HUNTER:

I am in a rage. After I left Arianna, I ran to the dungeons. I hate myself for what I did to her. One of the guards comes over to me and bows.

"Alpha…"

"You will chain me up and whip me. 40 lashes for the 4 that I gave to my mate."

"Sir?"

"Do it…."

He looks at the other guard and moves me into an empty cell. He chains my wrists to the wall. The chains are unbreakable, even for me.

"Alpha...are you sure?"

"Do it! Do not hold back!"

As the whipping begins, I do not cry out. I will take every blow for hurting my love.

"Harder!"

He whips harder, and I squeeze my eyes shut. Thinking only of Arianna. Her scent, her touch, her soft skin. After the 40 lashes, he goes to unchain me.

"No...leave me. Do not return until tomorrow."

"Alpha...you have suffered enough. Please sir, your wounds will get infected if they are not treated right away."

"I said...LEAVE!."

He leaves me there and my only thoughts are of the beating that I gave to Arianna. It wasn't enough. I should have taken more. At some point, I fell asleep. I was awoken by my shackles being removed. I looked up into the face of my mistress.

"What do you think you're doing? Why would you do this?"

"For whipping my mate."

My response shocks her. When I get up, she slaps me.

"You said you didn't care about her. So why would you do this?"

"It's the bond. When she hurts, I do too."

"Then allow me to show you what real pleasure is."

I follow her out of the dungeon. She takes my hand and we make our way up to my room.

"Lay on the bed and I will tend to your back first."

I do as she says. I still am trying to convince myself that I don't want Arianna. Layna returns with some first aid and a bowl of warm water. She starts cleaning off my back.

"Your wounds are already healing."

"I am an Alpha. They heal faster."

"Why am I not enough for you Hunter? Have I not given you everything?"

"You have…"

I roll over and sit up, taking Layna's hand in mine.

"I do not have the ability to love."

"I knew that when I came here. It does not mean that I do not love you."

"I know you do. Now ...where is that pleasure you promised me?"

She smiles, knowing that I have not rejected her. She undoes my pants, pulling them off, then removes her dress.

"Touch me Hunter."

I grab her and roll her onto her back, hovering over her. I kiss her, but it does not feel the same as it used to. Arianna has infiltrated my thoughts, and I imagine it is her that I kiss and hold. After we have sex, Layna falls asleep, wrapped up in my blanket. I feel hollow. I look over at her, knowing I just betrayed my mate. I hate myself and cannot sleep. I quietly leave the room and head out toward Arianna's little cottage. It's late and all of the lights are out. It's a cool night, and she has left her bedroom window open. Through her window, I can see her sleeping. She looks so peaceful, but in her sleep, a few tears escape her eyes. Is that because of me? Or her current dream?

"I'm sorry Arianna...I love you."

I whisper it to her through the window. I know she cannot hear me. When she stirs, I leave and go to my office where I drink until I pass out on my couch.

When I wake up the next morning, my head is pounding from the alcohol. Instead of going upstairs, I take another shot of whiskey to relieve my headache. It helps a little. When I finally make it back upstairs, Layna is gone. I am somewhat relieved. I am not in the mood to face her. After a shower and fresh clothes, I go back to my office for work. My phone rings a few minutes later.

"Yes?"

"Alpha Hunter…"

"What is it?"

"Layna told us to inform you that she went shopping and would be back later."

"Fine...thank you."

I received a phone call a little while later letting me know that Arianna did not go to school. I called the pack doctor to go to her cottage to check her back.

"Do not tell her I sent you. It's a regular check up. Understood?"

"Yes Alpha."

The only thing I can think to do now is to bury myself in my work. Layna comes back later on in the afternoon in a brand new dress.

"Do you like my dress?"

"It looks lovely."

"I think you need to get your mind off of this mate of yours. Let's go out to dinner tonight. We can get drinks afterward."

"Okay...we haven't had a date night in awhile. I owe you some attention."

"Good."

"Be ready at 6pm. I'll make reservations."

She left my office and I sighed. What the hell am I doing?

Arianna:

I did not attend school for a couple of days. My back hurt a lot and I was embarrassed. Mark did not bring up the beating. When I was feeling down, he took me for a walk through the gardens. Today, he packed a small picnic basket.

"Come on Ari...the cherry blossom trees are lovely. We can have some lunch and sit under the trees."

"Alright ...let's go."

Mark is my best friend here. I feel very comfortable around him. He holds my hand and we walk through the gardens until we reach the cherry blossom trees.

"You were right. They are beautiful."

"Come on...let's eat."

He made us sandwiches, and packed chips and soda. Our conversation was light and cheerful.

"This was a great idea."

"I'm always full of great ideas."

I laughed and looked at Mark. He smiled at me as he dug into his sandwich. I have to admit that he is very sexy. I blushed thinking about those lips pressing against mine. I wondered what it would feel like if he touched me.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing. Your face is red."

"I...it's nothing."

I started to fidget and he moved closer to me. His hand touched my cheek and his eyes lit up.

"You're very beautiful Ari…"

"Mark…"

He kissed me. Not forcefully. Soft and tender. I kissed him back, but Eva did not like it. She growled in my head.

Not mate.

Shut it Eva…

I pushed her aside and let myself enjoy this. Mark is the only friend I have here. The only one who cares about me. Screw the Alpha. If he can have a mistress, I can have a lover too ...right?

Mark didn't push me any farther. He just kissed me and nipped at my bottom lip. It made me giggle. He pressed his forehead to mine.

"Ari ...I…."

Mark heard noises nearby and got up, ready to protect me.

"Alpha Hunter."

He bowed right away, and because I did not want a repeat of the other day, I also dropped onto my knees and bowed my head.

"What is going on here?"

"We were just having lunch Alpha."

"I see. You are supposed to be guarding her, not having picnics. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Alpha…"

"Don't let me catch you doing this again."

"Yes, Alpha."

I looked up at him to see him with his mistress. She had her arm hooked through his. She smirked down at me.

"Is this her Hunter? Your little mate?"

"It's her."

"Not much to look at."

I bit my tongue. I did not know what means he would defend her. He looked at me, and I bowed my head again.

"Nothing to say?"

"No Alpha…"

"You're finally learning. Get back to your cottage."

"Yes Alpha."

We quickly cleaned up and left. Once we were back inside my cottage, Mark embraced me. I shook like a leaf in his arms.

"It's okay Ari...I got you."

"You're all I have here Mark."

"You will always have me Ari...I am yours."