His Hunted Mate

Episode 4

I knocked on the door, I felt nervous. How would the king react? He wants a child, and now I have the joy of giving him one. If only he'd realize we are mates, then everything can be perfect.

The first sound of my knock isn't heard. I can hear noises inside. I feel confused, then I knock again. I hear footsteps from the inside approaching the door. I catch the scent of my mate, and I know he's in there. I'm nervous. I bite on my bottom lip, feeling nervous.

The doorknob twists as it opens. A pissed off Lycan King stairs down at me/ "What are you doing here? And who let you out of your chains.'' His expression is cut. He looks at me with annoyance.

"I..I have something to tell you. I just thought I'd come here and..''

"Baby, come back to bed.'' The voice of a woman meets me before a figure casts a shadow on the door. I hear the bed shifting, then, this naked woman walks up to the king, snaking her arm over his shoulder, kissing his cheek.

"You..you got another slave?'' I fight the look of hurt on my face. I want to cry. Suddenly, I hand comes hard accross my face, slapping me. The woman, standing across the doorway in all her glory, looks back at me.

"Slave? Is this your little pet?'' She looks back at my mate. The king says nothing, he goes back to sit on the bed, enjoying thr show. "You little b***h, I'm not a slave. I am the daughter of Alpha Sylvester Dalgaras.''

Her words meant nothing to me. I look back at the Lycan King, he smirks, as if enjoying this. The woman grips me by my collar, pulling me into the room suddenly. I had no time to react before she was trying to pull my dress.

"I'm going to kill you.'' She had an angry voice to match her hatred.

"Come on Lucia, leave the thing alone.'' Aleron gets up. The woman, was throwing heavy kicks and punches at me. I covered myself, but it didn't help. I was screaming, begging for her to stop. It felt like forever, before Aleron pulled her off me. It was like he was enjoying seeing me suffer.

"Come on, get out of here you slave.'' Lycan King Aleron muttered, while holding the woman who was screaming profanities at me. With tears in my eyes, I looked up at him. I wondered what had gone wrong. Two weeks ago, Aleron told me I was the only woman he was with, bought or not. Over that time, even though he kept me in chains, fearing I would run, I got the sense that he saw me as more than just a slave.

"I thought that..'' My words choke me, the pain in my heart is one I've never felt before. He was holding the woman firmly against him. She was crying in his chest, and he was brushing her hair. I didn't think my mate was capable of such intimacy and affection. I had loved him as he was. But this right here was a different person. "We are mates.'' The words fly out of my mouth in a chocked breath. The Lycan king looks at me, then, he starts lauhing.

"Mates? You silly girl. I didn't buy you so you can be entitled. You're my property. I used you, and now I'm bored with you.'' His words cut into me like hot lava molded into a sword. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Lucia, the one in his arms, stops to sneak a peek at me, her smile is wicked and evil.

"You said you want me to give you a child.'' I let out, raking my brain for any signs that I'd somehow missed the transition where he started hating me. What was the matter with me? Why would I fall for my captor like this?

"I did, little one. But I've changed my mind. I can't stand the thought of fathering a child that comes from your inferior womb. I have an Alpha's daughter here. We will mate, and I will marry her. You, will remain my slave. I'll use and discard you however I see fit.'' His words were like poison. Why did I let him manipulate me?

I felt like my whole word shattered before me. Everything I held dear dissapeared. the clock of invasibility that covered my eyes came undone. Now, I saw him for who he truly was. A monster. A man without a heart. A punishment, from the moongodess. Why would she make him my mate? Why did I have to be so unlucky.

I picked myself up, I held onto the tattered straps of my dress on the shoulder, making sure it didn't come udone. I looked up at Aleron, never had I felt so much pain and betrayal. I it was like he was holding my heart in his hands, and he'd just killed it.

"Besides, after a month of having you, I'm beggining to think you're barren.'' His words cast the piece of venom in my heart. His mocking short laughter, after, sealed the deal. I had come to understand who I was, what I meant to my own mate. "Get out of my sight, slave. And never come in here unless I call for you. You give yourself too much importance and it's ridiculous.''

I turned to him, but he was already busy kissing Lucia. I was completely forgotten. His words, made me walk out of the room like a zombie. I closed the door and run down the stairs like I was on fire. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry.

I touched my stomach, fearing for the life that my baby would live. My mate had rejected the idea of us being bound. He was disgusted by me. How could I live with myself.

When I entered my room, that night, I collected the little possesion I had. I whipped them up in a tiny bedsheet and I turned.

"Clara, what are you doing, and how did you get out of your chains?'' Ivyonne entered the room with a hot plate of food meant for me. I stared at her. I thought about lying. There was a stand off moment between us where she blocked the exit.

"Ivyonne, listen to me, I believe you and I have been friends since I came here. You have cared for me. Helped take care of me. I love you. but, I'm pregnant.'' Her eyes go wide, she touches my stomach.

"Are you sure?'' I shake my head, fighting the tears.

"More sure about this than anything. But, listen, I can't let my child be raised by that monster. You know him, you've been here longer than I. Aleron would ruin my child. He is selfish, cruel and too powerful, I can't fight him and i certainly can't protect my baby against him...not when I'm here.'' She followed my eyes, she hesitated.

She took my hand, looking me dead in the eyes. "Clara, what are you saying?''

"I'm running away.'' My declaration seemed to be what shattered the bond we had mad together. She blocked the door way when I tried to leave. "Ivyonne, please. Today out of all days is the best. I can sleep through the back doors while the guards are overwhelmed with the pack ceremony and Lunar Moon celebrations. No one will ever know that you let me go.''

"Clara NO!'' Her tone was firm. "The king would kill not jsut me, but my family. I understand your afflictions, but I am loyal to Lycan King Aleron, i cannot betray him like this.''

There was a standoff between us. I could tell she was ready to tackle me, but she was my friend. And i didn't want to fight because of the safety of my baby.

But when I stepped foward, and Ivyonne pushed me back aggressively, I almost fell on my butt. I looked up at her. "I'm sorry, but I can let you leave.'' She turned to close the door as I jolted foward. I wasn't sure where I got the strength, or the speed, but I gripped the bars of the door before booting it backward, making Ivyonne fly back and hit the wall in an agressive force.

I picked up my belongings, I stepped out. I looked down at Ivyonne, laying unconsious.

"I'm sorry, Ivyonne. But I have to do this for my baby.''

Then I turned on my heel and I run. I ran, like I'd never ran before.