False Mate, True Mate

Chapter 9

Angelique stood on the threshold of the bedroom. Her nose had instantly picked up his scent wafting from it when the door opened. Her mind had filled with memories from Al biting her, taking her, and immediately replaced them with this new, larger "mate". His bites would hurt worse, no doubt. All of it would hurt worse.

Then he released her hand and stepped back. With the contact, she'd had a sense of concern, caution, and confusion that didn't feel like her own emotions, but they had fought with her own fear, muted it.

Now, they were gone, like a switch going off. Her control of her breathing broke as she faced a new place to be used, abused, hurt. He wants me to enter. He wants me to choose this. How can he ask this of me? But if I don't, what will he do to me? Will he hit me if I don't?

She lifted a foot slightly to take a step and froze. I... I... Her heart was slamming in her chest as her breathing got faster and faster. She collapsed.

---

Angelique's eyes snapped open. She was horizontal, on something soft but slightly lumpy. There was a blanket over her. Carefully looking around, she saw she was on a couch. There was a TV across from it, with odd devices under it. Video games? Looking around more, she saw more couches, some chairs... He's watching me. Did I make him mad? He doesn't look mad.

"Alpha" was staring at her from a chair to one side of her couch. She could see the tension in his body as he rested his chin on his hands, elbows on his knees. He was staring at her with his brows furrowed. He doesn't look creepy when he stares at me, she found herself thinking, followed by, What does he want from me?

Carefully, she reviewed the expectations of her she had learned. Don't hide yourself from me! she could hear Al saying in her mind. I want to see your beauty. Don't eat too much. Yes, baby, oh yes! She took in her situation. Al had always looked at her with lust and possessiveness in his eyes. "Alpha" had a different expression.

Did he cover me? Is he ashamed of me? Did I eat too much? Carefully, she slid the blanket off her body, letting it fall to the floor while she watched "Alpha"'s expression. His eyes flitted over her body, lingering on her exposed legs, especially her ankle. He became more tense.

She closed her dry eyes. He's tense. I know what to do for that. She sat up slowly, then pulled the shirt back off her body. As her face came out from under the fabric, she saw his eyes had widened. What does that mean?

Getting down on the floor, she crawled towards him on her hands and knees, her gaze shifting down to his waist. You can do this. You'll ease his tension, and maybe he'll like you. Maybe he won't hurt you. Ease his tension so he doesn't want to hit you. She slid her hand up his thighs, but when they reached his waistband, he grabbed her wrists, stopping her.

Angelique froze. I don't understand. Is he just going to beat me? Am I not good enough for him to want me? She felt her breathing hitch as she realized her fate, her eyes still unable to shed tears.

"That is not how mates work, little one," a gentle voice said from above her. She looked up at him in confusion. "Go back and rest. We'll figure out other things in the morning."

When he released her wrists, she found a sense of comfort leaving her. Tentatively, she rested her hand on his bare foot. A sense of calm tried to invade... there was something foreign about the emotions she felt while touching him, but she liked it.

Rather than move away, she curled into a ball with her hand resting on his foot. Soon, she drifted into fitful sleep.