Chosen By Fate, Rejected By Hate

Chapter 22

Mavi Pov

I woke up inside a room that felt strangely familiar. If I was not mistaken, I was in Alex’s house. I remembered clearly that this was where Alpha Magnus had brought me after saving us from the men who tried to harm us.

Memories of what happened during that blind date came rushing back, and anger swelled in my chest. I never thought Ben would be capable of such cruelty. If Alpha Magnus had not arrived when he did, I shuddered to think what he would have done to me. Even so, a deep sense of gratitude rose within me. No matter how much hurt he had caused me before, he had saved me when I needed it most.

I pushed myself up from the bed to leave, but the moment I stood, the room spun around me. I sank back down to the edge of the bed, waiting for the dizziness to pass. Just then, the door opened. Alpha Magnus stepped inside, followed closely by Lotlot. My friend rushed to my side and wrapped her arms around me tightly.

"Mavi, I am so sorry," Lotlot said, her voice trembling as she pulled back. "I never imagined those men would be so shameless. I told my mother everything the moment we got home. She was furious. She has already ended her friendship with Ted’s mother completely."

"Next time you agree to meet someone, be certain of who they really are," Alpha Magnus spoke, his voice firm and heavy with warning. "What if Alex and I had not been there? What if we had simply looked the other way? They would have taken advantage of both of you, and no one would have been there to stop them."

I kept my silence. I knew he was right. Even Lotlot did not dare answer back. We had trusted the wrong people, and we were lucky we had escaped with nothing more than fear and shock.

"I suppose Lotlot will not be going on blind dates with strangers anymore, will she?" Alex’s voice drifted in from the doorway.

Lotlot shot him a sharp look, her brows drawing together.

"Why do you care?" she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Do not worry. Next time, I will make sure whoever I meet is decent and kind."

"So you are saying you still plan to go on more blind dates?" Alex asked, confusion mixing with irritation on his face.

"Of course I will," Lotlot answered without hesitation. I knew she was only trying to provoke him. I knew my friend well enough to know she never liked meeting strangers this way. If her mother had not asked her to go, she would never have agreed to it in the first place.

While they continued to bicker, I sat quietly on the bed, aware only of Alpha Magnus’ gaze fixed intently on me. My heart hammered against my ribs. He looked at me as if he had so much to say but could not find the words. If he had not thrown me out of his house, I might have let myself believe he missed me and wanted me back.

"What is it to you anyway?" Lotlot glared at Alex, who was clearly struggling to keep his temper in check.

"What if Ted had succeeded in hurting you? Would you still be able to show your face to anyone?"

"And what if he had?" Lotlot shot back, lifting her chin high. "I am no longer innocent anyway. You already took that from me, remember? And all it takes is one shower to wash away every trace of anyone’s touch."

My face burned with shame hearing her speak like that. It felt as if she was treating something terrible as if it meant nothing at all.

"Is that so?" Alex stepped toward her. Without another word, he swept her up into his arms and turned toward the door.

"Put me down! Where are you taking me?" Lotlot shouted, kicking her feet in the air.

"Where else?" Alex replied with a dark, twisted smile. "To my room. So I can do exactly what you said. And then you can wash away every trace of me just like you said."

He walked out carrying her, and I could hear Lotlot calling my name and asking for help.

"What will he do to her?" I asked Alpha Magnus nervously.

"Do not worry," he answered calmly. "If Alex ever touches her like that, I know for a fact he intends to marry her. He would never do anything to her."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked doubtfully. "Everyone knows your friend is a playboy. And besides, they have been apart for such a long time."

"Because he has never stopped loving her," Alpha Magnus said simply.

A small smile touched my lips for my friend. Even though Lotlot would never admit it to me, I knew her heart still belonged to him.

"Thank you for saving me again," I said, shifting the subject. "Despite everything that happened between us, I know I would be lost if you had not been there. Where are those two men now? Surely you did not let them go?"

"Let them go?" Alpha Magnus’ expression turned cold and hard. "I told David to make sure they would never harm anyone again. He carried out my orders. They are in the hospital now, and they will not be walking for a very long time."

My eyes widened in shock. He spoke of it as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. The stories about him being ruthless were true. It was no wonder so many feared him.

"I feel much better now. I should go," I said, standing up once more. The dizziness had faded enough to let me walk steadily. I moved toward the door before he could say anything to stop me.

"Mavi, wait!" he called out.

I turned back to look at him. "Is there something else you wanted to say?"

"I think you should come back and live in my house again. So I can keep you safe—"

"Thank you, but I cannot," I interrupted gently but firmly. "If I return there without Moses, I know I will never want to leave. And your chosen mate would be furious to find me there again."

"But Moses needs you—"

"Moses needs both of us safe and happy," I cut him off once more. "Take good care of my son, Alpha Magnus. He is everything to me. I would not survive if anything bad ever happened to him."

He fell silent, staring at me with an expression I could not quite read. When he said nothing more, I turned away and walked downstairs. I found Lotlot sitting on the living room couch, her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

"You are done talking then?" she asked grumpily.

I nodded and gave her a small smile. "I thought Alex was serious about what he said."

"Hmph! That coward only said that to get us out of the room so you two could talk," she muttered.

I laughed softly. "You sound almost disappointed he did not go through with it."

"Stop teasing me," she snapped, though her tone held no real anger toward me. "Let us just get out of here. My blood pressure rises just being in this house."

I could not help but smile as I followed her out.

We spent the rest of the day at her house, neither of us in the mood to speak of what had happened. By the next morning, Lotlot seemed much better, so I did not bring it up again.

I threw myself into my work as Arthur’s personal assistant. For a while, thoughts of Moses and Alpha Magnus faded into the background. It had only been two weeks since I started, but I already knew what to do, and Arthur always praised how I handled my job properly.

"I must be the luckiest man alive," Arthur said with a warm smile one afternoon. "To have an assistant who is not only efficient but also very beautiful."

I laughed and played along. "And I am lucky to have a boss who is handsome and kind. It is only right that his assistant matches him well."

"That is exactly why I like you, Mavi. You know how to take a joke and give one back."

"So you are saying it was only a joke?" I pretended to look hurt. "I am sad now, Boss."

He laughed heartily. "Everything I said is the truth. Every word. By the way, are you ready for tonight?"

"I am ready as I will ever be," I answered. I was to be his date at his godfather’s birthday party. I had not wanted to go at first, since it was not part of my job, but he had given me a lovely dress to wear, and I did not wish to be ungrateful. I had no idea that tonight, I would meet "him" again.