leave anytime
918 Words
Bella POV
"You don't seem happy to find your mate." The man declared and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at that.
I looked at him and felt something cold settle in my chest.
Happy? What was I supposed to be happy about? Finding yet another tormentor?
"You should have left me in that river to die." I said quietly.
I was determined to end it all. Why save me then the moon goddess decides to play a joke on me?
The man didn't get offended by my words.
He didn't even rush to fill the silence with words.
He just watched me with those steady eyes and said nothing.
That bothered me more than anything else could have.
"I already have a mate." I continued, my voice hardening.
“ No, I had one.” I corrected myself.
“He rejected me, tortured me, then threw me out like garbage. So forgive me if I don't fall at your feet because the moon Goddess decided to try again." I snapped, each word aimed to dismantle whatever fantasy he would harbour of us being together. That was the last thing that I wanted… a matebond.
Something shifted in his expression. It was not pity…I would have shut down immediately if it were pity.
"And yet here you are." He said finally.
"Here I am." I agreed bitterly. "Alive and against my better judgment."
My wolf stirred again for the second time, calling out for her mate and pressing against the walls I had built around her. I pushed her back without mercy.
She didn't get a vote. Not anymore, not after abandoning me when I needed her the most.
The man before me unfolded his arms and took one slow step forward.
“ I don't care about your past. You are my mate now and that's a truth you can't erase.” He declared.
I stared at him like he had grown a second head.
"Good for you." I replied flatly. "I care about my past and that's why I sought my own death.” I snapped.
“ You tried to take your own life?” He asked and I swear I noticed his hands clenching into fists.
I looked away, unable to admit that out loud despite having confessed not long after.
He pulled the chair beside the bed and sat down, like we were about to have a normal conversation. Like I hadn't just told him I wanted to die.
"I don't know what happened to you but you are safe here." He said simply.
"You keep saying things you expect me to find comforting." I replied. "It's not working."
"I know." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "But I'll keep saying them anyway."
I looked away from him, fixing my gaze on the ceiling. It was easier than looking at his face and those eyes that refused to carry any of the hatred I was accustomed to.
I could tell from his aura that he was an Alpha so why was he being so nice and warm to me?
He was nothing compared to Hunter.
"Being alive is not a punishment." He said quietly. "Some people would give everything to have what you are throwing away." He added.
That triggered me.
“ What am I throwing away? A life that has been ruined? A body that has been tainted and a fate worse than death?” I snapped.
What did he know about me? What gave him the right to make such comments about my life?
“ You have no right to tell me how to live my f*****g life.” I spat in anger.
“ I don't but I am doing it anyway.” He said flatly.
Something in his tone made me look at him again.
There was something beneath his words. Something personal and heavy that he was not saying out loud.
And his eyes… they held pain?
But for what?
"Its easy to say when your life is worth living." I muttered.
‘Mate is sad. Your words are harsh.” My wolf — Luna — chose that moment to reprimand me.
'You abandoned me.' I shot back internally. 'You don't get to have opinions.'
She whimpered and retreated and I ignored the guilt that followed.
"What do you know about my life?" He asked, his voice still even but something flickered behind his eyes.
"I know nothing." I admitted. "And I don't want to." I added.
Getting entangled with another mate and learning about their life? That was no plan for me.
After what Hunter put me through, I'd be stupid to fall for another matebond scam.
"That’s fair enough." He stood up. "But you are in my territory, in my pack house, in my bed." He said it without arrogance, just fact. "So whether you want a mate or not, you are stuck with me for now.” He declared with finality.
I opened my mouth to fire back.
“ I won't force you to stay here but you can't leave yet. You are still injured and need to rest.” He added.
“ I don't need your charity.” I snapped angrily.
Who did he think he was to dictate what I did and when I did it?
“ Okay. Then you can leave anytime. Just be aware that once you step from my territory, you'll have to deal with rogues.” He reminded me before walking out, the door clicking shut behind me.
- Writer
