Stranger’s Arrival

Athena


I woke up in bed, alone in the room. Or so, that's what I'd thought until my eyes drifted to spot Sebastian sitting casually on the black couch set in the corner.

Dread crawled up my insides just from the sight of him.

It was indeed the morning, yet everything in his room made it seem still darker. The curtains were fully closed, the high walls with the deepest shade of black painting them and the minimal amount of lightning that was currently the only source of light, made it seem like there was a different sort of darkness that was draped over this room.

Indeed it was expected, it was Sebastian's room— The Alpha who was considered the ruler of darkness with venomous nature and all of his barbaric deeds.

"So you are finally, awake," He spoke, letting the coffee mug set on the side table and stood up.

I clutched the blanket tighter to me in reflex as he slowly walked closer to me.

I found myself pressing my back further into the headboard of the bed, the memories of last night kept flashing in front of my eyes.

He seemed to notice my hesitation and fearful shaky movements of my hand but didn't give away any reaction instead he sat just right in front of me, his gaze set on me in a non-receding way.

I kept my eyes focused on my lap, not wanting to face him at any cost.

Suddenly he tugged at the blanket causing it to slip from my hold and my entire upper half became exposed to his eyes.

I gasped out loud and tried to cover myself by pulling the blanket back but he halted my attempt by grabbing my wrist.

"Don't." This was his straight command said in his dangerously low voice.

My body submitted automatically, and I stopped.

Moments later, I found his fingers brushing over my belly traveling upward and stopping right before where he'd left his mark last night.

He reached towards the clip of the bandage and undressed the wound.

It surprised me when I finally realized that my wound was not left uncovered all night long. I was indeed wolf-less, but that did not mean that my senses were not at all comparable to the werewolves who could shift, and I could very well sense that there was none else who'd come into this room in the past twelve hours.

Within every particle of the air in this room, there was only one person's scent and this scent belonged to him.

So was it Sebastian who dressed my wound?

The feeling of Sebastian's fingers brushing over my skin broke the chain of my thoughts and I looked at him, biting down my lips to stop myself from quivering.

His stare was focused on his mark, and he began slowly tracing over his name carved onto my skin.

"Beautiful." He said.

Goosebumps covered my skin for some reason.

In his voice there laid a strange sort of amazement, much like the satisfaction I could sense from him.

Sparks raked my skin, but there was a slight burning sensation too because the wound was still raw.

His fingers moved from brushing over his mark to my breast, his slowly traced circles around my nipple.

I hated the way I felt every time he touched me—His touches made me all the things I shouldn't feel for a mate like him, and at the same time I felt disgusted by myself for feeling this way; I didn't even want to see his face.

He withdrew his hand from my breast and pulled me closer by my waist.

My eyes locked with his bewitching blue ones and my lips were inches away from brushing over his lips, I could feel the warmth of his breath and his calm steady heartbeats.

He did not make the eye contact last long instead he buried his head into my neck, tracing his nose upwards as he inhaled my scent.

I closed my eyes shut and fisted my hands to my sides to stop myself from making a sound or giving him any reaction at all.

A few minutes passed by with him taking in my scent before he finally spoke.

"I'll be going out today. Might be back within the night," He slowly pulled away, his hand around my waist did not move but he used his other hand to grab my jaw and tilt my face so that he could look right through my soul with his intense gaze.

"You are not allowed to leave the room until I come back, and...." he paused for a second while he pressed his claws against the skin on the side of my waist, "You know what'll happen if you dare to disobey me again, don't you?"

I hurriedly nodded, terrified and reluctant to go through the same horror again.

"Good girl," He finally pulled away and stood up from the bed.

My shoulders visibly relaxed and I let out a low sigh underneath my breath as I covered myself with the blanket once again.

"Here, take this," he handed me the first aid kid that was on the nightstand from the start, "Learn to heal your own wounds because nobody will do that for you."

I looked at the kit on my lap, his words rang inside my head in a loop.

He was right—Nobody would heal the wounds that he gave me, there was indeed none for me to do so; All I had was myself.

"You'll be staying in my room from now on, so a few maids might come from time to time to shift your clothes and stuff in here. Don't even bother to think that you can tell them your sob story and get help for another of your masterplan to escape, you will get that maid killed," He spoke whilst wearing his watch and spraying on his cologne.

"And about your punishment..." He  looked at me, a death glare taking place on his face, "I think you know the rest."

I did not dare to say anything, instead, I nodded to let him know that I was aware.

Thankfully he did not push the conversation further and grabbing his blazer from the closet, he walked out of the room, leaving the door shut as he disappeared from my sight.

I grabbed the first-aid kid and began dressing my wound on my own, deep down mentally preparing myself for the worst because I knew what was waiting for me after his arrival at night.



******



I looked at the night sky through the balcony, the moon seemed to shine bright and the soft light resembled glittering pearls.

There was a time when I used to feel a connection with the moon, its scars, its shine, and its brightness. But now I did not have any adoration left for it, it was as meaningless as my life was to me— Meaningless, empty, and shattered.

As the night advanced all my memories were stirring awake with the exceeding darkness of the night—Everything I had been through and everything that I might need to go through for survival.

Something it felt like...maybe this world wasn't for me, maybe I was supposed to be somewhere else.

Everyone here was full of selfishness and could only loathe one another; There was no good inside of them. Or maybe it was just my fate that I came across evil every time.

Either way, I didn't care for anything anymore.

I have had gotten my fair share of harsh rejection every time I tried to reach my destination. Now there were no reasons left to fight for.

Yesterday I got an innocent killed because of me and the regret was stabbing into my heart. I did not know how was I supposed to let out this grief heaving in my chest— Even my tears were refusing to fall anymore.

"I have always heard that you are the sign of, love, devotion, equality, and prosperity. When our souls were sent to this earth, they say you are the one who connected our souls to another making them a part of ours, the one who could be our strength in the time when we might have no hopes left to live," I spoke, looking at the moon, "Then why is that—You have made Sebastian Valdez my mate?! Why did you have to be so cruel every time it came to me? Why?!"

No answer came.

The goddess who was the one to write down the miseries in my fate chose silence as an answer.

"I know you won't answer, I know you are not even guilty, maybe you too relish seeing me suffer just like the one you cursed," A bitter chuckle slipped past my lips, "But, whether you answer or not, I want to tell you that— I had a lot of faith in you moon goddess. I used to trust you more than myself, I used to think that one day you will wipe away all my sorrows and griefs and write a happy ending for me but now I know, that pen of yours only rises to write misfortunes for me. You have only thrown me into one hell from another and now I bloody know that you are never ever going to let me find a way to happiness, you are cruel!"

"You didn't let me have my wolf by my side, you made her a shadow within me. You didn't let me have parents who would love me, you gave me greedy, disgusting people as parents who did not bother once before selling me. And lastly, you snatched my last hope from me— You gave me this cursed sadistic Alpha, Sebastian Valdez as my mate who wants to do nothing with me other than put me through hell!" I shouted, "What have you got by making my life a burden to me? How come this gives you so much peace?!"

Tears finally ran down my cheeks and a sob slipped past my lips.

I wanted to be strong, I did not want to cry and fall weak but I just....couldn't help it.

My whole life I had been waiting for the day when I'd be able to find true happiness, and get away from all my demons.

But now it seemed like there was nothing left. This life of mine would end up just like this— Fighting with this world and myself till my soul leaves my body.

"I hate you and your world, your ways of playing with lives and ruining them. I hate you, I fucking hate you!"

My cries and sniffles became the only sounds that could be heard in the silence of the night.

I was just so done with my life; I did not have any hope left within me. I was devasted, hopeless, and wishing for my death.

But then the sound of the room's door opening broke through causing me to stop; I hurriedly wiped my tears and ran inside the room from the balcony.

However, what I saw left me bewildered on my spot because it was not Sebastian. It was a woman.

She locked the door and removed her scarf to uncover her face as she looked at me.

"You might not know me, but I am here to tell you something you have the right to know."