Chapter 3 Three

ASTRID'S POV. "Found you, Mate!" He suddenly declared, a sly sneer creeping onto his lips. The unexpected proclamation left me simultaneously stunned and shocked. "I... I don't get it, what do you mean?" I asked, my words stumbling out with a stutter as I desperately sought to understand the gravity of what he had just revealed. The confusion and uncertainty painted across my face mirrored the turbulent whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. His hand drew my chin closer to his face, and in that moment, he leaned in closer to my ear, his proximity sending chilly shivers through my nerves. "I own you now, Mate!" He declared, gently pulling away with a smile in his eyes, still locked onto mine. Releasing my chin, he rose to his feet, leaving me in the wake of that possessive proclamation, a chilling realisation settling in the dark. At this point, I was as astonished as ever. Was the moon goddess merely playing a prank on me, or was she attempting to make me realise that I had no choice? Last I checked, I hated Alpha Dane and everything about him, and here I was, terrified that I was going to be mated to the vicious Alpha of the Redmoon pack. "No! That's not possible! I reject your bond! I can't be your Mate!" I declared, standing on my feet with a clenched fist, attempting to assert myself despite the raging emotions swirling within. I was terrified of him, but there was no worse fear than being mated to my ENEMY ALPHA. "What did you just say?" He instantly turned to me as he inquired, his brows furrowing in a moment of intense focus. His hand dipped into his pockets, maintaining a deadly gaze fixed on me, as if dissecting my words for any hidden meaning. "I... I said... I reject your bond!" I struggled to express myself, grappling with the words while attempting to convey an act of boldness. Despite the internal fear, I resisted showing any sign of weakness to him, determined to uphold the facade of strength befitting an Alpha. "You reject my bond?" He began to walk closer to me, and as he got closer, he rolled his eyes and started walking around me in circles, making me more anxious. I was oblivious to what his next move was. Fear of him getting closer to me caused me to assume the worst from him. "Well, Dear princess…" He came to a halt directly behind me in the hall, his arm curling around my waist and pulling me closer to his body. "You can't reject the bond... Not when I, the Alpha, haven't announced it! You are mine now, and I will keep you!" He stated firmly, and before I could say anything, he let go of me. "Miriam?!!!" He called out as he walked past me. "Yes, Alpha!" A woman perhaps five years older than me rushed out of the doors behind his throne chair. "Take her away and get her ready for the night!" He gave the command, and Miriam, as he had called her, obeyed. "On it, Alpha Dane!" She bent her head and rushed towards where I was standing. "Don't lay your hands on me!" I demanded, hoping she'd listen, but as things stood, I guess I had no other choice but to comply. "I'm sorry, but I can't obey that!" She took my hand, pulling me forward and positioning me behind her. "I cannot accept him! I can't!" I roared at the top of my lungs, attempting to make things plain, but who was I kidding? He wouldn't listen to me. I was drawn into a dark and lonely room because of my words, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get out. Just then, the door opened, and Miriam entered the room, holding a white dress. She looked good but was daring. I dashed towards her and, without hesitation, I took her hand in mine, my eyes piercing into hers. "Please... I can't stay here! I need to leave! He cannot be my Mate!" I begged, desperation lacing my words as I pleaded for an escape from the crazy reality unravelling before me. "You cannot reject the Alpha, Astrid! He is Alpha Dane, No one dares reject him or his orders! I advise you to play his game and let it be! That is the only way to have Alpha Dane reject you." She declared, which made some sense. But if I was going to play his game, I needed to have my own too. Just then, I remembered that Alpha Dane was Alpha Halfdan's nemesis. They despised each other, and this was the only chance I had to get revenge on both my cousin Camilla and Halfdan. My fist clenched as I realised this, and I was immediately willing to play by the rules. He would use me, and I would not hesitate to use him to my satisfaction too. Miriam, noticing that I was prepared to remain motionless, began dressing me in the transparent white gown she had brought into the room earlier. Once she was finished, I noticed a smirk on her lips. I bet she was overjoyed to learn that her Alpha would be having sex with me for the night. She bent her head and exited the room. I turned back and focused my eyes out the window, my thoughts hovering around the place. Within a month, I was rejected by the Alpha I thought was my mate, and he cheated on me with my cousin sister, Camilla. I found myself pregnant, a secret I would have to guard closely, and in a cruel twist, I was banished by my own father, the weight of his rejection and my impending motherhood pressing down on me. Even worse, I discovered that I had been mated to my Enemy Alpha, the Alpha I despised the most. I sighed deeply and wiped a tear from my eyes. I was still immersed in my thoughts when the doors unexpectedly opened. I thought it was Miriam, but when I turned to face the door, I saw Alpha Dane plodding quickly to where I was standing. Before I could say anything, he had moved closer to me and quickly grabbed my neck, wrapping his arms around my waist. He quickly claimed my lips and kissed me possessively without letting go, but then he paused and tightened his grip on my neck even further. "What do you say, Princess...? Are you still willing to reject your mate or accept the bond? And, mind you, a dumb response can piss me off, and believe me, Princess, I do strange things when I'm pissed." "I don't know what I might do to you right now if you pissed me off!" He warned, his stare holding a frightening intensity that sent a shiver down my spine, the threat hanging heavily in the charged atmosphere. I gave his words a short thought, and because my heart was filled with revenge, I was willing to accept the Alpha Lycan's bond and make everyone who had wronged me pay so dearly. "I, ASTRID SAFIYA ACCEPT YOUR MATING BOND!!" I announced, and almost instantly, a wave of adrenaline coursed through my veins as he leaned closer to my ear. "You've madethe right choice, Princess!" His lips twisted into a half-smile as his gaze focused on me.