'Thor!?...
In here in Council Yard!?...
No, it can't be him...
But that essence!... That's my mate's essence! My mate, Thor. That's his essence!'
The first time I perceived that essence was at the Arena and it was also the last time. I can never forget the smell of my mate. I would recognize it anywhere.
'So where is it coming from!?'
In my state of shock, I bring my towel closer to my face and sniff it. It smells faintly of my shower cream, more like my shampoo.
'It's impossible for the smell of your shower cream and shampoo to change overnight, don't be ridiculous!' I scold myself as I look around the bathroom.
Maybe it's drifting in from the bathroom window. I thought when I knew quite well that the bathroom window didn't budge the last time I tried to open it. Weather and years of dust had made it rust and stuck in place.
Knowing that fact, I still move nearer to the window and stand on tiptoe to see if maybe Victoria had somehow managed to get it opened. I pushed the metal... Nope! It still won't budge, just like the first time that I tried to open it.
I turn away from the window and notice the bathroom door is slightly ajar. I follow my nose and realize the essence is coming from the room. The nearer I get to the door the stronger the smell gets. I finally arrive at the door and stop. I can't find the courage to go any further. The fear of what I will see in the room makes my heart beat wildly.
'Could Thor really be here?...' I wonder to myself
'Why are you scared?' A voice asks in my head. 'What if Eric came and brought Thor with him?'
My eyes widen in realization. My spirit that had sunk suddenly soars with hope. He finally remembers and comes for me! With my heart in my throat, I push the door open and step into the room.
'No!'
I sway on my feet as I suddenly feel weak. My fingers become flaccid and the towel that I seem to be clutching onto for dear life drops to the floor.
The pit of my stomach hurt with real pain.
"Oh god! Goddess please, not again!..." I whisper to myself when I see my mate and Victoria hugging each other with his nose buried in between her neck and shoulder.
Why is he with Victoria? Why are they hugging like long-lost lovers? Where is Eric? Didn't he come to see me?.. I still stupidly wonder to myself when the truth is staring me in the eyes.
I lean on the small kitchenette island for support when my legs can't support my weight anymore. Even though I'm not a crybaby, my eyes automatically fill with tears by their own accord
"Thank you! Thank you, Alpha! I knew you would come for us! I knew you would never let us die! God, I'm so happy to see you!" I hear Victoria's words and the reality of the romantic display I'm watching further sinks into my brain
The Alpha Victoria has told me so much about is my mate! Thor has a concubine now. A concubine he cares so much about while I'm left here to rot with my baby!
A sob unknowingly escapes and I immediately clamp my hands over my mouth to stop myself from humiliating myself further by crying. I don't want to be noticed. I don't want him to see me as that pathetic girl again. I wish I could disappear or better still, melt into the wall and die.
I can't hold the sob in. I also can't stop the tears that are now falling freely down my face. How can I when he's breaking my heart all over again? Mixing salt into the open wound he caused in my heart.
Even though I would hate for him to see me cry so I won't appear miserable to the bastard. What he's doing to me hurts so bad I want to scream instead of stifling my sob.
I want to scream out in frustration... 'Why is nothing working for me!? Where the fuck did I get it wrong? Why do other girls keep finding it easy to get my mate's attention!? Why!? Moon goddess why!?' I choke on my muffled sob
His eyes suddenly open to look at me and I automatically shut mine, immediately lowering my head to hide my face from him. Apart from the fact that I don't want him to see me in tears, I also don't want to see the look in his eyes. Pity? Disgust? Regret? Hate?... I don't want to know whatever emotions his eyes are displaying.
Victoria squealed out in delight and rushed to my side to grab my arm, hugging it close to herself
"Ash, he's here! My Alpha is here! He's here to get me out. You assured me he would come for me and he indeed came! Oh, I'm so happy!..."
"Ash?" I hear his deep voice say questioningly.
"Yes, Alpha!" The excited Victoria replies to him, rushing to his side again to hug his arm to herself.
"She's my friend. Well, we just met but she's now my friend. She allowed me to stay here with her and..."
"Raise your head!" He commands, automatically shutting Victoria up.
Damn tears won't stop flowing and I hate it. I'm never a weakling, this bastard just has a way of reducing me to this helpless, wimpy idiot and I detest him for that. Boiling with anger, I hurriedly cleaned my tears off with my hand before slowly raising my head to meet his eyes.
He looks shocked and confused at the same time. What game is he playing now? I wonder
"Ash, why are you crying?" Victoria, who is oblivious to what is going on, hurries to my side and asks.
"Tell me, please... If you're scared that I'll leave you behind, then don't be. I'll convince my Alpha to talk to your Alpha and help you get out of here. You don't have to cry, alright!?"
I look away from him to Victoria
"He is your Alpha? The one that made you his concubine?" I ask as I angrily swipe away another tear trickling down my right eye. I want to hear from Victoria herself. To be sure I'm not jumping to conclusions
"Yes... Yes, he is." She answers, glancing at him shyly
I nod at her before turning my gaze back to the frowning man who just stands before me looking as cold a status
"Hi, Thor. How have you been?" I ask hatefully with a fake smile
"Thor?" Victoria repeats with surprise, probably wondering how I got to know his name and the kind of relationship we have between us that would make me address a whole Alpha by his name
"Yeah. Isn't that his name?" I ask, still smiling.
She nods, looking perplexed
"But how did you know? I–I'm sure I didn't tell you his name before! How did you know? Did you two know each other?... I don't understand, why are you crying though?" She asks as she helps me wipe another tear that I'm not aware was trickling down my face. I thought I was smiling.
"Victoria... My friend..." I sob heartbreakingly. I couldn't keep it in anymore. "I'm afraid that– we have the same Alpha... Your master is my mate– my mate is your master. You know, the mate I told you imprisoned me? That is the bastard!"
"Imprisoned you!?" He speaks again in disbelief
I turn from Victoria's shocked expression to him
"Oh, see who finally found his voice!?" I chuckle through my tears.
"Tell me, Thor, how is Miranda, your fake mate these days?... And I see you got yourself a concubine. A concubine who happens to be your real mate's friend isn't that wonderful!?...
I'd like to know though, Isn't Miranda satisfying you in bed!?" I suddenly shout with all my pent-up frustration, pick a ceramic plate, and aim it for his head.
I missed. The bastard didn't even attempt to dodge the plate. He just stands there looking at me. His face devoid of emotions
"Say something! Don't just stand there looking at me, you despicable swine! You told me you loved me! You even managed to convince my mom you loved me! And I stupidly believed you! How dare you do this to me again! Who the fuck do you think you are to imprison me here just because you want blue blood as your mate!
Why didn't you reject me instead of making Eric and Ella lie on your behalf? Telling me, Miranda used sorcery on you! Did Victoria also use sorcery on you!?" I shout as I pick up one of the plates of pasta Victoria made and angrily fling it at him.
It hit him square in the chest this time but he still remained stone-faced. Why do I have such a bad aim? The other plate is going for his face. Maybe that would elicit some kind of reaction from him.
"Did Eric tell you that Miranda, the fake mate you chose, killed my mom?" I ask, sniffing pitifully.
He still doesn't say anything. He doesn't even pretend to look sorry. He just frowns deeply.
"I hate you, Thor Quinn! I would have rejected you right now if I knew my family name but I don't, which makes me hate you even more!" I scream and pick the last plate of pasta to throw in his face but it falls out of my hand when I feel a horrible cramp in my stomach, then comes a sudden gush of warm wetness in between my legs.