"You still think of me as a slave! I am just a slave in your eyes, a woman that has been defiled by many men in my attempt to protect you, because that’s the only way I know!" Aria’s eyes were filled with tears, as she clenched her fists hard. "Meanwhile, she is the pristine daughter of the alpha! No matter how evil her father was; she is still holding a higher status than all of us! You didn’t even bat an eye when you annulled her status from a slave to be your mate!"
"Enough, Aria." Cane’s voice was so grim.
"You marked her!" Aria was panting now. She breathed raggedly, as she was trying to contain her emotions, but her anger was so overwhelming, she couldn’t think straight when she spoke the next words. "Don’t you feel bad for the late luna Leana when you marked your enemy’s daughter? Claiming her as yours?"
Right after what she said, Cane grabbed her by her neck, as he pushed her against the wall. He didn’t strangle her, but murderous intention could be seen in his dark eyes. The coldness and animosity in those eyes sent shivers down her spine. She felt the room become colder in an instant.
"Don’t you dare to talk about my mate."
Aria gulped down with difficulty, she feared him, but at the same time she was stubborn enough to look him right in the eyes. "O- or what?"
"I will banish you from the pack."
Banishment.
That was the worst word that Aria had ever heard coming from Cane’s lips.
Hearing that, Aria felt her legs give away, as she flopped down to the floor. She raised her head to look at Cane. His dark eyes were so calm and one thing that she knew about him was; he was not threatening her, but warning her. This was an ultimatum from him.
"Y- you will abandon me for that bitch?"
Cane narrowed his eyes, displeasure flitted across his eyes when he heard the way she called Iris, but he didn’t call her out on that, instead, the alpha crouched down in front of her and cupped her face.
"I am not abandoning you for anyone and I will never do that." He caressed her cheek, his voice was soothing, but it was so firm. "But, you have overstepped too much and I don’t appreciate that."
Aria felt his callous palm against her cheek, as he wiped her tears. But she didn’t feel any comfort whatsoever.
"That’s enough, Aria. Stop it and this is the last time I tell you this."
After saying that, Cane stood up and walked out of the room, but before that, Aria asked one more question. "What am I to you?"
Cane halted, he replied without turning back. "We have talked about it in the beginning." And then, he left her alone inside the bedroom.
That answer made Aria laugh in misery. She thought, after all these years of them being together, she could change him. She would be able to change his heart, she thought by becoming his mistress, she would be able to get him to love her. Making him a little bit affectionate with her.
But in the end, she only deluded herself.
They had to keep it down, because a visit by an alpha from the other pack should be announced to the alpha of the pack first, but they didn’t want to make a fuss about it.
They wanted to go as buyers, not to have pleasantries with alpha Gallot.
From afar, Iris could read what they were talking about, mostly it was about the monster attack that might happen during this period of time because most of them would migrate to warmer places before winter came.
Iris.
Iris remembered he called her name last night, but how could that happen? She remembered his voice was so hoarse, but soft at the same time.
She had been thinking about that and thought it was only in her imagination.
On the other hand, sensing someone staring at him intensely, Cane turned his head and found Iris was looking in his direction before she averted her gaze and talked to Hanna beside her.
In the past two days, they didn’t speak or meet, but from Grace and Amee, he knew that Iris was fine and she would only need to rest.
Unconsciously, he looked at her neck, but with the high collar dress that she was wearing, it was hard to tell whether the bruises were still there or not.
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