Chapter 6

Pain. That's what it felt like to meet my fated mate and for the first words he would say to me to be a rejection. Though he never finished his sentence because he left, I understood it for what it was, a rejection. And the blow was suffocating as it was heartbreaking. My life has been a nightmare and I had always believed that finding my mate would be a turning point somehow… but instead it was met with even more despair and horror. Tears fell from my eyes before I could understand what was happening and I found myself curling up in the corner, shaking and crying uncontrollably. Even Molly is eerily silent. ‘Molly? Molly, please.' I begged, seeking comfort and reassurance. She refuses to respond, nursing her own broken heart. For she was rejected too. And the pain of our mate's rejection gnawed at us, an agonizing pain that neither of us had the strength or the will to fight. Hours go by and I am taken from the interrogation room by silent guards that surprisingly didn't mistreat me. I expected the worst. I expected them to treat me the way I have always been treated but surpassingly, they wordlessly bring me back to my cold, damp and lifeless cell that mirrored my existence. They continue to surprise me by giving me food and water at regular intervals while never laying a land on me. As pitiful as it sounds, this is the best treatment I've ever had in my life at least compared to how it was in the Blood Moon Pack. Here, I was able to eat until I was truly full. I was able to drink as much water as I am able without anyone stopping me. How ironic that the best I've ever been treated is in a pack's dungeon. I was even given a comfortable mattress to lay down on and as the hours went on, I battled with my emotions of abandonment… or rejection but also of the fact that I was incredibly comfortable for the first time. Just before another day went by, footsteps echoed through the quiet halls, my cell apparently separate from all the rest. I didn't bother to lift my head up, feeling nothing for the first time. The man that interrogated me opens the cell door. "Stand." His deep voice commands, cutting through the aching silence. Shivering and trembling, I obeyed, getting up with shaky legs and following him. My body shook uncontrollably, trying to understand what was going to happen next. Was I going to die? Was he taking me to my execution? My heart pounded against my ribs, a dull but familiar throb of fear and despair mixing with defeat. The long hallway that we walked felt endless, making my mind spiral with thoughts that I couldn't control. Would he kill me himself? Would it be swift and painful or will they make me suffer? Or worse… does he plan to do more to be before that? Would he touch me like Blake did? I had barely escaped one hell— I truly didn't have the mental capacity to take even more humiliation before I died. Strangely, the man leads me out of the dungeon. Did the Aloha want a public execution instead? Did my own mate want to do it in front of everyone? I let out a shaky breath. Fine: Maybe death was a form of release. At least this way, we wouldn't have to suffer anymore. ‘Molly,' I whispered softly, defeatedly. ‘We tried our best to escape. Maybe this is just our fate. I'm sorry.' But she doesn't respond. There is only silence. I knew she was exhausted as well. ‘I'm sorry, Molly.' I repeated quietly. ‘I'm sorry for our life.' We continued to walk in silence with the moon above us shining down on us. To my surprise, he stops me in front of a heavy wooden door. The man pushed it open, revealing what looked like a storage room— dimly lit and barely furnished and filled with many dusty boxes. But that wasn't all. Because he was there too. My breath caught in my throat when I saw him. Damon. My mate. My beautiful, handsome and strong mate that didn't want me. Damon stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. The glow of the moon cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting the strength of his jaw, the cold calculation in his piercing gaze. He regarded me for a long moment before speaking, his voice void of warmth. "From now on, you will live here as a servant." I stiffened, the weight of his words settling deep in my chest. A servant. My mate was condemning me to servitude— just like my old pack did rather than acknowledging our bond. The rejection wasn't spoken aloud, but it was there, unspoken and suffocating. "Just reject me, please." I whispered, my voice barely above a breath as I lifted my chin and forced myself to meet his gaze. "Make it official. Put an end to this painful bond. Release me from this." His eyes darkened, a flicker of something dangerous flashing across his face, hinting of the monster… of the powerful beast lurking beneath the surface. Before I could react, he moved. In an instant, his hand was around my throat, pinning me against the wooden shelves behind me. My pulse roared in my ears, my hands flying to his wrist, but his grip was firm, unyielding… and warm. A mate's touch. Cruel yet comforting at the same time. "You have no say in this," He hissed, his voice low and lethal and final, cutting through the air with every word spoken. "You will obey! Rogue!" The disgust in his eyes made me freeze and gasp. No… He didn't understand and he can never understand.