HERMIONE'S POV
"Traitor! Slave forever! How could you dare conspire with your brother to kill the Alpha King's mate!" Another slap struck my face.
Today was my 18th birthday, a day I had long anticipated as my escape from this nightmarish life. It was the perfect moment, for no one knew that my birthday coincided with that of the Alpha King. I had saved up enough to flee, my belongings carefully hidden beneath my makeshift wooden bed. Once the feast concluded, and I was no longer required to participate, I planned to slip away unnoticed. I would evade all prying eyes, return home, retrieve my belongings, and follow the escape route I had practiced countless times to the tribe's boundary.
However, in the present moment, I found myself coerced into kneeling on the ground, my body bearing the marks of numerous blows, accused of the gravest of crimes.
They were convinced that my brother and I had joined forces to murder the Alpha King's betrothed, and my belongings were considered evidence of premeditation. Unfortunately, I had been apprehended!
"Where's your brother Benjamin?! Speak!" Gamma's spittle landed on my face as he forcefully twisted my chin, compelling me to meet his gaze.
"Tell us! Where did your brother hide the Alpha King's betrothed?!"
"I... I don't know..." I shook my head, the pain in my jaw causing tears to flow uncontrollably. I had repeated this statement a million times, but no one believed me...
"How dare you lie! He's your brother! How could you not know that!!! Do you still hold out hope that your mate will come to your rescue?" Gamma jeered, producing the 18th birthday candle I had prepared for myself from my belongings.
"Ahahaha!" Laughter erupted from the crowd. "I bet this omega's mate is just like her—an omega."
"So what? Even if I am an omega? I would still refuse her without hesitation! Who would want a traitor as their mate?" One of the omegas kicked me in the ribs again.
A muffled cry escaped my lips.
"Gamma! Put an end to this traitor! The Alpha King will undoubtedly reward your actions!" The crowd's chants grew louder.
"One final chance, tell the truth." Gamma's expression turned sinister. He extended his claws, pressing them against my throat with force, cutting off my air supply.
"I... I don't..." Swallowing had become arduous. Just as I thought I was nearing the brink, a deep voice intervened.
"No... Stop!" An authoritative voice pierced through the crowd. Suddenly, a strong hand flung Gamma aside, and he crashed to the ground in agony.
Everyone stared, taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.
I collapsed onto the ground, my strength insufficient to grasp the unfolding situation. My hair was matted with blood, dirt smearing my face. It felt as though all the air had been sucked out of me. Mother, Father, I could no longer endure this suffering. Just as I closed my eyes, a powerfully built man in a black suit knelt before me.
I didn't need to raise my head to identify him; his overwhelming presence shrouded me like an ominous cloud. Alpha King!
In my haze, my chin was lifted by a large hand, fierce eyes akin to those of a hawk locked onto me. "So you're the audacious slave who dared betray me?"
The searing heat on my chin made me want to pull away from his grip, but suddenly, as our skin touched, a tingling sensation spread across my flesh. A captivating scent infiltrated my nostrils. Then, a potent surge coursed from my neck down to my spine, inducing uncontrollable shivers.
Mate?!
Alpha King was my mate?! Was he here to rescue me?
My mouth opened, poised to declare that I was his mate, but his grip on my throat tightened.
"No, you're not," his voice was frigid, his gaze brimming with murderous intent, akin to a demon from the depths of hell.
Another shiver coursed through me.
"Ah uh-" I couldn't breathe. I grasped his hand that was on my neck, trying to pull his hand away.
He's not here to save me! He wants me dead as much as those people do. But why? Why would the Moon Goddess assign me a mate to a man who wishes me dead, she must be joking with me!
Why?! Why is fate so cruel to me! I had once hoped that my mate would rescue me from this agony, but the irony is, from the moment he recognized me, he denied me.
Even worse, he wanted to kill me.
Haha ha, how ridiculous! Thinking of this, my tears fell uncontrollably, and it was as if I had completely lost my motivation to live...
The man released his grip on my hand and looked down at me and sneered. "Alpha King can't have a slave mate. Now tell me, where is Benjamin?"
My heart sank as my eyes widened, looking at him in disbelief.