Show Some Respect To My Mate!

••• Arabella’s POV ••• “Here are the documents you need to read and sign, Princess Arabella,” my secretary came into my office with a pile of documents. “And those too.” She pointed to another pile on the table. I started at the documents with my mouth hung open slightly. Due to my absence for the last few days, the documents had piled up nearly as tall as my computer screen… times two! “I won't be able to finish reading and signing them today,” I sighed. “That’s what you get for abandoning your work,” she laughed. I could only smile and shake my head helplessly. I wondered what would happen if I really chose to be the full-time Luna of the Silentmane Canines Pack, just like Max had proposed in the car. I shook my head to clear off the thought. Luna of the Silentmane Canines Pack didn't belong to me. It belonged to Max’s fated mate. “Alright, I’m going to focus now,” I told my secretary, and she left me to do my job. I shouldn't think of taking the position of someone else’s. As I was burying myself at work, suddenly, I heard a commotion, and an angry protest echoed down the hallway. Unable to stand the noises, I went out to check the ruckus. I sneered when I saw Abigail with a box of cake in her hand, trying to walk into my office, ignoring the guards’ attempt to stop her. “Let me in! I’m Bella’s best friend. I’m going to see here!” she kept shouting. “Sorry, miss, but we can't let you in,” the guards tried to stop her. “Bella, I’m sorry. Please forgive me!” she shouted and begged when she saw me. “What is she doing here? How dare she still appear before you!” Iris fumed. “Let her through,” I told the guards calmly, much to their shock. “What are you doing, Ari? You shouldn't trust her to come near you! Who knows what she’s planning to do to you,” Iris yelled. “I know. That’s precisely why I let her in. I want to know what game she is playing,” I told Iris. “Bella…” Abigail called my name with an aggrieved look when she stood before me. “Follow me to my office,” I told her calmly and turned around to go back to my office with her following me. I sat on my chair and asked her, “What do you want?” “Bella, you have to know ever since you said Shawn won't be running for the Alpha King title anymore during the engagement party, he’s turned into a fierce and merciless monster!” she cried. I sneered when I heard it. “What’s that got anything to do with me? You both deserve it.” They wanted to be together, and I let them. It wasn't my fault if Shawn showed his true color now. “Please don't be this cruel, Bella!” she begged. Cruel? I sneered again. How dare she say I was cruel? I had accepted her, an Omega, as my friend and treated her well, only for her to backstab me with my fated mate. Maybe if Shawn weren't my fated mate, it wouldn't be so bad. But he was fated mate, for Goddess’ sake! Fated mates were gifts from the Moon Goddess, and we should cherish them. So how was I cruel just because I declared to everyone that I couldn't help him run for the Alpha King’s title anymore?! Did they think I was a pushover? That I would just stand by quietly and wouldn't retaliate when they tried to humiliate me? She could just keep on dreaming! “Okay, Abigail. If that’s what you want. I can be ‘merciful’ to you and Shawn,” I told her, making her tears stop and a hopeful smile appear on her ugly face. But then I dashed her hopes away as I smirked and added, “Under the condition you give me back Aurora’s necklace.” That necklace was an important part of Aurora, and I wouldn't want this pretentious bitch to have it. I would’ve told Mom and Dad about it if it wouldn't make them sad. Unfortunately, my parents, especially Mom, would still feel sad whenever Aurora was mentioned. Abigail seemed to be embarrassed and replied, “The necklace has been taken by Shawn.” I scoffed. “So you can't give it back to me.” “No, I can,” she said hurriedly. “I can get it back to you. If you really want it, I’ll even risk my life to get it back as long as you can forgive me and Shawn.” For real? Was she being serious? Did she think she could still negotiate with me when it was their fault in the first place? There was something wrong with her brain! “So you’ll give me back the necklace after I help Shawn with the election?” I asked. “Yes,” she nodded profusely. I sneered, knowing I couldn't believe even any of her words. Who knew if Shawn really took away the necklace? Who knew if she would really give me back Aurora’s necklace? Who knew if they wouldn't do anything else to me after I helped them? I would be stupid to believe any of her words now. Even if Abigail delivered her promise, gave me back the necklace, and wouldn't do anything bad to me after that… “Why should I help my ex instead of helping Max, my current mate?” I sneered at her. Max was a better choice to be the next Alpha King than Shawn, who was a scumbag with not many achievements except for being the Alpha of his pack. “How could you choose your chosen mate over us, Bella? Shawn was your fated mate, and I’m your best friend!” she cried again. “Max is my second-chance mate, not my chosen mate,” I pointed out since that was the lie Max and I had told everyone, ignoring the second half of her words. Then, I purposely fiddled with my neckline to show her the mark on my neck. “Impossible!” Abigail’s eyes widened when she saw the mark. “You can't be Max’s fated mate!” I frowned when I heard she still didn't believe me even after I showed her the mark. Why was she so adamant that Max and I weren't fated mates? “Why is it impossible? Can't I have a second-chance mate?” I asked her. “It can't be…” She kept shaking her head in disbelief. “Max can't have a fated mate because… because…” Max? So this was all about Max? And she seemed to know something about Max’s curse… “Because Max is what?” I pressed her to give me the reason why Max couldn't find his mate. “Because Max is a freak!” she uttered. A freak? Did she just say that Max was a freak? Hearing that, I felt anger bubbling inside me. I was so furious, lost control, and was in a frenzy to kill her. I wouldn't let anyone badmouth Max! I jumped from my seat and lunged toward her, curling my hand around her neck, strangling her, and slamming her against the wall with a strength I didn't know I possessed. “Show some respect to my mate!” I snarled to her face. “Bella… Bella…” she whimpered painfully and tried to pry my hand away from her neck, dropping the cake box onto the floor. “Please… Please spare me… Bella…” she kept begging, but I couldn't seem to hear her words clearly. Her pathetic pleas only hurt my ears and heightened my hatred for her. I tightened my hold, pushed her harder against the wall, and kept snarling to her face. “Bella… Please…. Don't kill… me…” she begged with difficulty. Suddenly, hearing the word ‘kill’ and seeing her whole face become red, I recovered my cool. What was I doing… I stared at my hand and Abigail’s red face in horror and quickly let her go. Abigail fell to the floor after I released her, coughed, and gasped for air. I nearly killed her… How… Why… “What happened, Iris?” I asked in confusion and horror. Why did I lose control? Even if Abigail badmouthed Max, I shouldn't have become that furious to the point of killing her. “I don't know, Ari… I don't know…” Iris sounded exasperated as she also didn't know the reason why we lost control. I looked down at my hand that nearly choked Abigail to death and saw it trembling. At that same moment, I froze when I saw blood coming out of the lower part of her body and staining her dress. Abigail held her belly as her body curled and whimpered in pain before she yelled with fear lacing her voice. “Help! Bella is trying to kill my baby!” ————————————— (Author’s note: Thank you to my readers who have read until this far. I hope you like Max and Arra’s story so far. Please help to review Max and Arra’s story on the front page so more people will be interested to read their story. It will be much appreciated. Thank you so much for the support! I love you, my lovely readers *love*… Ps: Abigail won't be a repeat of Sofia even if it looks similar for now *wink*…)