Mated To The Alpha Of The North
Chapter 4

Willow

Still Two Years Earlier…

When I awoke, I quickly glanced around the room to ensure I was alone, noticing that I could finally see around the room.

Sighing in relief, I sagged back into the covers. However, I swiftly realized why I had awoken. I really had to pee!

My eyes darted around the room, looking for a door that might lead to a bathroom. I quickly scrambled out of bed when I noticed two doorways on my right. I tried the first but was immediately disappointed to find a walk-in closet.

I rapidly walked towards the other door, praying it was the bathroom. I rushed in at the first glimpse of a tub. Yes!

I quickly took care of business and then, finally looked around the room now that I could concentrate.

I discerned a large walk-in shower with double waterfall faucets and a massive bathtub, that I had noticed on my mad dash to the toilet.

It looked even more impressive now that I took the time to admire it. I seriously considered stripping down and taking a nice, hot bubble bath. I could definitely use it after everything I had been through.

However, I was still a little uneasy about my surroundings and unsure about Zeke’s intentions. I needed to see if there was a way out of here, just in case.

I glanced around to see if there were any windows in the bathroom. Seeing none, I knew I had no choice but to go back out into the room.

Hesitating, I decided to take a quick shower, still feeling a little dirty from Zeke’s hands on me earlier.

I turned on the shower and walked over to the door, locking it, before I stripped out of the officious “nightgown” and stepped under the streaming water.

The hot water gradually soothed muscles I did not even know were tense.

I stood under the water for several minutes until I finally looked around, searching for something to wash myself with.

I was pleasantly surprised to find several options. I smelled all of them and decided on the one that smelled the best.

I lathered up my hair with the honey scented shampoo, all the while continuing to fret over what was coming.

As the water washed away the last remnants of soap from my hair and body, I reminded myself to stay strong and remain true to myself.

My father taught me to take care of myself. The water continued rushing over me as I stared at the tiled walls. I needed to get out, but the water was just so intoxicating.

Finally, I managed to pull myself away from my temporary escape. I wrung my hair out and wrapped it in a towel before drying the rest of my body off with another thick, fluffy towel and looking around for something better to cover myself with.

No way was I putting that thing back on. I was a bigger girl, and I was not even comfortable seeing that much of my own skin on display, much less allowing some unknown male to stare at me.

Not that I was fat; I just had curves for days and maybe just a little extra to hold on to. Let’s just say, my body was not something I was overly confident in.

Noticing there were no signs of a robe or any other real clothes, I finished drying my hair, hanging the towel I had used back up, and began making my way back into the bedroom, ensuring the second towel was still wrapped tightly around my body. However, I paused to look at myself in the mirror first.

Though I struggled with accepting my body type, I did have long, thick hair that reached past my waist which I loved.

My dark hair, that so closely resembled my mother’s, made me sad and tears immediately began filling my chocolate colored eyes, eyes that reminded me so much of my father’s.

I still had not fully processed their deaths, but now was not the time. I pushed back the tears and, reluctantly, unlocked the bathroom door before making my way back into the room.

I looked around to ensure I was still alone and to look for a possible escape route. I was not surprised to find no windows.

The unnatural darkness that was present before I had fallen asleep was my first clue. I gave up on that avenue of thinking for right now and walked towards the closet to take a closer look for something to wear.

Upon first inspection, I did not see anything of use. My heart sank as I frantically continued looking around. Wait, what is that?

My pulse spiked as I dashed toward the back of the walk-in closet. There is a bag! Please let these be the clothes Zeke mentioned.

I quickly searched the contents. There were a couple form fitting dresses and pairs of skimpy underwear. This is what Zeke considered appropriate for my new lifestyle?

I was beginning to get extremely nervous.

These clothes were definitely not what I would typically wear, but it was a lot better than the barely there nightclothes I was wearing or the towel. I guess beggars could not be choosers, though I wished I still had my own clothes.

I donned the officious garb and walked back into the bedroom, pulling my hair over my shoulder. I stopped short when I noticed Zeke sitting on the bed. How did I not hear him come in?

“Oh good, you found your clothes. Though you probably should have waited to put them on,” Zeke casually informed her, his voice sounding amused.

I could feel my pulse skyrocket as I took in his w

ords and position, lounging on my bed.

“Wh… Wh… What do you mean?” I stuttered.

Why did I keep doing that?

His eyes burned as I felt them roving over my body. I attempted to use my hair as a shield, but it was only so helpful.

I glanced at Zeke and then towards the door. There was something different about him this time. I was not sure what, but I sensed that it would not bode well for me.

He sauntered up to my cowering figure. His large hands grabbed my h**s and pushed me against the wall while he leaned forward, pressing himself against me. He caged me in against the wall, leaving me little space to breathe, and, to my horror, I felt something rigid stabbing into my lower stomach.

His weight felt suffocating against me, and I squirmed, trying to move away from him.

He ignored my struggles and leaned in even closer, whispering, “I mean, that they will be on the floor shortly.”

He angled his head down and began kissing my neck. I had never been in this situation before, growing up fairly sheltered.

Hell, I had never even kissed a guy before, but I knew with absolute certainty that I did not want this man touching me!

I felt disgust roll down my spine as I felt him push his hardness insistently against me a few times.

I tried pushing him back with what little strength I had left, gritting out, “No! I do not want that! Stop!”

Why did I still feel so weak? I should be feeling better by now.

One of Zeke’s hands crept around towards my a*s, while the other reached up, grabbing a handful of my breast. He pushed me harder against the wall and continued grinding against me.

Moving in closer to k**s me, Zeke soothed, “Come on baby, I will make you feel real good. I am gonna take care of you.” He continued groping me and grinding his e******n into me as he spoke.

“No! Stop!” I shouted, turning my head and continuing to try to push him off me.

Zeke thankfully stopped then, pulling back with an incredulous look on his face, “Are you telling me no?”

His tone was shocked, as if no one had ever dared turn him down before. He continued, his voice turning nasty, “Think carefully before you answer. I am the one charged with ensuring your needs are cared for here.”

His grip tightened to near painful, and the implicit threat was excruciatingly obvious.

Either I could let him do what he wanted, or my life here would not be pleasant. I quickly ran through my options, glancing at the door again.

However, once I was paying attention, I realized that I could hear other people somewhere in the house.

No way they did not hear my shouts if I could hear them. That meant I was on my own. Escape was out, at least for now, not that I had anywhere else to go anyway.

I steeled myself to remain strong. No man was going to take that from me. I was saving myself for my mate. I did not care what he did to me. I would endure until I found a better opportunity.

I somehow found the courage to look him in the eye, asserting, “I’m telling you no. You are not my mate.”

His face soured and his grip on me tightened more. I tried to not show my discomfort, but it quickly became impossible as he proceeded to recklessly grope my curves.

I shoved against him and continued to resist his advances. I prayed he would not try to take my innocence anyway.

I did not know how well I would fair against him, but I knew I sure as hell was not going to just roll over and give up either.

He snarled, “You can let me make you feel good and take care of you or you won’t like what happens next. The choice is yours.”

My mind raced, stammering out, “B… But you are supposed to provide shelter to those fleeing the other provinces. The town elders said I would be safe here! You cannot do this! You are not my mate. I don’t want you.”

Zeke released his hold on my breast, quickly reaching up, he yanked my head back, pulling my long, thick hair like a rope.

My scalp burned where he gripped my hair.

With his face twisted into an ugly scowl, Zeke growled in my face, “Who’s going to stop me? You?”

He laughed as he turned towards the door, dragging me behind him by the hair.

I tried pulling away from his grasp, lashing out with my arm, but he kept up his swift pace, easily dodging my blow and maneuvering me out the doorway and down the stairs.

We passed several males along the way, but they all averted their gazes and made no move to help me. Cowards.

He continued, “But I would never dream of taking something you don’t offer,” as he stalked down the hallway, throwing open the door at the very end.

He carelessly slung me into the room. I collapsed onto a smelly mattress that took up most of the space.

I shrunk away from Zeke’s hulking form blocking the doorway. “You can stay here until you change your mind,” hurled Zeke before exiting the room and slamming the door behind him.

I heard the distinct click of a lock and a bolt being set before I sat up to look around at the rest of my surroundings. I rubbed the hair at the base of my neck, the stinging was already fading.

There was a small, bare shelf along with the old mattress on the floor making up the entirety of the furniture. Well, this was a definite downgrade.