Chapter 2 The second chance mate

PAIN.

PAULA. It was just like my world crumbled, as soon as my ears caught the words that left his lips.

'What was going on, was this some kind of joke or test?' I pondered, multiple thoughts running through my mind, thoughts I wasn't able to process because I was beyond confused.

'What did I do?'. I raised my head to look at him in the eyes, he was still glaring deeply at me, hatred buzzing through his eyes.

My heart clenched tightly in pain especially when he pointed his finger at me and wrinkled up his nose in disgust, like I was some piece of garbage thrown in his eyes.

"How dare you pretend to be a friend when you were nothing but a bitchy foe?" He growled at me, his red eyes darkening as I shivered, a huge lump forming at the back of my throat.

"W-what is w-wrong, W-what did I d-do?" I stuttered and Rita let out a scoff, shaking her head sideways while hiding an evil smirk.

"What a pretender! Just like your rotten family". She said and fury sparked in me. My wolf came to life and snarled, causing me to get up from my knees, my fear forgotten as I dashed towards Rita and made to punch her.

'How dare the bitch mention my family's name?' I wondered, gritting my teeth against one another, clenching my fists and getting ready to hit her when I felt a huge blow come out from nowhere to my stomach.

My eyes bulged out as I let out a groan, dropping to my knees heavily on the floor. I winced in pain, feeling my knees would be bruised and I coughed out blood, my stomach rolling in pain.

My eyes felt blurry and I knew whomsoever hit me was way stronger. Almost knocked me into unconscious. I wondered who when;

"Thank you so much Andre. You can see I am right, she is probably trying to cover her tracks by making an effort to get rid of me". Rita said and I widened my eyes in disbelief.

It was Andre who punched me? Unbelievable. I immediately tried to get up but my knees crumbled and I ended back up on the floor. I turned my head to see her wrapping her hands tightly around his waist, her head buried in his chest.

His two hands were dropped by both sides. My jaw tightened, my eyes narrowing.

'Who the hell does she think she is, to throw herself at him?'.

"Get off him". I raged, my insides burning but Rita peeked from his shoulders, curling her lips at me as she snorted.

"The audacity you traitor have, amuse me". She said and I furrowed my brows at her.

Traitor? What did she mean?

"I am highly disappointed in you, Paula. You know I thought you were different from them". Andre began and I had this feeling of dread go through me.

What was he saying? Who was I supposed to be different from?

"But I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree". He ended, pushing Rita off him. Her eyeballs widened, as she stumbled backwards, about to fall on her heels.

I stifled a laugh, having this feeling of satisfactilon go through me.

'Serves her right, Did she truly think that she could steal my mate, my property? I pondered, wanting to burst forward, grab her by her blue hair and rip them out.

Perhaps being bald would make her know her place.

Andre came to my front, bending a little as he watched me with his glowing, red eyes, scrutinizing my face, like he couldn't believe something.

What was it?

"How dare you plot my parent's murder then pretend to be a lover?" He screamed, his hand coming forward. I froze, my eyes snapping shut and the next thing I felt on my cheeks was a sharp hit.

The Sharp crack of his hand meeting my cheek echoed in silence and the crowd let out a gasp, murming between themselves.

I didn't care to listen in, as my head snapped to the other side, a stinging heat spread across my face, leaving my skin throbbing like it had been set on fire.

For a moment, as silence passed, I couldn't think, couldn't breathe. My vision blurred, tears pooled in my eyes, my stomach churning.

'I couldn't believe this, did Nathan just hit me, did my mate just hit me?'.

"You deserve worse". He spat as if reading my mind and I shook, shaking my head sideways swiftly.

"I d-didn't do it, I d-didn't". I denied and the next thing I felt was another slap.

I pressed a trembling hand to my cheek, recoiling at the warmth of my skin. My lips parted, as if to say something, but no words came out. Only ragged breaths.

The whole place seemed to close in on me, the walls suffocating and the air heavy. I wanted to scream, to lash out but my body betrayed me, frozen in the moment, as his cold, unrepentant gaze bore into me.

Tears rushed to my eyes and I burst into a heavy wail while Rita laughed at me, her finger pointed at me.

"We should get her brother too. He will surely be in it". Rita said and I continued to cry, trying to speak but no words came out.

"You are right". Andre acknowledged, before turning to face one of the guards nearby.

"Go get Paul". He ordered him and I gasped, wondering what all these was about.

'Why was he suddenly accusing us, why?' I wondered, different emotions running through me.

We waited for a few minutes, then the guard dashed back in, his expression tightened as he spoke, with his head bowed.

"I am sorry, your highness but he is nowhere to be found". My stomach dropped as his words reechoed in my ears.