24

Alex held my arms above my head, tearing the front of my dress in the process. My complexion turned pale as my chest remained exposed, with only my undergarment serving as a barrier.

"Did you hear what you just said?" Alex asked in a cold tone. The veins on his temples were prominent, indicating the intense anger he had managed to control with great effort.

I could hear the rhythm of Alex's heartbeat. Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes as I begged, "Take me to Edward, please."

"You must be the first woman asking your man to help you with your infidelity," Alex remarked, lifting his torso while his hips kept me pressed against the bed.

I found Alex's words to be absurd, so I retorted, "Don't portray me as a girl who just wanted to have fun. What are you implying by 'my man'? I never had any affiliation with you, and my partner rejected me. What's wrong with me starting a new life with the person I love?"

Alex chuckled slightly at my words, his brows furrowing in frustration. Suddenly, he grabbed my chin and said, "When an Alpha marks a mere breed, why do you think you have a say in it? I marked you as mine. You belonged to me. You should have succumbed to me and spent the rest of your life as my possession. Look at me, spending years alone thinking about you, while you spent countless nights with that repulsive human."

As Alex spoke, he tightened his grip on my chin, and his tone grew even colder. I looked at Alex in disbelief. He had completely lost his ability to reason, being controlled by his obsession.

"Why are you blaming me for your loneliness when you were mateless before I even came into your life?" I asked calmly. "And Zen has also found a new mate, hasn't he? I felt it when he marked her. So, there's no reason for you and him to hold me responsible for my marriage."

Suddenly, Alex seemed to calm down as if my words had an effect. I felt a glimmer of hope in my chest, thinking he had come back to his senses. Maybe he would let go of his grudge and take me to Edward.

"I wonder what you saw in that human," Alex said, his tone calmer than ever. "I am curious how he pleased you enough for you to choose him, especially when you rejected two Alphas."

Alex's hand slipped under the torn part of my dress, caressing my body. I felt a chill run through my limbs out of fear. What was he trying to do? I asked myself as his hand slid beneath my undergarments, gently pressing on my chest.

"Don't!" I exclaimed in fear as he leaned over me, sucking on my neck. His fingers began to rub my skin more forcefully. I continued to cry out as if my life depended on it. I could sense his intention. He wanted to complete the mating process.

"Please, don't do it!" I shouted. "You will regret it. This isn't like you, Alex."

I tried to bring Alex back to his senses, struggling beneath him. However, none of my words had any effect on him. I watched in horror as Alex tore off layers of my skirt. His breathing grew heavier.

"I beg of you! Please, stop!" I pleaded, abandoning any shred of self-respect. I had never felt so repulsed before. Nausea churned in my stomach as I continued to sob, oblivious to the world around me.

Suddenly, Alex's fingers paused their exploration of my body, his eyes widening. He lifted his head from my neck, staring at me blankly as I continued to cry. Alex did something unexpected. He abruptly pulled me into an embrace, my head nestled against his chest. I continued to cry into his chest, my tears soaking his shirt. We remained like this for a while before I pushed his body away from me, curling up in a corner.

Alex pulled me towards him again and wrapped me in a white blanket. He got off the bed and called for a maid, straightening his clothes as if nothing had happened.

Shortly, an omega maid entered the room, carrying an expensive gown and matching jewelry on a tray. Alex instructed her to place the items down and leave.

Throughout the interaction, the girl avoided making eye contact. However, when she placed the dress and jewelry on the bed, our eyes met. She blushed upon noticing me, and I suddenly became aware of my disheveled appearance. It was no wonder she assumed I had been intimate with Alex.

"Prepare yourself," Alex calmly stated. "Zen wants to meet you. You have made many assumptions, and he will provide all the answers you seek."

I didn't fully listen to Alex, as I was preoccupied with calculating my chances of finding Edward and escaping from the room. I had already experienced the consequences of encountering one possessive Alpha. Even though Zen had chosen a new mate, I couldn't predict what he might do to seek revenge against me.

"Don't try to rebel," Alex warned as if he could read my thoughts. "You were right. You are not here for a mating ritual. We brought you back for a greater purpose. Don't cause any trouble that could endanger the life of your human mate."

I couldn't take Alex's threat lightly, but it was my only opportunity. A greater purpose? What could someone like me offer them besides a few moments of ecstasy? I pondered.

"And what exactly is that?" I cautiously asked.

"You will find out in due time. Prepare yourself. Zen is waiting for you in the hall," Alex replied. Before leaving the room, he turned with a mischievous smile on his face. "It's true that you aren't here for mating. But I wouldn't mind that especially since I've already had a taste of you."