Rivals for Luna's Mate

Chapter 3: Alpha’s Rage

Sienna

Once again, the rain poured down relentlessly, as it had been doing since my arrival. I had asked Axel to give me some space due to his frequent fits of anger. His way of speaking to me was peculiar, almost oddly fair.

But he didn't want me to leave, and so I stayed. This was the longest I had ever been separated from Xavier, and the distance between us seemed immeasurable. Without me, he seemed to lose a significant portion of his power.

When the door to my bedroom creaked open, I was startled, my heart racing, and blood pounding in my ears. I didn't dare turn to see who had entered. My time here felt limited, and it was common for one or two guys to enter at a time.

Axel's voice reverberated off the walls, asking, "Hungry?" My feeble body quivered. I wished to display bravery and suppress my fear. "Would you like to join me for dinner?" he inquired, almost as if he feared my refusal. It was as though he was uncertain about how to proceed. This man couldn't be inexperienced, given the air of confidence he carried, likely having been with numerous girls.

"No," I replied succinctly. Despite his mumbling and growling behind me, I was resolute about staying in this room. Anxiety gnawed at me, and I dreaded what might happen next. For all I knew, dinner might not be the only thing on his mind.

"Please," he implored, rolling his eyes. "I'm not always this pleasant when I ask... The wolf pack is training outside. It'll just be the two of us there..." The prospect of dining with someone so untamed didn't appeal to me, and I certainly didn't want to be alone with him. His intentions remained unclear. I couldn't fathom if he liked me or not, or if he was merely irritated by my presence.

"Just dinner?" I probed, sensing his growing unease by the way he breathed. Part of me considered surrendering, letting him have his way, but fear held me back. I wanted no part in whatever he had in mind.

"Just dinner," he affirmed. Rolling my eyes, I thought, thank goodness he can't see that. Raindrops splattered against the windowpane, creating a misty film.

"No," I repeated, and then his footsteps drew nearer. Swiftly, I pivoted to lean against the window. He halted just inches away, and my heart raced.

"But I just asked! I wanted you to dine with me. I dismissed everyone so we could eat alone. Please join me!" Axel's face flushed red, his voice raised. He appeared incredulous as if he couldn't fathom my refusal, as if he expected me to simply comply.

"And I said no!" At this point, I'd rather go hungry. His arrogance was off-putting; he seemed to believe I should bow before him. I pressed against the window as he inched closer. His anger was spiraling out of control. My mind churned with retorts that could wound him, urging him to leave, to just go, slam the door, and declare, "I'll never, ever be with you! I'd rather work for your entire crew than deal with you!" I knew it wasn't true, and I desperately hoped he wouldn't interpret it as an offer. I noticed his chest puffing up, and in an instant, his eyes glazed over.

He lunged at me with remarkable speed. To evade him, I pushed myself as hard as I could. Yet, with nowhere else to retreat, I found myself tumbling through the open French windows, drenched by the rain.

The fury etched on Axel's face dissipated, replaced by fear.

He acted swiftly, seizing my wrists and yanking me back to safety just in time. A fall from that window would have likely been fatal. Once my feet were firmly on the ground, he released my arms, respecting my prior request not to touch me again.

"Do you really want to end your life like that?" His frustration was palpable; he appeared angered. Despite my yearning to return home, I remained, driven by my desire to aid my people.

"What's wrong with you?" I retorted, my voice edged with frustration. I was on the verge of tears, but I fought to conceal my sadness, not wanting him to see my vulnerability.

"Even if you don't want me as your mate, I'm still your alpha! You'll heed my words whether you like it or not." Axel's voice resonated with anger as he yelled, his face looming close to mine. This was the stance Xavier often took on his own. "Refusal to obey will lead to consequences!"

"I can handle it," I asserted, narrowing my eyes in an attempt to mask the fear that his presence stirred within me. "You're right, Xavier was far from a man. He was a monster. I won't cower before you! I would rather serve your men than have anything to do with you."

"You reject me, think I'm impolite? Allow me to show you what true cruelty is. You want to serve my men?" Axel spat, leaving with disdain in his wake. "Fine then! You'll be confined to that and nothing more!" With those words, he exited and shut the door behind him. I struggled to catch my breath. Did he genuinely want to break me? Not even close. I should have accepted his offer, but maybe I was too stubborn. I approached the door.

So, the dinner is over. Right? I could have an unpleasant dinner and then return here.

I reached for the door to open it.

Unexpectedly, Axel was still present, his face marked with a sense of sorrow. I had thought he had departed already, perhaps to tell his companions that I was now the pack's plaything.

I needed to escape this place as swiftly as possible.

"What would make you release me?" I noticed the bruises on my arms from his accidental grip. He possessed significant power, the extent of which I couldn't gauge. "Why are you so adamant about keeping me here? What is your true intention?"

Axel pivoted and strode down the hallway. "You're my mate, Sienna, and I'll have you, by any means necessary," he declared. He snapped at himself and emitted a growl of frustration. I could empathize with his internal struggle. As I rushed out of the room, I endeavored to match his pace.

I struggled to catch my breath and ached to escape this residence. "I belong to Xavier," I asserted. "His mark is on me." Axel halted abruptly, and in my haste, I bumped into him. I observed his attempt to scrutinize my shoulder without physical contact. I was confident he wouldn't find it. So, it wasn't there.

"I don't see any mark," his voice held a trace of relief, although it shouldn't have; I still bore it, so his reaction was perplexing. It wasn't in the expected spot. "If you're attempting to provoke me with falsehoods, you won't succeed." I raised my shirt slightly above my belly button, revealing half of the mark on my hip for Axel to see, the other half concealed by my jeans.

"Xavier placed it there to keep it hidden," I let my shirt fall back into place, crossing my arms. Axel's fists clenched in anger, and he erupted once again. "We can easily end this, Alpha. Just reject me..." I proposed.

"Never will I," he proclaimed. His expression exuded sincerity but also implied ownership. My body resonated with a mixture of desire and longing.

"But you're free to be with other women if you choose. It doesn't matter whom you select, just release me." The bond we shared, the skin-to-skin connection, was tearing me apart. My body craved more.

"None. While you may bear his mark, mine will be far more conspicuous," he asserted, casting a glance downward before meeting my eyes. A flush spread across my cheeks and a powerful desire urged me to surrender right then and there. It was a struggle to avert my gaze.

"No one will ever doubt your connection to their Alpha," he stated before descending the stairs and vanishing into the rest of the house.