This Man Cannot Be My Mate!

I watched as the filth from my skin flowed upon the water.

This hideout isn’t as bad as I thought. They have electricity and water supply just enough for everyone to use. I was brought into the omegas’ shower rooms to wash myself.

“I thought I was gonna take a bath in a freezing river. “

“Oh no, of course not. Do you prefer that, perhaps?”

“Of course not. I don’t die because of hypothermia. I still have to smack that guy’s head.”

The woman sighed. “Will you guys ever be able to get along in the future? Both of you are destined mates.”

I took a deep breath. “We are not mates. And besides, how can he decide that so quickly? Is he making fun of me? Does he want to torture me by making me feel humiliated? Ugh.”

“A Were, like us, do not decide our mates. You could say it is just fate.”

I rubbed my skin in frustration. “Oh yeah? And how do you confirm that?”

“Your scent would be stronger to him, and it would be different than ours.”

“I didn’t know that you guys could be this weird.”

“Weird? Ah, yes, I suppose you humans could say that. We are different beings, after all.”

There were a few minutes of silence between them.

“Aren’t you gonna kill me?”

The woman looked at her with puzzlement in her eyes. “What makes you think that I can do that?”

“You’re a Were.” I looked at her with a frown.

She shook her head. “You are his mate. We cannot hurt you. And besides, I do not crave human blood. An omega like me would never have the opportunity to consume those.”

I raised a brow and grabbed the towel. “What do you mean?”

“We are the lowest class of this pack. We are only allowed to raise cattle and feed on them. The pack’s warriors are the only ones tasked to hunt.”

I took a deep breath.

Their society is a bit confusing, and even if I have slain countless of them, I do not know much about their lives. You could say I am ignorant about it, but honestly, I didn’t even expect to enter their world this way.

My task was to eradicate them, not join them.

I will need to learn more about these creatures. Especially this pack.

“What are all these omega stuff?” I asked her while drying my bare body. “Ranks?”

“You could say so. For now, servants like me are the Omegas. We do all the household work and farming. The Zeta, Sir Galland, is the commander of the pack warriors. We also have a Gamma Elder, Sir Riftan’s personal source of wisdom. The Beta, Sir Guilamore, is not here with us today. He should be back in a few days. Sir Riftan is our Alpha.”

My head spun. I didn’t understand a thing she just said. She talked so fast that I wasn’t able to process anything.

“So you’re basically saying that Riftan is the highest among all of you?”

“Yes, you’re right. His words are absolute, and he only makes the best decisions for us. He is a very skilled warrior, too. He has slain so many rebels and rogue werewolves just to protect us. He is also the one who trains and develops the pack warriors’ fighting skills.”

I smirked while wearing my spare clothes, “I want to see how tough he is. You should have seen his face when he slammed into the bars. It was very hilarious.”

“Oh no, you shouldn’t be making funny jokes at him. He is a very strict man. And I’m sure that he is very serious about you, too.”

“Serious about me? Like what? Serious about humiliating me?”

“He is earnest about being your mate.”

I rolled my eyes. I cannot believe she actually agreed to that bastard’s delusions!

“Here we go again about this. I told you already. I don’t want to be his mate. How many times do I have to put it inside his head that I’m not suitable for the job.”

“It’s not a matter of being suitable for the job. You are his mate. Do you have any idea how he was itching to kill you, and then suddenly, he drops his knife to the floor and takes a step back?”

I stared at her, bamboozled. A part of me still did not get what she meant.

“I don’t understand.”

“Sir Riftan planned to execute you a few days ago. While you were unconscious, every and each one of us watched you in horror as you got tied up in a pole.”

I was tied up in a pole?

What the?

I looked at my wrists, and yes, there were a few marks on them. I rubbed it with my fingers and lowered my head.

Just how close am I to dying?

“All of a sudden, he dropped his knife and moved backward. We could see him sniffing the air; his eyes widened in shock as he didn’t know that you were all along, his mate.”

I felt my chest throb. I clenched my jaw and looked away while combing my wet hair.

“Mate, huh. Sounds like made-up to me.”

“Of course, you can always see for yourself.” she stood up and smiled at me. “And you will find out that what I am saying is true. I am a woman of my word.”

I gave her a small smile and sighed, “So what are you guys planning to do with me now? Put me back in my cage? Like a dog?”

“That’s not for me to answer. You can always ask Sir Riftan. You guys have made a quick start to your relationship.”

I laughed mockingly, “What do you mean ‘relationship’? Nothing has been made with that man. I won’t ever agree to be friends with him.”

It was true.

I really had no intention of being friends with anybody. I can’t allow this feeling of attachment to this woman anymore. I mean, who knows? This could be one of his hideous ploys to tame me.

“Are you ready to go? The loaf of bread from earlier, I’m sure it did not fill you up. Should I prepare you another food?”

I still didn’t get why this woman was so generous and kind to me.

But of course, I wouldn’t deny free food.

Damn it.

I have to get stronger, and my only source of nutrients will be whatever food they will give me. I can’t be picky. And besides, if they plan to poison me, I would know.

“Very well, I shall escort you to the dining room.”

She walked towards me, and I could hear the dangling of chains as she reached out to her pockets to get something. She revealed a pair of handcuffs and then looked at me with a worried look.

"Sir Riftan's orders."

I took a deep breath and sighed, “Yeah. I thought so.” I reached my hands to the air and allowed her to do whatever she needed.

She gently locks my wrists with it, and I can feel the heaviness of the steel in my arm.

They must have kept slaves so they could have these tools.

Perhaps hostages.

“Let’s go?”

I stepped aside, “Lead the way.”

I followed her as she walked in the halls while holding the chains that restrained me. She must’ve been so terrified that she was stuck babysitting someone like me.

Well, it isn’t my fault, though. It’s their mistake to capture someone as mischievous as I am.

I strode in the long corridors. There, a few Weres would pass by me and glare. Some of them were still in their Were form, staring at me with condescending eyes.

One furry guy came and blocked our path.

I looked at her as she handled the situation.

“Why did you let her out, Linda?”

She crossed her arms, “It’s none of your business, Lon.”

“You’re not supposed to let her out just like that. Did you ask permission from Master Riftan?”

I stepped closer. Linda recoils in shock, still alarmed about me. I show her my wrists and a reassuring shrug. Lon sternly glared at me.

“I hate to say this, but your master kicked my butt back there in the cage, and also, for your information, he broke the cage himself. Linda didn’t let me out, nor did I escape.”

I rolled my eyes.

So even the common Weres were annoying, too, huh?

“Sir Riftan told me to accompany her in the washroom,” Linda explained more. “It’s not like I’m sneaking her out or something.”

Lon hissed. “Tch. Fine. Whatever.” and then walked away.

I turned to Linda and shrugged my shoulders. “What’s up with that guy?”

“I don’t know. He’s stingy. Let’s just get out of here and get to the dining hall. I believe Sir Riftan is there, eating breakfast by himself.”

She pulled the chains, but I froze. I didn’t want to move.

“Miss Vermillion?”

I sighed and looked away. “I don’t wanna share a table with him. I’m fine with loaves. I’ll go back to my cage.”

Linda looked at me and shook her head, “Look at you. You haven’t been eating for several days. You’re getting so skinny.”

I lowered my head and looked at my body.

“I’m fine.”

She yanked the chain, and I almost tripped over. I looked at her with disbelief in my eyes. She crossed her arms and looked at me sternly.

“Let’s go.”

I nodded and walked after her. Gotta follow the strict lady!

We arrived before an enormous door. Linda slowly reached out to the knob and opened it. I stared as the doors opened wide. There, I could see sets of tables, which I assumed would gather the Weres during meal times.

I glided my eyes around only to see Riftan sitting on one of the stools while wiping his lips with a cloth.

Am I seriously gonna sit in the same room with that guy?

“Linda, can we sit on one of those-”

“Sit in front of me.”

My body froze the instant Riftan spoke. I closed my eyes in consternation and disappointment and glanced at Linda.

She smiled at me apologetically, and I only heaved a sigh.

I just don’t really want to sit with him!

Period!

“No thanks,” I replied to him.

I made my way towards the far end of the room and sat on one of the seats.

Linda proceeds to tie the chains against the table. She arched her back at Riftan. “I will be preparing her food, Sir. Do you have something for me to get?”

“Custard.”

“Steak. Braised.”

“Very well, I’ll come get it when it’s ready. What about yours, Miss Vermillion?”

“Anything,” I replied to her while keeping my narrow eyes on Riftan. “As long as it strengthens my bones, I’m fine with it. And as long as you’re not serving me human meat.”

“O-Of course,” she nodded. “Alright, please wait.”

Linda exits the room. I glared at Riftan while he only stared at me with a bored expression.

He then stands up and walks over in my direction. I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath, knowing that I was going to deal with one of his humiliating antics once again.

“What?”

He pulled the chair in front of me and sat. He crossed his legs and fixed his clothes. We stared at each other for a long amount of time before I proceeded to smirk at him.

There’s no way in hell that I will allow this guy to be my mate!