Hated by her Alpha mate

The contract

Rachel was looking out of the window of her room that overlooked the garden. The view was beautiful, but she couldn't enjoy it with so many things going on in her head. Grace was absolutely devastated by their last encounter with their mate. She just went into a slumber to not go through the agony. She vowed only to return when their mate accepts them.

What is going on with him?!! Why doesn't he want a mate?! Does he hate me that much? I don't remember hurting him in any way. Yet, he hurt me and humiliated me. The only person I ever expected to treat me fairly was my mate, and he turned out to be like that. I must be truly cursed.

Her eyes were puffy from all the sobbing. It was becoming too painful for her to be in the same house as her mate, but unable to actually be with him.

I don't have a choice but to wait and hope for him to accept me someday. He is still my mate, and I can't deny my feelings for him.

She got absorbed in her thoughts and dozed off eventually.

It has been three days since Rachel arrived at Ramirez's house. Albus, Avery, and Alfred spent their days at work and saw each other only for dinners. Rachel was bored and had nothing much to do. When compared to her busy days at the Carter house, she had too much time on her hands now. She had already finished reading a couple of books. Even at dinners, it was usually silent apart from Avery's random questions sporadically. Alfred had been completely ignoring her, and she didn't try to bother him either. She still felt awkward about their first kiss and didn't want a repetition of that episode. It definitely hurt her, but what else could she do?

After dinner, while Rachel was going up the stairs, Alfred appeared from behind.

"We need to talk." Rachel jumped in surprise.

"Come to my study in 10 minutes," he commanded, as he walked away. Rachel didn't know what to expect. She felt hopeful and wondered if he was trying to revamp their relationship.

The door to Alfred's study was ajar and Rachel entered. Alfred was standing by the window with a set of papers in his hand.

"Here." Handing over the papers he said, "You need to sign them, of course, after going through them."

"What are these?"

"A contract that you need to abide by until you become the Luna."

"Luna?" She felt elevated after hearing it coming from Alfred. Has he finally accepted me?

She started going through the pages and all her enthusiasm vanished.

"What nonsense is this?" she asked seriously with as much calmness as she could gather.

"Which part particularly?"

"All of it!" She started reading the contents of the papers aloud. "The mating will happen on the first month of Alpha's crowning. Until the event, the concerned individuals will stay apart and will not interfere with each other's private lives?!"

Alfred replied to that casually. "Some boundaries are necessary."

"After the Alpha's crowning, the latter party will provide an heir to the Alpha within 2 years. Failure to do so will dismiss her from the position of Luna. The latter party is allowed to stay until the heir turns 3 years of age, after which she will agree to a consensual divorce with the Alpha. Are you kidding me?"

"Don't worry, you'll be compensated handsomely."

"Of course I will be!" And she tore the papers into halves.

"What do you think you are doing?" Alfred glared.

"We are mates, for god's sake! We are supposed to live together and not just put on an act!"

"This is the only way you can be with me."

"Then I don't want to! Why, why don't you just reject me instead?"

"It's complicated. This won't stop even if I reject you."

"I don't f*****g get it! I don't f*****g get your problem."

"Mind your tongue!" roared Alfred.

"Oh, did I offend you, Mr. Ramirez?" she said with all her spite.

Rachel immediately felt a slap on her face. It took Alfred another moment to realize what he had done and immediately regretted it. This was the first time that he had failed to control his anger.

She couldn't believe that he hit her. Her mate, who was supposed to protect her and take care of her, is the one harming her. All the torture she suffered at the hands of the Carters resurfaced and rage charged inside her. Before she could think, her right hand was raised and an inch apart from his face. Alfred caught it with his left hand just before it hit his face.

"How dare you!" he squeezed her hand hard and wrapped his right hand around her neck.

She stared at him. She felt choked. It took all her might to control her tears. Even at the Carter house she always tried not to cry or look weak in front of them. She didn't want to give them the pleasure of accomplishment.

He pulled her closer to him. They glared at each other. Neither averted their eyes. Something aroused inside him. After a few seconds, he pushed her back and released his hold.

"You either agree to the contract or reject me as your mate. Now get out!", he yelled. She said nothing and stormed out of the room.

Rachel slammed her bedroom door and marched in.

This is unbelievable! What mate makes a contract like that? There is not even the slightest doubt that he hates me!

All the tears that she had been holding back flooded out without a warning. She felt her whole body tremble. Her heart was aching, and she felt like she might faint. This was so far from the life that she had imagined with her mate.

No way I will accept that bullshit of a contract! I will reject him. Yes, right, I will reject him. I don't need him either. Determined, she wiped her tears and got up from bed. She took a step towards the door.

What happens after I reject him? Will I have to go back to the Carter house?

The thought made her legs lose balance, and she fell back on the bed.

No.. I.. I don't want to go back to that hell again. She sat dazed for a moment.

I can't reject him yet. I need to survive this. I need to have a plan. I will escape both him and the Carters and start a new life of my own. But the most important thing I lack right now is - money.

Nobody in this bloody world will ever love me or care about me! It's just me and Grace all alone!