Ravenblood

Chapter 3

Mate?

The enormous wolf that dwarfed the population’s gathering and towered over me like a shadow was mate?

Heading the Highest House of the Royal court in Edgars’ pack, his words were a final say in the affairs of the continent, other alphas were just intermediaries, like a beta to an Alpha, members of Carvidol’s royalty but they all answered to him.

And he was my mate

What does that matter? You’re the half-naked one, run as fast as you can to avoid abject humiliation!

I would heed common sense if my legs didn’t seem as though they were nailed to the ground and my blood froze, rendering me immobile.

I fought the urge to cower as it took ominous steps towards me, pining me with his red gaze. Little snarls escaped from his drooling lips as it came to stand in front of me.

For several moments, the world seized to a stop, leaving us lost in each other’s eyes, red to blue. Wrapped in a tango.

I was his and he was mine

As it should be.

My mate.

Maybe the expected turnout of events was all in my head- a figment of my imagination because as I reached to stroke his mane, he let out an angry grunt and jerked away from my touch. I gasped as he shifted, revealing the most beautiful man the goddess had ever created; Tall, broad, with a chiseled face, red downward-turned lips, a perfect set of almond eyes that glowed blood red, and hair meticulously trimmed to perfection. Confidence was evident in his posture and physique reflecting his dedication to fitness.

He was a demigod with angelic features

A deep contrast to his harsh words that came next; “I would not have a weakling in my bloodline.”

I trained myself to bottle up the hurt and sting of hearing rejection from people, building resilience to harsh treatment in my daily life. However, when it came from my mate – someone supposed to swear allegiance to protecting me till infinity – it broke the walls I had built and shattered me into a million pieces.

“An omega renders her mate powerless upon infusing their blood into him during the claiming, sealing his fate of doom” He sneered, “I ponder what sins I must have committed for the gods to have bestowed upon me an omega to rule as my Luna. It is equal to tasking an ant to wrestle a lion” he chuckled then spat out, “An impossibility”

“People of Cravidol, worries arose you as it is paramount an Alpha must be with a Luna, ruling by his side. It is akin to a life and death situation, I’m aware of that” Then he looked at me disdainfully “But I rather rule as a single entity and become illegitimate offspring than be mated to a sack of dead vegetables”

On his final statement, I died inside- every fragment that pillared the remaining fraction of my sanity shredded into pieces and abandoned in total ruin.

I have been rejected. Again

From the corner of my eye, I could see the sinister smile that played on my stepmother's lips and the look of disappointment that tainted Ben’s. My ears perked at the hushed tones of the crowd- merging into a dissonance that rang bells in my head.

I have to get out of here. Fast!

As I dashed into the woods, the whispers became a ruckus in my brain.

“The king was right in his decision. Omegas are to be for commoners, not members of the royalty.”

Stop

“They shouldn’t be mated to anyone at all. I rather have them in the outlands, rotting in misery”

Fates no

“If I had my chances with them, it would be bloody murder. Just like the good old days”

Shut up!

I sprinted faster, striving to drown out the cacophony. Just in time as the skies thundered, pouring fourth raindrops that pelted the earth, amplifying misery. When I reached a sanctuary from the harsh whispers, a torrent of uncontrollable sobs wrenched from my lips.

*******************

Hello Rejection, my unwelcome companion

How does it feel to find your way back into my life again? Do you derive pleasure from it?

It must have been phenomenal for you but please know that your host is wrecked from your constant visit and demands you leave.

Before she succumbs to suicidal thoughts.

I may do so at the end. Nothing is worth living for when facing constant abuse and the wrath of the people.

It is a knife embedded in the heart, killing you slowly.

I staggered to my home dejectedly, fully aware of what awaited me at home.

Witnessing the rejection of my mate would cause them to make a decision.

Arranged to be married to a commoner or worse, sold to a bawdy house.

But Ben wouldn’t be so cruel, would he?

Yes, yes he would.

With Veronica, he can and he would.

I sighed as I snuck into the palace, avoiding answering my guardians where I had been for four hours.

I successfully made my way into the farm and nestled at my humble abode. The wooden door creaked as I pushed it open, greeting me with the familiar stench of excretion. The rhythmic sound of clucking and flapping of wings, a symphony to ears was oddly satisfying.

I listened to it for a while, studying each feather floating in the air and clinging to the musty atmosphere.

Suddenly, I burst into laughter, holding my stomach as I bellowed like an uncouth fella.

I laughed until my eyes threatened to pop out and almost breathless.

First I was wrapped like a festive present for the mating ceremony, doted with expensive apparel and ornaments like one would a princess. I’m sure I would have been called a princess if my psychotic stepmother hadn’t attacked me and shoved me into the public half-naked and unkempt.

But was I a princess? Treated like one?

Surely a princess wouldn’t be a laughing stock, rejected by an alpha, mistreated constantly and she definitely, wouldn’t spend her nights in a claustrophobic room embellished among the clucking chickens.

I sleep on a poultry farm, among noisy birds, and in their excretion.

Hah! That could never be a princess treatment.

Every day I hoped and prayed that I would escape- and end up with a mate in a fairy tale “happily ever after”.

But now, all hopes are diminished and my prayers are left unanswered because my mate didn’t give me a chance.

My future was still in the hands of my predators, to plan out how my life would end.

With the sad thought that lingered in my mind, I drifted into sleep.

The hand that caressed my face jolted me awake.

“Relax love, it’s me”

“Alpha Ben?” I rasped.

“Yes, it is I, your alpha.” He answered, still stroking my face, “I am not angered by your rejection, dear. It wasn’t your fault.”

“You…think so?” I questioned.

“Of course. The heart wants what it wants” He said, “And he didn’t choose you, dear”

“But I am his…mate.”

“You are not the one for him, maybe he belongs to another” His eyes roamed my body, “As you’ll belong to another”

What?

“Belong to another?” I asked, getting uncomfortable.

“You look just like your mother.” He continued, “Her blue eyes reflect in yours.” He moved to my hair, “The same hair. Auburn and fierce.” He stroked it, “Beautiful”

“Alpha Ben,” I said, totally unraveled now

“Ben? Aren’t you coming to bed?” Veronica called from outside.

“Right away,” He said, his hands still on my hair. “She stays in the chambers tonight”

Veronica grew cold, “What?”

“Monica.” He turned to her, “She stays in one of the chambers tonight.”

“Ben, don’t go too soft on her. She’s too much of a disappointment to fight for”

“This will not be up for discussions!” He snapped, “She stays in the chambers tonight, understand?”

“Yes,” She spat, gripping the lantern tightly.

It appears that Ben’s new rule may have stirred her inner demons, as I find myself in a carriage the next day bound and gagged.

Initially, I struggled demanding to know my whereabouts. Then informed of my sedated dinner being the reason I slipped into unconsciousness in the maid’s quarters new room.

She cast me a Cheshire smile as the guards manhandled me out of the car, taking me to an unfamiliar place. No, it was a bawdy house.

“You are going to sell me?” I looked at her with disbelief.

“This surprises you? Oh well, can’t have a competition going on in my house. I shall be the one to bear my husband’s heir, not some leftover of his past” She turned to guards, saying, “Take her.”

Then it happened in a flash- she and a certain man, finalizing contract deals as if the business involved was just a mere property.

“Enjoy her good sir. Trust, she has whorish instincts”

That is how I find myself taken in a different carriage, gagged and bound, heading to an unknown place far, far away from Cardery.

Kidnapped and Sold.