Chapter 12....Hate you

When Ana woke up, it was past lunch. Slowly, she opened her eyes—only to yelp when she saw Xander's face so close to hers. She pushed him away, her heart racing.

"What were you doing?"

A faint blush crept up Xander's neck. "I was just checking your fever."

"When did I get a fever? And why were you so close just to check?"

"You had a fever after you fainted, and I wasn't doing anything improper. Look—my mother is right here."

Ana turned to her right and saw Liana. She let out a sigh. "Okay… When do I have to move out?"

"After your recovery, we'll leave."

Her brows furrowed. "We…? You're coming with me?"

"Of course. Who else will you stay with?"

"I'll go back to Xavier." Her voice cracked slightly.

Xander's expression hardened. "No, you're not. I can protect you from him. Be my mate, Ana."

She shook her head. "Xander, thank you for taking care of me, but I can't stay with you. I already have a mate who's searching for me."

"No! You don't have a mate anymore. We already cut your mate bond. You're free from him now. If you go back, it will be your doom. Ferals are dangerous, and I don't even know how much worse they become when they turn rootless. You don't have to fear him—I'll protect you. I'll take care of you."

Ana's heart pounded with anger and hurt. Anger at Xander for severing her bond, and hurt at the thought of Xavier's suffering. She quickly pulled off the fur covering her shoulder, her breath hitching when she saw the mark still there.

It's not gone?

Liana gasped. "Do you love that feral?"

The boiling rage inside Ana finally erupted. Tears welled in her eyes as she glared at them both.

"Who gave you the right to tamper with my spousal mark? I told you—I was with him willingly! But you still tried to break our bond while I was unconscious! Did you do this just to make me your mate, Xander? Did you think I'd ever accept you after what you did to him? Even if I had loved you, I would never choose you as my mate. I only want one mate, and that is Xavier!"

Xander's heart shattered at her words. "No, Ana, I never wanted to hurt you. Yes, I wanted to mate with you—but that's not why I severed the bond. I did it for your safety—"

"Enough, Xander! Do you really think I'd believe that after everything you've done? This is just another lie to manipulate me! I hate you! I just want to go back to him and never return!"

Xander opened his mouth to explain but then shut it, realizing there was no point—he had no proof to back up his words.

Liana's heart ached for her son.

She's furious about the bond being severed, but she barely reacted when we aborted her supposed pregnancy. Is she doing this to reject Xander indirectly? No! I can't let this happen! He finally accepted a female after so long—if she leaves, I don't know if he'll ever accept another mate.

Liana took a deep breath and spoke calmly. "Ana, I understand your anger. But can you come with me for a moment?"

Ana hesitated, but finally nodded.

Liana led her to a stone building in the heart of Beast City. Inside, Ana's stomach twisted at the sight—rows of weak, frail women lay on furs, some mentally broken, others bearing scars of torture.

She gasped. "What… What happened to them?"

Liana's voice was grim. "They were kidnapped and abused. Some by rootless beasts. Some by ferals."

Silence stretched between them before Liana continued. "Ana, I know what we did to you was wrong, but we truly believed it was for your own good. You were too thin—we thought you were being starved. You were snake-bitten—we thought you were tortured. You were marked—we thought you had been forced. No female ever willingly mates with a feral."

Her voice softened with sorrow. "We have seen too many females end up like this, Ana. We thought you were one of them. So please, don't punish my cub for trying to protect you."

Ana clenched her fists. The sight before her wavered as tears burned in her eyes.

When they returned to the castle, Xander was waiting with a handful of fresh fruits. He handed them to her wordlessly.

She took them with a quiet "Thank you," before heading into her room.

Xander's ears drooped as he watched her go.

Liana placed a hand on his shoulder. "Give her time, cub. She'll come around—especially now that the feral isn't here. But you have to win her over before he finds her again."

Determination flared in Xander's eyes. "I will, Mother."