A mate for the beast

Chapter 05: Mate.

/-Sabrina-/

'You are just trash, the Prince's walking hole.'

'A c*m bucket, a slave.'

'Strip her!'

'The sight of your face disgusts me.'

'A filthy whore.'

'Throw her in.'

“No!!!”

A loud, piercing shriek erupted from my throat as I jolted awake, panting. My heart rammed against my ribcage painfully, making breathing difficult.

I clutched my heart, breath uneven.

After I came to my senses several seconds later, I stiffened.

“I am alive.” I muttered to myself, unable to wrap my head around my current state.

How come I was alive? Shouldn't I have drowned? Why didn't I die?

That was when I realized that I was not in that ice-cold river, not struggling against the water current or begging to be spared.

The most shocking thing was that all my wounds had miraculously healed. Disbelief crept into my heart, but soon, I calmed down.

Actually, I would rather drown or die from my injuries than remain alive.

My gaze swept across the room, taking in the luxury and opulence decorations. From the golden quilts that covered my body and providing warmth, to the brown drapes and polished walls, everything was unfamiliar.

Was I in the Prime minister's mansion? I could not tell.

But the thought made me grit my teeth.

Death was better, than going back to that life of being a w***e.

With that thought in mind, I stepped down from the comfort of the small bed, and tiptoed out of the room.

Pressing my ear against the door, my ear picked on the voices of someone speaking.

Women, whispering in hushed tones.

“He brought in a woman this morning.”

“Yes, and that's rare.”

“She was bloodied and seemed half-dead. Fragile, I could tell.”

“Fragile? Do you mean…"

“If that's the case, then she probably will not last long.”

“He would kill her before we know it.”

Listening to them, I needed no one to tell me who they were talking about, and a ghastly pallor spread across my face.

I knew it. The person who brought me here was just another lascivious man like the Second Prince.

Gradually, their voices began to fade, and I snuck out of the room and towards the hallway.

Much to my luck, I met nobody on the way and I ventured into the deep forest outside the enormous mansion without any hindrance.

Carefully and cautiously, I pressed forward.

Until, I heard it. Footsteps.

It was not one, but many, and I quickly raised my guards while increasing my pace.

Then, I paused.

Right ahead of me, four bulky men stood blocking my path. I turned around to see more men trotting forward behind me.

In no time, I was surrounded tightly.

“Luck is on our side today, the prey walked straight into our trap.” One of them leered, as they approached me.

Their massive figures looming over my head.

I took a shaky step back, voice quivering, “W…Who are you? You've got the wrong person.”

Another one chortled, “Got the wrong person? You are exactly who we are looking for.”

“Who would have thought that the King would bring a woman to his private mansion?”

“If we take her with us, the Leader will definitely reward us.”

Together, they let out a wild laugh that had me scared witless. My legs trembled under me, threatening to give in.

My mind spun, the King? Who was this 'King'? Was he the one who saved me? Or, the one who brought me here to use me again?

“Take her.”

A chill ran down my spine as one of them lunged forward.

“No, stay away from me.”

I tried to dodge and run, but I was yanked back by another one, who swiftly took hold of my arms, nails digging into my flesh.

“Let go of me! I'm not the one you are looking for.” I cried, trying to struggle.

Then, another took my other arm, rendering me unable to make any struggle.

“Stop struggling, no one can save you.” Another sneered, as they began to drag me away.

Then, a loud growl suddenly cut through the air like blade.

“You dare!”

The men holding me stiffened, and I watched as their faces changed drastically.

The one holding me stammered, “The K…"

He was unable to finish his sentence when a pointed branch was suddenly thrown at him.

Before he could react, his chest was penetrated by the branch and my mouth went agape.

“It is the King!” One of them was finally able to say.

At that moment, the other man holding me shoved me to the ground, and they all took on a defensive stance, staring into a direction.

Then, I saw him.

A tall man, donned in a black robe.

For once, my breath hitched. I had never seen such a handsome face before in my entire life, it was as though he was some god, banished into this world.

Then, my heart raced, beating wildly against my chest.

Just as I was in a state of shock, the tall man moved with an abnormal speed, and before I knew it. He arrived in front of the man closest to him, holding his neck in a chokehold.

“I have warned you,” His deep voice echoed in the silence of the woods. “Touch what's mine and…lose your life.”

A sickening snap, and the man dropped dead.

But, that was not over.

One by one, the men started changing. From muscular men, to beasts that stood at an alarming height.

My breath ceased.

W…what is going on? Virekans?

The tall man let out a deep growl, then his body started changing as well.

That familiar aura.

The familiar red eyes.

He was taller, massive even.

Then, he flung the others away like without mercy, eliminating them one by one, until I remained the only one left.

The beast approached slowly, his muscular paws barely making a sound against the ground.

That was when I heard it, in my head.

'Mate.'

I parted my lips, trying to beg for mercy when a peculiar heat erupted from my chest, spreading to my neck and rushing to my brain.

“Mate!” I uttered, then paused.

My voice…

In shock, I tried to reach for my throat when I noticed an even more shocking thing.

At the speed visible to the eyes, my hands were changing.

From the usual white and rough skin, to a brown and furry one.

My pupils dilated, and I hurriedly retreated as though the hands were not mine, “Claws? What in god's name is this?”