Sold by my Alpha, bought by my Mate Chapter 76: I own you

Mildred

Of all the people I could have run into, it had to be Randall. He looked tired, but it seemed to me that he walked these halls with the sole purpose of looking for me, as if he knew I was there.

"Did they forget you?" he asked with a smug smile. As if in his mind, he was always better than Asher.

"What do you want, Randall?" I asked him, and my tone of voice surprised him; it was filled with hate.

In my head, those horrible scenes from my nightmare were replaying. And something inside me screamed at me that what Asher explained... it was true, that it happened, that my former Alpha and mate had abused me.

"What do you mean, what do I want? What I've always wanted: you," he replied, approaching me as I stepped back. Right then, I was not afraid of him. I knew that as long as Asher and his people were there, I would be safe.

"Then why did you reject me? You said I was a weak human, that I was not Luna material to be your mate. But then you went to so much trouble to be my mate," I asked him.

"Little dove... no matter what the wild Alpha says. You're mine, you're from my pack... that's where you belong, not here. You think everything here is beautiful and perfect? It's all a farce," he said.

"Everything is a farce in Red Moon," I replied, and when he put a hand on my cheek, I slapped it away, and he looked surprised.

There was something different about him, though I was not sure what it was.

"You don't know what you're saying," he replied, angry.

"You didn't answer my question. Why did you reject me?" I insisted.

"Do you want me to tell you the truth?" he asked, looking at me intensely.

"Yes... you were a weak human, the joke of the pack... I thought the Moon Goddess had made a mistake. I thought it was nature's sick joke. But I saved you, remember? I pulled you from the fire and held you in my arms and helped you breathe. You live because I chose to. Don't you understand? Our lives and destinies changed right then and there," he explained. He took another step toward me, and I saw that he believed it.

"After that... I couldn't get you out of my head. I couldn't be with other women. The mate bond... is extremely powerful, a natural force to be feared. You became as necessary to me as air. I wanted you, Mildred. I desired you and you were my birthright. The Goddess created you for me and me alone. If I had not rejected you... there would be no Asher, no feud. You would be in my bed right now... you would be pregnant with my pup, I have no doubt," he said, and it frightened me how he thought of all this, all that would have happened.

"But you rejected me. You made your choice and fate changed; none of that exists, Randall," I told him, and he got angry and annoyed.

"I was wrong, is that what you want to hear? We all make mistakes, Mildred, even you trusting him. There's a war coming, and you're picking the wrong side," he said threateningly, now holding my wrist tightly.

"You've made more than one mistake, and some things can't be forgiven," I told him, and he looked at my lips as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

I guess I'd always been the human girl, weak and meek, and now I was backed into a corner, but I was still fighting back, at least with words.

"What the hell is wrong with you today? That's no way to talk to your Alpha and your mate," he murmured at me.

"You stopped being Alpha a long time ago, and my mate… you never were," I replied, and he held my wrist tightly, and I groaned from the pain.

"You may think you have a will now, little dove. But the reality is that destiny has been set long ago, and you will be with me whether you want to or not. You're going to stand by me as my mate, against all odds. That is, if you want the pack to survive. If you don't want me to wipe out everything you love and tear it to pieces," he said, and my dreams came flooding back.

"Does this have something to do with that stupid prophecy?" I said, and he grabbed my jaw with his other hand and squeezed my cheeks hard.

"Oh yes, it all has to do with the prophecy, you and me, the king, the packs, everything. Wolves, humans, everyone will be on their knees before us. So think very carefully about what you are going to do next, for the fate of all lies in the decision you make. But whatever it is, I tell you right now: I will win. The lives of many innocent people depend on you," he said, and he was very sure of what he was saying.

When he leaned in to kiss me, I hit him with all my might, slapping him and kicking him between his legs.

"I won't!" I yelled. I knew he was a bastard, I'd always known. But right now... I could see him as he truly was. If we ever had a bond... there was nothing left. I still didn't know why.

Even though I was human, it seemed like I did it right, and he had a pained look on his face and turned away from me just to counterattack. I felt the stinging pain, and it was such a quick blow that I didn't see it coming.

My cheek was sore, and I felt blood running down my face. My body slammed against the wall, my head hit the ground, and I fell to the floor like a puppet. All I could do was scream, and I heard the footsteps of people coming to help me.

"Millie! Millie!"

"You are going to learn to respect me. You are going to learn to worship your mate. Think very carefully what you are going to do next... because I own you. The prophecy is true, if you choose wrong... you will be everyone's ruin," he said, leaving me there.

"Millie! By the Goddess!" Duncan appeared, helping me, and further back Asher, carrying me in his arms, showering me with kisses and looking worried. I heard him shouting and giving orders as they took Randall away.

"Calm down, my love. I'm here," he whispered to me as I fell asleep.