Chosen

Chapter Ten

    I had been locked in my room for three days now. Cat and Alice refused to let me leave. Which upset me. I hated being cooped up. I was going through the clothing in one of the dressers, throwing it to the floor when I found something I didn't quite agree with owning. My door opened and I ignored it, it was most likely just Cat. She came to keep me company often.
"What in the hell are you doing, girl?"
    I whirled when I heard the unfamiliar voice. My eyes landed on the head maid and I blushed. She wasn't exactly the nicest to me. She found me quite annoying and pathetic.
"I..."
"Nevermind that. I'll have some of the girls come clean it later. We need to get you ready for your acceptance ceremony."
   She roughly grabbed my arm and yanked me to the tub. I whimpered as she yanked my clothing off and threw me into the tub. My head smacked the side and I started sobbing. She roughly scrubbed my hair and washed me. I knew I would have a few bruises from this. The door to the bathroom opened and Cat stormed in. Her eyes landed on the bruises forming on my body and forehead.
"What the fuck?! Ms. Stone you realize the king can feel her pain?! He's going to see these bruises and he will not be pleased!"
   Ms. Stone sighed and placed a hand on her hip. She didn't really care. She had told me several times. Axel didn't scare her. Cat glared at the women as she yanked me from the tub, harshly. I whimpered as her grip tightened again, tears sliding from my eyes. Cat snarled and ripped me from Ms. Stones grasp.
"Get out. Now. You're fired. Leave the house."
"You don't have the authority to fire me, Miss Catherine."
    I began trembling because I was cold and Cat noticed. She took to my room and started on my hair. I let Cat do as she wanted, sniffling the whole time. My head was pounding and I was sore. She helped me into the gown and smiled. She personally picked this out. I had been excited about this dress. The design was simple, yet intricate. The gown fit me like a glove. The door opened and my eyes flickered to Ian's as he entered the room. Him and Axel were clones, it got confusing sometimes. Blake came in behind Ian. They looked confused.
"Cat... did you tell Ms. Stone she was fired?"
"I did. She needs to leave."
"Cat! You can't do that! She wasn't hired by you! Axel won't be..."
"She was hurting Addy! I came in to help and the bitch was being too rough! Look at the bruises she left on Addy! Don't tell me Axel won't be pleased."
     Cat shouted and I flinched. Blake ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
"That.... you still can't do that without him knowing first."
  Cat snarled at Blake, clearly angry he was getting on her case for protecting me. Blake walked in front of me and sighed, looking over the obvious bruising on my forehead and arms.
"You need to cover these Cat. If Axel sees these right now he..."
"If I see what?"
    My eyes connected with Axels icy blue ones as he entered the room and I immediately looked down at my feet. Blake stiffened and Ian's eyes widened. This wasn't going to be good. Just from their reactions I knew they had wanted to keep these from him.
"What are you three arguing about in front of her?"
    Axel gently asked and I bit my lip. I could feel him moving closer. He growled when no one answered and stopped in front of me. His hand cupped my chin and brought my face up. Axels eyes landed on the purple bruise on my forehead and they flashed gold in anger. His eyes started scanning the rest of my body for any other signs that I was seriously hurt, taking in the hand shaped bruising on my arms.
"Ms. Stone has been a bit rough with me."
   I whispered and Axels eyes darkened further. His hand tightened on my chin and I whimpered softly. His eyes softened and he sighed.
"I came to help get her ready and I walked in on her being thrown into the tub. So... I fired Ms. Stone."
   Cat shrugged her shoulders and glared at Blake. Axel nodded at her and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him.
"I wanted to see you before the ceremony. I... something felt off. I'm glad I came to check. I'm sorry you were treated poorly by a member of our staff, little one. I'll see you down stairs. Remember, chin up."
    Axel murmured and let go of me, walking out with Blake and Ian. Catherine relaxed and went to work covering the bruises. Eventually their mother joined us and helped. Axel must have mentioned what happened. With one last look at me, Cat declared I was ready for my acceptance ceremony. Her and Alice escorted me out of the room and down the hall. Before we walked into the ballroom, we ran into Ian and Blake. Blake took Catherine to the side and apologized.
"You're good for my brother, little queen. He isn't so closed off around you. It's nice to see him have some emotion. I'm going to escort you in."
    I nodded and let Ian take my hand, guiding me into the room. This ceremony was a private ceremony. I still wasn't ready to face a lot of the pack. We only needed a few wolves for this. My eyes snapped to Axel and he smiled at me, reaching a hand out to me. Ian placed my hand in Axels and stepped aside. Axel pulled me to the center of the little stage and stepped aside as his father stood in front of me.
"Do you, Adalynn Rose, pledge to protect and care for your pack, and the werewolf race?"
"I do."
    I answered Axels father, who smiled at me and nodded to Axel. Axel cupped my face in his hands. His eyes never left mine and I bit my lip.
"Do you take me as your mate, little one? Do you accept our bond?"
"Yes."
   I whispered breathlessly and Axel grinned at me. He tilted my head to the side and kissed my neck, I moaned softly as sparks flew through my body. I felt his canines graze my neck softly and my breath got a stuck in my throat. He needed to remark me. Axel groaned and bit down gently. I clung to him and whimpered from the pain. As I relaxed, my body came alive. My walls tumbled down and something snapped deep within me. Axel let go of my neck, licking the wound to seal the bond. My knees gave out and I clung to Axel. My mind was hazy.
"Mom... what's wrong with..."
"Shell be fine Axel. I... son is she your fated mate? Did you manage to choose your fated mate? You know that kind of bond is sacred and rare.."
"I... when I saw her I knew....ma, when will she go into heat? I thought it would be today."
"Give it a day or so. It happens son."
     I buried my head in his chest and sniffled. I was dizzy. I was in pain and so tired.
"Let's get you to bed little one."
    Axel swept me into his arms and took me from the room. The last thing I saw before passing out was Cat smiling at us with tears in her eyes.