The Accused Mate

Chapter 4: Not Breaking My Will

Amara's POV

I couldn't scream. I was taken from my pack and made a prisoner in his own pack. For the first time I heard my father defend me. 

It made me feel happy even if it was for a moment. He had never taken me as his daughter all these years. 

I knew he didn't want to lose his last heir, but it was still better than not having him say a word in my favour. 

The men threw me into the cell and I crashed to the floor hitting my body hard. 

I groaned and lifted my face only to feel a sickening fist land on my face. 

"Murderer," he spat and I coughed. The blood choked in my throat and I let it out. 

I wanted to argue, to prove my innocence, but I didn't. What was the point? 

"What a loser?" The voice continued. "You had to kill your sister because you were dumped. Pathetic bitch!" 

The next thing I felt was his hand pulling my hair, making me yelp. I struggled and his hand smacked me. 

I was doomed. There was no one going to save me. 

When he lifted his fist, I gasped, closing my eyes and expecting the worst when a voice yelled. "Stop!"

I knew that voice, and opened my eyes. The man released me and I gasped.

I raised my gaze, watching Elias glare at the man. 

He stepped forward, looking pissed. "Who gave you the right to touch her?" 

The guard shifted, dropping his hand. "I…she…"

Before the guard could complete the words, Elias fist landed on his face and he fell. 

"Get out!" He commanded, and the man scrambled, running out. 

I sat up, trying my best not to look at him. 

"Look at me," he commanded, but I refused. 

"I won't ask again," he voiced and when I wouldn't raise my gaze. He crouched down and held my face up with his finger. 

The mate bond sparked, making it hard to breath and his emerald eyes flickered. 

"Are you here to kill me?" I asked, calmly. 

He kept silent, watching me. I laughed bitterly, and spat blood on his face. He dropped my face, and leanedd back, cleaning the blood with his palm. 

"Go on, Alpha. Say it," I said. "You believe I did it even when I said I didn't. So go on."

His jaw tightened and he stepped forward towards me. "Be quiet."

"Why?" I asked. "You wanted me dead," I pressed on. "So, do it. Finish it!"

He didn't move, only watched me and stormed out, slamming the door so hard that I winced. 

Lowering my face, I cried. Why was this happening to me? 

I stayed still, waiting for minutes until the iron door creaked again. Maybe he had returned to forgive me. I slowly rose and a slow deliberate clap echoed. 

I forced my head up again, and gnarled at the sight of Luther Cain. 

He smirked, and opened the cell door. 

"Poor little princess," he mocked. "Even your mate wants nothing to do with you."

"What do you want?" I asked, desperately wanting him out of my sight. 

"To see you. Sadly you don't look your best," he continued. 

I felt my blood boil and I snapped. "You bastard."

"You set me up," I hissed. "Why? Why did you do it? Why frame me?" 

He laughed. A mocking infuriating sound that made me want to kill him. 

"Because you are a disgrace to our pack. You were never supposed to exist," he murmured. 

My heart raced. What….?

Before I could demand an answer, the door creaked open once more.

A heavy wave of air swept through the cell, and the air chilled.

Elias stood in the doorway, his chest laboring, his face twisted into something not his own.

But his eyes. His eyes glowed.

Not the bright, keen green I was accustomed to.

Something was wrong.

"Luther," he growled, his voice thick with a menacing tremble. "Leave."

Luther hesitated by a second before rising, brushing the dust from his sleeves. "I was just sitting with her," he said to me, flashing a smile that sent a skitter of gooseflesh crawling over my body.

Elias stepped towards him, and the mood shifted about us.

Luther recovered his balance, his smile wavering for an instant. Then, once more looking back over at me, he departed the cell, shutting the door behind him. No sooner were we alone than tension snapped like a whip.

Elias walked rapidly, bridging the space between us in two steps. His eyes locked around my arms, drawing me upright.

I gritted back the scream of pain, my battered body protesting the rough motion.

"Let me go," I snarled.

But he didn't.

His fingers pressed deep into mine, his hand shaking a little, as if what he had in his grasp would shatter at any second.

He was breathing raggedly, his entire body strung taut, his pulse thudding against the column of his throat.

And his eyes were still blazing bright. Then he spoke. "I, Alpha Elias Beaumont…"

His voice seized. And it felt like the words were caught in his throat. 

The matebond connection constricted us tight like a garrote, searing through my veins, drawing off the both of us. 

His breath stuck, his fingers unclenching.

"Get it over with," I taunted, thrusting out my chin. "Don't stop now. You coward."

He tried to. I could sense him trying.

His lips opening, his jaw tensing, his body contorting in effort…And then, nothing.

The rejection would not be so easy.

Elias stepped back, his hand flying to his chest as though pierced.

He hissed harshly, his fingers spastic in a cramp at his shirt, his eyes bugging wide with horror.

I stared, my heart pounding. The bond would not break.

"Elias," I breathed.

His head snapped up, and for an instant I was not looking at him, but something else. 

Something dark, alien, monstrous blazed in those light green eyes. 

I felt the world spin and a sickness washed over me, and for the first time since I was in this cell. I felt something dark crawl around me. 

I took in a breath. 

"Elias," I tried again, my voice this time softer.

He blinked.

And for a second, the sparkle in his eyes shuddered, as though something that was dead inside of him was coming to life.

His shoulders jerked up and down unsteadily, his mouth opened, and his breathing was labored.

My heart struck my ribs hard.

"What's going on with you?" I panted.

He regarded me, the fear in his eyes now no longer solely for me, but for himself.

Then the lights blinked madly, and the air hissed.