Chapter 3. Mate

Caliana’s POV

A sharp, twisting pain bloomed in my stomach, deep and sudden, as the tall man stood naked in front of me, unapologetic and unmoving. It wasn’t just nerves—it was instinct, raw and undeniable, clawing its way to the surface. My body reacted before my mind could catch up, heat flooding my veins, my breath hitching in my throat.

My eyes betrayed me.

They traveled downward, slow and shameless, as if pulled by a force I had no control over. His cock was thick and long, heavy with masculine confidence, and the sight of it sent a traitorous shiver through me. I hated myself for noticing. Hated that my body responded so vividly when my heart was already breaking.

This man was built like a weapon.

Every inch of him was carved from muscle—broad shoulders, defined chest, taut stomach, powerful thighs. There was no doubt he trained relentlessly, that his body was honed for violence, dominance, survival. He looked like a predator in human skin, and standing so close to him made me feel painfully aware of how small I was in comparison.

But it was his face that held me captive.

Sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw shadowed by stubble, lips that looked like they had never learned softness. And his eyes—goddess, his eyes. A mesmerizing shade of gray, like storm clouds heavy with rain. They were beautiful, yes, but more than that, they were empty. Hopeless. Bereft of warmth. As if something vital had been torn out of him long ago and never replaced.

For a fleeting, dangerous second, I wanted to reach out. To touch his arm, his chest. To ask him what had hollowed him out like this. To ask why he looked like a man who had already lost everything.

But reality slammed back into me.

He was assessing me too.

I felt it keenly, the way his gaze swept over my body with cool detachment, as though I were an object being evaluated rather than a woman standing naked in her vulnerability. There was no hunger in his eyes. No curiosity. Just calculation.

When he moved, he did so with a predatory grace that made my skin prickle. He crossed the room with long, confident strides and stopped directly in front of me. Too close. Intimately close. His body radiated heat, intense and overwhelming, and his scent crashed into me full force.

It was intoxicating—and infuriating.

His natural alpha scent was powerful, earthy and sharp, but it was tainted. Laced unmistakably with the lingering aroma of another woman. The woman he had just been fucking. The realization hit me like a slap, and rage surged through me so violently that my hands curled into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms.

I wanted to punch something. Someone.

‘Cali!’ my inner wolf screamed, her voice panicked and sharp, yanking me back from the brink.

I flinched, swallowing hard, my throat suddenly dry. Before I could summon the courage to say anything—anything at all—he reached past me, grasped the door handle, and shut the door in my face.

The sound echoed.

A dull, final thud that seemed to seal my fate.

It registered slowly, painfully, like a wound that kept reopening. My mate. Alpha Edward Chasia. The cruel Alpha. The man my pack had sold me to. And he hadn’t even acknowledged my existence beyond a brief, dismissive glance.

My breath shuddered, coming out ragged and uneven. My chest felt too tight, my lungs struggling to pull in air. My legs betrayed me completely, giving out as the weight of it all crushed down at once. I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the cold floor, my back pressed against the stone, my knees drawn to my chest.

On the other side of that door, my mate was with another woman.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I squeezed my eyes shut, biting back a sob. I had never counted on having a mate. Never dared to hope for it. The idea had always been distant, abstract, something that happened to other people. And yet, some foolish part of me had been intrigued by the possibility. Curious. Hopeful.

That hope died quickly.

He hated me. I had seen it clearly in his eyes. The coldness. The indifference. The barely concealed irritation at my presence. It made no sense—I hadn’t done anything to deserve such contempt. I hadn’t spoken, hadn’t acted, hadn’t even existed in his world until this moment.

I wanted to scream at the goddess. To demand why she would bind me to a man who looked at me like I was nothing more than an inconvenience. But the exhaustion was too deep, the pain too heavy. Even tears felt like too much effort.

“I’m sorry about that.”

The soft voice startled me, dragging me back to the present. I scrambled to my feet, wiping at my cheeks and forcing my expression into something neutral as I turned toward the speaker.

A young woman stood in the hallway, her posture polite but hesitant.

“Oh—hello,” I said, attempting a smile that felt brittle and false. Judging by the sympathy in her eyes, she knew exactly what had just transpired.

“I’m Juanita,” she said gently. “Madam Lena said I’d be attending to you.”

She was petite, with a cascade of dark hair that framed her face and large brown eyes that held warmth and kindness. There was something reassuring about her presence, and I found myself grateful for it.

“Okay,” I said quietly. “Could you show me to another room? Preferably on the second floor.”

Anywhere but here. Anywhere far from him.

Juanita hesitated, her gaze flickering as she mind-linked someone unseen. I watched her face carefully, already sensing the answer. When she finished, her shoulders sagged slightly, and she shook her head.

“You shall stay on this floor, ma’am.”

Of course.

I nodded, swallowing my frustration. Arguing would be pointless. She was just following orders—his orders. Juanita led me down the hall to a room adjacent to the Alpha’s suite. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

The room was enormous, far larger than anything I had ever had. A round bed dominated the center, dressed in pristine white sheets. A massive screen was mounted on the wall opposite, and soft lighting gave the space an artificial warmth.

“These doors lead to the balcony,” Juanita explained, gesturing. “And the bathroom is through there.”

“Thank you,” I said softly, perching on the edge of the bed once she finished.

She smiled kindly and excused herself, promising to return later to call me down for dinner. The door closed behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts—and the maddening awareness of who was just a few feet away.

My mind circled back to him again and again. The cruel Alpha. My mate. The man who didn’t want me.

What were the chances?

‘Lia, are you okay?’ I asked my wolf quietly.

‘Yes,’ she replied, then hesitated. ‘Are you?’

I lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The truth hovered heavy in my chest.

‘No,’ I admitted silently. Nothing about this was okay. One moment I had been trapped in my father’s pack, fighting for survival against Evelyn and Vince. The next, I was here—sold, discarded, bound to a man who looked at me with disdain.

‘I’ll be fine,’ I told my wolf at last, forcing resolve into my thoughts. I was not weak. I had endured worse. I would endure this too.

I pushed myself up and headed into the ensuite bathroom. The shower was luxurious, the water hot and steady, washing away the grime and tension clinging to me. I took my time, scrubbing my hair thoroughly, savoring the simple act of caring for myself.

When I emerged, I dressed in simple jeans and a t-shirt, grounding myself in familiarity. I checked my phone and saw a message from Levy. He told me Evelyn had thrown a party to celebrate the deal with the Chasias.

I snorted bitterly. Of course she had.

Hours passed before a knock sounded at my door. Juanita returned, cheerful as ever.

“Hello, Luna! I’m here to call you down for dinner.”

My heart began to pound as I slipped on my shoes and followed her through the halls. When we reached the dining area, I froze.

Four men sat at the table, their presence commanding and intimidating.

The Chasia brothers.

Power radiated from them like a tangible force, and I realized, with a sinking certainty, that this was only the beginning.