Chapter 3

Octavia:

"Dear, will you please set the table?" Ajax's mother asked as she finishes up with the chicken and pasta.

I was surprisingly enjoying her company. She was pretty cool for an older woman. We talked a lot about food, fashion and music. Somewhere in between all of our chit chat she admitted of how fond she was of me. Surprisingly, since her son hates me.

"Of course." I smile and grab five place sets. I head over to where she had told me the dinning room was and began to set the table accordingly. Just as I finished up, the front door had opened. The smell of mint and pine, began to float throughout the house. I was guilty of purposely sniffing and picking out the scent. It smells so good. This mate attraction only made me want jump on him and never let his scent leave my nostrils. I clench my jaw in anger, goddess I hate him.

I listen carefully as they move into the kitchen Christina tries to greet him warmly but he cuts her off with a tone of boredom. "I can't stay long. I have a lot of work to do."

"Ajax, you never spend time with us anymore. We're a family, I think it's time we act like one. Especially now that you've claimed a mate."

"I am an Alpha with an entire pack to look over. I don't have time to play house, Christina. Besides you know we aren't truly a family. We never have been." He replied dryly.

Now, I was truly angered. How could he be so disrespectful to his own mother? I didn't even get to say goodbye to my  mother before I was ripped away from my home and yet he talks to her with such disrespect. The things I would do just to say a proper goodbye to my family.

I stalk back in the kitchen my eyes dark with hatred. All eyes turned towards me, but I was focused on him. Praying that if I glared hard enough holes would begin to burn through his body. "Apologize to your mother."

He takes an angry step towards me. His fist clenched. "You will not tell me what to do, little girl." His eyes grew dark as he took another step forward. I stood still, pushing my shoulders back and keeping my chin up. I am an Alpha as well and I will not be treated like a worthless peasant.

"I will do as I please," I spit out, mocking his tone. "You think you're all big and bad because you're an Alpha? News flash, dick, so am I."

"And yet, here you are under my control. That doesn't seem very large and in charge of you, miss Alpha." He smirked, looking mischievous and evil like cheshire cat.

"You didn't give me much of a choice in the matter now did you?" I bark back. He stole me away and threatened my family. What was I supposed to do? Run without a plan? I was marked. No one would want me like this. I was doomed for life to have a baseline attraction to this man standing in front of me.

"Then leave if that's what you wish to do. You want a choice? It's either stay here with me or survive on your own out there. No one will want a claimed female anyways."

Did he really just offer to let me leave? I glanced at his mother then in the direction of where the door is. My family would take me back, didn't he know that? Would he allow that? What was the point of taking me in the first place, freighting me on the night I woke up, if he was just going to let me walk out of the front door. Was it a trap?

"You're trying to fool me." I said.

"Am I?" He raised his brows, his full lips forming a devious grin.

"Enough games Ajax." His mother warned. "I just want to have a nice family dinner."

He rolled his eyes and ignored his mother.

"I want to leave." The words were spilling out of my mouth before I realized.

Christina looked disappointed but what else could she have expected? I was forced to be here. I had no free will. This was not my decision. I already had a family, I didn't need to be apart of there's.

I watched as Ajax shrugged his shoulders, so carelessly. "Follow me."

My brows crinkled in confusion. Where was he going? Was he truly going to let me leave?

My feet are moving before my moms could comprehend. Is this a dream? We pass Cipher in the foyer. Ajax was already gripping the handle and swinging the large oak door open when she spoke.

"Where are you guys going? I thought we were having dinner together."

"Octavia it seems would like to leave. I am escorting her to the border. I will return shortly." He explained, holding the door open. His eyes never left me. His gaze burned through my soul. His eyes raked their way down my body before they returned to meet mine. There was some emotion that I couldn't decipher swimming in them. It didn't matter to me though. All the mattered was leaving.

I stepped over the threshold of the doorway, making my way down the steps of the front porch of the gorgeous mansion. It was almost as beautiful as the one my family inhabited.

I don't say a word as I make my way toward the tree line. The crunching of the crisp green grass tells me he's behind me. His long gracious legs allowing him to catch up to me in just a moments notice. He's striding along side of me. His hands tucked into his pant pockets. His demeanor calm, careless, nonchalant. It confused me.

He went through such trouble to bring me here and yet now he's just going to let me walk across the border of his lands and allow me to never look back. It seems to good to be true.

We track through the forest, not once looking back. It seemed like forever but in reality I am sure it's been less than twenty minutes before he comes to a halt.

I turn to face him. He was devastatingly gorgeous. His dark hair was tousled, like he had ran his fingers through it countless times today. His deep blue eyes made the ocean envious and his high cheek bones and full lips could make anyone look twice. He was unreal.

"This is the border line to my lands. If you wish to leave you may, but first you must bow onto your knees and make the request."

He wants me to beg? To get down on my knees before him would be a sign of respect. I do not carry an ounce of respect for the man before me. It was insulting for him to ask this of me.

"Why should I get down on my knees for you?" I spat. He was being disrespectful. Taunting me with the idea of freedom.

"Because that's what a good mate does, isn't it?" His smirk arose, his eyes glazing over with lust as his hand reached out towards me. He pushed my chocolate brown locks aside revealing the crook of my neck where his mark lay.

His thumb brushed over it gently sending a shiver down my spine. The warmth of his large calloused hand on my neck nearly making my knees weak. Damn this mating bond.

"You lied. You were never truly going to set me free." I gritted out through my teeth, grasping his wrist in my hand and tossing his arm aside, removing his touch from my neck.

He clenched his jaw as he closed the space between us. "Bow to me. Show me how desperate you are to get away from me. Run back to the real monsters. The one you call your father. Get on your knees."

I could feel the anger building inside of me. Coursing through me like hot lava. "My father is far from a monster. You are the one who disrespected me. You marked me against my will and tore me away from my family!"

"You're right. I acted like a fucking fool, obviously. There were a thousand different ways I could've enacted my revenge, but you were there so dirty and helpless after almost being defiled by a man who swore allegiance to your very father." His hand reach out again, pulling a lock of my hair into his fingers caressing it gently.  "So I took you, besides I know that at least I could protect you better than they ever could."

"The only one I need protecting from is you."

At this he smiled, almost laughed. "Yes, well... I can see how you might think that. I let the anger get the best of me. It seems I have a bit of a temper. Alas you don't need protection from me. I am not going to hurt you."

Was this a game? What is he playing at? I am bewildered. Confused.

"You're lying."

His fingers leave my hair and find there way back to my neck again. He touch my mark, his eye's darkening at the sight of it or maybe whatever illusion he was playing in his mind. He was so strange, beautiful, but strange.

"No. Your father knew better, than to trust that man and yet he did. It almost cost you much more traumatic experience than I could ever inflict on you. He trusts a lot of bad people, always has. If you want to run back to him, bow to me. Ask me for your freedom." He says so gently, his eyes trailing up my skin to meet mine.

I could feel my knees giving out underneath me at the mere touch on my neck. This mating bond between us could make so many things complicated. Why is he saying all of this about my father? He was well respected by everyone. What could he have done to make Ajax despise him? To speak ill of him. He has to be lying.

"Let me go back to my family. You had no right to take me away. You've ruined my chance at finding a true mate, to fall in love. The least you could do is let me go back." I couldn't help the sadness that crept into my voice.

His hand fell from my neck. His blue eyes clearing, like a storm was vanishing and the sun was able to shine brightly in the sky again. So clear, so blue.

He inhaled deeply, seeming annoyed.

"Do as you please." He tucked his hands back into his front pockets. The picture of calm.

I glanced at him and then to forest that rested beyond his border. I take a hesitant step away, moving closer to the invisible line. He didn't move, his face empty of any expression.

Continuing one foot after another, I step across that invisible line. I am finally free. I can see my family again. I would confront my father about what Ajax said. Surely they were just lies, but I had to be sure. He had to know that he was spreading lies.

I looked back once and he just stood there, hands tucked watching me. His eyebrows furrowed for some reason but I ignored it and turned back to the lush green forest around me. I didn't know which direction I was headed in but I would worry about that after. When I was farther from his lands.

But that's when the pain hit me. It was like a hot iron being pressed against my neck. Where my mark was. It was insufferable. What was going on. The fire flared through my shoulder and down my spine causing me to drop to my knees. I gripped my shoulder willing for this pain to go away. What's happening?

I turned to look at him. His brows still furrowed his armed crossed across his broad chest. He face looked almost pained but he was still giving off the same careless yet calm aura.

"Ajax!" I call out, not knowing what else to do as my skin feels like it's being set on fire. "What's happening?"

I watch as he inhales deeply, uncrossing his arms and tucking his hands in his pockets, his toned muscles flexing under the fitted white t-shirt he wore. He crossed the border making his way too me.

I couldn't help but gasp as the pain grew stronger lighting my whole body on fire.

"The pain your feeling is because you're attempting to reject the mating bond. It's a painful and long process, I heard it takes days."

He crouches down and places his hands under my arms lifting me with ease to my feet, but knees refused to bear my weight so I inevitably lean into him. The smell of mint and pine taking over my sense. Why must he smell so delicious?

"I don't want to feel this pain any longer. How do I make it stop?" I gasp out, nearly ready to fall to my knees again and crumple into a small ball.

"Stay with me, Octavia. Stay a little while longer and the pain, it'll go away." He says, still supporting me.

Was he being genuine? How could I trust him?

"No, I have to go back to my family."

And with those words the fire of pain roars right through my chest and black spots over come my vision as I nearly slip out of his hold. I rapidly blink in a panic, gripping is strong arms to keep from folding as a whimper escapes, my vision returns and I take a deep breath.

"The pain will only get worse, for the both of us."

He's in pain too? Why does such things have to happen to me?

"Okay, okay. I will stay. I don't want to feel this pain anymore, please." I nearly cry out.

"If you insist, darling." He wraps one arm around my back and the other finds it's way under my legs as he scoops me up like a helpless child.

The second we step out of the tree line Cipher was at Ajax's side.

"What did you do to her?" She exclaimed giving Ajax an accusing glare.

"She tried to reject our bond. I am bringing her back to my place. We will do dinner another night." And with those last words he stalked off in the direction of his mansion and I allowed myself to cling to him.

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