Chapter 5: Love-Hate

Athena

When I woke up, unexpectedly I found myself on the bed. A duvet covered my naked body, and the curtains of the windows were closed.

I slowly got up, my aching muscles were making it difficult for me nonetheless I got up. Keeping the duvet around me to prevent myself from shivering, my skin was cold as ice and I felt really weak.

Suddenly the door opened. A gasp slipped past my lips and I closed my eyes in fear, assuming the worst-case scenario that could be nothing other than the arrival of Sebastian.

But to my fortune, it was not Sebastian who walked in.

As I opened my eyes, I saw a maid walking inside the room. It was not Sarah, it was the other maid from yesterday.

"Alpha wants you to be at the breakfast table," She told me, "Please get ready quickly."

I nodded, sucking in a breath to brace the pain that shot through my body starting from my lower abdomen as I tried to get down the bed.

Suddenly my eyes fell on the bandages that were wrapped around my wounds. None of my wounds or cuts were open.

"Do you know who treated my wounds?" My voice was hoarse from all shouting and screaming from last night. The flashes of the event gave me chills down my spine, I was still horrified and probably going to be for the rest of my life.

"Sarah did," she told me, gathering my shredded clothes from the ground, "Alpha came to your room and found you unconscious in the bathroom. So he called Sarah to treat you."

Thank god I was unconscious.

"Your dresses are kept in the closet, you can wear whatever you want. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask help. By the way, I am Winona." She did not sound that sincere but I decided to not pay any attention to that.

"Thanks, Winona. I'll call you if I need your help." I flashed her a forced smile and walked inside the closet.

There was a surprisingly good amount of clothes there but that did not spark any interest in me. I was just too worried about facing Sebastian once again.

As I slipped on a blue dress and thought of walking again, my legs seem to give up. I was so weak, moreover, the thought of being in front of his deadly eye scared me to my core.

But I knew, I had no other options other than facing him. So I unwantedly had to call Winona to help me in walking down the stairs.

---

When I reached the dining hall. It was not the expensive decoration, not the lightning or surroundings that caught my attention. It was the very same dark eyes of his that made my breathing stop.

My legs did not want to move from the last few stairs. They halted soon as I saw him.

He was there, completely facing me despite being at a distance as he sat at the front chair of the dining table placed in the middle of the room, looking at me with that very same coldness and emotionless expression that shook my soul.

All the events came swashing in my mind and the fear crawled up my insides.

"Athena, you need to walk," Winona told me quietly and I finally snapped out of my thoughts.

I did not want to be near him.

I wanted to run away as far away as I could.

But I was very aware of my situation and the helplessness that Sebastian Valdez knew how to take every bit of advantage of. I slowly walked towards the dining table, clutching the sides of my dress to gather my courage. My rapid heartbeats were banging against my chest already.

As I attempted to take a seat on the chair farthest away from him, his voice interrupted and I flinched in dread.

"Sit beside me."

I did not choose to disobey him or even meet his eyes. I listened to him and sat on the chair set close to him.

I bit the inside of my cheek, holding onto my breath to stop myself from shaking.

Suddenly a maid walked in, serving us fruits and breakfast. I had not eaten a proper meal, I did not know for how long because my own parents didn't think it was profitable to feed me well, and then came my stay in auction for around a few weeks.

But despite the fresh aroma of food hitting my nose, I did not feel the slightest bit of appetite. I was terrified. Terrified of the devil that sat next to me. I could feel his eyes on me; He was watching every move of mine.

"Eat." His order came.

Once again, I did not dare to disobey him and quickly put a spoonful of fruit salad inside of my mouth and without making a single noise I finished the entire bowl, scared of any of his reactions that might come out because of me.

He quietly watched me, casually sipping on a cup of tea, knowing that I was absolutely terrified of him.

To soothe my dry throat, I grabbed the glass of water with my trembling hand and took a few sips.

Unexpectedly the sound of heels clicking broke through causing my eyes to shift at the person who walked in— It was Celine.

Sending a judgemental glance at me, she sauntered toward Sebastian and stood behind his chair, snaking her hands around him and kissing his neck.

"Last night was amazing, Alpha." She whispered in his ear, "I loved every moment."

I felt a sharp pain attack my chest.

There was not a single mark on her. Not a scar, not a cut, not a bruise. She looked untouched as a flower or maybe she was treated like one because of the glow on her face and the hickeys that were the only marks I could see on her.

He treated me like an object and...he treated his mistress like he should have treated his mate, me.

I felt tears gathering in my eyes.

Don't cry, Athena. He does not deserve your tears.

"I'm going out with my friends, will be back before night." She told him, tracing her nail over his lips, "Can I have your credit card? Please."

It was getting hard for me to breathe as I watched Celine and his interaction. He was silent, not saying or doing anything but even his silence was a reaction.

It hurt so bad...

Without uttering a word, Sebastian handed her his credit card and Celine left placing a kiss on his lips, "See you."

As she left, once again the silence was drawn in the place. But it only increased my restlessness

I couldn't take it anymore. I needed some space.

"I am not feeling well. Can I go to my room? please." I finally stood up, hastily wiping my tears so that he wouldn't notice.

"No." His response came and he put down the teacup before he stood up.

"Please." A mere whisper left my mouth.

He did not bother to say anything else, instead, he walked over to me. Pushing the chair aside and stood behind me.

Terror crawled up my walls once again. My hands began trembling and my breathing turned heavier.

I did not want him near him.

I did not want his touch.

"I want this place empty. Right now." His loud voice broke through causing me to flinch and grasp the edge of the dining table.

Upon his command, all the maids around us left the room and a pin drop silence stretched across the room. Not even a single sound could be heard anywhere near.

And then it was Sebastian who broke it as he snaked his hand around my waist and turned me around with one swift jerk making me gasp out loud.

Before I could assume his next move, he pressed me against the table, locking me between his body and the table.

I avoided looking at him or his stone-cold blue eyes that only held hatred for me.

I knew whatever he was going to do was going to hurt me so I just held onto my breath, closing my eyes shut as tight as I could.

He grabbed my jaw and what shocked me was that his hold was surprisingly gentle. And then I felt his lips press against the corner of my mouth, laying a soft kiss there.

Sparks shot through my body. I remained there frozen under his touch, oblivion about what was actually going on.

My heart did not listen to my mind and my eyes opened on my own.

His gaze was different. It did not have any anger or hatred I'd experienced last night.

I did not get the time to figure out the emotion that was shining in his eyes in the least apparent way because he leaned closer and pressed his lips against my neck.

His kisses were gentle too. They were not harsh or hurting me.

A soft moan automatically left my mouth as he kissed down my neck and grazed his teeth on my skin.

The sensations felt so foreign and unusual. As if butterflies were erupting in my stomach.

His hands moved to band around my lower waist and he pulled me close to him, I could feel all his muscles underneath his shirt; His heavenly scent wafted into my nostrils.

I was getting lost. Lost in him.

He titled my face and began leaning in to kiss me, and I unknowingly allowed him to do so but soon as our eyes locked, his entire body froze for a brief moment and unnerving silence was drawn between us was drawn again.

A flicker passed through his orbs, more likely the fear of something. It looked like the realization of something I did not know.

And then the very familiar coldness and deep hatred shaded the blue of his eyes; The next thing I knew was that with one swift move of his hand the utensils on the table came falling on the floor all around me.

I shielded my ears with my hands because of the loud sound.

But little did I know that Sebastian had other plans.