In between: love or hate

Aurelia

"What!"

"Yes, I want to sell my daughter, the princess, off to the other countries,"I gasped out in shock as I heard the conversations of my father and the Beta of the pack in a dark room. 

I was actually passing by to get something for the preparation of my birthday and feast, but I'd to stop by when I heard my father and his Beta voice in a room. Knowing he is up to no good, I had to eavesdrop at their conversations, and it had to do with me. 

I covered my mouth with my palm, blocking the gasp that almost made its way out of my mouth. I leaned on the wall beside the door of the room with a broken heart. 

No this can't be true. I hope this isn't for real. Does that mean he didn't mean to celebrate my birthday but rather he wanted to sell me off to a merchant? I asked myself with my heart filled with bitterness and sadness. 

I can't believe this is actually coming from the mouth of my father. My heart skipped in fear and pain as I stared at the door. Though I'm not being loved or taken care of in my father pack but I prefer it that way than being sold to another pack where I would be a total stranger. 

What can I do? I've to ask myself because I know my father is a man of his words, and he doesn't back down on his words. 

Though I know my father didn't love me right from childhood because my mother died immediately she gave birth to me which was said to be because of the hatred he had for me. 

I never had the chance to experience motherly not fatherly love because he never cared about me. He treated me like I'm a piece of thrash to him. He believes that I'm the one who killed his wife. Not only did he hate me, he made his pack members hate and despise me. 

I'd no friends or anyone to rely on. I was brought out with my life filled with void and darkness. He never made me experience what is called love, not even from anyone. 

Why is he doing this to me? I asked myself with a glimpse of sadness and pain look on my face. I'm really down and devastated. Though I know he hates me, I wasn't expecting this from him. 

I know he hates me, and he would do whatever he could to make my life bad and miserable but I couldn't believe that he could have it in mind to sell me off. 

It breaks my heart into pieces and shreds knowing that I'll be sold off tonight. That is supposed to be my day of joy, my birthday celebration. He didn't care about my feelings and emotions. I shouldn't expect him to care about the person he thinks of as a murderer, right?

He made me believe that he was having the feast to celebrate my birthday. I was suspicious but I thought maybe he wanted to change for good and make up for what he did to me. 

My life has been bad and horrible, filled with sad memories from childhood just because of him. He always wanted to get rid of me, and now he thinks the best way to sell me off. Why me?

"What am I going to do?"I asked myself but I couldn't get an answer to it. I don't know where to seek help from. I'm just stranded with no one to help me. 

What can I do to not end up my life being either a slave or a wife to a total stranger? My mind was thinking so fast that I'd think it would explode soon. 

What if I run away from the pack and he doesn't see me? I cleaned my tears with my palm, smiled gently, glad about that alternative. But the smile wiped off from my face as reality hit me. 

But where will I run to? Wouldn't he catch me when he found out that I ran away from the pack? These were the questions that are playing in my mind. I don't think running from the pack is an option or alternative. 

Maybe I should just give up on my life, and focus on what fate and the moon goddess has in preparing. I owe him my life, so maybe this is the way of repaying me. I just have to give up. 

I decided to return to the feast. Clenching the hem of my blue gown to my chest, I walked away with my heart broken. My legs wobble in pain with every step I take, shaking like I want to fall. It seems like all energy was sucked out from me.

I stopped midway a step away to the hall where the feast is going on, as a possessive cinnamon and vanilla scent hit my nose. I cocked my brow as the scent moved into my nose, igniting some unknown feeling from within me. What is that? I asked myself as I found myself walking toward the scent— leaving the hall at that instant. 

Surprisingly I found myself at the balcony of the pack building, it was like my body was moving against my will. I look around with a confused look as the scent becomes stronger and thicker. It was really dominant that it had a great impact and control over me that I found myself walking toward it.

"That's him,"my wolf squealed happily in my head, while I looked around naively. 

"Who?"

I looked up as I felt a presence in my front. I gulped down into nothing as I stared at the young handsome man in front. He was so handsome that I couldn't stop myself from drooling at him. He had a bulky figure that his dripping abs could be seen under the red wine suit that he was cladded in, with a black jean.

"Mate!"the voice rang in my head. It was the voice of my mate. What! Mate? How? I asked myself with a confused look on my face. 

"Mate!"we both chorused as we looked at each other at the same time. I stared at his blue emerald eyes intensely. 

My wolf was really happy and excited, the same way I'm also happy. I felt a swarm of butterflies roaming in my stomach happier as I stared at my mate. I've finally found my mate. The pack won't mock me for being mateless again. 

With the powerful scent and auras that surrounds him, I could tell that he is an Alpha. His scent and auras is too powerful to be that of a Beta. 

"Bless you moon goddess,"I prayed in my heart as I stared at the sky— averting the sweet gaze of my handsome mate. 

I'm really overwhelmed and happy that I've finally found my mate. I'm sure he will free me from my father. I will finally have my freedom from my wicked father. 

We both stared at each other without saying anything. I smiled inwardly as I watched as he looked at me with a charming smile on his face. I felt my heart race rapidly as he walked closer to me. I closed my eyes tightly, he was so close that I was feeling his breath on me. 

I opened my eyes abruptly as I heard the masculine voice of a guard. 

"Princess, your attention is needed,"

Nodding my head at the guard, inwardly cursing him for coming at the wrong time. He bowed his head in respect, and he walked away. 

"Princess of this pack?"he asked, and I nodded my head with a smile. He suddenly stepped backward, maintaining a distance of a few meters away from me. 

What's wrong? I questioned myself as the sweet and nice atmosphere suddenly turned cold. 

I looked at my mate whose expression had changed all of a sudden. The sweet and cute look seems to have wiped off from his face, replaced with the experience I never wish to experience from my mate that I just met, it was anger and hatred. 

What could have made my mate angry? He wasn't this way not until the guard came to call me, referring to me as the princess. 

"You're the princess of this pack, right?"he asked with a cold voice, breaking through my thoughts, and I nodded my head affirmatively. 

Why is he asking me this question again? Why did everything change after the guard came to call me? There were so many questions in my mind but none had an answer to it. 

I furrowed my brow, earning his attention. He looked at me with his arm crossed under his broad chest. Summoning courage, I asked him the question burning in my mind. 

"What's wrong, mate?"I asked, a little bit nervous, since I'm yet to know his name yet. 

"Don't call me mate. You can't be my mate,"he said with a less concerned voice, like he doesn't cherish the mate bond anymore. 

What! I exclaimed in shock, and stared at him with my eyes widened in shock. 

What is he saying? He can't do this to me? Hell no! Why can't I be his mate? What's happening?

"What! Why? You're my mate, right?"I asked with my voice etched with fear and anxiousness. 

"I already had a fiance. And I don't want you as my mate,"my heart skipped in fear as he dropped the bombshell, and walked away. 

Mate!