Chapter 21: Pain

Althea's eyes managed to open. She groaned and turned away, closing her eyes again and shielding her face from the sunlight streaming through the small window. She screamed as she remembered her punishment from Allan. Her wounds are still bothering her, and she is thirsty and hungry.

Because there was a sound of footsteps entering the room, she pretended to fall asleep. Allan approached her, lovingly looking at her lovely face.

"I know you're not sleeping, Sweetie, I can hear you breathing," Allan said as Althea opened her eyes and looked at him.

"You're tired, and I guess your body needed to rest," he explained. "So, have you learned your lesson, or do I need to punish you again?" he inquired.

Althea responds since she has no other option. "I learned my lesson," she admitted.

"Good. I can only let you out of here if you obey me; otherwise, I won't spare you the punishments," he explained.

"Yes," she responds.

"Then, sweetie, I think it's time for you to shower, change your clothes, and eat something because you look exhausted and hungry," Allan said.

Allan took her in his arms and carried her to the restroom. He sat her down and kissed her on the cheek.

"I hope you'll start listening to me from now on," he said.

"Whatever it is, I don't have a choice," she said quietly, but Allan could hear her.

"You see, sweetie, my rules are there for a reason, and I'm glad that you comprehend everything you do in your life. All of your decisions about your existence, friends, and clothes. Everything belongs to me, including you," he said.

"You're mine, sweetie," he said quietly while approaching her and kissing her neck leaving marks on it before he walk away.

Althea couldn't believe she was stuck here with him, but she is determined that no matter how harsh the punishments were, she will return home.

She got out of the shower and dressed. She went to the dining table rather than make him wait. Allan noticed her walk in. As she sat, he moved her chair for her.

"I see you followed my instructions, which is good; come eat; I made you eggs, bacon, and a healthy smoothie; you need the energy after all," he explained.

"Thank you," she said, eating her food slowly.

Allan thoroughly enjoyed watching Althea do anything. He'd do anything for her except let her go, which is never an option. He relies on her falling in love with him. Althea heard his phone ring while he was watching her eat. Allan excused himself and went somewhere more private to talk, leaving her alone.

Amelia stood up and went to look around the house to see if there was any way she could get out of there.

Althea had finished looking around after fifteen minutes and returned to the dining room, hoping he was still on the phone, but when she arrived, she realized she had been mistaken when she saw him sitting on the chair, angry at her.

"Hello sweetie, where have you gone? Did you try to flee?" Allan wonders.

"No, I just gave myself a tour of your house because I'm going to be here for a while and I need to get used to this place," she replied.

"Good, sweetie. I'm glad you decided not to flee because you know what will happen if you flee from me," he warned her.

"I know. Don't worry, I won't try to flee," she replied.

"That's right, you won't. I have something to do and I have to go but don't worry, I'll be back before the night and I want you to behave," he said, his gaze fixed on her. Althea gives a nod.

"All right, now come on and kiss me," he said.

She approached him slowly and kissed his cheek.

"No, sweetie, not on the cheek, you kissed your friend there, and I'm not your friend, I'm your lover, so kiss me on the lip or I'll punish you now before I leave," he says, ordering her to kiss him again.

She had no choice but to kiss him, kissing him on the lips. She tried to pull away, but he grabbed her by the neck and forced an even deeper kiss.

"Open your mouth, sweetie, and allow me to taste you," he demanded. And she complained only so that he could finish and move on.

"You taste so sweet, sweetie, and I can't wait to have you all to myself again and again," he said. "I'll see you tonight," he added.

Althea wanted to cry and end this misery once he was out the apartment door, but she still had hope. So she'll act normally around him until she devises a new plan to flee.

She understands that if she does not follow his rules, he may cause her harm, so she must listen to him.

After all, she needs to be told the truth. She'll do anything to get out of this situation alive or dead, as long as she's free of him.

~

While Allan was gone, Althea lay on the bed, relieving himself of stress from her punishment yesterday. They are now watching movies on Netflix while keeping an eye on Xian and her injuries. He wrapped her stomach and applied numbing cream to make it less painful. Xian wasn't as bad as Allan, or they wouldn't have treated her so badly. Xian is a good guy while her mate is worst and harsh.

He was watching Power Rangers, and she was, too. "Hmm, Are you hungry?" Xian asks, turning around. "No," she simply said.

"Oh, okay," he says as he returns his attention to the television as she feels a little awkward. Allan then walks in, covered in blood, through the open front door. Althea tried to plug her nose and closed her eyes, not wanting to see or smell that.

She scooted away as the bed dipped beside her, as close to the wall as she could get. Allan snickers and rolls his eyes as she assumes. "Tsk! Did my little pretty mate behave this time?" he asks, his voice sickly. "He's really a psycho," she murmured.

"I can hear you, sweetie," He whispered as Althea feels a cold chill down her lower back but she just doesn't respond. Her voice box seemed to be frozen in fear. She doesn't like talking to him. Then, she felt a fistful of her hair being snatched and pulled roughly, causing her to yelp. "Based on that sarcastic side of yours, I think you didn't learn your yesterday from yesterday," Allan says as he runs his finger down her cheek. Her teeth clench as she pulls away with all her might.

"Allan, please stop," Xian says as he approaches them with caution. "You are not getting anywhere if you keep doing this!" Xian shout.

"Ohh f*ck! what? Do you think that I care? She's just a f*cking weak useless mate!" Allan roars at him causing her to feel broken even more. "Yes, I'm just a useless mate for him," she said to herself in her teary-eyed as she look up to see Xian uppercut Allan.

Her eyes widen, but he keeps a firm grip on her hair. "Allan, do I need to remind you again and again? Once you lose her wolf, you will lose her too!" Xian exclaims, hitting Allan in the face. "Stop being so cruel to your mate, Allan. She doesn't deserve this kind of treatment," Xian added as he punch Allan in the face once again.

She flinched, knowing he'd get a black eye later. But Xian was completely right; the only thing that is keeping her from killing her mate is her wolf and a small amount of remorse. She doesn't deserve to be treated like this. She's more than being a mate.

Allan abruptly releases her, and she remains motionless, staring at him. He was speaking to his wolf, and his face was expressionless. Xian returns her gaze with an apologetic expression. "Listen, Allan, I'm taking Althea until you can f*cking control yourself," Xian says.

Allan's eyes snoot up, "NO!" he growls, possessively. His eyes were red, and a sliver of his wolf was visible.

"Look, Allan, she's marked; if she's in any dilemma, you will know; but for now, just let her stick with me; she's not safe around you, her mate," Xian says. Althea wasn't sure what she thought about going with Xian, but she hoped he was better than Allan.

Allen then grabs her and keeps her in his arms, growling "No!" over and over. Her wolf quivered, sensing his emotional pain. She wanted to stroke his hair and console him, but she also wanted to slam his head against the wall and tell him he truly deserve it.

Xian then looked down at her, sad. "Allan," she spoke up, her voice not pleasant and very crackly. "Please," she begged him in one word. He let go of her, and she moved free, landing on the floor next to the mattress.

"Don't do it," he says. She looked up, perplexed, but he just let her go. She was perplexed. "Something isn't right," his voice was flat and emotionless, making it difficult to believe him.

"Dude! I've known you for decades, how could you think something might be odd?" Xian asks his hands in the air. She scooted up against the wall, her gaze fixed on the floor.

If they got into a fight, she didn't want to be in the midst of it. "If she wished to go, fine! If something happens to her," he said, "you end up owing me more than you're willing to give," she looked up at him.

Her body shook slowly as she nodded, target up. She followed Xian out the door, keeping a close eye on her. Allan's last sighting was of him looking out the window.

As they walked outside in the twilight, her wolf groaned. "Come on," Xian exclaimed. "You can ride on my back or run yourself," Xian says, before transforming into a wolf.

"It's okay, I can manage myself," she said, smiling at him and transforming her as well.

Xian smiled at her and ran into the forest. She quickly caught up and trailed him, but Xian was quick. For an hour, she panted at him.

Xian then came to a halt, raising an eyebrow at her. She lay on the ground, but Xian's wolf drew him in by the crook of her neck. She was still too exhausted to care.

Another hour later, they were in another apartment complex, this one a little worse than Allan's. She cringed internally, but it had to be better than being with her mate.

They enter in their wolf forms. Xian then set her down, and she tried to follow him up the stairs, her tail gently wagging. Apart from the smell, the inside wasn't too bad. They came to a halt on the third floor, at the end of the corridor.

Xian opened the door and walked in, falling asleep in a ball lying on the floor.