I don’t have anything to say. I'm not immature to throw tantrums over this. I respect my father's decision, and his honor as a former soldier is something I want to protect. Besides, you're not against it, so why should I make a big fuss? "Let's just get along well," Hunter said as he shook her hand when she didn’t reach out to take his. His grip was firm and confident, and for a moment, Aleah felt a strange sense of reassurance. She couldn't read his thoughts and wondered what was going on behind those intense grey eyes.
"You’re not even going to complain about this?" Aleah asked when Hunter let go of her hand, looking at him in surprise. She couldn't believe how easily he accepted the situation. "I mean, you must have people courting you. Or a girlfriend. "Marriage is not something you can just back out of when----" she paused, feeling a lump forming in her throat.
"I know what I'm doing. I have my own mind. "Or maybe you're the one who isn't sure about your decision," Hunter said, looking directly at her. His gaze was penetrating, almost as if he could see right through her. Can he see through me? Aleah thought. Is it that easy to read my actions?
"It's not too late for you to back out of this marriage. For me, it doesn’t matter. If my father decided on this marriage, who am I to refuse?" Hunter said. Aleah bit her lip, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation.
Such a cold and robotic response. Are you your father's robot, doing whatever he says even if you don’t want to? she thought. How are we any different? We're both being forced into this marriage. At least you’re doing it to honor your father. I can understand that reason. But me? I'm doing this because of my family's blackmail. She sighed, feeling the weight of her predicament.
"Is that a sigh of relief?" Hunter asked, his tone softening slightly.
"Definitely not. But what else can I do? "Let's get along well," Aleah said, sitting down. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. It seemed there was no way out of this marriage. She doubted she could convince the Alpha to change his mind. As she looked at Hunter, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity about this man who was now to be her husband.
His confident demeanor and unwavering commitment to his father's honor made her wonder what kind of person he truly was beneath the surface.
"I’ll leave you here for now. I have to go and see my team. Will you be okay by yourself? This room screams ‘demon Alpha,” Hunter said, adjusting his stance after looking at her.
"While you're here, think carefully about whether it's right to marry a Demon Alpha like me," he added. "You're young. You don't have to tie yourself to a relationship that doesn't make you happy."
"You hold a grudge, don't you?" Aleah replied with a smile, her eyes wandering to the books beside the cabinet filled with plaques and medals. "Are those books about law?" she asked, pointing to the shelf of books. Her eyes lit up as she saw them.
"Yes, they are. Do you read those kinds of books?" Hunter asked, glancing at the books and then at Aleah’s reaction. He had never seen such enthusiasm before. Then again, he wasn't the kind of person who enjoyed socializing. Perhaps that's why he was known as a master tactician and strategist—because of his solitary nature. He spent more time at the camp than at his own home. He didn't have many friends outside the Astral Guardian Camp and was probably closer to his guns than to people.
"It just became a habit. Can I read them while waiting for you?" Aleah asked, her attention fixed on the books as she picked one out to read.
"Yes. Feel free to do whatever you like. I’ll be back before sunset. We can go to the family gathering together," Hunter replied.
"Family gathering?" Aleah asked, turning to him.
"Well, your grandfather and my dad decided to have a gathering for both families to formally announce our engagement," Hunter explained.
"They really do think alike, huh," Aleah said, starting to look through the book she had chosen to read.
"I'll leave you here for now," Hunter said, opening the door.
"Alright, take your time," Aleah replied without looking up. Hunter gave a small smile and stepped out. Before walking away from his office, he took one last look at the door.
"My bride, huh," he murmured to himself before starting to walk away, his mind filled with thoughts of the unexpected connection forming between them. The day's events had taken an unforeseen turn, and he couldn't help but wonder what the future held for both of them.
"Ah!" Aleah exclaimed as she stood up, looking towards the door.I forgot to ask why he didn't introduce himself right away. With everything we talked about, it slipped my mind. He's so arrogant. Our conversation kept going off track because of him," she muttered, walking over to a chair.
"Oh well, I’ll just ask him when he gets back," she said, sitting down and starting to flip through the book she had chosen.
"I hope he doesn't take too long," Aleah said, glancing around the room. "This place is so eerie. How does he stand being in a room like this? It feels haunted with all these guns. "Maybe he talks to his guns here," she added, shaking her head. "Why am I talking to myself? I'm going crazy," she scolded herself, trying to focus on reading the book.
As she immersed herself in the book, the room's unsettling atmosphere seemed to fade, replaced by the intriguing words on the pages. Aleah couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and frustration about Hunter. He was a puzzle she wanted to solve, yet his enigmatic nature left her feeling uncertain. The anticipation of their next conversation lingered in her mind, making it difficult to concentrate fully on the book.
Aleah's thoughts drifted back to Hunter's firm handshake and the way he had looked at her. There was something about him that intrigued her, despite his arrogance. She wondered what it would be like to get to know him better, to see beyond his cold exterior. As she read, she found herself more and more captivated by the thought of unraveling the mystery that was Hunter Bryant.
