"So let's talk."

Xander gave a cruel laugh.

"Talk? Really? Is that your plan? Are you going to hold me hostage, until I promise not to reject you? Give me a break? What are you going to do? Beg? Torture me?" Xander mocked. I flinched when he said torture. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

He thinks that I would hurt him...he thinks I am that heartless. I think bitterly to Rica, she remains quiet, watching and listening.

"I promise I won't hurt you..." I trailed off. He gave another short cold laugh.

"Yes, and why should I believe the word of a Blood Wolf." He spat at me. I looked down and showed him my burnt hands.

"If I was able to endure this just so I could have a chance to talk to you, surely you can spare some time to chat." It was a low blow, but I was speaking to his wolf. Because no matter what the human part of us thinks, the wolf will always go towards their mate...at least I hope. I look at Xander and saw he was conflicted.

"Why didn't you just wait until your hour then, if you wanted to talk?" He asked, and I look him in the eyes.

"Look at your watch," He glanced at it, " Because I didn't wait, now I get two hours with you." He looked disgusted

"Even if it is against my will?" He growled. I look back to our fathers.

"Look," I advised. We both looked at them. The men seemed to have figured out we never left the room. They were searching the room with their arms spread out searching for something invisible. It was my father who hit my wall first. He gave out a wicked screech before scrambling back falling to the floor. Pain washed over his face as he cupped his hands in an effort to soothe them. The Alpha rushed over to his side before trying to see what caused his pain. Carefully he stepped towards my barrier and outstretched his hand.

Stultus est sicut stultus facit Rica mumbled, and I couldn't help but give a small chuckle when the Alpha jerked his hand back as if he was electrocuted. That little prick was nothing compared to the real thing. Rica was right; foolish is as foolish does.

"What the hell did you do to them?!" Xander screamed at me.

"I gave them a taste of their own medicine," I mumbled softly

"What?"

"The Beta got a small taste of what it feels like being whipped with something soaked in silver and wolfsbane. While the alpha probably felt like he was being electrocuted." I clarified. Xander looked horrified as he stared at his father who was twitching from the effects. It was nothing compared to the hours he did it to me; My father looked at his hands as if they would fall off any minute. I couldn't help but wish they did. How many times did I want to pass out when he brought me to my prison?

"You crazy bitch!"Xander screamed at me before he charged at me. Before he had time to blink, I stood up and pushed him back into his chair.

"I promised I wouldn't hurt you...please do not make me break that promise" I carefully said. I sighed and sat back down.

"I know this is a lot to take in... I know that you think what I did to them is cruel."

"Because it is!" he interrupted. I looked at him a little hurt. Reflexively I rubbed my right shoulder, where the beginning of my scar started.

"I know," I breathe, barely audible and thankfully he didn't hear me.

"You can go..." I whispered the hurt was evident in my voice, but I didn't care.

"What?" Xander asked confused.

"The barrier is meant to keep people out...you weren't able to leave before because it was still forming....you can leave if you want." Xander began to stand up, and I brushed my hand on him, feeling the warmth again. He jerked it away from me.

"But I'm hoping you stay...I know this is the wrong thing to do and everything in you is probably telling you to run as far away from me as possible but..." I swallow hard, "look I'm under no illusions. I know that as soon as you walk out of this room that will be the end of us... I know you're going to reject me, and there are no words to convince you not to" I look down trying and praying for any control, "But for a few more minutes do you think we could just...forget all that? If this is our last time speaking can it be our first and last meaningful conversation? After all, we have the rest of our lives to become strangers...to forget each other's name." I look up again and really look at him. There was no denying he was handsome, with his beautiful hazel eyes that matched his perfectly strong tan face. He had dirty blonde hair that looked like he rolled out of bed but in a cute way. He's tall, almost at 6'1 with broad shoulders and muscles. But I couldn't help but look at his full pink lips. This was the man that the moon goddess paired me with, someone who was never going to accept me.

"I just...I just want to know why?" I said my heart in my throat was making it hard to breathe.

"Why are you doing this? We are mates...we were meant to be together." Xander shook his head.

"Don't you see that I am trying," My voice cracked. Xander lowered his head; his whole body was stiff as if it could snap with just one touch.

"I'm sorry...but I don't feel the same way," Xander said, his words were cold and distant.

"Why?"

"BECAUSE I DIDN'T CHOOSE YOU!" He yelled. And my heart stopped beating, but he continued

"I should have a say in who my life partner is going to be! I didn't choose you and to be honest I would never choose you." It felt like knives were being shoved in every inch of my heart, "You are a freak of nature, and the fact that the Moon Goddess chose you for me is just a mistake." I felt cold, I feel empty. And for the first time in eight years, I was in real danger of crying. I felt my breathing pick up and had to press down on my burnt hands to keep the tears in.

"I--I don't think it's a mistake," I whispered. He laughed at that.

"Of course you don't" He hissed at me, "You should be grateful you had a mate for a day. But let me make this clear." He said putting his face in mine, "You disgust me, you are the lowest of the low Blood Wolf. When I turned 16 I knew you were my mate...but I didn't tell you because I was already looking for your replacement. There was no way in hell I was going to mate with you." It's ironic how when your whole heart breaks that no sound is made...gunshots end with a bang, and if you fall, there's a thud. But for a heart falling apart, it was silent. Almost as if the universe itself couldn't contain such loss and devastation in a single sound wave, but instead it needed to pay its respect in absolute silence.

He knew....he knew this whole time that I was his mate. He saw every day for two full years how I was treated, and he never said or did anything. Did I fight for nothing?

NO! Ana! You fought for love! Your whole life you have been searching for something that may never come...but you held onto hope! There is no one on this earth that has a heart like yours. No one can go through what you have and still come out fighting...you are stronger than this. Rica encouraged, and it took everything in me not to cry...here I am thinking about my pain when she was also being rejected by her mate. She was trying to help me when no one was helping her. I closed my eyes and looked at her. Rica's eyes burned into my own, and I could see her pain, could feel her agony. I swallowed hard and pressed on my burnt wrists. I will survive this...if not for me then for her. I look back at Xander who was watching me carefully

"You say that you didn't get the chance to choose your mate...But do you think I asked to be a Blood Wolf? Do you think I chose to be treated like this?" My voice held no emotion; it was cold...dead. He looked at me, lost for words.

"Do you choose her? The Alpha's daughter?" I asked in a whisper

"Yes." He replied with no hesitations, "She is my dream girl." he whispered lovingly. I want to vomit, but my body remembered that it was empty so I gave a small hiccup.

Ana? Rica called in a soothing tone

I'm okay, Rica. I thought solemnly

"I have to go." He said pitifully.

"May I ask for one more favor?" I coaxed

"What?"

"Can you look me in the eyes and tell me goodbye?" This is for me...this is for me...I can't fight for him anymore. Like everything in my life I needed it to hurt so bad that I have to let go...I have to move on and away from this pain.

"Goodbye?" He asked bemusedly.

"To me, goodbyes are important...They're how we know we're doing the right thing. If you can do it easily then by all means leave and never look back...But..." I take a deep breath, " But if you open your mouth and feel the words get stuck in your throat." I stop and look at him, "Then you know you are making a mistake." I whisper the last part. But this time, he hears me. Xander stood up and took a step towards me; our eyes never leave each other. He moves to stand in front of me and kneels. We are face to face. He stares into my eyes, and I hold his gaze looking for any sign of...what? Regret? Sadness? Longing? What was I hoping to see?

"Goodbye...Anala." He whispered to me. He got up and walked out of the box to our fathers waiting on the other side with over half of our pack's warriors

"Goodbye, Xander," I whisper, feeling everything in my body shut down. I feel one tear fall off my face. I whip my hand gently over my face and stare at it in wonder. Years of torture and I never once let out a sound, but for him, I cried. I give a light laugh.

"Fuck you...fuck you for giving up on me," I muttered.