Ruthless Alpha's Mate

Chapter 4

JANA

My father's harsh glance fell on my face. His looks hinted at what was about to come.

Anaya, my wolf, was terrified of my father's frightening appearance. She's afraid of him, that is probably why she didn't surface sooner, and why my beta father was unaware of her existence, but I'm certain Anaya knows everything he did to me.

Anaya can sense how my own father mistreated me, and she can now see how he abused me. His long pointed nails graze my flesh as he tightly grips my arms, preventing me from fleeing and hiding.

"Return inside and claim Alpha Ashton as your mate, Jana!" My father gave me the command, but I refused.

I'm not going to do it, and I'm not planning on getting any closer to Alpha Ashton again.

I know he won't treat me as his mate because he already proved it to me a while ago. He wouldn't disgrace me in front of everyone who is meant to respect me if he valued me as his equal and the Luna of this pack. But that didn't happen because he humiliated me. He intensified the misery and pain in my heart. I wasn't expecting this because I believe in fairy tales.

Previously, the elder would tell me that my mate and I shared a special bond and connection. There's no way we can both refuse, but it didn't happen in my situation because Alpha Ashton treasured his reputation.

What should I do if I want to be with him?

I'm an Omega, and it's a shame for Alpha Ashton that I'm his mate and he can't accept it.

Anaya and I are both heartbroken.

If I had the opportunity to claim my mate and he was prepared to accept and respect me, I would gladly run back to him, but not like this, where he explicitly stated that he only wanted my virginity, and that is all that matters to him. It hurts, and it feels like my heart is being ripped apart.

I'm sad, but I need to be strong and get my senses.

"Jana, don't act foolishly. Follow my advice," my father added, as he tightly held my arm.

"You have the opportunity to convince me that you deserve to be my daughter and not just a useless Omega."

He's giving me orders as if I have no power to decide what's best for me.

He doesn't care if Alpha Ashton treats me well or not, because his current priorities are to seize the opportunity to regain a high position and to maintain his status and reputation.

"I apologize, father. Alpha Ashton despises me, therefore I can't do that. He doesn't like me as his Luna. Instead, he only wants to abuse me for one night," I stated that to my father, hoping he would grasp the true situation between me and the new alpha.

"I don't need any of your silly excuses, Jana. When I tell you to do it, obey me!" my father said angrily. He drags me back to the pack house's front gate, telling me I should go inside.

He is powerful, and the only thing I can do now is to beg him to let me go.

My tears began to fall down my cheeks, but he was unconcerned. My father has a strong heart, and it appears that his sole concern right now is for me to convince Alpha Ashton to accept me.

I'm sick of battling and appearing to be tough, but my father is driving me to my breaking point.

"No, dad, please don't do this to me," I said, pleading with him not to drag me back into the pack house.

I am certain that I will suffer greatly if my father succeeds. I will face another humiliation that everyone will continue to mock and tease me over.

Alpha Ashton is conceited. Even though I'm his mate, he won't do anything to help me. He will undoubtedly add to my misery, which is something I do not wish to happen.

I try to push my father's hand away, but he uses his other hand and slaps me hard. I don't care if he murders me here in front of a pack house, but I swear to myself that no matter what happens, I will never set foot inside again.

"Father, please let me go," I pleaded while looking straight into his eyes.

"I beg you," I said, but he didn't listen.

My father gave me a lethal gaze. By the way he looked at me, I know how angry he is right now because I keep refusing him.

He is reaching to his goal, but he is losing his temper because I disagreed with him.

I know he won't let me leave, but I'm still hoping to save myself from more suffering if my father succeeds.

I yanked my father's hand with all my strength and pushed him with my right hand and he let me go. I took off quickly with only one thought in my head. I need to run as quickly as I can and not look back.

I vividly hear my father cursing me and calling me all sorts of derogatory names, but I don't care any longer.

I can feel the chilly breeze on my skin as I run rapidly; my feet hurt from stepping on some sharp objects, but it doesn't stop me from running. Finally, I reached home. No one was around, so I quickly ran to my room. I lock the door and sit on the edge of my bed.

"Jana, our father might kill us if he sees us here," Anaya sadly whispered on the back of my head.

I can feel her fear and vice versa, so I know she's terrified. Right now, only me and my wolf Anaya will face my parent’s wrath. She is aware that he will not let this pass without causing us harm, and that by the time my father arrives home, he will undoubtedly punish me for what I have just done.

"Let's go, Jana; I'm afraid. For sure when Father returns home and discovers us here, he will murder us," Anaya implored.

"Anaya, I don’t know where to go, staying outside the pack, let alone wandering around without directions is risky."

"Do you want to die here, Jana, in the hands of our own father?" Anaya’s voice sounds so sorrowful.

"I'm sorry, I'm not strong enough, Anaya. I'm scared to run away," I answered softly.

I'm completely aware of what will happen to me if I try to flee. Either the pack guards arrested me and executed me, or I fled here and ran to the neighboring territory, where I was captured by other pack warriors. Both will result in my terrible death because even if I choose one, someone will kill me in the end.

"We remain optimistic, Jana, once we get out of here, we have a chance. Don't give our parents another opportunity to harm us. Please give it some thought," Anaya attempted to persuade me

I straighten up and wipe the tears from my cheek. Anaya is correct; we must take risks rather than continue to allow my parents to harm me.

"Jana, we need to get moving. I feel our parents are about to arrive. I can smell them." Anaya is plainly anxious to leave this house and run away, and I can sense it. My parent’s acclaimed joyful home turns out to be a prison in hell for me.

I'm grateful that Anaya is currently with me. At the very least, I no longer feel so isolated. I have her, and I must be strong for her as well.

I'm zipping up my bag, which contains all of my old clothes, when my door crashes open and my father walks in. His attention landed on my luggage as he took a step closer to me, a harsh gaze in my direction.

"So you planned to leave!" he said, coldly, while eyeing the bag in my hand.

"D-dad."

I swallow the lump in my throat while gripping the bags tightly in my palm. My father immediately grabbed my neck and began to squeeze it while hanging me up.

I want to say something, but nothing comes out of my mouth. He's gripping my neck tightly, and even grabbing his arms is futile because my father is stronger than me. I'm losing my breath as my eyes blur. I tried shaking my head, but my father was on the verge of killing me.

"It's better for you to die in my hands if I can't get anything out of you! You're useless to me if you don't accept Alpha Ashton!" I blink twice as my father yells at me. I thought my heart was used to his abuse, but not now that I'm hearing all of his remarks.

"Accept Alpha Ashton as your mate, and make sure that he accepts you! I don't care if you open your leg and seduce him, as long as you get the title that is rightfully yours!" Before he tossed me on his feet, he ordered me once more.

The pain poured through my body as a result of my quick fall, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart as a result of his words and behavior.

"I want you to return to the pack house tomorrow and beg Alpha Ashton to forgive you. He will not deny you because you are his mate. You two have a deep bond, so don't mess up this opportunity, Jana," my father stated solemnly.

These are his final remarks before leaving and violently opening and closing my door. He abandons me on the chilly floor after kicking me twice in the stomach and lamenting my fate."

"I'm sorry; Jana, but I can't help you right now. I don't want anyone to find out that you have me now for your own good," Anaya sadly stated while attempting to comfort me.

"Why, Anaya?" I asked curiously.

Her remarks have confused me. I'm not sure why she feels the need to conceal when we both know it's a great opportunity for me to show everyone in this pack land that I'm not a cursed Omega. I have my own wolf, and I'm really proud of her.

"Someday you'll know, the truth will come out at the perfect time," Anaya added.

"I'm perplexed, Anaya; why can't you tell me now?"

I'm so eager to learn the truth that it bothers me that Anaya is keeping something from me. I have a feeling there's a lot more I need to know, but her words keep flowing through my mind, leading me to assume she knew something I needed to know. I want to ask her more questions, but Anaya stays at the back of my mind. She remained silent, and I did not hear her say anything.

"It's perfectly fine if you don't want to tell me right now. Anaya, I'm hoping you won't keep secrets from me," I murmured softly.

She remained silent until I heard my mother's loud voice. She's returned, and judging by her tone, she's still upset with me. In any case, I'm not surprised; perhaps I was expecting it. Luna Ashana has definitely told my mother about what happened earlier at the pack house.

I can't blame Luna Ashana; she's a good person who has been deceived by her son's falsehoods. I know Alpha Ashton won't tell her the truth because if he truly cherishes me as his mate, he won't hurt me in this way. He will not disgrace me in front of everyone, causing even more turmoil in my life.

I have no idea what the moon goddess has in store for me. I keep praying that she will bless me and allow me to meet my mate one day. Yes, it happened, but I don't understand why Alpha Ashton treated me this way. He was meant to love and care for me in the same manner that other male wolves cared for their mates, but it was so painful that he didn't cherish what the moon's goodness had given us.

He chose to use and hurt me, and I can't let him have me in this way. I'm eager to find my mate, but not with someone who treats me the same way my parents did.

I made a decision to save myself from further torment and pain. I will not accept Alpha Ashton as my mate as long as he does not treat me properly, and I will not retract my refusal…