CHAPTER 003: Camila's Bond

“Krane, give me a neck shackle.”

Mateo was a cold-blooded singer who did not care, and his eyes never left Camila. The air was thick, and each stroke of her heart was felt with greater distinctness. Her body was straining, all the muscles screaming to be free, but there was nowhere to go.

A shackle?

Camila gulped as she saw a dark-skinned man come to Mateo. The curly hair of the man was short, and bounced with each stride as he gave him a shackle, the metal still smeared with dried blood. The very sight of it caused Camila to lurch in her stomach, yet there was nothing she could do. The sense of powerlessness was choking.

Mateo looked at the blood-streaked shackle, and his eyes ran over it a moment, then he turned to the man.

“Do you have anything... clean?” Mateo talked as frosty as the frost on the trees. I do not believe that the princess would like to have the blood of another person on her neck.

The man paused for a moment, and gave him a new shackle, which had not been touched by blood. It shone in the dim light of the campfire. Mateo took it with an indifferent nod, and turned to Camila. His gaze never moved off her, and there was a cold intensity in his very being.

The tension was unbearable. All her nerves cried to fly, yet she was bound. She was powerless.

Mateo had one of his men, a big burly fellow with a scar on his face, who laughed sadistically. But she has blood on her face, Alpha. I suppose she thinks rogue blood is good.

Camila shuddered at his laughter. She struggled to control her feelings and not to cry in front of these men. But it was getting harder. She was drowning, she was in a nightmare and there was no escape.

“Enough.” The growl of Mateo was low, threatening. The laughter was cut off. The camp was quiet, excepting the crackling of the fire. “Keep your mouths shut.”

Mateo moved nearer to her, his eyes roving over her body as though she were a thing. The intensity of his gaze crawled on Camila. She may have felt his eyes on her chest, where her nightgown was clung to her body, revealing more than she was comfortable with. She would have liked to recede, but the ropes that held her to the tree held her.

He slowly licked his lips, and his eyes were a second too long. Then he appeared to rouse himself out of his trance. He shook his head, as though he were waking out of some sort of dream.

“What’s your name?” His voice was cold as the night air, cold, cold, as though he were asking about the weather. But the way he said it sent Camila a shiver.

Her throat narrowed, yet she made herself look up at him. She was not going to show him her fear. She was not going to be broken by him.

Why? she spat, her voice shaking with anger and fear.

The lips of Mateo curled into a smirk, though there was no humor in it. Give me your fucking name or I will make you tell me.

Camila was chewing her nails, and her heart was jumping out of her chest. She was not going to submit to him. Not now. Not ever.

Get it out of me then! she screamed, her voice full of rebellion, though her inside was a tangle of nerves.

She could see the irritation in the eyes of Mateo, the tightening of his body, as though he were restraining the anger within him. She felt that he was not accustomed to being disobeyed. She might have read it in his pose, in the stiffening of his shoulders.

One of his men, Krane, stepped forward, and the voice of the Beta disturbed the silence of the scene. “Camila. Her name is Camila, Alpha.”

Mateo looked at Krane with narrowed eyes, but his smirk returned. His eyes were fierce and he looked back at Camila.

Huh, Camila huh? he dripped with mockery. “Nothing special about your name. Why try to hide it?”

I do not owe you an explanation, Camila said, her voice even though her chest was trembling.

“Oh yes, you do.” Mateo moved a step nearer, his presence choking. “Did you forget? I have just saved your life, you fuck. You’re under my mercy now. I could make you my slave, and no one would complain. You don’t get to have secrets.”

I hate you, she said to herself, and her voice shook, and she would not give way to the tears. She would not allow him to see how she was falling apart.

I am sorry to break your heart, but you are not the only one who hates me. Mateo talked coldly, indifferently, almost like he did not care. “It doesn’t bother me anymore.”

I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, Camila said more decisively. Her eyes were on fire, there was a spark of defiance that could not be put out.

Hush, hush, princess, he dripped with cold amusement. The warmth of his breath brushed her skin, and she shuddered, yet stood her ground.

Nobody will know, his voice hissed, low and dangerous. Thou hast no exit but by me. Be a good girl, and I will not turn your life into hell.

Camila made her hands into fists, her nails raking her palms. Her anger was burning, but she had to hold it. She couldn’t let him win.

What wilt thou have of me? she said, shaking with fear and rage. “Why don’t you just reject me?”

The term was a gut punch. She had not intended to say it, but it slipped out, and as soon as it did she noticed Mateo darken.

She was about to say something more, when the hand of Mateo reached out and caught her roughly by the jaw. She screamed when he pulled her face to his, making her stare at him.

She would have screamed, struggled, but she knew it was no use. And should you ever utter that word again I will see that your mouth is permanently closed.

Camila was aware of the anger that was building up in her, but she bit her lip to stop the words. Fuck you! she screamed, and her words were full of anger and disgust. Her body was already in his mercy.

She knew that it was bad, inhuman, but she could not do anything. But even as she said it, a part of her knew it would not make any difference.

Mateo looked with anger. Keep yourself in check, or I will. He bent still nearer, his lips nearly touching her ear. And I will see you sorry.

His hand on her jaw tightened and she felt that he could hurt her. But in another moment, as he had seized her, he dropped her, and stood with a careless shrug.

Choose your battle, Camila, cold and final. Either you work with me, or you will be like the bodies on the ground.

Camila felt a feeling of desperation. She was trapped. There was no way out.

Then kill me, then kill me, she screamed, and her voice broke. Her words sank into her chest, and yet she said them, she knew it would not happen. Mateo needed her alive.

I can not, I can not, said Mateo, with a voice that was softer and yet chilling. You are better to me alive than dead.

Camila had a narrow throat and could scarcely swallow. She did not want to lead such a life. But she did not want to die either.

Keep still now, or this will be worse, Mateo said.

Camila swallowed, and her eyes flicked at the shackle in his hand. She knew what was coming. He wiped a tear which had crept down her face, and his fingers lingered a moment before he withdrew. Unless she did, unless she put on the shackle, she would die.

“Please… Mateo smiled a little, but it was soon lost before she could see it. She couldn’t stop herself. This was the survival method.

The moment appeared to be weighing him down, and he sighed. Camila could feel her heart beat in her chest, but her body was still, tied to the ropes. He turned his back to her, and addressed his men.

Round up the perimeter, he said. “Make sure no one’s hiding. Burn the bodies. We’re leaving soon.”

Yes, Alpha, the men replied in one voice, and in a moment they were dispersed, going away to do their work. Krane was the only one left, standing by the side of Mateo.

I hate you, Mateo, I am sure, his voice was lower now, almost apologetic. Mateo’s words echoed in her mind, his cold threats and demands. She did not know whether she could take much more.

His hands were on her skin, and Camila shuddered, her body stiffening. And I can do nothing about that, but I want you to believe me.

Camila shook her head, but her eyes could not look up at him. You are asking too much, she said, and her voice trembled. How shall I believe you when you... when you...

Mateo touched her, his hand caressing her cheek. Camila shuddered, yet the caress was unexpectedly gentle. Mateo asked, in a low voice, little more than a whisper.

“Do you want to stay alive?” Camila nodded, and her body shook.

Camila said nothing, and now her tears were streaming.

“Then wear this.” He raised the shackle, and looked straight. No one will touch you in my territory as long as you wear this.

Have you ever put that on your own neck? Camila’s voice cracked. Do you suppose it is easy to go about with that on my neck?

Mateo didn’t flinch. “Again, Camila. Death or shackle?”

Sparks flew as soon as his fingers touched her skin, and Camila gasped, her body stiffening. Her heart ached. She did not want to live this way. But she didn’t want to die. Not yet.

Mateo put the shackle around her neck with trembling hands. Mateo was grabbed by him, his hands on her shoulders.

Their relationship was indisputable, although all the aspects of her desired to escape. She wanted to hate him. She wanted to fight him. But there was no escape.

As the shackle clipped into position, the body of Camila fell forward as the ropes were severed. Mateo was grabbed by the shoulders, and his hands were on her.

Touch me not, she hissed, but he disregarded her, and led her to her feet.

You are safe now, he said, and his voice was soft, but there was no warmth in it. "At least, for now."

Could Camila get out of the grip of Mateo, or would she be a chess piece in his deadly game?