Chapter 2 Mate

Roseanne is crying hard, lamenting the life she had once lived. Alexei...her love Alexei...

All her life, she has been treated like dirt. Humans are the target of all kinds of supernatural creatures. Whether werewolves or vampires, it did not matter. They hate humans and even the low-level omegas can stomp on them.

Her lips break into a small smile as she recalls her childhood. Things were simpler then. At that time, she was living with her father in a small village in the hills. Her mother died in childbirth and her father had hidden himself in that village out of fear. The war was over but the hunt for humans like them was still going on.

But one day, a messenger came and they were forced to move to the Capital of Ezealyra.

She was only six years old when she moved to Vinesgrad, the capital, with her father Mikhael. At that time, her father was summoned by the previous Emperor Nikolai Vissarion and his wife Alexa. They had heard of his abilities and they were so desperate that they were willing to summon someone like Mikhael. Their arrival was kept a secret because they were no ordinary humans.

They were witches.

That is when Roseanne had met the eleven-year-old Crown Prince Alexei and they became best friends. Her father was treating the sickly Alexei at that time but he would not tell Roseanne what was wrong with him. It did not matter. She was with her friend and they were together. That was all she cared about.

Those were simpler times. She grew up with Alexei and his sisters who treated her with kindness. The Emperor and Empress were also good to her, treating her as their child. Empress Alexa affectionately called her Rose and never let others mistreat her because of her human blood.

And Alexei...her dear Alexei was her world. They would run around the large palace, playing and laughing all day long. Everyone claimed that he was a sick boy but he never looked ill. With her, he was lively and jovial.

"One day, you will be my mate!" Alexei had told her. Roseanne blinked at him in surprise.

"Prince Alexei, I am a human!" she exclaimed. "I can't be your mate."

"Why not? You are my friend. I am the Crown Prince. We will be mates."

"But the Moon Goddess already decided on your mate," Roseanne reasoned. "She knows everything! Your mate must be strong and dependable. I cannot be your mate-"

"Moon Goddess chose you for me," Alexei said firmly. His tone was authoritative and full of confidence as if it was the truth. Roseanne was awed by his intimidating aura, her eyes lit up in excitement.

Was she going to be his mate?

"How will I know if we are mates?" she asked curiously. "I am a human. Humans do not feel the connection, do they?"

"I read it in my book today!" Alexei said. "If a human is mated to a werewolf, then he or she also feels the bond. In fact, a human mate feels the connection as strongly as werewolves! If you are my mate then my scent will attract you after you turn eighteen. But I can tell that we are mates. I can feel it. Here..."

He held up his palm. "Touch my palm," he said. "Do you feel something?"

Roseanne hesitated before putting her palm onto his. To her surprise, she felt a slight current at the point they had touched. It was negligible but there. Her heart pounded in excitement.

Could she be Alexei's mate?

"What if someone else is my mate?" she asked sadly.

"Impossible! You are my mate. You cannot be anyone else's mate."

That is right, she thought. He will be my mate. And we will be very happy together.

The dreams of their childhood love never came to fruition. Her blissful days with him were cut short when anarchy arrived.

The playground which was full of laughter was soon showered with the blood of innocents.

And then all hell broke loose.

...

"Alexei..." she whispers. The cloth around her eyes is wet with her tears. She is helpless to fight against her captors. The milk of the poppy weakened her powers and she is lamenting her fate.

This is how my fate pans out? She thinks bitterly. Alone and crying for Alexei. If he was alive, he would have killed Ivan tonight.

Her hatred for the current Royal Family only grew. They are the reason Alexei is dead. She was never going to find a mate as he had said. As a human, she dreams too big, and now she is suffering.

The door bursts open and she cowers to a corner. A pair of rough hands grab her arms and pull her away.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" She yells at them. But they are deaf to her pleas.

Roseanne is dragged to the stage where she will be sold off. Her eyes are still shut and she screams for help.

"LET ME GO!" She begs. "PLEASE!"

She cries and struggles but her captors are too strong for her. One of them hit her back with a whip, making her cry in pain. She is still tied up and her hands are bleeding from her attempts to escape. They are treating her like an animal. No, she is even lower than that in the eyes of these werewolves.

Someone grabs her long hair and yanks it hard, making her scream in pain. Roseanne had been treated far worse but she never felt fear. Instead, she boldly shot back at her tormentors in the Royal Family.

But this...this is different. She does not know where she will end up and what they will do to her. The noblemen and alphas present in the event are ruthless monsters who are known to torture their human slaves. She screams and fights but it is of no use. Her fate is sealed.

As she is pulled near the stage, a strange scent momentarily distracts her.

It came out of nowhere but her heart stopped at the sweet cinnamon and honey essence. Something about it is enticing her, pulling her towards it. A burning sensation jolts her spine and she is pushed to an unknown utopia.

What is this? She wonders. Why is it attracting me so much?

Strange. She is in the middle of a dire situation and yet, her body is urging to run towards the source of this scent. Her insides are urging her to break free and find this fragrance that is occupying her mind.

What is this? This...this scent...

Why is it so darn addictive?