Chapter 14

Harlow

"How are you settling in?"

"Considering I'm staying here against my will, I'm doing pretty well thanks for asking," I said sarcastically.

Malakai sighed "You're not a hostage Harlow".

"Yeah you're right, even hostages would've been given breakfast by now" I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the soft rumbling of my stomach. I was starving.

"We're actually headed for breakfast right now," He said in a matter of fact tone.

"What a generous captor you are," I gushed. My feet were killing me, I was practically waddling in pain trying to keep up with Malakai. Unlike Hamek, Malakai walked four times faster than me as his long legs gave him the advantage of speed. "Can you slow down" I grumbled, not expecting him to hear me.

But I assume he did as he lessened his vigorous pace and began walking as a normal person would. "I apologise, I forgot the circumstances of my company" He teased, gesturing to my trapped feet.

"But when I bury this shoe in your ass I'll be the bad guy" I muttered, which he also heard. He threw his head back and laughed. A sound that sent a rush of emotions over me, darkening my cheeks.

I want to hear that sound every day of my life.

"I really appreciate your sense of humour love" He complimented. The more we walked, the more I struggled too. My toes were cramping and I was at least thirty percent sure my ankles were bleeding. "I could carry you?"

I chuckled "I'd scratch you".

"And you call us the animals"

"Difference between you and I is I wouldn't give you rabies".

He smirked "I have my shots, and If I were to sink my teeth into you" He tilted his head "I guarantee that it'd be a pleasurable experience for both parties".

I thought about what he said for a moment "Is that what you want?" He looked at me in confusion "To bite me, do you just want to bite me? Is that what this is about?" I asked.

"Harlow what are you-

"I heard that werewolves bite their mates, is that what's going on here?" I furrowed my eyebrows "You want me here because you want to put your teeth in me?" He looked bewildered.

"Yes-No, no of course not that's not why you're here".

"Then why can't I leave?" I facepalmed "Well of course not for the obvious but it doesn't make sense that you're not torturing me in some prison or something".

"One, I would never lay a hand on you that wasn't for your pleasure or protected," He said quickly "And two, you're here because you're my soulmate, do you know what that means?"

"I find it incredibly endearing that you wolves base off your life partners off of animal instinct" I voiced out my opinion "All this attraction you feel for me isn't real, that dog inside of you is telling you that something is there when there isn't anything".

Malakai took a deep breath and stopped walking "It feels pretty real to me" He grabbed my arm and immediately those sparks erupted underneath where he held "And I'm sure it feels pretty real to you".

"You say that but if we weren't mates you wouldn't look twice at me," I ripped my arm out of his "To you, I'd be another pathetic weak human that you'd crush between your jaws" I narrowed my eyes at him "You also seem to have short term memory"

"You speak of things you do not understand Harlow" He warned. I saw that same gold ring, resurfacing underneath his pupils.

"Do I?" I taunted "You expect us to walk to breakfast and for me to act normal, as if I don't hate you and your kind" I snarled "The only reason why I haven't made an attempt on your life is because I'm finding it really fucking difficult to dislike you".

"That's the matebond" He seethed "You think I'm finding this mating easy? Your rebellion killed my best friend!"

I stopped and searched his eyes for a second before shaking my head. "No they didn't."

"I got sent his head in a fucking box Harlow, with your stupid slogan branded into his forehead am I supposed to believe that that's a coinicdence?"

"My rebellion didn't kill your Beta Malakai" I said softly "I did, I did it in cold blood and I would do it again even now that I know that I'm your 'mate'" i irquoted. Malakai stared at me in disbelief "And let me tell you something, it meant nothing to me".

"His life meant nothing but a ploy to get your attention, it wasn't personal. Hell I don't even remember his name" I told him honestly "But I held his body when his head was still attatched to it, and I ripped it clean off his shoulders, personally".

Malakai looked away and closed his eyes as his fists clenched and unclenched. His veins became more prominent out on his arms but surprisingly instead of lashing out he didn't. He simply took a deep breath and turned away from me "Let's just go to breakfast" He whispered before walking off, nto bothering to see if I was coming.

"I'm going to burn this palace to the fucking ground" I promised softly, knowing he'd hear me.

"And I'll rebuild it".

"Why on earth would you be a vegetarian out of your own free will?" Leo asked disgustedly.

"I'ved lived off the land for most of my life Leo" I deadpanned, taking a bite of my sandwich.

"Don't listen to him Harlow, I know plenty of people that share the same diet" Ivory encouraged with a comforting smiled. Leo raised an eyebrow.

"Don't flatter her, she's talking about the rabbits at the stables" Leo snarked making Ivory elbow him in his side. She shot me a sheepish smile telling me that Leo's remark although insulting was true.

"She doesn't know what she's talking about".

The room fell into silence as Malakai and the woman I saw the other day came into the dining hall. She was following him desperately, practically hanging off his arm as he stormed to his seat on the opposite side of the table. She immediately sat in the seat beside her and began whispering in hushed tones.

"That's Priscilla," Ivory told me, catching who I was staring at. "She's our royal Gamma" She explained. I nodded in understanding. "She is quite.." Ivory glanced at them "Close with the King".

I turned my attention away from them and looked at Ivory "Do you know if they've ever" I made a weird hand gesture with my fingers but I think she got it.

"Oh heavens no, Malakai's been waiting for his mate since I could remember" She assured me "They're just friends".

I nodded and went back to my meal. Unintentionally letting out a sigh of relief at Ivory's words. I tried my hardest to ignore the pair at the end of the table but I couldn't help but feel a green feeling in the pit of my stomach. Malakai let out a small chuckle, the first thing that had exited his lips since he walked into the DH but this time I felt bitter.

Priscilla smiled proudly and glanced at me through the corner of her eye. Yeah, they were just friends, but did she know that?