Alpha's Abused Mate.

Ivan...

"We are all facing difficulties, some of them are conditions and some of them are... Human beings..."

~two days later ~

Cora's pov

It has been two days since I started living in the palace with my family and friends. And... 

Ivan... 

I have a big room between my aunt and Ivan's rooms, every type of clothes you can imagine, I have met with everyone who lives in here and some of our best fighters and I was guided by my aunt and grandpa at the whole palace.

Cynthia is my personal savior, I already can't imagine my life without her and we have talked a lot about my past and our future. 

Mischa and Rosana are most of the day with me and yesterday I took my first training lesson from Ivan.

This man is insane, he is so rough and rude, I can't stand him at all and he hates me, he is going to tortume me until I am done...

Right now I am trying to sleep again as I woke up for water some time ago and I need some more sleep and rest for tomorrow morning...

I close my eyes and relax. Everything is going to be alright and tomorrow is a new day even if Ivan is in it too...

------

"Wake up!"

I jump up scared from someone's shout. 

Yeah... Not someone's... 

Ivan's...

"What the hell are you doing here so early?" I yell annoyed.

"If you want me to train you then you will do whatever I say when I say it and how I say it. Get up and get ready. We are leaving." he says serious.

"It wasn't my choice to get trained by you firstly. Secondly, I am not taking orders from you and thirdly where are we going and who?" I ask angrily.

He smirks and walks next to my bed. He leans close to my face and stares at me in the eyes. I raise my eyebrows ironically waiting for his answer and he grabs me from my arm shaking from anger.

"Don't you piss me off more than you already have... I am your trainer and I decide about everything related to you. Until you become the Queen I decide about everything. And I don't have to inform you about anything except from the basics. Now move." he whispers through his teeth and leaves my arm.

He doesn't leave, he just stays there staring at me smirking. I get up like a flash fuming from anger and walk to the bathroom. Before I get in I realize that I am wearing only a short nightdress which my aunt gave me and I blush ashamed. I turn around and catch him still staring at me.

"Asshole!" Cynthia roars in my mind asking me to let her rip him into pieces.

"Do you like what you see? What the heck are you looking at!? Leave and wait for me outside!" I yell.

"Sure... Don't get happy Your Majesty, I could never like a woman like you. Your hair... Awful. Your body... Nothing special. Your brain... Zero. Confidence? Down zero. No logical man would have ever liked you for real..." he says while walking outside the room and closing the door silently behind him.

"Don't you dare listen to him!" Cynthia shouts outraged.

"You know he is right, I mean no one ever loved me. Only you can make me special now." I whisper ready to cry.

He is right, Noah never liked me, he hated me. My family too. And Darren... 

He was just crazy for my mother and I was the closest he had to her. I am an i***t, ugly, useless fool. 

I sigh and walk to the closet. I want to scream and cry, shout and break everything.

"I promise you I will kill him. He is playing with you because you are taking the throne from him. Don't trust him and don't believe him Cora. We are perfect, you are too strong, you just haven't realized it yet. Do it for Miles. Make him proud of his mother." Cynthia says with sympathy.

"I will try. Just keep on encouraging me!"

"I will. Don't forget Mischa, Rosana, your aunt and grandpa. We are all here."

I nod and open the door for the closet room. I get in and look for training clothes. After some minutes I decide I will wear black sport trousers and a dark blue sports bra. I put them on and make my short hair a small low ponytail. I put on a pair of black Nike shoes and get out of the room determined not to let him make me feel sorry for myself again.

"I will never let him find out what I have passed through. He will never know about Miles, Noah, Darren, my family and pack. I won't let him stop me. I will ask from the others not to tell him anything. He can say whatever he wants, I know what I lived and suffered to stay alive in the end." I say before I get out to him.

"Now we are talking baby!" Cynthia howls and I giggle.

I get out of the room to find him waiting for me with his back on the wall and his arms crossed in front of his chest. He is also wearing sport clothes and he looks to be deep in thoughts. Once he sees me he stands up properly and I walk next to him smiling. 

I will play with his nerves too...

"Now tell me what is so important for you and you made me get up at 4 o'clock in the morning when they are all still sleeping." I ask with interest.

"You need to start from the basics. Your lycan might be strong but she needs to get used to all the types of grounds and weather conditions. We are going for a big run in the forest." he says and begins walking.

"Good." I whisper and follow him downstairs and outside the palace.

We walk through the garden and reach the first trees of the forest. It is still dark, it is snowing slightly and it is too cold but from the moment I shifted I am fine with everything and it doesn't bother me.

"Go behind a tree, take off your clothes, hide them and shift. You know how to do that, right?" he asks smirking.

"Jerk!" Cynthia whispers rolling her eyes annoyed.

"If I don't know, will you show me trainer?" I ask with puppy eyes sarcastically.

He growls and takes one step reaching some inches away from me. I giggle and tap his cheek playfully. He grabs my hand and pulls me on him with power. His eyes turn black, he holds my hand tightly but I don't feel any pain. It's his wolf that has control now, I didn't know I could be that annoying...

"And your name is?" I ask him smiling.

He lets out a low angry growl and takes a deep breath wrapping his other hand around my waist.

"Vital. " he says through his teeth.

I smirk and Cynthia gets ready for her appearance. I take one step back in my mind and let her lead, it's her turn.

"Cynthia, your next Queen. And now I think you said it's time for training..." she whispers wickedly and pushes him away suddenly.

She walks calmly behind a big tree and takes off our clothes. She gives me full control once we stay naked and hide the clothes under the tree and I shift quickly thinking about my lycan form. I groan once I shift and get out from behind the tree waiting for Ivan. After some seconds a black big wolf with light green eyes appears and stares at me amused.

"What is he looking at?" I ask Cynthia annoyed.

"We are pretty, you know..." she whispers smirking.

I roll my eyes from her comment and take one step to Ivan pointing the forest with my head. I am excited, I can see so clear even if it is dark and I love so much the snow and the nature.

"Follow me and try to get used to the ground, the rocks and the environment. You have to be able to run and fight inside the forest like there are no obstacles and difficulties around you." he says and I nod.

He begins running and I follow him immediately. 

We are not running very fast, he gives me time to get used to everything around me. The ground has lots of ups and downs, snow, hidden rocks under the snow and I try to be careful and observing.

We continue like this for some time when he raises his speed and turns to look at me checking if I am alright. When he gets sure I am fine and I can follow him easily he speeds up more and we reach a big high cliff full of rocks, broken trees, thumbs and roots that are getting out of the ground. 

Perfect... 

He begins running up the cliff without waiting for me and I stay behind as the ground is too icy and I try not to lose my balance and fall down. I stay so back that I lose him from my sight and I get angry. 

Asshole!

"Once you get to the top run down the cliff and come to find me at the small lake some kilometers after it. Try to catch my scent in order to find me and get hurry cause I won't wait for too long." he tells me through the link and before I manage to answer he blocks me.

"Cynthia, you are not the only one that wants to kill him. I agree with you from now on." I scream.

"Don't worry, we can make it in time. Let's just focus." she replies calmly.

I continue running up the cliff and after some minutes I reach its top and jump excited. It is beautiful from up here, the view is breathtaking even in the darkness. I begin running down the cliff when I take a strong scent and Cynthia begins growling angry.

"Werewolves Cora!"

I stop and stare around me trying to see any move or hear any noise when a grey wolf jumps from somewhere on my right and lands on me. We fall on the ground with him on top of me and he tries to bite my neck.

"Give me full control now!" Cynthia screams.

I do, I give her control and let her handle it in her own way. 

She pushes him off of us with our big paws and lifts her head up grabbing him from the neck. He howls in pain and tries to get free from her hold but he is not as big as we are and not that strong. She holds him for some more seconds before she lets him fall down on the ground liveless.

We stand up in time when another dark brown wolf appears in front of us and start to attack us but this time we are ready. He jumps on us but when he reaches some inches away Cynthia lifts up her back feet and hits him with so much power that sends him back and he falls on the ground dizzy howling in pain.

I turn around when I hear another growl from behind me and see three wolves walking slowly to me. I growl warning them to stop but they ignore me and the one in the middle runs quickly attacking me. I begin running too and jump on him when we reach some meters away from each other. I hit him with my paw and grab him from his head. We fall on the ground and being catching up the one above the other. He lets out a loud howl when we stop on a tree and he hits his head on a rock.

I stand up and run to the other two wolves that are attacking me at the same time. I block the first of them, he loses his balance and falls on the ground in front of me. I grab him from the neck and rip his throat out in a second. I get ready to block the other wolf but when he reaches some meters away Ivan jumps in front of me out of nowhere and breaks his jaw leaving him fall down bleeding intensively.

I take one step back and look around me quite calm considering what I did alone for the first time. I am not even trained and I have not even a scratch on me. I know I am a lycanthrope and not a common werewolf like them but still I can't believe it. 

Cynthia howls proud of us in my mind and I laugh excited, we did it!

Ivan turns to me immediately and examinates me carefully as I am looking at him confused!

Is he really worried? 

Maybe because my aunt and grandpa would kick his ass if anything had happened to me but I really don't understand him. 

He makes one circle around me observing my body extensively. I growl lowly and begin to walk towards the lake when he groans and blocks my way. I show him my teeth angrily and he growls. I try to pass by him but he keeps on blocking me. I stop shaking from anger and stare at him trying not to attack him. His eyes turn green which means that Vital is in control and Cynthia relaxes a bit and purrs making me groan annoyed. 

Silly female...

"Are you alright Cynthia?" Vital asks through the link with wary.

"Perfectly fine. Don't worry, it wasn't that difficult." she replies almost with nozzle.

And then...He leans on us and rubs his nose on our neck purring.

The hell!

"Stop it i***t!" I scream and take full control immediately without informing her.

I block her without waiting for her reaction and growl walking away from Ivan. He follows me and his eyes turn back to the usual for Ivan black color.

"At least you could stay alive for some minutes... " He commends through the link smirking.

"You are an asshole Ivan but you know what?! I don't care about your stupidity and hatred. I have more important things to do..." I say.

"Such as? Become an attractive woman, find a man that will manage to stand you and try to become a good mother? You may manage something from these because as a Queen you will fail completely..."

I stop and turn to look at him serious. 

I will surely not let him know about Miles and my past, he will always try to use it against me, he won't feel a thing.

He will always hate me...

~later, night~

I am in my aunt's room with her and Rosana. After the dinner we decided to stay for some hours awake to talk and get to know each other better.

"I still can't believe what happened Cora. That was too close..." Rosana says worried.

We are still talking about the incident I had at the forest early in the morning today and she is still a bit shocked from what I told her.

"Can I change trainer auntie? This man is insane, he hates me." I ask her desperately.

"Why my little rose?" she asks.

"I can't stand him. I am telling you he would have gladly kill me if he could. I can't discuss with him, we don't understand each other. Maybe you, grandpa and Mischa can train me."

She smirks and looks Rosana meaningfully. I look at them confusing and sigh annoyed.

What was that for?

"My little rose he is the most appropriate trainer for you. He will never try to hurt you because we will kill him immediately. You are his future Queen either he likes it or not. Also he is a good man even if he seems to be otherwise."

"Excuse me? Good man this pig? He is insulting me all the time, I am telling you he has serious problems with me." I complain.

"Come on Cora. Just accept it for now. He can't be that bad." Rosana says smiling.

I roll my eyes pissed off and sigh.

"At least make me a favour and don't tell him anything about my past. I don't want him to know. He will never understand what I have been through..."

They both nod in agreement and we stay silent for some minutes until my aunt speaks up.

"Ivan lost his parents five years ago and after this he became serious and distant. I was already training him when they died and I can see the difference. He was so hurt and angry... Some months later he was quite better but his mood changed again suddenly and I never managed to find out the reason. He may seem tough but he was always a kind and sweet kid. He just needs time to open up. He wanted so much to become King and it is logical to be in pain and frustration. He is disappointed, that's all but he is a man with honour and puts his duty above everything. I asked him to train and make you the best of all and he will. Trust him my little rose."

"Easy to say it when you are not in my place aunt. He reminds me of..." I whisper and pause.

I stand up from the armchair I am sitting and walk to my aunt on the couch. She raises her hand for me, I sit next to her and bury myself in her embrace.

It hurts damn it. 

Noah's thought still hurts, this man killed me even though I was his mate. I trusted him with my heart and what he did? He never stopped hurting me. Even when we lost Miles he tried to kill me and lied to save me and continue torturing me.

"Talk to us baby." Rosana whispers.

"Noah... Ivan reminds me of Noah. They are cold and distant, rough and without weaknesses. They have no heart, I can feel that, Noah was always like this. He was being nice to me only on purpose if he wanted something and so does Ivan. I won't change my mind about him."

They nod in understanding and after some time I excuse myself and begin to go back to my room leaving them talking. I am ready to get in my room when I listen to a loud groan from the stairs and Cynthia tells me to go and check on it. I walk towards the stairs quickly to find Ivan drunk trying to get upstairs. I stay speechless staring at him for some seconds until he falls towards the front and I rush to help him.

I try to help him stand up and he groans annoyed once he sees me.

What an i***t man? He can't stand it but he drinks, like I said, pig!

"From all the people who are in this damn palace why you again?" he yells and pushes me away.

I take one step back and stare at him for some seconds without knowing what to say or what to do. 

He seems lost, confused and hurt?

"Do you want me to help you get to your room?" I ask worried.

"I want you to suffer just like I am from the moment you came into my life and took me everything I was wishing for." he whispers.

No Cora, do not answer him in his condition...

I nod in understanding and try to help him walk up the stairs but he pushes me again and I lose my balance. I fall behind and hit my back at the corner of the top stair. I let out a low cry from the sudden pain and he opens his eyes widely like he is waking up from his drunk. He manages to stand properly and walks up the next three stairs almost reaching me and loses his balance falling on me with power.

His whole body falls on mine and he growls confused with his eyes closed. I try to push him off of me gently but he grabs my hands, opens his eyes a bit sleepy and leans his face one inch from mine. I take his scent and my whole body shudders, I don't know what I feel, it's so confusing and mysterious. He sighs and I feel his hot exhale full of vodka's scent. I close my eyes and turn my head on my left avoiding eye contact with him. He frees my arms, grabs my jaw with his right hand and forces me to look at him.

I lose my breath, my heart starts beating fast, I begin shaking and I feel warmth all over my body the second my eyes meet his half opened and he caresses my chin. He moves his gaze from my eyes to my lips and smirks.

"I wish you were dead. I hope you have a life like living hell." he whispers and laughs wickedly.

I feel my heart breaking, I feel a sharp pain in my head and gasp for air. I just can't...

Cynthia howls frustrated and I push Ivan away from me and rush downstairs like someone is chasing me.

It's like the first night that Noah rapped me almost till death and left me bleeding alone without caring. That night....

By the time I get outside the palace I have tears on my eyes and I stand on my shaking feet with difficulty. I can't breathe, I can't think, I just feel something drowning me.

"Cora?" Mischa sounds from behind me.

Where did he come from?

I turn to him and fall in his arms crying and sobbing. He caresses my back and hair gently without speaking.

"Why?" I ask him through my sobs.

"Why what?"

"Why am I still alive?" I ask with complaint.

"Because you were always strong and only you can manage to change your life and become stronger. I don't know anyone else able to do what you did."

"I tried to die..."

"It was not meant to be. You are here."

"I still find my past standing in front of me. I can't bear it."

"What reminds you of your past sweetheart?"

"He is like Noah..." I whisper trembling.

"Who?" he asks confused. 

"Ivan..."