MATE

Astrid

My mother's hand cracked across my cheek, the sting igniting a fire within me. I'd lost count of how many times she'd hit me, but this time, something snapped within me.

"How dare you, Astrid," she hissed, her eyes blazing with anger. "You're going to regret being my daughter."

"I already regret it," I spat back, my voice trembling with rage. "I regret ever being born to a mother like you!" I could barely even recognize my voice. I had never raised my voice at her-- not ever.

"How dare you!" she shouted, her face red with fury. "You ungrateful, insolent child!"

"What am I to be grateful for?" I laughed, a bitter sound, humorless and filled with anger. "You've done nothing but make my life a living hell. You've never loved me, never cared for me. All you do is treat me like a mistake."

"That's not true!" she screamed, echoing through the hallway. "I've sacrificed everything for this family, for this pack. And you're just a selfish, spoiled brat who can't even follow simple orders! The very same way you didn't thirteen years ago!"

My balled fist trembled in anger as I stared at her in disbelief. " You're the selfish one, mother. " I spat the word at her feet.

Her face twisted in rage. "How dare you speak to me like that! I'm your mother, and you'll show some respect!"

"My mother? You're not my mother!"

My mother's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, I thought she'd hit me again. But then, her expression changed, and a cold, calculating look replaced the anger.

"You know what your problem is, Astrid?" she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You're still stuck in the past. You're blaming yourself for your brother's death. But let me tell you something, Astrid. Axel is dead. And it's all because of you. So, blame yourself because you killed your brother."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt the air leave my lungs, and my vision blurred. I knew she'd use that against me, that she'd use Axel's death to manipulate me. But knowing that didn't make it hurt any less than it did.

"Get her ready, Anel."

Anel's hands trembled as she fastened the intricate laces on my dress, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She'd been my maid since I was a child, and I knew she felt my pain like it was her own.

"Please don't cry," I whispered, my voice breaking as I knew I, too, would be unable to hold mine if she did.

But she couldn't help it. Tears streamed down her face as she worked, her fingers gentle on my skin. My mother stood nearby, her eyes fixed in disdain and satisfaction.

When Anel finished, my mother turned to leave, but not before casting a scathing glance my way. "You look acceptable," she said, her voice dripping with malice, and with that, she stormed out.

I broke down when she stormed out, wrecking tears streaming down my face. Anel pulled me into a tight, cuddling hug, holding me as I sobbed. I clung to her like I was drowning in despair. Anel held me until my tears subsided, and I was left feeling drained and empty.

I looked in the mirror and saw a stranger staring back at me. A girl dressed up like a doll, with a heart full of pain and a soul that was slowly dying. Silence fell upon us, and we stared at each other in sadness.

A maid's soft knock on the door broke the silence. "Miss Astrid, your mother and sister are waiting for you downstairs."

I took a deep breath, wiping the remaining tears from my eyes with trembling hands. Anel gently patted my cheek with a damp cloth, removing the last traces of my tears.

"Let me cover that bruise for you," she whispered, her fingers deftly applying a layer of makeup to conceal the red mark on my cheek. She then dabbed a light dusting of powder under my eyes, erasing the evidence of my crying.

I watched in the mirror as Anel worked her magic, transforming me from a tear-stained, heartbroken girl to a polished, poised young woman. But the pain still lingered, hidden beneath the surface.

As we descended the stairs, I felt an electric pull, like a spark of energy coursing through my veins. It was as if the air around me had charged with an otherworldly power, drawing me towards something - or someone.

The sensation started in my fingertips, a tingling warmth spreading up my arms and chest. My heart skipped a beat as I felt an inexplicable connection, like an invisible thread pulling me closer.

The room around me blurred, and I felt drawn towards a single point, a magnetic force that refused to be ignored. I couldn't see him yet but knew he was waiting for me.

And then, my eyes locked onto him. He was the most handsome thing. He stood tall, over six feet of chiseled muscle, his broad shoulders and chest straining against the fabric of his shirt.

His hair was rich, dark brown, messy, and unkempt, framing a face that seemed chiseled. But his eyes held me captive - piercing blue, like the most transparent summer sky and the most beautiful and safest ocean. For the first time, I wasn't scared of the sea.

I tried to look away and break the spell, but my feet seemed rooted. He moved towards me, his long strides devouring the distance between us. His eyes never left mine, and I felt like I was drowning in their intensity.

I stood there, frozen, my heart racing, as he approached me. My family watched in stunned silence; their faces stricken with shock. He stopped before me, his chest inches from mine, his eyes burning with an inner fire. I felt the air around us charge with electricity; the magnetic pull even more forceful.

My wolf, dormant for some time, confirmed my suspicion when she yelled in my head.

Mate! Mate!

I felt this bond, this connection that seemed to tie me to this man with invisible threads. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced before.

His face was inches from mine, his breath caressing my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I felt like melting into his gaze and becoming one with him. As he reached me, he grasped my shoulders, his fingers wrapping around me. I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body.

His eyes devoured mine, searching for answers to questions he had yet to ask. I felt like I was drowning in their depths, and for the first time in my life, I wasn't scared of drowning.

He studied my face for a while, then his gaze dropped to my cheek, and his expression darkened. He tilted my face slightly to the side, his fingers gentle but firm, and all I wanted to do was lean into his touch.

"Who did this to you?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.

I was left stunned at how upset he was, for my sake. No one ever indeed was except Axel.

And just then, I felt like the dam was broken, and tears streamed down my face. I tried to speak, but my voice was lost in sobs. Why I was crying, I couldn't tell. Maybe it was a relief.

Magnus's arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as I crumbled. I wept uncontrollably, my body shaking with the force of my emotions.