My Hunted Mate
Chapter Eleven

Corinna

"1 can't tell you. " I mumble.

Malakai's face drops. " You can tell me, I can protect you Cori. *

" No Kai, you can't. " I tell him.

I don't need him to protect me, I can do that myself. The problem is Ialways fail at protecting others, people have gotten killed because ofme and the guilt of that is too overwhelming, if I added my own J

"1 don't know you! How could I possibly trust you? " I growl, frustratedthat he keeps pushing me.

"I'm your beloved! " He shouts.

* Well maybe you shouldn't be. " I turn away from him.

Even if I told him the truth, I would have to tell him why my own pack,my own family wants me dead. Why would he be any different? Howcould be possibly want me as his mate? The

thing that unbalances nature. The abomination. He wouldn't want me ifhe knew what I was.

"When you clean up you may use the room across the hall. There willbe clothing left out for you. * Malakai's voice is cold and distant whenhe speaks.

Not answering him, I keep stay facing the bath which is now full whilehe leaves the room. I jump slightly when he slams the door behind him,I lean over and turn off the water and then slowly get into the bath,giving my body time to adjust to the heat. The brief thought that Ihaven't locked the door comes to mind but I assume Malakai won't becoming back in here anytime soon and I doubt anyone else would be inhis room anyway.

Sighing in relief, I lower myself to lay down in the hot water so that onlymy face is above the surface. I close my eyes for a couple of minutes,only opening them when I hear the door click open, when I do I seeJosephine glaring down at me. I go to sit up, but she pushes me backdown with her hand wrapped around my neck tight enough that Istruggle to breathe.

"1 don't know what the hell you are, but I'm not going to let some muttstroll in here and steal Mal from me. Beloved or not. * She whispersharshly, my eyes widen when she tightens her hold on me.

"Let. Go " I wheeze out.

Her eyes start to turn black, veins pricking under them. I try to mutterout a spell but she quickly cuts me off by shoving me under the water,my body trashes around as I panic, swallowing a mouthful of the bathwater. I quickly wrap my hands around her wrists, extending my clawsand digging them into her flesh, blood spills into the bath turning thewater crimson.

She releases me, I immediately sit up in the bath coughing up the waterI swallowed and gasping for air. " I want you gone. " she hisses, thenleaves me alone in the bathroom desperately panting, confused andangry about what just happened.

After rushing to scrub myself, I climb out of the bath and unplug thestopper, letting the blood laced water run down the drain. Lookingaround for a towel, only to replace there isn't one, I walk out into Malakai'sroom, noticing two towels folded on his bed. I grab one wrapping itaround me, running to the other room with tears in my eyes to replaceclothing.

The room is much more bare but has the same layout as Malakai's, onlythere's no books on the white shelves and a space in the middle wherea TV is bolted to the wall, the carpet is white, the walls are painted a skyblue and the white bed sheets have small dark blue flowersembroidered on them to compliment the walls. On top of the bed I replacea pair of grey sweatpants, a pair of boxers and socks along with a navycotton jumper.

Sniffling, I wipe my tears away before pulling on the underwear and thejumper. I sit myself on the bed sliding the socks onto my feet. I staysitting on the bed staring at the door for a while, my heart still racingfrom the panic I felt. Eventually I grab the bottoms and pull them overmy legs, tying them tightly around my waist so they won't fall down.On shaking legs I walk over to the door, turning the lock. I pace aroundthe room trying to figure out what I'm going to do and what the hellJosephine was talking about. Are she and Malakai in a relationship? Isthat what she meant about me stealing him? A pang of disappointmentand jealously settings in my gut as I think about them together. I cansee why he would like her, she is beautiful... On the outside at least. Shelooks like a supermodel, all the while here I am covered in scars,constantly filthy, slightly underweight from times when I have to gowithout eating because I'm either running or there's nothing around forme to hunt.

Regardless of Josephine's warning, the right thing for me to do is leave.I can't stay here, when I stay still they replace me too easily and I can't lurethem here, to my mate. They'd kill him in front of my eyes just topunish me, and to punish him for trying to help me. I can't destroy thelife he has here for himself. Besides he's better off with someonenormal, not some half breed and he has that here... With Josephine.Another wave of jealousy courses through me.

Pushing my feelings away, I go to the balcony door, swinging it open. Iwalk over to the railing, leaning over it slightly to look at the drop tothe ground, wincing a little when thinking of the possible broken ankle Icould end up with. I take a deep breath as I carefully climb over therailing, holding onto it for support when I'm on the other side.

Shutting my eyes tightly, I force myself to jump from the balcony,shifting into my wolf mid air, when I land on all fours with a flinch Idon't give myself a second before taking off I'm in a sprint, throwingmyself right over the little stream. Once I'm out the gate, I keeprunning, pushing myself faster and faster with each tree I past untileverything to either side of me is a blur.