Chapter 1 I Hate My Mate

Leona Barnett's POV: "No, I'm not mad. You can't do this to me!" I screamed. They tugged at my arms, dragging me forcefully toward the mental asylum behind me. They attempted to come up to me and cover my mouth so that I'd shut up. However, I stared stubbornly at the person in the car a short distance away. Rain fell mercilessly, thoroughly wetting the car windows. A hazy reflection of the frigid face within the car was revealed. I was trembling. Soren Knight—he was my destined mate. We were blessed by the Moon Goddess. So, how could he have me sent into a mental asylum all because of my stepsister, Elara Walker? Unwilling to yield, I struggled with all my might. I yelled through the car window, "Soren, I am your destined mate. Are you going to go against your promise to the Moon Goddess?" Suddenly, the car door opened. Before I could even rejoice, I was roughly pulled into the car. I fell on Soren, and his neatly-straightened shirt became drenched immediately. "Soren, I wasn't the one who sent those Rogues to hurt Elara. I didn't steal her ring either. Please believe—" Before I could finish my sentence, a strong and lean hand grabbed my chin mercilessly. Then, I heard Soren's uniquely husky voice coming from above my head. "You really can't live without me, can you?" The pain in my chin forced me to tilt my head up slightly. Soren's blond hair brushed across my forehead, bringing about a tingling sensation. His eyes were deep, and his beautifully sculpted facial features looked like they were intricately shaped under a moonlit sky. At this moment, his lips were slightly pursed. He looked both dangerous and mesmerizing at the same time. "What?" I couldn't quite gather my thoughts just yet. Did that mean that Soren believed me now? His hand traveled upward from my chin to my lips. As he brushed his finger gently against my lips, he wrapped his other arm around my waist domineeringly. I became lost in those grayish-blue eyes of his. It was almost as if I would be able to hear him ask me if I was cold in the next second, just like he used to in a gentle voice all those years ago. However, he ripped my collar apart out of nowhere. A frosty air emanated around him as he questioned, "Leona, you're deeply in love with me, aren't you? So much so that you have to hurt Elara? Since when did you become so cruel?" Chills filled my chest. Instantly, my mind became clear. I couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. I remembered how Soren no longer showed me any gentleness ever since Elara came to the pack. So, why would he have compassion toward me now? "Like I said, I didn't do any of that. She and her mother framed me!" I wanted to explain myself. "That's right. It's always others who falsely accuse you. Even your very own brother, the Larkspur pack's next Alpha, accused you falsely. You are always blameless! "Those Rogues who tried to violate Elara were also just part of a show she put on for herself!" Rage and agitation began to show in Soren's eyes. Then, he no longer gave me a chance to explain myself. A loud ripping sound tore through the space as he ripped my blouse off me. I screamed. The sudden gush of coldness prompted me to put my hands closely over my chest instinctively. With his strong hands, Soren pressed against the back of my neck, forcing me to turn over. "I don't want to see this hypocritical face of yours," he growled. As my skin came in contact with the icy car window, I shivered. I saw those men who were about to drag me into the mental asylum earlier, outside the car window, looking restless. They turned their gazes toward the car. Meanwhile, the driver in the driver's seat kept sneaking peeks at my chest through the rearview mirror. I did all I could to curl up, trying to avoid those ogling gazes. "No, that's not true. I really wasn't the one behind all that. Soren, I'm Leona. I'm your fated mate. You can't do this to me!" "Oh? My mate? Since we're mates, all the more I won't have to care, then." I felt a pair of hands catching my bra strap behind me. And with one effortless flick, my white lace bra was ready to slide off. Fortunately, I already had my hands on my chest the moment my blouse was torn away. At this moment, I held onto my bra tightly in front of me. It was hanging by a thread, just like my last shred of self-respect. In the next second, my skirt was pulled up as Soren rubbed my lower body forcefully without a trace of mercy.