[Elara's POV]
"No, that's not possible..." I said in response, almost instantly, as I watched the sudden shift in him.
"What did you say?" he said, his brows drawing together. A displeasure I could sense flickering on his face, as though a storm was gathering.
The tone he left almost caused my pulse to shoot out for that second.
But what could I have said? He was adamant about this again. He wasn't—he should have just accepted it as I had said. I mean, how could he think he was my mate after I had told him I already had one?
He didn't give me a response, though; the silence he had left only caused my gaze to flee from his sight, knowing little about him and how dangerous he was.
I couldn't also deny the dominating presence he had suddenly left when I said those words. I tried almost softening my voice this time.
"I mean... you can't be my mate. Not when I already have one," I said. But did that really do the trick? I thought that would ease the tension, but it only seemed like I was wrong.
He stood up, taking some further steps as he closed the distance, leaning forward, his gaze dropping to my lips. "Elara..." I heard him say, his tone soft and somehow seemed more dangerous—a feeling I couldn't tell much from.
"I don't want to hear you reject me for a third time."
Those words had only seemed familiar. But of course, I was the one forgetting the circumstances here. He was an Alpha, after all. Proud, dominating, never told "no." Just how could a man like him tolerate rejection? And most especially from someone like me, a nobody, just a weakling of my kind. I remembered it now, just like Rendell.
When I had refused him publicly, he wasted no time in throwing me into the cell, vowing to kill me.
Those memories came flooding right into my mind like a nightmare, broken from it's cage. My eyes swelled, just feeling these thoughts again, and then it trailed down my cheeks—my tears.
"And if I reject you... Will you kill me too?" I said.
This time, I looked up straight, with my gaze meeting his. I shouldn't, what if he gets angry? So many what-ifs, but for the first time, I looked without fear in mind. Without a single caution, my eyes locked onto his, as those tears poured out more, burning hot behind my lashes.
No response, only silence echoed after those words had blurted out of my lips. And then, just in a heartbeat, a click—I watched those startled looks on him, maybe even hurt.
As then he lifted one arm, my eyes flinched, shutting. "He was going to hit me..." I mean, that was what I expected after all from all of them. But I felt something on my cheek, one that caused my eyes to spring open back. His hand was warm on my cheek, broad and gentle, as he wiped those tears with the edge of his thumb.
"Why..." I thought.
He didn't say anything still, just turned towards the door, but just then, before he walked out, he paused suddenly. His voice was softer this time, almost like a whisper.
"I am going to find out the truth."
Those were the final words he had said as I watched him make his way out of the room. I found myself back in it, the silence.
But what truth would that be? Was he talking about the people who had attacked me or just the truth about who my mate was?
He had withdrawn himself. He didn't hit me. Didn't harm me in any way, even though I had rejected him countless times.
I shouldn't be judging from that. "No... I just can't..." I still can't trust him. I shouldn't allow myself to do that.
All I wanted was peace, but even now, my past traumas had come hunting me over non-stop in my dreams. Why do I have to see him, Rendell, each time?
I tried resting my head back, feeling the slight ache that still remained there.
I had tried escaping but only found myself back in this very same town, the same as the first time I had tried also; I was stopped halfway.
Should I have just called this a coincidence? Or a sign that I wasn't able to escape from this cage I had found myself in?
There was it with Rendell coming to get me soon, Kieran, the elders, and this mate stuff.
They all felt like a burden weighing on me by the seconds. Should I have really survived my death? Wasn't that my simple escape from all this torture?
Some time passed by before I eventually stood up from the bed, managing a few steps to the window side.
I caught sight of two men stationed outside my room door. From their appearance, I was able to tell they were Kieran's soldiers.
A side of me had really hoped I would be able to leave this confined room, but I ended up wrong.
This was nothing more than another cage, wasn't it?
But even if fate doesn't want it, I have to. Even if I keep on finding myself back where I had left, I shouldn't give up. I deserved every right to my own happiness—to live my life without a single shackle holding me down. That was what I kept longing so much for.
And I wouldn't stop until I had that. Until I escape from this town. I can't stop now.
"But what of the danger?" Those mere whispers seemed to crush the little hope I was trying my best to spur back up.
The dangers were surely there. I ended up being attacked when trying to flee. What if the same happened if I tried escaping again? And maybe this time, I didn't make it.
Those black wolves, a side of me trembled at the thought that they could still be out there. They didn't seem like the type who wanted me dead, so I could only hope they had planned something far worse than that for me.
The mystery was also there—that I knew nothing about them and who sent them.
Could it just be that my only chance of saving myself right now was to get stronger?