MATED TO THE STRONGEST ALPHA
Chapter Seventeen

*Selene's POV

I stepped back when Axel attacked me. He was strong; even though I used all my power, I couldn't match him; all I could do was block him. I knew it was not all of his strength, but how could I not win this battle?

I showed my teeth which indicated my anger. He slowly walked to me, and when the wind blew, I saw his gray fur sway. I walked, then ran towards him and tried to attack him, but I failed. His strong body hit mine, and immediately my weak body was flung away, and I hit the wall. Gradually, I changed my form and held my abdomen, which hurt the most.

"Ahhh!"

"Princess!" He came to me and helped me. "Are you okay?" With those questions, I heard the concern.

I didn't say a word initially, but then I showed him the bruise on my arms. "It hurts."

"Wait, we have to get that wound closed."

I wanted to stop him, but I was shocked when he picked me up. Because of what he did, our faces became extremely close to each other. I swallowed when I felt my heart beating fast. I looked away; I didn't want him to notice me. Why did I feel this feeling?

He brought me into the palace and gently placed me on the couch. I cleared my throat just to calm my heartbeat. I needed to be professional; he did this to me because he was the one who hurt me.

"Let me see your wounds." He tried to hold me, but I pulled myself away.

"Please call Lady Malia. I bet she should be better adept at this," I said as my gaze was not on his face.

He did what I said. When Lady Malia came to us, Axel said goodbye and told me that he would be back tomorrow. If I was okay, we would continue our training. But if not, he would not force me to train. There were always other days to continue our training.

To break the silence, Lady Malia asked me about the training. "How was your training? Aside from this wound?"

I didn't know if she was joking or if she wanted to know my thoughts about my training.

"Is Axel a good trainer?" she added.

"I am not sure. But he is strong, just as my parents told me. Look, he didn't even control himself to hurt me. Though it is kind of my fault" I laugh softly.

Before Lady Malia responded to me, she put down the medicine and sat down next to me. "How are you feeling now?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know how to answer that. But yeah, it is not so bad having these wounds; at least I have learned a way to defend myself. I am not that good at it though. I'm still in the process of learning."

All my hard work would be noticed soon. It is like what Axel once told me when we were training that I would understand this in the future. It would help me to be strong, and strength to help me to defend my nation.

"You know what, princess." She paused for a moment. It looked like she didn't know if it was right to tell what was on her mind.

"What?" I asked her. I wanted to know her idea on something.

"Nothing. This is not a good thing to be asked."

"No, just tell me what is on your mind." I insisted.

Before she could say what she wanted to, she let out a heavy breath. "I am sorry for asking about this one. But..."

"But?"

"But I think Axel has feelings for you; do you also think the same thing?"

Silence. There was a second of silence between the two of us.

"Sorry for what I said and asked. Just forget it, princess." She bowed.

"What? There's no way he has feelings for me. He hates me. He has told me before, and not just once. He hates me for being weak, but that isn't a problem anymore."

If that was, she was talking, but I felt that she meant the other thing I didn't want to know.

"Just for clarity, did you mean romantic feelings?" I was looking to clear up any possible misunderstanding I may have picked up.

"Yes, princess, that is what I was referring to."

What made Lady Malia think this? Did Axel do anything that made it seem like that? I, however, know for a fact that Axel would never feel that way towards me. Even I didn't want to feel that. It was not the main reason why I was determined to be powerful. My kingdom needed a strong queen; when I became the next queen, I should be the one who protected them. And I couldn't do that if I was weak.

"Anyways, the Queen wanted to talk to you. She said, After your training, I will tell you about it." Lady Malia's words brought me back to life.

Lady Malia changed the topic, and I was a bit relieved. I didn't want to inquire more about it. About why she thought that and if Axel did anything out of place "Where is she?"

"In her room. I need to go back and continue my work now, may I?"

I nodded. "Yeah, sure. Thank you for your help with my wounds. I will go meet my mom in a minute."

She just looked at me and walked away. I was left alone. Silence enveloped the surroundings. For a moment, I touched my chest to feel my heartbeat. What was that? When my mind thought about Axel, my heart beat so fast. What was the meaning of this?

I knew this was not good.

I didn't want to feel this.

My heart was just healing from a tragic event originally caused by this feeling.

I'm not in love with him. I don't want to fall in love with him.

*