Stephanie’s POV
“Stop whining and follow me to the gym Steph, I’ve been itching to kick your ass since you got here.” Harriet kept teasing me, pulling me along with her as we went to the gym.
“I don’t want to fight you, Harriet, I don’t want to fight anyone,” I told her pointedly.
“Then what do you want?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You’ve been here for almost a week Steph, you’ve lived with this guy since you came here, are you telling me that you don’t feel anything for him?”
“What!!!
What are you even talking about, how did we move from talking about a training session at the gym to what I feel for Maxwell?” I asked her in alarm.
“Well, they are related in a way you know. He did order me to train you, in his word, he said “I want you to make a warrior out of her. I want her to be able to defend herself, even in my absence.” Those were his very words Steph, he truly cares about you. Mind you, I am not talking about the mating bond here, I’m talking about true love, Stephanie. Yes, you are bonded by the moon goddess, but trust me, even if you two weren’t bonded as mates, he would still love you.” She told me truthfully.
“If he loves me, he shouldn’t be forcing me to spar with you when I obviously do not want to. This should be illegal, he can’t make me do what I don’t want to, right?” I asked, sounding unsure.
“Stop bitching already. If you hate him that much, why haven’t you said the words to reject him, why are you still clinging to him like a fucking magnet.” She told me pointedly, making it sound like a dare. Does she think that I can’t reject him, is that what they all think?
Is that why he still keeps me close, despite all I’ve done to him since I got here, he thinks I’m simply playing hard to get, like a fucking teenager. Come to think of it, will I ever be able to reject him, can I say those words to sever our bond and separate us forever?
“Are we going to spar or are you planning to talk me to death?” I asked her mockingly, earning me an evil smirk as her fist connected with my mouth, knocking me backward with the impact. I landed on my ass, glaring angrily at her as my canines jutted out of my gum, giving me a dangerous aura.
“Oh, canines. Are you a werewolf Stephanie? Gosh, I never knew you were one of us, you have never acted like one of us.
I Am scared Steph,
Am so scared of your protruding, sharp canines, will they hurt me, should I make a run for it?
Well, too bad girlfriend, you are back home, and news flash, we all have canines too.” She said sarcastically, mocking me with her words as her canines extended also. I got up from the floor, dusting my butt as I took the position. I crouched down, preparing for her next move, anticipating her attack.
“Now who’s bitching around Harriet, we ain’t got all day, you know. Why don’t you stop hitting like a ten-year-old, you need to stop going easy on me and fucking give me all you got. You know what I think, I think you talk too much Harriet, I wonder how Jason puts up with you as his mate, Gosh it’s going to be so boring and tiring.” I said mockingly, riling her up, and getting her so pissed so she could get distracted.
Don’t blame me for being so mean, she is a freaking warrior, and she has been training as a warrior for years while I stripped in a club. How on earth am I supposed to spar with her. I had to come up with a way to distract her a little, that way, she wouldn’t attack with all her energy. It’s either that or I end up with over a hundred broken bones after this sparring session. Yes, it’s going to heal, but it is still going to hurt so bad and right now, I really don’t think I can bear any more pain, coupled with the mess I just created in my life.
I just discovered that king Ashford is a fucking dickhead, he is completely insane. He is not as committed to the cause as I thought, I think he is even worse than king Maxwell. This morning, after Dominic left the room, I finally got to respond to his message. He said the target was not Maxwell but the people around him, the doctor that invents all the cures and medication for the pack, the generals that he sends to war, and every other high-ranked wolf in this Castle. I tried to make him see that his plans would affect the innocent, but he seems determined to eliminate everyone around king Maxwell before he finally kills him. I still believe that he simply trying to steal Maxwell’s aura, that is why he is bent on killing Maxwell himself.
While we spoke on phone, He told me to step out of my room, and I did exactly as he said. To my greatest surprise, I found a box filled with numerous weapons and some liquids that I couldn’t recognize. I was so shocked, I could not believe that he had sneaked this around this Castle without Maxwell’s knowledge. That green potion, it was the same potion that Marcus had used on Ariana and Graciela, it was so powerful, it made them pass out immediately. The purple substance, I haven’t seen it before in my life, King Ashford told me that it works on everyone, including humans, werewolves, and vampires. According to him, it would make anyone that takes it faster and stronger.
He wants me to recruit some of my human friends into this mission, he wants me to give them this serum and some weapons so they can kill off their companions, he promised to pay twice the amount that king Maxwell promised them if only they would agree to work for him and eliminate as many warriors as they could. Can you believe that man?
He is trying to get us all killed, he is just using me to overthrow Maxwell, he doesn’t care about our lives, he doesn’t even give a fuck about our needs, he only wants to get kill every fucking werewolf in this Castle, innocent or not. When I pointed it out to him that I couldn’t kill innocent people, the douchbag started hitting on me. Yes, you heard me. He fucking made a move at me, telling me that I’ll be his mistress. He went on to tell me how he is going to screw me until I beg him to stop, telling me how he’ll fuck me so hard until I pass out from getting pleasured by him. He was right you know, I am definitely going to pass out from such a disgusting act, merely thinking about it was making me want to gag.
Hearing him say those nasty words made me conclude in my heart that king Ashford is not in his right senses, something must be terribly wrong with him, he is acting like a fucking lunatic, like a freaking vampire that is hungry for the blood of the innocent people. I ain’t doing it, I’m never killing anyone, well, except for king Maxwell. And more importantly, I’m never going to be anybody’s mistress, not now, not ever.
For a few minutes there, I was lost in my own thoughts, I got jerked back to reality when Harriet’s fist connected with my ribs and jaw,
“You don’t get distracted when an opponent is standing in front of you, never let your guard down when you are fighting off a vicious opponent like myself,” she said smugly, smirking down at me. She hit me hard enough to jerk me back to reality, but she didn’t hit hard enough to crush any bone. I was not quick to block her first two punches, but I reacted quickly when her fast fists came flying toward me again, I blocked off her punches, dodging and blocking them as fast as I could. She was fast and strong, stronger than your average warrior. Now I’m wishing that I had taken one of King Ashford’s serums that could made me faster and stronger.
She has been on the attacking side since we started sparring, I have not been able to land a single punch on her, I was not fast enough, or even strong enough, I could only dodge and dive, or swerve out of her reach.
“Could you take a chill pill, Harriet!
This is supposed to be a sparring session, not some ninja war.” I complained bitterly when she wouldn’t give me a break.
“Now who is talking too much?” she asked teasingly, with a smirk plastered on her face.
“Yeah, yeah… Cocky bitch.” I responded grumpily.
“I like you, Stephanie, I like your personality. You are kind-hearted and you’re cool to be with. I think it’s best if you stop acting like a complete asshole and give him a chance. He is a good man Steph, once you look past his grumpy attitude, you’ll find out that he is a great guy. He only puts up those nasty attitudes to deceive his enemies. Trust me, you would never regret being with him.” She muttered softly, walking over to sit beside me on the floor.
“I know Harriet, I’ve had enough time to compare his attitude with king Ashford’s and I must admit that he is way better than king Ashford and better yet, he has a good heart. I just don’t know how to accept him, I can’t even bear to look at him after what I’ve done.
I’ve messed up Harriet, I’ve messed up real bad. He would never forgive me if he finds out what I’d done. I can’t hide it away from him for long, I can’t hide this anymore, I’ve done something really bad.” I let out sadly, burying my hands in my palms.
“What did you do, Stephanie?” she asked with raised eyebrows, looking at me with curiosity written all over her face.
“I don’t know what I was thinking Harriet. His life is in danger, yours too and Jason’s, and….
The sound of the door being pushed open stopped me from saying anything more. Maxwell walked through the door looking like the devil himself. Jason followed closely behind him, pleading and begging him nonstop as he stalked towards us with bloodshed eyes. His countenance was deadly and his eyes were shining a deep red, showing that his beast is in control. My eyes moved downwards to his hand and when I saw the box he was holding, my eyes went wide in shock and my heartbeat skipped several bits as my eyes snapped back to his eyes. I saw murder in his eyes, it was so scary that I stood up in a panic, looking as guilty as a child found hands deep in a cookie jar.
“I can explain Maxwell, I swear it’s not what you think,” I let out in a shaky voice, taking some steps backward, putting some distance between us.
“I’m taking over her training from here Harriet, you can pick off from where you stopped tomorrow. Now, get the fuck out of here. You too Jason, out!” He ordered in his Alpha tone, making it impossible for them to refuse him.
“Out!!!” he screamed at them when they wouldn’t leave quickly. I could tell that they wanted to refuse his order but his aura was too strong to be ignored he was suppressing them with his aura, forcing them to heed his command.
“I’m so sorry,” Harriet mouthed to me as she turned around and headed to the door. Jason had mixed emotions on his face. He knows what I have done and he is angry with me, at the same time, he doesn’t like what is about to happen to me. Although I’ve sold them out, he still doesn’t want to see me get hurt. He is such a good man and that fucking lunatic of a king wants me to kill him,
That’s totally impossible!
I am not doing it, I’m never doing it!!!
“You want me dead, don’t you?
You want me dead so you can run off to your lover, King Ashford. Well, now’s your chance to kill me,” he told me in a stern tone, tossing my box towards me, spilling its contents right in front of me.”
“Now is your chance, Stephanie Delaney. Pick a weapon right now and fight me.” He ordered sternly, glaring dangerously at me.
“Please Maxwell, let me explain, it’s not what you think, I swear it.” I begged pitifully, shaking my head sideways, refusing to pick up a weapon to fight him.
“Don’t make me repeat myself, pick up your fucking weapon and fight me!!!” he yelled in anger, his voice booming so loud that it shook the entire building.
“I don’t want I fight you, I don’t….
He was in front of me before I could finish that sentence, his palm landed so hard on my cheeks, sending me tumbling backward as I struggled to regain my stamina. He was on me within seconds, wrapping his hands around my neck as he dragged me up from the floor and flung me across the room. I landed hard on the floor, hearing that cracking sound as I broke a few bones. I rolled in pain on the floor, crawling away to find a hiding place.
“So this is why you refused to be with me, you desire to be with another man and you chose that fucking bastard!!!
You’re so fucking stupid!
And guess what Stephanie, I’m not going to kill you, no, I won’t do it. Being with King Ashford is enough punishment for you because I’m so sure that you’ll regret that decision. As for king Ashford’s spies, I won’t bother asking you to name them, for all I know you could be screwing them as well. I’ll find them, pretty soon and when I do, I’ll rip out their beating hearts from their chest, I’ll fucking rip off their fucking heads.
I’m so disappointed in you Stephanie, I had high hopes for you, I thought you would come to your senses and realize that we are meant to be together, but as they say, you can force the horse to the stream, but you can never force it to drink.
I’m done with all this fucking mate shit, I’m done with begging you to accept the bond and stay with me, I’m so fucking done with wanting you in my life.
I, Maxwell Rayleigh, King of all wolves, reject you, Stephanie Delaney as my mate and queen. I do not want to set eyes on you until you leave this Castle with the other whores you came with. Your things would be moved out of my room today, you can stay in the guest room, but don’t you ever cross my path or I swear, I’ll fucking kill you.
You disgust me!” he spat out disgustingly as he turned around and walked out of the gym without sparing me a second glance.
I could not breathe, my heart was bleeding. Alexia was healing my broken bones slowly, she is whining in pain as she heals me. Even Alexia could not heal my broken heart, nobody can. It hurts, it hurts so bad to be rejected. I could not move an inch from that floor, I lay there in pain, crying my heart out.
How could I be so stupid, what was I thinking when I chose to work with king Ashford, why didn’t I just let go of my revenge plans, why?
How do I live with this pain and broken heart, how do I make him forgive me?