was able to get the dirt off my body and then I cleaned up and wore the shirt.

"Have you had anything to eat?" He asked me when I stepped into the room.

"No" I mumbled. He grabbed my waist and my body tingled. He took me out of the room and took the stairs to the party. I couldn't protest even if I wanted to.

The entire guests became silent as soon as they saw us. Lady Bianca was marching up to me in the next second, an angry look on her face. Subconsciously, I moved into his side, trying to hide from her view.

"What the fuck did you do" she growled at me.

"I....." I was cut off by Alpha Thorne.

"Don't speak" he snapped, making me shut up instantly.

"Alpha" Alpha Mathew came up.

"Have you been attended to?"

"We can punish her as you deem fit" Lady Bianca jumped in.

"No punishment. I want the girl"