The Mate He Hates

Alpha Edward’s POV

“Leave!” I yelled frustrated, but she didn’t move an inch. Instead, she just stood there, and I felt my frustration and embarrassment rising. I just couldn’t stand her seeing me in such a condition.

“Amanda…”

“I won’t leave. It’s either you let me help you, or I will remain here,” she stated firmly, and I groaned.

“Guards!” I yelled, and within seconds, the door to my room opened, and two guards rushed in.

“Alpha…” they hurried to me. “Should we help you up on your feet?” they asked. Out of shame and embarrassment, I looked Bella’s way and realized she was staring right at me.

“Alpha…” one of the guards called, clearly not happy to see me on the floor.

“Help me to the bed,” I urged.

“Yes Sir…” one of the guards repeated, his voice carrying a note of concern. They each took one of my arms and lifted me up, my legs refusing to support my weight. Every movement sent a jolt of pain through my body, and I clenched my teeth to keep from crying out. As they guided me to the bed, I could feel Amanda’s eyes on me, her gaze never leaving me.

Once I was settled on the bed, I waved the guards away. They hesitated for a moment, clearly torn between following my orders and their duty to protect me, but eventually, they stepped back, leaving the room quietly.

Amanda remained by the door, her gaze unwavering. I wanted to yell at her, to make her leave, but the words stuck in my throat. I hated being seen like this, weak and helpless.

“What do you want? Why are you still here?” I murmured, frustrated and tired.

Amanda chuckled and moved closer to me, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. “What I want?” She asked with a raised brow. “Do you want to know what I want?” She asked again, and I furrowed my brow. “I want to watch you suffer, Alpha Edward,” she stated, and my eyes twitched. “I will remain here and watch you suffer. I won’t leave, but rather I will watch you suffer from the punishment of causing me pain, Alpha Edward. I won’t leave, I’m not leaving.” She mocked, and I felt a pang of pain in my heart. For a moment, I thought she wanted to stay because she cared, but it seemed I was wrong.

I stared at Amanda, trying to find a trace of the woman I once knew beneath the anger and bitterness. Her words cut deep, but I couldn’t deny that I deserved them. I had brought this upon myself with my actions, and now I had to face the consequences.

“You think this is punishment?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Watching me suffer? Is that really what you want?”

She crossed her arms and took a step closer, her eyes blazing with anger. “It’s a start,” she replied coldly. “But don’t think for a second that it makes up for what you’ve done.”

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the pain and the reality of my situation. The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony of seeing the hatred in her eyes. “Amanda, I-”

“Save your breath,” she interrupted. “I don’t want your apologies or your excuses. I want you to understand what it feels like to be helpless, to be at someone else’s mercy.”

I opened my eyes and looked at her, truly looked at her for the first time in a long while. She wasn’t the same woman I had hurt; she was stronger now, and in a way, that made her even more formidable.

“Do you think this will make you feel better?” I asked, my voice steady despite the pain inside. “Watching me suffer?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she walked over to the chair by the window and sat down, crossing her legs and looking at me with an unsettling calm. “Maybe it won’t,” she said finally. “But at least you’ll know what it’s like to be powerless.”

Silence filled the room, the tension between us consuming. For a moment, I thought she was genuinely worried for me. I could see the pain and torture in her eyes when I was brought back from the battlefield, but now it seems I had seen wrongly. Amanda truly hates me.

“Amanda, please leave me alone.” I pleaded desperately. “Just leave.” I pleaded, but Amanda was adamant. Rather, she remained where she was seated, a triumphant smile on her face.

“Now tell me, Alpha Edward, how does it feel?” she asked while I swallowed my pain and shut my eyes. “How does it feel to know that your pain is the happiness of another?” she asked, and I remained silent, stopping myself from shedding tears.

A moment of awkward silence hung in the air until I heard footsteps, and then the door opened and closed, indicating she had left.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, and the tears I had been fighting came down my cheeks, and I didn’t bother to wipe them off. I knew I had made a mistake, and perhaps I deserved it. If this was really my punishment, as Amanda had said, then it was justified. I truly deserve it, and I will live with it.

A knock landed on my door, and I frowned. “Go away. I don’t want to see anyone,” I yelled at whoever was at the door, but the door opened, and Matthew walked in with Liam. A hard gulp passed down my throat, and I had to wipe off my tears, but it was already too late; they had seen it.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“Father? Are you crying?” Liam asked worriedly as he made his way towards me and sat on the bed beside me.

“What happened, Father? Why are you crying?” Liam asked worriedly, his eyes filled with genuine concern for me.

“Nothing, I wasn’t crying, buddy. Something got into my eyes,” I lied, but the look on Liam’s face showed he didn’t believe me.

“Father, you know it’s okay to cry. We are humans too, and it’s okay to let out your emotions.” He comforted, and my heart fluttered in my chest. He was so little yet spoke so wisely.

Lifting my hand, I gently caressed his hair, and he smiled at me. “Thank you, buddy,” I said with a smile.

“You are welcome, Godfather, and don’t worry. I believe you will walk again.” He said, sounding so confident, and I raised a brow at him.

“Really?” I asked, and he nodded and then leaned closer to me. “Last night in my dream, I saw you, Mother, and I having fun in a pack. I think it’s a revelation, Father. You will walk again, and I will be here to support you,” he whispered, and this time, I couldn’t stop my tears from falling down. “I love you,” I whispered, pulling him into a tight hug.

“I love you too, Father.”