Ethan's POV.
There was a hint of dew on that morning's breeze as I stepped out of my car with Sam doing the same. I had made up my mind to bring her along with me to school to humiliate her since I reduced her to my personal maid ever since the incident. As I looked over her and saw her she maintained her gaze downwards looking like a lost puppy, her words from the week before recapped in my memories.
"I didn't kill Diane. I am telling the truth. I can tell you who did it and why I'm taking the blame."
But then did she really think I would believe that bullshit she had said? I could tell that day she was desperate to avoid whatever my rage would make me do so I silenced her, telling her if she ever said such words, I wouldn't hesitate to kill her before walking away.
I clenched my fists as the memories became fresh again and didn't utter a word to her as I started walking away fast with her following me from behind.
When we got to the front of my class, I didn't stop but noticed she stopped causing me to also stop.
"Ethan. Am I going into the class with Y_" She didn't finish as a look from me silenced her causing her to gulp?
Without another word, I searched my bag and brought out a silver collar and clasped it around her neck and then her arms, branding her as my property.
"You'll stay out here," I growled, hauling her toward the balcony of my classroom. "I don't want you anywhere near my classroom. Sit outside until I'm done."
She obeyed, sitting outside on the cold stone bench outside my classroom, as instructed. I studied her for a while before heading into my class to learn.
It wasn't until ten minutes before passing students started jeering at her and throwing paper balls and other stuff at her but I overlooked it saying that was what she deserved.
That was what I had wanted, to display her for public humiliation knowing how our school was.
"Ethan, are you going to watch them treat her like she is theirs to deal with? Aren't you going to do anything? Remember no one touches what is yours?" My friend Dan whispered, causing me to feel irritated but I shut him up asking him to mind his business saying Sam needed that humiliation but in my mind, I couldn't focus.
Every giggle and muffled comment outside grated on my nerves. When a classmate leaned over to whisper,
"Have you heard about the freak show outside? She's getting what she deserves."
He didn't finish when I exploded and burst out of the classroom, my presence silencing the crowd that had gathered around Sam.
"Enough!" I barked.
The bullies froze, their smug satisfaction replaced by fear. "Get lost," I ordered, glaring at everyone.
But one of them, a wiry boy with too much confidence, sneered. "Why do you care? She's just a murderer, right?"
Immediately my glare became icy as I turned to him.
"Because I am the only one who punishes her. It doesn't matter who she is. No one can mess with her, Understood?" I barked and seeing how my anger was out of control, the group dispersed reluctantly, leaving me alone with Sam.
"This is damn interesting Ethan, I cannot believe you are acting like you are protecting her instead of punishing her as claimed," Benny said, stepping forward, her eyes ablaze with anger.
"Why are you defending her?" she asked accusingly. "She killed Diane. Everyone loved Diane, Ethan. They are doing what they are supposed to do and she deserves what is happening to her," Benny hissed with disgust.
"This is none of your business, Benny," I snapped.
"It is my business, I don't care if she is my alleged sister," she retorted. "She took away someone we cared about, and now you're protecting her?"
But I chose to ignore her, turning to Sam, I said.
"Follow me."
Sam obeyed, her head hung low with shame and embarrassment, as I led her into the music room.
She stopped at the doorway, peering nervously inside.
"Why are we here? I'll get into trouble if anyone sees me inside the music room. I was expelled, remember," she said.
"I don't care what happens to you, Sam. You're my mate and my slave now, you will do what I want," I replied coldly. "You'll be wherever I want you to be."
Sam flinched at the word mate, but she didn't say anything. So I led her in and leaned against the piano, making her stand before me, my face impassive as I asked her.
"Have you figured out a way to break the bond yet?"
Sam shook on hearing my question, she hesitated and before she could reply, the door was slammed shut.
Benny stormed in, heading towards us with her face pale with disbelief.
"Did I hear you right? Sam is your mate?"
"What?" I stiffened.
I hadn't expected Benny to overhear that, I didn't want anyone to know about it. Panic flared in my chest as if the pack had found out now that Benny had known about it and that my life would be ruined.
"Benny," I began, my voice low.
"You can't tell anyone. I'm trying to break the bond. I don't want this any more than you do."
"Really?" Benny burst out laughing icily.
"Wow. It is really true. You're telling me you're mated to the girl who murdered Diane? Won't that be interesting if everyone finds out? Maybe that was the reason you decided to take her in your custody to keep her close because you are mates. Makes sense," Benny shrugged, glancing at me and then at Sam.
"Sam. You are really shameless. How could this happen after what you have done," Benny said in an irritated voice.
"Leave her alone," I cut in before she could say another word.
"It is not in the way you think!" I exploded.
"We haven't claimed each other, nor do we ever intend to. I am keeping her close so she can pay for what she did and so I can try to find some way to end this bond. We are fated matés unfortunately and the bond couldn't be broken on the first attempt," I confessed trying to make Benny see reasons with me and decide to keep shut.
Benny folded her arms, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me suspiciously for a while like she was trying to see any hint of insincerity in me.
"Fine. I won't say anything—for now. But on one condition that you would do everything to break the mate bond in a month, Ethan, or I'll make sure the pack knows."
"Okay. Deal," I nodded, taking a deep breath in relief.
Benny shot Sam who wouldn't look at her with a glare before she stormed out of the music, slamming the door behind her.
I exhaled shakily, running a hand through my hair the moment she was gone.
"You heard her right. You know how much of a big mouth your sister is," Ethan muttered.
"Find a way to break this bond or I will kill you before the pack finds out and I lose my position."
*
The ride home was silent with tension thick in the air and Sam was silent as usual and I didn't bother with doing anything about it either.
When we arrived at my place, I had the guards lock Sam back in the dungeon and I retreated to my room.
My mind raced with different thoughts as I sat back on my bed after pulling off my school uniform. The threat from Benny was what I feared now knowing that it would ruin things for me. The pack won't allow me to become the Alpha when my mate is a murderer.
I hit the wall with my fist, hating how Sam got involved in my life all of a sudden and is on the verge of ruining everything I had worked hard for.
My phone buzzed, breaking through my thoughts. When I picked up the phone, It was Jane calling.
"Ethan," she sobbed over the phone and immediately I felt like my heart was in pain.
"What are you doing about Sam? You promised to bring justice for my sister. She doesn't deserve what happened to her. Make Sam pay for what she has done already," She cried begging over the phone.
"I know," I spoke up after a brief silence. Jane didn't know how hard it was for me too.
"Please believe in me. I'm working on it," I informed her.
"No Ethan, Benny told me what happened in school today. It seems you are not working fast enough," Jane replied.
"Benny?" I gritted my teeth.
"Yes, she mentioned you were rather protective towards Sam," Jane replied.
"Did she say anything other than that to you?" I had to ask panicking Benny had already gone against her promise.
"No, Ethan. She didn't but she said she will have something to tell me soon depending on how she sees you treat Sam. Ethan you don't have to be this weakly, not right now. This is not how you are Ethan. What happened to you? Every day Sam being alive is an insult to Diane's memory and you can bear that. Did you even love my sister?" Jane spat and her like went dead
I stared at my phone after the call was over, feeling more disturbed than I had been. Thinking about what Jane said, she was right. Ever since I took control of Sam for a week now, I hadn't done anything as I had imagined myself to and I didn't know why. It was like I was weakened when it came to her and I had been suspecting it was because of our mate bond which is the reason I want to break it as soon as I can.
I couldn't let Sam get away scot-free with what she had done.
Now boiling with anger and sorrow which made my blood boil, I made his way to the dungeon where Sam was kept.
When I got to the dungeon, it was cold and Sam was sitting wrapping hands around herself trying to stay warm.
"You sure are enjoying this place," I mocked, my anger firing up as I walked closer to her cell.
But Sam didn't say a word, further enraging me with her silence. I grabbed the gate of her cell, deciding to finally do something about her that night, maybe punish her and make her realize her relaxation days were over.
Opening her dungeon gate, I walked towards her, my anger and frustration simmering just below the surface.
I grabbed her, pulled her up, and pushed her against the wall, holding her in place. My hands instinctively went to her neck, my fingers wrapping around it tightly. I wanted to fling her across the room, to unleash all my pent-up rage on her.
But then, something unexpected happened. Sam looked up at me, her eyes flashing with this attraction I had never seen, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. My gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, I forgot about my anger, forgot about my desire for revenge.
My eyes roamed over her face, taking in the small details that I'd never noticed before. The shape of her jawline, the curve of her lips, the sparkle in her eyes... it all seemed so captivating, so alluring.
My adrenaline began to rush, my heart pounding in my chest.
And then, I caught her scent. It was intoxicating, a heady mix of sweet and spicy that filled my nostrils and left me breathless. I felt myself getting drawn to her, my body responding to her presence in ways I couldn't control.
My gaze dropped to her neck, and I felt a sudden urge to touch her skin, to feel its softness beneath my fingers. The skin on her neck seemed to glow in the dim light of the dungeon, calling out to me and I felt my fingers twitching, my palms itching to make contact with her skin.
What was happening to me? I was supposed to be punishing her, not lusting after her. But I couldn't help myself. I was trapped in the depths of her eyes, unable to look away, unable to resist the pull of her scent and her skin but when I was able to snap myself out of her hold, I immediately let her go, my heart racing wildly as I stared at her like something impossible was happening.
"What is happening to me? Why are you doing this to me?" I growled in frustration, finding my way back to outside the dungeon knowing that I could lose control if I remained in the same space with her.
"Alpha. Are you_"
"Shut up!" I yelled at the guard who tried to say something because of how ragged and sweaty I was.
"Lock her dungeon and make sure she doesn't eat tonight. I will be back tomorrow," I instructed and started leaving as fast as I could trying to understand what just happened and also gather myself.
Just before I could take the turn to leave the dungeon, my cell phone buzzed. This time, it was a text.
I clicked on the text which was from an unknown caller and what I saw left me shocked as Sam's words filled my head.
"Do you really believe Sam killed Diane? What if someone else did and she got framed?"