Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Chapter 20

When he led me out of the restaurant, I couldn't protest anymore. There is no comparison to the rate at which my heart is currently beating now.  When I saw Alpha Greyson's carriage, my entire body froze. Beta Miguel and some palace guards were also present.

I'm not sure how he found me! When he kissed me, I made certain that I successfully removed his scent from me!

"Alpha Greyson..." I almost begged him not to let me into the carriage, but all he did was stare coldly at me. He compelled me to enter the carriage. He went in after me. He removed his hoodie, allowing me to see his cold eyes even more clearly.

"Let's go, Miguel," he ordered Beta Miguel. When he turned to face me, I quickly bowed. I was playing with my finger on my thigh. I bit my lower lip. I am undoubtedly being punished. I'm not sure what will happen to me.

I sincerely apologize, Shena. I keep sabotaging the plan. I have failed.

"Why did you flee?" he inquired coldly. I was confined to playing with my finger. The carriage, most likely led by Beta Miguel, is beginning to move.

"Answer me if you don't want to be punished, Amara Brooks," he said, his voice irritated. I shut my eyes tightly.

"I...I am not deserving to be your mate, your Majesty," I admitted, but at the same time, pity for myself. Alpha Greyson is someone I've always admired. I only paid attention to him. I don't like anyone else but the Alpha king. But I never imagined myself as his mate. Because I've long accepted that our worlds will never collide.

We're not the same. And one more thing...in the last few days, as I've become more acquainted with him and his dark sides, I've realized that...I shouldn't hope for him.

"I am the only one who gets to decide who deserves to be with me, Amara," he said coldly. I was flabbergasted by what he said. I became aware of a pain in my chest. What exactly does he mean by that? I raised my eyes at him. The way his cold blue eyes look into me...I feel like I'm drowning deep within it.

"T-Then...are you saying it's perfectly fine for you to be mated with someone like me?" I inquired directly.

"I don't have a choice," he said simply. My brows come together.

"You have a choice; you can simply reject me," I explained. For a brief moment, I noticed an irritation in his eyes. It also vanished quickly, to be replaced by the coldness in his eyes.

"Do you think it's easy to reject a mate, huh?" I was taken aback by what he said. "If rejecting is easy, many wolves would have done it. Rejecting a mate should be your own will; you cannot reject your mate if you have passion and desire for her; but since you're my mate, I have those feelings for you," he stated flatly. My lips were parted.

I almost forgot about it. That is why, even though the Moon Goddess gave us the option of rejecting our mate, we are unable to do so easily because our mate bond is stronger than anything. We cannot reject our mates if we have feelings in our hearts.

"T-Then...I can...keep this secret—"

"I said I had no choice; I need a Queen, and if you are my mate, I have no choice but to make you my Queen," I stood up in response to what he said! However, because the carriage's roof was low, I bumped into it!

“Aw!"  I rubbed my head and returned to my seat. I'm sure he's watching me now that I'm panicking in front of him! I opened my eyes to see him observing my agony!

"Why are you reacting this way? I know you want it. You'll be free of being a housekeeper, and an orphan like you should be celebrating right now," he mocked. What he said made my cheeks flush. I was irritated.

"What do you mean?! Are you implying that I'm just poor to want it so badly?!" I almost forgot he's the Alpha king!

I blinked as he raised his brow and crossed his arms, because even in this arrangement, he was very attractive.

"Why? Isn't that true? You're impoverished. You don't have any relatives. You're nothing more than a maid. You're lucky that the Moon Goddess pitied you, which is probably why she paired you with me," he said. What he said made my chest crumple. His words were too painful for me. My heart aches just thinking about being with him.

I really want to forget about my feelings for him, but I know it will be more difficult now that I am mated to him!

Before I could say anything else, I bit my lip, knowing that we were going to fight. The air was deafeningly quiet. When I looked up, Alpha Greyson was looking out the carriage window, observing the scenery we were passing through. The wind is blowing his hair slightly. His blue eyes mirrored the gorgeous sky outside.

I'm his mate. And, as he said, I can be his queen as well. I have no idea what the Moon Goddess was thinking when she did this to me. Couldn't this be the Moon Goddess' way of assisting me in my search for Shena? Is this what the Moon Goddess has sent to help me get Shena back?

If I will agree to be Alpha Greyson's queen, I'll have an easier time finding the old man who captured Shena. I can also gather more information about the Rema Kingdom.

It’s a win-win situation.

But...accepting it will prove to Alpha Greyson that I look like money. That I am a gold digger, as he claims. I'm doing it because I'm poor and have no choice but to cling to his wealth.

My chest constricted. No, Amara, you should not be discouraged.

I will do everything to save Shena.

Even if it means breaking my heart. Even if my heart shattered into pieces. I'm willing to give up my heart for Shena...

"Alpha Greyson," I addressed him. I caught a glimpse of him looking at me. I knelt down and looked at my two hands, which were resting on my lap.

"I'm your mate," I stated. I squeezed hard my fist and bit the inside of my cheek. "I...I'll take your offer," I said.

"See? Finally, you realize you need it. If I know...you fantasize about it," he teased. I was filled with rage. I gave him a hard stare. He cocked his brow. I immediately averted my gaze.

"You also need me, as you stated earlier," I stated firmly. I want him to understand that I am not the only one who needs him!  He, too, needs me!

"If the elders hadn't nagged me about having a Queen or mate, I wouldn't have chosen you, Amara," he said darkly. I'm bitter once more. I know he despises me! Why am I still hoping?

"So...you're right...I need you..." he said as he leaned in closer to me. My heart skipped a beat automatically. Why is he approaching me?!

"But that doesn't mean you'll have my heart; I may desire you because you're my mate...but...you can't make me fall in love with you," he said firmly as he walked away from me. Because of what happened, I can't breathe for a moment.

The carriage came to a complete stop just in time. Alpha Greyson walked away from me without looking back. I was about to go down when Beta Miguel extended his hand to me.

"T-Thank you," I said, tears welling up at the corners of my eyes. Beta Miguel simply smiled and helped me down. As Alpha Greyson walked away, my gaze followed him.

Why must you inflict such pain on me? I understand...I will never have your heart. But being slapped by the harsh reality is still painful.