Chapter 2 - I reject you as my mate

NALEDI’S POV

Every part of my body longed to be with him but I stood firm. 

I bowed my head and gritted. “Alpha Caellum.” 

I couldn’t speak a word. I felt the entire room enclose around me. They were all watching. 

When I didn’t hear him speak, I met his eyes and his brows were corked. I could also see the faint tattoo mark on his neck, ink tracing down his body. 

“Your name.” He demanded, and I didn’t miss the whiff of his nose in the air. 

He knew it. The fact that we were mates. But hell be damned before I acknowledged it. 

“No one important.” My posture was respectful but my tone betrayed the anger in my heart. 

I’d feel better if I struck a silver knife to his chest and twisted painfully. 

“I don’t care.” His tone was hard. Did I hit a spot? “Tell me who you are.” He all but demanded.

“My date for the night.” A voice I knew too well said and an arm was thrown over my shoulder. “Alpha Caellum, long time no see.” It was Alec Volkov - The Alpha of the Bravta gang, and my ex-employer. 

I couldn’t be happier with his timely intervention. A smile graced my lips as I played along, placing an arm around his waist. 

“I’m so sorry I came late, Alpha,” I said in the most feminine voice I could muster. 

I didn’t miss the brief shock in the eyes of Alek, no doubt, surprised at my sudden closeness towards him. 

Caellum’s gaze flickered between us and I could sense his irritation. That made us even. “She belongs to me.” He stated in a cold tone. “She is my mate.” 

I felt Alek’s arm freeze around me but I held him tighter. “And I reject you as my mate, Alpha.” I gritted with stormy eyes.

A smirk graced his lips. “You cannot reject me, Mia Cara. You should know that by now.” His tone was flippant, but his eyes were amused. 

In a second, his eyes turned deathly cold and his gaze burned in the spot where our hands connected. “Let her go.” He said, this time, talking to Alek. 

“You heard the lady, Caellum,” Alek said with an equal smirk. “She doesn’t want you. I don’t want to believe that the Famous Alpha and head of the Cosa Nostra pack would go so low to force a woman-” 

He didn’t get to finish because Caellum suddenly went berserk and within a second, a gun barrel was placed on the head of Alek, who suddenly began laughing. 

“One more word.” he breathed. “One more wrong word and I would blow your brains out and present the little pieces to your deadbeat father.” 

“Caellum!” Alek roared, and I had never seen him that angry.

“Let her go.” He said calmly, keeping his gun on Aleks' head. 

“And if I refuse?” Alek Volkov said with an evil smile. 

Suddenly, the room was charged with tension and men in suits flooded the area with guns targeted at each other. Humans rushed out of the event, scared out of their wits at the sudden violence while wolves, mafia leaders and members watched with their eyes peeled. 

“Then that would be a declaration of war,” Caellum tilted his head to the side. “Do you think the Bravta gang can defeat the Casa Nostra if another war breaks?” His tone was mocking, reproving, and I could tell Alek was humiliated. 

The Cosa Nostra pack was known for its great power and ability to exterminate packs, gangs and businesses. Its power originated in Italy, where the pack mafia headquarters was located, and its influence ran through the world, establishing multi-billion dollar illegal businesses with enough manpower to create an army.

“Let her go.” He said again, and I could tell things were about to take another turn with Alek’s arm still placed around me. 

I stepped away from Alek’s hold, refusing to be the reason another war broke out. I was perfectly able to handle myself.  Or so I thought. 

“Take her away.” One line, one order, and I was surrounded by some men in a blink. “You made a good choice.” 

“Leave me alone.” I gritted, “I can never be yours.” 

“Take her to the car,” Caellum ordered, dropping his gun from Alek, who remained quiet but I could see the storm in his eyes. “If she refuses to move, by all means, move her.” 

My body went into defence mode. I felt the M82AI gun strapped to my thigh and for one second, I contemplated the odds of killing every single one of them and making it out alive. 

It was too big of a risk. 

The men surrounded me, “Move.” One of the guards said, his tone hard and croaky. 

I maintained my stance, refusing to move. “Let me go, Alpha,” I said to Caellum with unwavering eyes. “I reject you as my mate.” 

He didn’t blink. “Then you will go as my slave.” His eyes left mine and flickered to the guards around. “Get her out of here.”

That did it. They dragged me out of the place while I trashed against the men that held me. This couldn’t be happening. They dragged me out of the hall and I felt the cold midnight air brush my skin. 

They were taking me to the car park. I thrashed against the men, using all my strength, and I broke free. I raised my hands when they wanted to hold me back. 

“I will walk on my own.” I gritted, while they eyed me warily, contemplating if I was trustworthy enough. 

I began my stroll, adjusting my clothes while they followed closely behind. We got to the car, a Prado SUV. My eyes glanced through the black beauty. I got to give it to Caellum, he had good taste. 

A guard stepped before me to open the doors but I was a step ahead. I pulled out the gun in my thigh, grabbed him and within a second, placed the gun barrel in his head, taking them all by surprise. 

“Let me go.” I gritted with my finger dangerously pressed on the trigger.