Her Mates

Chapter 7

Ella's pov

Death!!!

The crowd chanted, but was silenced by the sudden loud chuckle that filled the hall.

“I’m sorry, I had to let it out.” The intruder chuckled hard. “You all really believe this weak human killed a powerful Alpha?” He responded. “That’s too much credit to her.”

My stomach clenched in humiliation at his words. Weak? Even at death’s door, I was still being mocked.

“It’s an insult, a shame to the dead.” The stranger said coldly, his voice hardening with every word. “To suggest he could be killed by a mere wench is to call yourselves fools. But I am sure, no son of Alpha Alaric, is a fool. So Alpha Derek…” he goaded this time. “Did this wench really kill your honourable Father?”

“Fool?” Derek spluttered in shock.

“And I believe it’s none of your business Mutt.” Luna Amelia, who has been standing with an expressionless face, interrupted. “You, including others, are here to bear witness to the justice of my mate’s murderer! Not to offer your opinion. Besides, who are you to judge when her own sister witnessed it?”

“It’s true!” Maria cried. It took all my retrain not to scream at her.

“I asked the Alpha a question,” the stranger said, looking pointedly at Derek, whose nose creased in anger. “Do you allow people to speak for you? Aren’t you the Alpha?”

“I … well… she was found at …” Derek's jaws tightened as he stammered in anger. I guess being called foolish by another man distorts his ability to speak.

Before Derek could answer, a growl tore through the air. “Who do you think you’re asking these nonsense questions? Wasting our time! Calling us fools! How dare you?” The Nightshade Alpha sneered.

The Nightshade Alpha's next reaction made a gasp of surprise slip from my lips, as he lunged at the stranger like an agile cat, claws bared with every intention to kill. Before he could reach the stranger. The stranger caught his throat mid-air, snapped his neck and ripped his guts out in one clean brutal move. Without losing his stance or composure, the stranger tossed the Alpha's lifeless body against the wall.

“I dare, because I am the Lycan king.”

The stranger declared in a voice that dripped with authority, before tossing the body against the wall like it weighed nothing.

Lycan Liam. The beast. Why was he here?

Fear shot down my spine, as Derek and the other Alphas scrambled to bow, their voices trembling. “We apologise for the disrespect, Lycan Liam.” They chorused. “We never would have dared to question your orders, if we had known it was you.”

Lycan Liam waved them off dismissively and gestured towards the lifeless body. “Someone take out the trash, and clean the floor.” He ordered the frightened Alphas, mumbling as he pulled out a pocket towel, wiping his hand and his boot. “Damn it. I hate getting my boots dirty. Why can't grown up men learn to be quiet, see what he made me do?”

Deafening silence filled the hall again, as men rushed to do his bidding. “Now does anyone object to my orders to release the girl?” He smirked, at the frightened Alphas. “I’m open to meaningful suggestions.”

But they merely shook their heads ‘NO’

“Since that’s settled, I want to buy the girl. As my s*x slave.” He declared, his lips curved into a slow predatory smile, his gaze fixed on my body making my skin crawl. “I have always loved an extra pound of flesh to dig my hands into, while I’m being pleasured. It’d be unwise to watch a gorgeous, warm body, made to please a man go to waste, isn't that right gentlemen?”

My hope shattered, the beast wasn't here to save me. He was here for my soul.

Everyone has heard of the deadly fate that befalls any woman who shared Lycan Liam’s bed, women found dead after a night in his bed, they were brutally killed.

NO! NO! NO!

I shifted my gaze to Derek, to the Aphas, silently pleading, begging him not to give approval as he mumbled to Luna Amelia. “But…. That’s … that’s my mate.”

Luna Amelia immediately hushed him, flashing me a cruel smile as she spoke. “No! That murderer isn’t your mate, Maria is, remember that. Selling her to the beast is doing us all a favour. She won’t last the night with him, that way we won't stain our hands with her filthy blood.”

Derek stood transfixed, before turning to address Lycan Liam. “Very well, Lycan Liam. You can have her in exchange for the land at Oceanville."

The man I had given years of my life to just sold me without blinking.

“Deal.”

My world shattered, and I screamed, tugging at the chain in horror. “Please…kill me yourself. Don’t hand me to him. Please.”

My pleas fell on deaf ears. “You ungrateful vermin!” The head warrior slapped me hard, and pain radiated all over my face. “You should be grateful our benevolent Alpha is showing you mercy. b***h!”

“Is there anything else we can do for you, Lycan Liam?” Derek asked, this time his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't describe. Sadness?

A wicked smirk played on Lycan Liam’s lips. “I believe there’s more.” He responded, pointing to the head warrior’s direction. “That man touched what’s mine. Do well to ensure he has no more use for his hands.”

The warrior flinched, a visible tremor running through him. The pure undisputed fear in his eyes satisfied me, and I felt the urge to laugh, but caught myself.

Lycan Liam strolled to me, and stilled as an afterthought he swiveled to face the trembling Alphas. “And believe me, Alpha Derek. If you, in any way, disobey my orders… Trust me, you do not want to cross me.”

He then used the axe to break the chains holding me to the stone, before yanking me to my

feet, locking his cold eyes on mine, and whispered.

“I own you now.”