14

Livia POV

I walked into Alpha Tarian’s bedroom, and the sheer temperature of the room immediately made my teeth chatter. Good gracious! The air was frigid. I wasn’t even near the threshold as I was feeling this much cold, genuinely afraid I might freeze to death right where I stood.

My sister, Livyana, liked to sleep in warm, cozy environments, bundled up in layers of blankets. If she were the one standing here, she would have to endure not only the chill of this room, but also the even colder reception of her goddess-forsaken husband.

I began to mop around the spacious suite, my eyes drawn to a larger-than-life, human-sized framed portrait hanging prominently on the far wall. Tarian sat in full Alpha regalia, looking impossibly regal, powerful, and imposing. I stared at the canvas, folding my arms tightly across my chest to keep myself from shivering. I came to a very quick, definitive conclusion: this man had to be completely cold-blooded to sleep in such a freezing environment.

Now, Livia, think, I ordered myself, pacing in small, hushed circles near the edge of the bed. You must think of what to do to make sure this conjugal night does not go through.

My phone vibrated softly in my hand. A notification popped up on the HiWolf messenger—Livyana was online.

My thumbs flew across the keyboard: I just got into his chamber. The room is a literal freezer and it's empty right now. I think he's still in the bathroom.

Before setting the phone down, I tapped the voice recorder app, configuring it to automatically save and transmit one-minute audio clips to Livyana at regular intervals until I manually stopped it. Slinking over to the massive king-sized bed, I slid the phone discreetly between two plush pillows.

I climbed the mattress, lying down awkwardly as I contemplated my strategy. Do I lay here like a dead dog? A dying cat? How do I act so completely unappealing that he doesn't come near me?

Before I could finalize a plan, the adjoining bathroom door swung open.

Alpha Tarian stepped out into the bedroom, completely bare-chested, with a white towel loosely strapped around his waist. Drops of water glided down the carved, muscular contours of his chest and abdomen. And beneath that single layer of terrycloth, his dick print was insurmountable—huge, prominent, and impossible to ignore.

My jaw almost dropped on the duvet. I knew I shouldn't be prying or staring, but my brain completely short-circuited. Was he seriously planning to use that giant weapon on my tender, sweet sister?! It is massive! How on earth would she cope?!

No, no, no, I screamed internally, squeezing my eyes shut for a split second. Livyana, you are in deep trouble if this is what you are committed to receiving every single night three months from now!

"What are you doing here?" Tarian's voice cut through the silent room.

Wasn’t he expecting me? I wondered.

He stood there like an ancient, sculpted god—his huge frame looming over the room, intimidating, ultra-masculine, and radiating 

unyielding power. He was the Alpha King, after all.

I snapped out of my mundane, wild thoughts, swallowing hard to catch my breath. I forced myself to stammer out a meek reply. "I... I am sorry. Last I checked, I thought I was supposed to be your wife."

Tarian’s eyes locked in mine was devoid of any warmth. "I hope you are aware that I have no interest whatsoever in anything romantic with you."

I blinked. Exactly!

He wasn't supposed to have an interest in me! 

I wasn't his actual wife, hello?!

Yet, as the words settled in the air, the sheer thought of this muscular, jaw-dropping god flat-out declaring that he didn't find me desirable—or rather, didn't find my sister, Livyana, desirable—grossly offended my pride.

A whole spec like me?! 

Yes, I think remarkably highly of myself! 

I couldn't speak for Livyana's usual low self-esteem, but since I was currently standing in her shoes, I was going to think highly for the both of us! The Alpha King should be down on his knees, thanking the Moon Goddess for the glorious gift of witnessing a beautiful woman like me in all her full glory!

Except... my eyes drifted down to my current attire. ...except that sadly, this abysmal, hideous nightie hides every single piece of my glory.

Gosh, I hated this old-fashioned curtain dress! But as much as I despised the fabric, it was currently working absolute miracles for my predicament. The Alpha King wanted nothing to do with me, which was undeniably the best possible outcome for my survival tonight.

"Oh... Oh! Ah, thank the Moon Goddess!" I scoffed aloud. I turned my face away from him, dramatically rolling my eyes to project unbothered indifference.

The second I did it, a wave of panic washed over me. 

Wait! Did I just roll my eyes at the Alpha King?! Livia, stay on game! Livyana would never in a million years roll her eyes at her man! What is wrong with you?!

Tarian's brow furrowed. "Thank the Moon Goddess?" he repeated, a sharp edge entering his tone. "That isn't what your eyes were saying a few seconds ago. You were staring."

He turned away from me, walking casually toward the tall floor-length mirror near his vanity. Reaching for a small glass bottle of beard oil, he began uncorking it to nourish his thick beard.

Oops, I thought, suppressing a nervous swallow. Looks like I struck a chord.

Fuck. My eyes involuntarily followed his movements in the mirror's reflection. As he massaged the scented oil into his beard, the thick, defined muscles of his back and shoulders contracted and flexed with every movement.

I groaned silently into the pillow. Moon Goddess, why are the insanely hot ones never mine for real?! Why am I always stuck with useless, lying scumbags, with Taylor sitting right at the top of the hall of fame?!

Curse you, Taylor! May you remain cursed forever!

"Maybe not every look or stare is one of admiration, my darling husband," I said, letting a dripping, salacious sweetness coat my words.

Honestly, I had concluded that I was pushing my luck. Since he had already established that he wanted nothing romantic, I figured that acting like I was playfully taunting or pursuing him would annoy him so deeply that he would simply throw me out of his suite altogether.

Tarian snapped. He spun around on his heel, glaring at me with eyes so intensely dark they felt like they were going to physically stab right through my chest.

I held his gaze, tilting my head with as much innocence as my mischief could afford. "Or am I not allowed to call my husband my darling?" I asked softly.

He stared at me for a long moment. I could practically see the gears turning in his head, a dozen unasked questions flashing in his eyes.

"You know," Tarian said slowly, his deep voice dropping a note lower, "you are not at all the quiet, well-behaved wife my mother described to me."

My heart hammered in my ribs. Damn you, Livia! You are going to mess this entire thing up for Livyana! What do I do?! What do I say?!

Once again, the hot-headed Livia inside me spoke before my rational brain could step in to filter the words.

"Maybe that is because I realized you are not quite the perfect, loving husband she described you to be, either," I shot back, narrowing my eyes.

I folded my arms tightly over my chest to firmly project my confidence in my stance.

Oh, my goodness, I screamed at myself internally. I was actually supposed to think BEFORE I speak! But then again, I wasn't wrong! What could possibly be the real harm in stating the glaring truth as it was?

Tarian looked up at the ceiling, letting out a 

frustrated exhale. He bit down on the edge of his full, succulent lower lip, his  fingers coming up to pinch the bridge of his nose in sheer irritation.

"Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life?" he muttered under his breath, sounding thoroughly exhausted.

I was tempted to roll my eyes a second time, but I quickly caught myself. Instead, I plastered a sweet, sheepish smile onto my face and dramatically bowed my head, trying to retreat back into the timid bride script.

"I am so sorry, my lord and everything," I said, my tone dripping with exaggerated apology. "I really didn't mean to scare you. All I am saying is that I don't mind staying on my side of the bed while you stay on yours. I will stay completely out of your business, and both of us can just play whatever script keeps your mother happy. Huh? What do you have to say to that, my darling husband?"

Tarian took a long, deep breath, his chest expanding and falling slowly. He lowered his hand from his face and gestured curtly toward the mattress.

"Move to your side of the bed," he ordered sharply.

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and strode directly into his massive walk-in closet, presumably to change into actual sleepwear.

As he walked away, my eyes trailed down his back. I couldn't help but admire the way his glutes were shaped—firm, perfectly rounded, like two loaves of fresh bread hanging off his back. An absolute apple butt. The Alpha King had a glorious apple butt.

I violently shook my head, snapping my gaze back to the ceiling. Stop it, Livia! I shouldn't be admiring my sister's husband in such a filthy manner!

I quickly scrambled across the expansive mattress, tucking myself firmly onto the far left edge of the bed, hugging the border as if my life depended on it.