Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Alexander hadn't slept a wink all night long. All his emotions were messed up. Hell, he didn't even know which were his anymore.

Goddess, he was frustrated!

He was confused by his own emotions. This minute he was upset and the next, he was all happy and bubbling.

He could tell the happiness was coming from her but what the heck was she happy about?

That she was locked up in a cell?

She was confusing and it was killing him 'cause he didn't know how to block out her emotions.

'Maybe you should stop trying to,' Max advised offhandedly for the umpteenth time that morning, still bubbling with joy to have found his mate.

'Instead of you bubbling like a maniac for having a mate, why don't you think of the problem that comes with it?' He replied, irritated at his wolf who couldn't care less.

'Care to enlighten me on these numerous problems?' Max asked sarcastically.

'For starters, we have been betrothed by the Council,' Alex stated, sounding upset

'It's a good thing we can have them both then,' max replied, sounding even more excited.

'You're utterly useless.'

Alex proclaimed before blocking him out.

••••••

Mia was going through shit in the cell. She hadn't slept a second as she kept having to fight to keep her emotions at bay.

She felt angry all the time which wasn't something she was in any way accustomed to. She could count on her fingertips how many times she had been angry in her lifetime. And in just one night, she felt so much rage. She knew where it was coming from though. She wasn't oblivious that it was from her mate.

How could one man have so much anger in him and what was making him so upset anyways? He wasn't the one locked up.

She already liked his voice and his statue but most certainly not his emotions. They weren't her thing and she even considered trying to lock the bond but she didn't. She doubted if she could.

"Miss, it's time to get cleaned up,"

Gerald called out to her from outside the cell where he had been standing all night.

Didn't they sleep?

"I'll rather not, Let me die in here in my filth!" She yelled dramatically.

Gerald sighed in frustration, "Soothe yourself."

She eyed him bitterly.

She wasn't used to anyone being so dismissive of her.

"Fine, fine! I'll take the bath, you scrawny old man,"

She said, offended

"Very well then," He replied and then turned to face his side, saying, "Get Anne,"

He said to the other guard by his side whose name, Mia still didn't know even after trying to get him to tell her nearly all night.

He gave a curt nod before walking off briskly. He was a man of few words.

"Hey, you. Gerald," Mia said trying to get the attention of Gerald who seemed tired.

"What is it again this time?"

Yes, he was indeed tired, not from the lack of sleep, but because of all her rumbling from last night.

She was troublesome and Gerald wished he could take a break… a very long break.

"I'm really hungry. Could you tell your guards to get me something to eat?" She pouted even when his back was turned to her and he couldn't see her making cute faces at him.

Against his better judgment, Gerald turned towards her and his rejection of her request got stuck in his throat when he saw her eyes. They were so innocent and pure and although her face was still coated in mud, he dared not say no.

"Fine," He replied and she cheered lightly, bringing a smile to his face.

"Thanks." She was sincerely grateful for her ability to convince anyone to do her bidding, except for her mate.

After waiting a few more minutes, a short-looking maid walked into the cell with a cloth in her hands. She was accompanied by two other maids who bore in their hands, buckets of water and bathing appliances.

Mia had never had to take her bath with so many watchful eyes in her life and although the guards had their backs turned to her, she still felt very uncomfortable.

She quickly got out of her mud-soaked clothing and had her bath hurriedly. She struggled to get the mud out of her hair and one of the maids who she had learned her name was Anne, helped her but even after she had her bath and wore the cheap clothing brought to her, she still looked unkempt.

Her hair was messy and wet, her eyes were a bit swollen from the lack of sleep, and her lips were puffy from chewing them all night long.

All the same, she was beautiful and the maids watched her in admiration. She was very curvy even with her pettiness, she had full pink lips and her eyes were a bright hazel blue, round and cute, her nose was pointy which only helped enhance her features.

She was truly beautiful. She was perfect and they wished they had even half her beauty.

Although she was playful and talkative, they preferred to stay locked up in a cell with her, listening to all her adventurous stories than going back to their comfy rooms after serving her.

She had this aura around her that made them love her already which was weird.

"What happens next?" Cara the second maid asked apprehensively, afraid for Damian and his queen.

"As he fell down the stairs, all he could think of was Clair and the safety of their unborn child." Mia continued, making her voice a bit shakier for effect.

Annabel, the third girl already had tears in her eyes.

"Did he die?" Annabelle asked with a brittle voice as the tears she had struggled to hold in, began to fall.

Mia feigned sadness, turning her head from the girls. They all gasped in painful horror.

"No!" Anna exclaimed sadly.

Just as Mia was about to blurt out that he didn't die, the cell doors flung open and Alex walked in.

The maids jumped to their feet in horror as Alex took in the scene before him.

He frowned deeply.

"Out, all of you!" He yelled at the maids and they all scurried past him in fear.

Mia followed.

"Not you." Alex blocked her path just before she made it past the door.

"No?" She feigned surprise, gripping her chest.

Alex took in her features and was undoubtedly impressed.

She was beautiful and fragile too.

She seized the opportunity and did the same to him.

He was a god. At least, he looked so and his aura was likewise the same.

He had blonde hair with some strands of bold gold, his lips were almost red and well-defined–they were very kissable.

His lips were moving but she could hear nothing... Was he a good kisser and would she enjoy kissing him? Would he enjoy doing the same to her?

A blush peppered her cheeks and shyness gripped her just thinking about it.

His nose was slightly pointed and his eyes... She was trapped in his gaze. They were like emeralds with a light touch of red in them but they held a sorrow she didn't understand.

She wanted to and she would.

"Did you even hear a word I said?" Alex questioned, clenching his jaw.

She snapped back into reality, blinking rapidly.

"Honestly, no." She laughed nervously. "Stop looking at me like that."

She instructed defensively.

"How am I looking at you?" Alex retorted.

"Like I'm crazy." She stared up at him as she folded her hands in against her chest.

Alex's eyes followed the movement and he had to avert his gaze from her breasts before he was caught staring at them.

She was doing things to him that Alex didn't understand and he felt the need to be by her side which was making him uncomfortable.

The feelings had lulled him here but he gave himself the excuse of trying to find out who she was even if his guards could that for him.

"Are you not?" He asked with a raised brow, daring her to object which she did in a heartbeat. She didn't cower in his presence, like everyone else.

She was unaware of who she was talking to. Alex was a bit disappointed but maybe it was for the best she didn't.

"No, I'm not!" She protested, thumping her feet which made her boobs bounce with the action.

She watched as his gaze followed the action again and she almost smiled at the clear effect she had on him. His gaze was setting her body on fire and she was desperate for his touch.

Alex knew he had to get the hell out of there and fast if he wanted to save himself from his misguided thoughts.

"Just tell me who you are and where you're from or who sent you and I'll be more than happy to send you on your merry way. "

Alex gestured with his hands.

Mia felt a pang of pain in her heart. Would he really send her away?

She was sure he knew she was his mate so why was he acting as he did?

"No," Mia said, trying to stop her disappointment from seeping into the bond but she couldn't and he felt it like it was his.

Alex shook his head at her before exiting the cell.

He was trying to escape the force pulling him towards her and the pain-filled look in her eyes.

When he exited the cell, Mia slumped to the floor.

Was he indirectly rejecting her?

She could no longer hold back the tears so she let them cascade down her cheeks.

Gerald and Theo exchanged worried looks, they hated the fact that she cried and felt the need to console her but she was a prisoner and it was against protocol too.

Sadness descended on the atmosphere.

They stayed in sad silence as the once bubbling lad cried bitterly in her cell; her voice pulled at their heartstrings.