Chapter 14: Slapped

Maya's Pov I was obviously leaving the meeting before everybody else in order to avoid Alexander, but life doesn’t work that way. The second the meeting concluded even though none of us had a conclusive idea on how to deal with the problem, I stood up, smoothed down my suit jacket, and made a fast exit out. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to feel the intense, overwhelming pull of the mate bond, and I definitely didn't want him asking me questions about my past. I walked down the hallway, my heels clicking loudly against the floor. Terence was walking a few steps behind me, typing on his phone. "Maya, wait up," he murmured, looking back over his shoulder. "You practically ran out of that room." "I am not running," I said coldly, keeping my head high. "I just don't have time to stand around and chat with Alphas who think they own the world." "Well, somebody is following us" he warned. Before I could even turn around to check who it was, a rough hand grabbed my arm from behind, spinning me around violently. Ezra. His hand clamped tight around my wrist, right over my pulse point. His face was twisted with anger, well I'm just as angry. He made the mistake of manhandling me when he caught up to me, and I turned around and gave him the coldest glare ever. "I know for a fact that you did not touch me like that" I said, looking at him like looks could kill. My voice was dropping to a freezing, dangerous tone. Terence stepped forward instantly, his hand reaching for his blade, but I raised my hand to stop him. This was between me and the monster who destroyed my life. He didn't listen to my warning. He squeezed my arm tighter, pulling me closer until I could smell his fake, nauseating scent. "I don’t know who you’re trying to pretend to be, but stop this nonsense and come with me," he said, sneering as he continued to manhandle me despite me warning him against it. I let him pull me this time. I didn't scream, I didn't kick, and I didn't draw my weapon to create a scene. He dragged me down a side corridor and yanked open a unknown door, shoving us both inside before slamming the door shut. We were inside some room, I’m guessing an unused because this place just has too many rooms. When we got there, he looked at me like he couldn’t believe me, especially the fact that I let him pull me all the way here without creating a scene or screaming for help. He stood there breathing heavily, staring at me from top to bottom, my posture, and my cold, unbothered face. But what he doesn’t understand is that I’m no longer scared of him. I’m not the weak eighteen-year-old girl he threw into a dark cell ten years ago. I’m an Alpha now. I could take him on anytime, anywhere, and anyhow. "How?" Ezra finally choked out, his eyes searching my face with a sick mixture of rage and shock. "How?" "How what?" I asked, looking at him with a condescending smile. "How am I alive after you tried to kill me, just like you killed my entire family?" The words hung in the room. Just being in his presence reinforced the fact that I now have a second chance, because I didn’t feel anything for him except pure hate and anger. Ten years ago, his touch used to make my heart flutter. Ten years ago, I thought he was my entire world. But looking at his pathetic, desperate face right now, there was no pain, no residual affection, and no longing. There was only the cold, burning promise of revenge. "Where have you been?!" He suddenly yelled, stepping closer and waving his arms frantically. "You disappeared. They said you died in the forest and now you walk in here looking like this, pretending you don't know me?" "I don't know you, Ezra," I said, my voice dead and emotionless. "The Ezra I knew was a pathetic boy who needed to murder my father and throw me in a dungeon just to feel powerful. You're nothing to me." "You belong to me!" he growled with his Alpha command. "You're my mate. You're coming back with me to Solstice Pack" "I don't belong to anyone," I spat back. "And if you think I would ever step foot on your filthy land again, you're more insane than I thought." "You're coming back with me" he shouted again. Before I could reply, he lunged forward, grabbing the back of my neck with his hand and shoving his mouth on mine. It made me sick to my stomach. The touch of his lips on mine made my blood turn to ice, especially because it was a harsh, disgusting reminder of everything that he put me through, the rejection, the silver chains, the lash wounds on my back, the blood of my parents in his hands, and everything that I lost because of him. My unborn baby died because of this monster. A wave of pure, explosive anger erupted from deep within my wolf. The force of my slap sent Ezra stumbling backward, his head snapping to the side and the sound was so hard, so loud, and so powerful that I could feel it echoing even outside the room that we were in. He grabbed his cheek, staring at me speechless. Blood trickled from the corner of his split lip. I stepped over him, towering above his shaking frame, my eyes glowing a dangerous. "You do not, do you hear me? you do NOT touch me" I growled, pointing my finger straight at his face. "Maya..." he said looking at me angrily. "If you ever put your hands on me again, if you ever step into my personal space, or if you even breathe near me again, I will not just slap you," I whispered, leaning down so my voice vibrated straight into his ears. "I will rip your throat out right here on the royal floorboards and feed your heart to the wild hounds. Try me, Ezra. I dare you."