Chapter 46

Flora’s P.O.V

“Alpha Andre has requested your presence.”

Spoke one of Andre’s men at five in the afternoon. He was accompanied by Aiden Lang, one of the two men who had brought me to Lindersay in the first place. He kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with me as if feeling guilty.

“I’ll be there in a bit.” I told him and closed the door in his face.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. I had avoided Andre as much as possible for the past few days, but I think that was no longer possible. Tomorrow was the Blood Moon and the day of my ‘supposed’ mating ceremony with Andre. Ezra had said she had a plan, but with guards keeping their eyes on us at all possible times, it seemed impossible to escape now. What was I supposed to do?

I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my nerves. It wasn’t working, but I had to go see Andre anyway. If I didn’t, he would come here instead.

Placing a hand over my heart, I gripped the cool crystal of the pendant and called out Clay’s name in my mind a few times. It helped. Slowly but surely, I felt my heartbeat even out and my body stop trembling. I had never feared any man like I feared Andre. But tonight, fear wasn’t going to get me anywhere.

Tucking the pendant into my dress, I turned the knob on my door and came out of my room. It was now or never.

I walked down to Malachi’s office, which now belonged to Andre, all the while my heart raced against my chest. He had told me he would show me the dress he had for the mating ceremony. Was it some kind of trap? Did he plan to force himself on me?

No…he wouldn’t…would he? If Andre had wanted to cross all limits, he would’ve done it a long time ago and not wait till the day before the Blood Moon ritual.

The guards outside opened the door for me as they saw me approaching. Swallowing nervously, I entered Andre’s room and felt my heart skip a beat as the doors slammed shut.

Memories came rushing back to me and my hand instinctively went to my throat. The last time I was here, Andre had assaulted me without hesitation, even though he claimed to be my mate. I didn’t trust him one bit to be alone with him, but the entire castle was now under his reign. There was no other option than to obey him or he could actually hurt another one of my packmates.

“Ah! There you are!” Andre came up behind me, scaring the hell out of me as he wrapped his arm around my waist. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

My skin crawled at having him touch me, but there wasn’t any other option. If I moved away…what if he got violent again? So I stayed quiet and let him escort me to the sofas where he helped me in and took a seat on the opposite sofa. There was a feast laid out on the table in front of us, all set in nice dishes and decorated like it was some kind of a joyous festival. I balled my hands at my sides. Do I have to dine with him now?

“I’ve prepared us dinner.” Andre said with a warm smile. “Since we are going to be mated tomorrow, I thought it was appropriate to hold dinner with you here.”

No matter how warm his smile was now, I didn’t buy it. Andre was a psychopath. And once I had witnessed the dark side of him, there was no way I would ever buy his acts ever again, no matter how convincing they seemed.

“W-what about the rest of the pack?” I stuttered past the knot in my throat. “They should celebrate our mating as well.”

“Oh, of course!” Andre laughed. “You didn’t think I forgot the pack, did you? I’m hosting a feast for all of them. In fact, I was going to go celebrate once we finish dinner in peace.”

He set out the cutlery in front of my plate and cut out slices of meat and placed them on my plate. The table held so many of my favorite dished, but I had lost my appetite. I had no idea how I was going to get it past my throat.

“Come on, dig in!” Andre urged, taking a bite of his own food.

I forced a smile at him and picked up my fork with trembling hands. I cut out a small piece of meat and placed it into my mouth as Andre watched me with narrowed eyes.

My stomach revolted almost instantly, but I forced the food down with sheer strength of will. Eat, chew, swallow…eat, chew, and swallow. It was a familiar motion and I used it like a meditation to divert my attention from Andre. If eating dinner meant I got to avoid talking to him, then so be it.

But after a few more bites, I knew I couldn’t have any more of this torture.

“I’m full.” I placed the fork down on my half-empty plate and forced a smile at Andre.

He laughed in delight. “Ah! Already? No wonder you’re so thin. I like my women with a bit more meat on them. But there’s nothing to worry, we can fix that starting tomorrow.”

The thought of tomorrow make my stomach revolt and I had to take a quick sip of water to keep myself from throwing up. Just a little while longer, Flora. Just a little while longer.

“Alright! Let’s get to the good part shall we?” Andre stood up. “I’ll get your dress.”

“But, isn’t seeing the dress before the ceremony an ill-omen?” I said immediately, trying my best to avoid staying in this room for even a second longer. I couldn’t do it. I felt like I was about to start having a panic attack.

“Oh! What nonsense!” He rounded the sofa and went for his desk and picked up a large box that I hadn't noticed before.

“Here we go!” He opened the lid and pulled out the white dress and held it up for me to see.

It was made completely of lace, completely see-through. I couldn’t even look at it without hyperventilating. My heart slammed against my ribcage in horror and the mating started to feel all the more real. There really wasn’t any escape was there?

But just as I thought that, a knock sounded on the door.

“What is it?” Andre snapped, sounding more than a bit annoyed as he folded the dress and kept it inside the box.

“Alpha, the Shrine Maiden is here. She’s looking for the healer.”

Oh, God! Ezra!

A low growl sounded from Andre’s throat and for an instant, I feared he would hurt Ezra too. But then he asked the guards to open the door.

I sprang up from the seat immediately and headed straight to Ezra. “Shrine Maiden. I’m sorry for being late.” I told her as soon as Ezra came in, pleading her with my eyes to play along.

Ezra nodded. “It’s no worry, I found you just in time for prayer.” She took my hand in hers and it was only then that I noticed just how cold my hands have gotten.

“Alpha,” Ezra gave him a small bow. “I hope you don’t mind me stealing your mate for the time being. It is her final prayer to the Moon Goddess before the mating.”

“Not at all.” Andre gave her a smile. “Let her have her last prayer, after all, from tomorrow onwards, she’ll be all mine.”

I gripped Ezra’s hand tighter and we both bowed to him one last time before exiting the room. We walked briskly back to my room, moving at a steady pace so as not to alert Andre’s soldiers.

“What now?” I asked her, my heart in my throat.

“Now, I help you escape.”

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I am extremely sorry for the repeated chapters. I've asked my editors and they will help me remove it as quickly as possible. If you are reading this story after the removal of the double chapter, please ignore and keep on reading! Thank you to everyone for your support!