Chapter 3

• Claire's POV
• "What have you done?!" I wailed, dropping to my knees and pulling Jayden's lifeless body to me.
• He shrugged nonchalantly, "He had to go. You cared too much about him."
• My best friend, almost mate just died in front of me, my so-called mate killed him and he was being nonchalant! The fury burned deeply within me. Something came over me and in the blink of an eye, I was in front of him.
• He didn't bat an eye at my angry state. He looked like he expected it as stared at me, waiting for my outburst.
• I glared with as much hate as I could muster, not breaking eye contact. "Do you plan on killing everyone I care about."
• His callous hand pushed a stray strand away from my face. "If they try to get in the way, yes."
• "I'll never love you."
• His hand dropped as he laughed, a full belly laugh "You are quite arrogant, aren't you? I don't want your love. I need you by my side."
• I was a little embarrassed and slightly hurt but managed to utter, "Why is that?"
• "Come with me and you'll find out."
• I held my ground. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
• He hummed, his eyes turning to my mother. "Your mother looks pretty shaken up, how about I finish her up?" He gave his ugly, evil smirk. I just wished they didn't turn my inside into bubbles.
• My eyes narrowed, "You wouldn't dare."
• My mother fainted already, not being able to take any more of this and frankly, neither could I.
• He looked like he'd had enough as he rolled his eyes, pulling me in a tight grip. "Don't try to test me, Kitten. You won't like me if you do."
• "I already don't. You just killed my best friend." I couldn't look over at Jayden again, the sight had my heart aching.
• He frowned. "I'm sorry."
• Was he actually apologizing?
• "I wish I could bring him back, torture him before killing him."
• I could not believe my ears. "You are insane!"
• He got up in my face, enunciating every word. "He got close to you, touched you in ways I could only dream of..
• I spat. "You truly are a beast."
• He leaned back, beaming like I offered a compliment and it seemed I did. "And here I thought you didn't know about me. I was wondering how I'd introduce myself."
• With a huge grin, he began, "I'm Darien, Alpha of the….
• I cut him off, knowing exactly who he was. " I know who you are."
• I couldn't possibly be by his side. That would go against everything I planned and believed for the past eighteen years.
• "I'll just reject you…
• He laughed. He laughed cynically like a maniac. " If it was that easy you wouldn't be here trying to sever the bond. We are mates for a reason, one that I don't care for. I just want pups and you are the only one who can give them to me."
• My brows dropped in confusion. "What do you mean?"
• He rolled his eyes for the third time already. My cheeks turned hot as I felt stupid and embarrassed. I knew I wasn't the sharpest tool in the box if my grades were anything to go by.
• "Seeing as you know so much about the prophecy, you must know what I am."
• "An abomination." The words echoed in my head or so I thought.
• His eyes darkened even more and it was his turn to glare harshly.
• It frightened me. It was a contrast from his arrogant, sinister self. He was getting angry. At me. Fear sat deep in my stomach and I subconsciously took a few steps back.
• The whispering began again from the crowd.
• "Did she just say that?"
• "She called him an abomination."
• "She's so dead."
• He walked into the crowd. I wasn't sure what happened but a couple of heads dropped. I couldn't scream, no one could. You could just be next. The stench of urine filled the air. Someone had peed themselves. For my sake, I hoped it wasn't me.
• "Wrong choice of words, Darling." He smirked, walking up to me.
• The tension left my shoulders. He wasn't mad, at least not at me.
• He picked up the ancient box, checking for something. "Seeing as I'm a hybrid, I can only get my mate pregnant."
• I stared blankly. I wasn't sure where he was going and something told me I wouldn't like it and it was right.
• I didn't. Not one bit
• "That's where you come in, Kitten. All I need is nine months and then you are free to go. I just need to continue my legacy."
• I had to admit, his words hurt a lot. He didn't want me, he just needed me to make his offspring. I was only a breeding machine for him, he'll never see me as more than that.
• Not letting him see how much his words affected me, I took a different approach and planned to hurt him instead.
• "You are as crazy as they claim."
• He shrugged. "I guess so. I've been told that a lot, it doesn't bother me."
• Seeing as I wasn't getting to him, I decided to drop it. "Forget it. I'm not doing this. I'm not going to your pack to have your pups."
• He walked in front of me, his face all up in mine. "Sweetheart, you don't have a choice." I dropped his hands from my chin instantly like he burned me but it was the opposite. I couldn't handle the spark that came with his touch.
• "I will not be coerced into something I don't want to do!"
• With my tiny frame, I doubt I did as much damage as I planned. His six-foot-four-inch self gave me a one-over. I never felt more inferior than I did at that moment. I was nothing and he knew it. I knew then that I had no choice. I was going to mate with him even if I didn't want to.
• "My daughter is not going anywhere!"
• A loud voice echoed in the hall. "You are not taking my daughter with you!"
• It was Father.
• He took a couple of steps forward and pushed me behind him. An act that had Darien narrowing his eyes at us. My heart pumped loudly in my chest and fear started to pool in. I was scared, for my father.
• "Just who do you think you are to stop me?"
• Father still held my hand, pushing me behind him, an act we all knew would be futile if Darien made a move. "She's the best thing to happen to me and I won't let you hurt her."
• "I'm not going to hurt my mate. She doesn't want to be with me as much as I don't want to be with her. I just want pups and she's the only one who can give them to me."
• He was getting frustrated with the endless bickering judging from how he pinched the bridge of his nose. He could have all our heads in seconds if he wanted to.
• "You are going to hurt my daughter." Mother had finally come to and was standing up for me. A big mistake as Darien growled at her causing her to fall back to the ground with a whimper.
• I pulled away from Father, walking over to my mate and taking his arm, begging him with my eyes not to hurt my mother.
• He sighed. "You can have her back in nine months when she gives me an heir."
• Mother crawled over to Father who had gone quiet. He was seriously contemplating the situation.
• Father bowed his head in defeat. "Nine months and no more."
• Mother gasped and began wailing as the words left Father's lips. It was over, I was going to bear the beast a child.
• "What about the prophecy?" I knew my words would fall on deaf ears but I had to.
• Father responded. "It's all safe as long as you don't get marked or intend to be together.
• "I'm not doing this." I stomped my foot like a child. Maybe if he saw how childish I was, he'd relent, a pitiful thought.
• "You are and you will. Think of it as saving everyone. You do this and you are free. Free from him and if you'd like you can pick a mate again." Father tried comforting me but it didn't work.
• I knew that wasn't true. I could never have a mate again. Not with everything that just happened. Everyone feared the beast and no one would want to take what was his, even leftovers.
• I was never returning and deep down, I think everyone else knew too but we remained in denial, believing in the beast's words.
• ***
• Immediately we walked into the pack house, he pulled me by the arm. "Welcome to hell, Darling."
• I tried to pull away from him, giving him a piece of my mind now that he had no leverage over my head. "Firstly, stop with the pet name-calling. It doesn't go well with your image."
• He pulled me closer, we were breathing the same air now as he held my eyes in his icy orbs. "My image? And what just might that be?"
• I responded with a shaky breath. "You know, arrogant, mean, insufferable."
• He took a deep breath, his head touching mine."Is that all?" His hand wound around the small of my back.
• His actions sent a pool of wetness between my legs. I knew he could sense my arousal, anyone for miles could. It was turning into an ocean as he pushed me into him.
• "Rude, ruthless, evil?" I stated breathlessly, nearly giving in to my desire.
• "Rude? I've been nothing but polite since we met." His lips were inches from mine. My eyes closed subconsciously as I waited for his lips to meet mine.
• A couple of seconds and the expected fireworks had yet to come. My eyes flutter open to meet a smirk graciously on his lips.
• "If I was rude I'd take you here and now, even with the pack members gaping at us."
• Pack members?
• Slowly, I turned to find several eyes gawking at us. I pushed him away instantly, adjusting my not-so-messy auburn hair and nude, strapless maxi dress. My toes danced in my flip flops, anything to get over the awkward moment.
• "Everyone, this is my mate, Claire. Treat her the same way you'd treat me, with respect." I watched a different aura wrap around him, the same way it did with my father except he was more powerful. "Her orders hold the same power as mine."
• No one said a word. The room fell dead silent before the clapping started. A bunch of wolves walked up to me, congratulating me and wishing me happiness. I returned their heartfelt wishes with a forced smile.
• He whispered in my ears, "I'll show you to our room."
• Our room.
• The wheels spun in my head as I recalled the exact reason why I was there. I was here to mate with my mate! No romance, foreplay, just plain sex.
• He wouldn't force me if I didn't want to, right? He'd let me settle in, get used to being here, and having him around before shoving his shaft down my hole.
• I snickered at the silly thought, this was the Beast we were talking about and he didn't care about how I felt and had any emotions whatsoever. He'd take what he wanted even if it meant hurting me in the process, that's who he was, a Beast.
• I paused in my tracks. "I want a room of my own."
• "What are you talking about? How would that make me look? My mate sleeping in a different room from mine."
• I tried to reason with him. "I'm sure they wouldn't think too much of it. I'm still getting to know you. It's normal, all wolves take time getting to know themselves before moving to the next phase."
• I thought I had the perfect counterattack, I really did.
• "We aren't other wolves, we are cursed."