Page 19 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

Chapter 4 - Athena

Athena shivered, an unfamiliar cold draft biting her arms. She blinked awake groggily, squinting in the faint glow of a lone bulb dangling above.

Disoriented, she looked around. Stone walls boxed her in, a chair holding her at the room’s center. That woke her up quick. She jerked upright, shaking off a dizzy spell, her pulse hammering.

Where was she?

Have I been kidnapped?

She clenched her fists, piecing together what she could remember. A car, Marcus, his injury, her apartment, Riley, Marcus, the syringe...

Fear surged to the front of her mind, choking her. “Riley!” Her voice broke, raw and desperate. Where was he?

She tugged her arms, but sharp pain stabbed her wrists. Glancing back in horror, she realized. Silver cuffs bound her, blocking her magic.

No. No. No. “Riley!” She yanked harder, the metal biting.

“He’s safe.” His voice cut through, familiar, unmistakable.

Marcus stepped into view, his face catching the bulb’s faint shine. His lips were drawn into a straight line. His eyes were darker, and he shot her a cold look. That piercing gaze. She had seen it before.

“Hello. Aza Nath.”

“You!” She surged through the chains. “What do you want from me?” She gritted her teeth.

“What do I want from you?” he asked rhetorically.

“Your occupation has been causing too much harm, don’t you think?” he questioned, circling her.

“Apologies, I didn’t know teaching children was fucking dangerous,” she scoffed. “What. Do. You. Want. From. Me? Where am I?”

“Oh, don’t act smart with me,” he snapped. “I know what you are. You are not just a mother in hiding, witch.”

What? Her glamor was still on. And from the way he addressed her earlier. Her cover had not blown. How did he know that? Had he sensed her magic from their close contact yesterday? But she had been careful. Very careful.

“I have to tell you I’m impressed,” he continued.

“Many witches don’t hide their cover for so long. Especially dark witches.” His eyes darkened.

Dark witch?

“I’m not a dark witch,” she shot back. It wasn’t a lie.

“You all say the same thing,” he countered dryly. “And you blended in so well. I almost thought I was after the wrong dark witch.”

“That’s because you are after the wrong witch. I don’t practice dark magic.”

He didn’t bother to hide the uninterested tone in his voice. “You’re not the first witch I’ve hunted, Aza. So you should know that I’m aware of what I’m doing.”

Hunt. The four-letter word hit her.

He was a hunter. She scoffed in realization.

How? Did he not assume the role of Alpha of the Moon Ridge Pack just to develop his hate for witches into a purpose? She shook her head internally. This wasn’t the time to be curious about how he had lived his life.

She needed him to believe her.

“You have the wrong person. I promise you,” she explained, but it only fell on his deaf ears.