Romie's POV
I stared at him blankly, as if I were missing the pun in the joke. This hadn't turned out the way I expected, it was the first time I was at a loss for words.
I've seen people face rejection from their mates, but I've never seen someone asking to be rejected.
The consequences of getting rejected were severe, the pain was indescribable, and your wolf weakened.
Looking at the man in front of me, I was sure there was no pain he couldn't bear.
"How do you know you're not able to?" I whispered. I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.
"Trust me, I've tried. The moon goddess must be trolling me. It's in your hands, Romie. Trust me, I can take it," he said boldly.
"Did you consider me in the equation? I've seen young wolves go mad from rejection."
"It's the reverse now."
"It still feels like I'm the one being rejected."
"What's the fuss about!" he said loudly. I could see his patience tearing at the seams. There had to be a reason he wanted this badly.
"Why can't we just go our separate ways and act like complete strangers?" I suggested.
"I would love nothing more, but the mate bond will get stronger with time. It's better to end it here."
"No."
"No?" he blurted, surprised.
"No, I won't do it." I sank deeper into my chair; the intensity in his eyes lit up the dark room.
"My fault, I made it sound like a request. That was an order," he declared, his Alpha aura growing stronger.
"You can't make me say it." A while back, I was saying my last prayers; it would make no difference if he killed me now.
"Why won't you do it?"
"The rejection could kill me. You don't give a damn about me, so why should I give you what you want?"
"Oh, trust me, you will give me what I want," his frown twitched to a smile. It struck me he was not used to getting the reply 'no'.
"I'll play your daunting game, Romie. You will give in to my demands," he stepped closer, and I squinted my eyes shut, hoping it would be short and painless.
His tongue made a seductive swirl on my neck, then I felt him bite into me.
I screamed out in pain as he held me in the chair. His fangs buried deep into my neck, and then he pulled away.
My blood dripped seductively from his lips, his eyes dancing with pleasure.
"I'll make you regret saying no to me," he said, then left the room. My hand instinctively went to my neck. He had marked me, but why?
"Ma'am," someone called out, and I immediately used my hair to cover the bite marks.
Looking at the door, the guard who led me in stood tall.
"You're free to go," he said, and I nodded.
Weakly, I struggled to my feet, using the wall as support as I slowly walked out of the room. It was the first time I noticed the writing on the door.
'Penalty Domain'
Touching the side of my neck, I walked into the hallway, unsure of what today meant.
It hit me that my dad was going to kill me. I had failed my mission.
"Um, sorry, can you please help me with your phone?" I asked the guard.
He looked at me sympathetically. I'm sure he heard my screams. Reaching for his pocket, he handed me his phone.
"Thank you. I'll be sure to return it," I thanked him, then walked away, looking for a safe place to make the call.
Every place seemed to have someone patrolling, and I couldn't afford someone eavesdropping on my conversation. So, I left the house outside and walked far away to the front of the forest.
Then I dialed my father's number. After the third ring, he answered.
"Who is it?" his baritone questioned.
"Father, it's me," I whispered, scouring the environment for any movement.
"Romie, did you find anything?" he asked, and I paused, unable to find an answer.
I didn't know how he would react to the news that Alpha Agi was my mate.
"Romie," he called out, growing impatient.
"No, sir."
"Should I act surprised?" he blurted, striking an arrow through my heart.
"Father, I had an encounter with him. I'm sure if I hang around, I'll be able to find what you seek."
"Then you do that. Romie, your sister is handling the pack affairs while you are away. She's doing a marvelous job. You had insisted on taking on this mission; don't disappoint," he said, then hung up.
The only reason I had chosen this path was because I knew I couldn't outsmart my sister. Everything she did was perfect; her wolf was perfect, even her mate was perfect. I got the worst luck a girl could wish for.
My father had an enmity with the Moonstone Pack, the pack ranked number 1 in the lycanthrope world for the last five years, overthrowing my father's.
I saw the way losing to Agi drove him crazy every year, so he planned if you can't beat the enemy, eliminate him.
He had asked who would be a spy and find out Alpha Agi's weakness since he was immortal, but nature always had a loophole, and I volunteered to find it.
I knew it was not going to be easy, but I didn't expect to be mated to the very man I volunteered to kill.
If I failed, I would be seen as the loser the pack felt I was.
Coming from a long line of heroes and legends was a hard legacy to live up to.
All my life, I had worked and trained to be just like my siblings, and now my victory lies in the hands of Alpha Agi. If I was successful, I would bring fame to our pack once again.
"Help, someone, please help me!" I heard. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me until it came again.
"Please, is anyone out there? Help me!" the voice called out in pain.
Curious, I followed the sound of the voice into the forest.
"Hello," I called out.
"Is someone out there? Please, help!" the voice cried out in pain.
Pursuing the sound of the voice, I saw a ditch with a boulder.
"Please help me," the voice called out from behind. Then I noticed his leg was stuck underneath the large rock.
"Shit!" I muttered, then rushed to his aid.