Meeting Her Mate

ARIA

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"Grab a wine from the cellar." The chief maid instructed me. "You're going to serve the alphas in place of Mary because she's sick." She added and i couldn't help the shock gasp that escaped from my lips. I am also sick and injured but no one seemed to care. To make matters worse, tonight was supposed to be the celebration of my eighteenth birthday but here am i taking orders from everyone. My entire day has been spent working and now that i was supposed to rest, i still have to serve at the banquet tonight.

"Did you hear me?" She repeated and i nodded my head before making my way towards the cellar. Today, the kitchen was bustling, or more accurately, the entire palace was bustling because the Alpha King was hosting a grand banquet with members of other royal families in attendance. It was known as the feast of all alphas where they came around with their slaves to discuss and make merry about their latest accomplishments.

If we were still together, I'm pretty sure that Ryan would have celebrated my birthday like he did every year. It hurts to just think about it.

I arrived with the drinks and joined the other maids Inside the banquet hall. With clinking glasses and a magnificent display of gold and jewels, the Alpha King held a wine glass and engaged in conversation with several members of the royal family. He spoke confidently and politely that if i didn't know any better, i wouldn't have believed that he was the same man i fell in love with.

"Let us toast to the alliance against the other territories and to demonstrate my sincerity, I have already executed the Beta Alfonso who had dealings with the enemy to ruin my family and his body has been put on fire and reduced to ashes!"

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Ryan and my father used to be friends and even in death, he still couldn't give my father the peace he wanted. I was trembling with anger because i knew that he was only saying this to rile me up. He threw me a glance and i looked away immediately as i proceeded to pour a glass of wine for the next alpha. In the process of doing that, i felt his hands on my butt and i pulled away.

Ryan who noticed the commotion faced the old man and asked in a low tone. "Bruce, do you like this slave?"

I looked at him, fear and terror masking my vision. Why would he ask him that sort of question? What was he planning to do now? The man in question looked at me and licked his lips seductively.

"She's a fine lass." He commented. "She looks pretty good and just looking at her has me aroused." He chuckled, exposing his brown set of dentition.

"Then I shall present her to you as a gift for the night." He offered. "Today is her eighteenth birthday and what better gift can i give her other than presenting her to one of greatest allies?"

Bruce touched my delicate skin and readily agreed. "Of course, I like her very much. Thank you, Alpha King. I hope she is still a virgin and untouched? I like my women pure." He stared at me in lust as he tried to grab my hands but i took another step back.

"No, I refuse!" I blurted out in a shaky voice. My eyes pleading with Ryan to not go through with this. "Please." I begged in a whisper, tears welling up in my eyes but he completely ignored my voice. As in his eyes, a slave had no right to refuse her master's orders. He didn't even spare me a single glance. He simply waved his hand, signaling for the servants to take me away, and commanded in a mirthless voice. "Tell the maids to clean her up and bring her to Bruce's bed!"

I tried to struggle. I pushed, pulled, squirmed but all my efforts proved abortive. I was dragged out of the banquet hall against my will and handed over to the women who were in charge of taking care of Ryan's consorts. They forced me to follow and seeing that there was no way out of it, i gave in.

I was too tired to speak so I just let them take me anywhere. It wasn't like I could argue with them at the very least. Ryan's words would still be carried out whether I refused or not so there was no point in arguing.

We arrived at a secluded room away from the main palace and they led me in. The room was neatly decorated with bright and warm colors. There was a bath tub at the center and on the other side was a desk that contained different refining products.

"Your eyes are red and puffy." The woman who I presumed was the head maid pointed out "We would have to take care of them otherwise the Alpha king would get upset."

"Take off her clothes!" She ordered and they undressed me. I remained still and my rags fell loosely to the ground leaving me stark naked in front of them.

"The alpha king has asked us to clean you up because you will be spending the night in his friend's chambers."

I wonder why she kept on repeating that statement. I was well aware of my predicament at this point and i don't need anyone else reminding me about it. They placed me in the tub and carefully washed my body clean. They were careful not to graze my wounds and proceeded to wash my hair as well.

They wrapped me in a towel and oiled my skin. They sprayed me in scented perfume and applied make up to my face. My damp hair was combed out and left to fall in knotted mass. I stared at the mirror when they were done and was surprised to see a complete version of myself. I looked different that I surprised myself.

They made sure to pamper and take good care of me which is a given because they were only doing this to prepare me for the Lycan king because I would end up on his bed. That's the sad story about slaves. We are seen as toys and playthings to our masters whenever they feel bored. We were nothing but mere things to satisfy their sexual urges.

"You are ready." She stated and threw a fleece robe on my clothing attire which was nothing but a revealing leather skirt and lace bra.

"Leave now. He doesn't like it when he's kept waiting." She told me off the minute she finished my preparation.

Two maids guided me out of the room and led me towards the route that went up to Bruce's chambers. All through the walk there, my stomach was in knots. I had no idea what waited me inside his chambers and even if I did, I knew for a fact that it wasn't going to be pleasant.

We arrived at his door and they both left me to my fate. I contemplated hesitantly before knocking.

"Come inside." Came his response. I pulled the door knob and made my way inside his bedroom.

Alpha Bruce's chambers screamed nothing but wealth an class. It was too big and I felt like a miniature statue at the center of it's elegance.

"My pet is finally here." He grinned from ear to ear, discarding the scroll that I had caught him working on as he approached me with unhurried strides. I clenched my fists beside me to keep myself from running away in fright. I had to remain strong, else he kills me. I have heard rumours about it and none if it sounded interesting.

"You look extremely ravishing..erm what's your name again?." He reached out to the rope of my collar and twirled it around his fingers, playing with it but i didn't answer his question. "You look like a completely different woman. I can barely recognize you. The maid uniform didn't do any justice to this body in front of me." His voice couldn't contain his excitement while I struggled so hard not to break down in front of him.

"All through dinner tonight..." He tugged at my collar forcefully, almost straining my neck in a bid to get me closer to him "I had wanted nothing more than to have you for myself." He confessed "I have been waiting for you my dear. I was counting the hours left until I would get to see you straddled In my arms and finally, that time has come."

I remained silent, not uttering a single word. If I could stop myself from breathing at this point then I would because I was scared out of my mind.

He held my chin and pulled my face up to meet his "When I talk to you my sweetest, I want you to answer. When I call you, I want you to reply. I detest being ignored. Do you understand?"

"Yes my lord." I replied almost immediately and his lips splitted up in a wide grin.

"Good girl. You learn quite fast and I am very impressed." He commented.

"Thank you Master."

"I am tempted to touch you but i have to savour this moment first." His hands went to my bra and he immediately tugged it off as his eyes stared lustfully at my chest "I am tempted to do a whole lot of sinful things to you but then again." He circled my bud with his thumb and a groan escaped his lips. "So succulent, so enthralling." He whispered while i prayed to the goddess to save me.

He made me lie on the bed and tilted my head to the side to nibble on my neck before taking my lips into his mouth. I fought the urge to push him away. He disgusted me. The mere sight of him repulsed me to the core. I couldn't do it anymore. I've had enough of this. Reaching out to the vase at the side of the bed, i picked it up and hit him on the head with it.

He groaned and fell to the bed. I quickly pushed myself off him, picked up my dress and ran out of the bedroom before anyone would notice what had happened. If they find out about it, I'll be dead. Everyone at the party was too busy to figure out what had happened so i decided to escape before they did. Life anywhere would definitely be better than life in this prison.

I made it out of the gates and just as i was about to cross the street to the other side, i am almost knocked down by a carriage. I fell to the ground and watched as the carriage got closer before stopping a few feet away from me.

"There she is!" I heard the familiar voice of the guards as they spotted me from afar. They ran towards me and i am instantly filled with dread. "Get her!"

Seeing them gain momentum, i stood up to my feet as i tried to navigate my way out of there. Just as i was about to make a run for it, I bumped into a huge wall but before I fell to the ground, huge pair of hands grabbed me by the waist and pulled me closer in an attempt to rescue me.

I purred in content when my nostrils caught a whift of his cologne. Whatever smelt this nice was divine and heavenly. I tried to pull myself away from his strong clutch but he only held on tighter causing my stomach to tie up in knots.

"Are you okay, miss?" His strong, deep and masculine voice resonated through my ears leaving me mesmerized. What exactly is happening to me? My world suddenly became quiet, with only one word dancing in my head. Just then, i heard a small voice call out to him inside me.

"Mate!"

It took me a moment to realize that it was my wolf and she was referring to this man standing in front of me as my mate. How is this possible and what exactly is going on right now?