Wedding night

Elena's POV:

The price for my body hadn't been paid in money, but it might as well have been. The party was over now. Mom had to go, and even though I didn't want to, I couldn't stop her or do anything about it.

My eyes wandered toward the king-sized bed at the centre of the room and terror gripped me. Dimitri wasn't here yet , but just seeing the large bedroom, my heartbeat quickened. Grace's words kept ringing in my head.

‘He doesn't care about you or your silly emotions. He'll fuck you like an animal. He will fuck you bloody.’

I was Dimitri's whore, till the end of days, trapped in this golden cage. A tear ran down my cheek. I wrapped my arms around my middle, trying to quench the panic.

The doorknob twisted and Dimitri came in covered in blood. Human blood.

A loud gasp wrenched out of my throat before I could stop myself, I drew backwards, My eyes wide and panicky

He stared at me with a predatory look on his face ,

My legs went weak.

God, what did I get into.

He thrust his jacket over the armchair next to the window. Flexing the muscles in his forearms. He was all muscle and strength and power, and I might as well have been made from glass. One wrong touch and I would shatter.

I stood there shaking with fear, as I watched him undress.

He took off the blood-stained shirt, leaving his bare chest in the open ,

Something curled in my stomach, at the sight of his bare chest and hands smeared with blood.

His eyes caught me gaping at him.

I looked away, quickly.

"When my father told me I was to marry you, he said you were the most beautiful woman the Tattaglia family had to offer."

To offer?

I dug my teeth into my tongue and held my breath.

I was now some cheap commodity on sale at the marketplace.

"I didn't believe him." He said, chuckling, and walked past me, disappearing into the bathroom.

The moment the door closed, I released a harsh breath and slowly approached the bed. I perched on the edge of the mattress, and dragged my knees to my chest.

What did I get into.

This monster just killed someone.

Goodness.

Water was running in the bathroom, but eventually it'd come back out.

The water stopped, I inadvertently held my breath in.

A few minutes later Dimitri emerged from the bathroom. My breath caught in my throat. Dimitri was only wearing a black brief. And if he looked impressive when dressed, he was a whole new level of intimidating when half-naked, pure muscle, and his skin was littered with scars , some thin and long, as if a knife had sliced cleanly through, and some round and jagged, as if a bullet had torn into his flesh.

He walked over to the main light switch and turned it off, bathing us in darkness. My heartbeat, which had been faster before, tripled over.

The bed dipped under his weight and I clutched the edge of the bed, pressing my lips together, allowing myself only shallow breaths.

The mattress shifted when he lay down. I held my breath, waiting for him to reach out for me and take what was his. Would it always be like this? Would I be miserable for the rest of my life? My nights filled with fear?

Dimitri's hands grabbed my waist suddenly. I swallowed the gasp and forced myself to be still as he rolled me over. His mouth drew closer and stopped just inches from my throat.

"My father told the truth." He muttered softly. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and tonight you are mine." His hot lips touched my skin.

My stomach tightened. I heaved my hips up to push him off me, but he grabbed my two hands and pinned them above me, leaving me to stare at his deep brown eyes, dark with desire.

I bit my lower lip. I hated this man. God, I hated this man so much , but he didn't care. His other hand reached across and tore the nightgown in half, leaving my thigh and breasts exposed.

"Please don't." I pleaded.

But his hands were already cupping round my breast and his mouth was closing over mine, shutting me up. A finger pinched my nipple, before a rough, calloused palm cupped it and squeezed. I tried to stifle a moan, but he kissed it out of me. His fingers left my breast and ran down, stealing into my pants.

I closed my thighs together, but his fingers pinched my thigh so hard I cried out into his mouth again. He leaned over me and whispered softly in my ears.

"You have to let me in. I'm only taking what is mine."

"I was never yours." I cried out , but that only further infuriated him. He turned me over and forcefully pulled off what was left of my clothes, leaving me bare before him.

Was this how all my nights were going to be from now?

Terror pounded through my veins as his hands tightened on my waist. Hot tears formed behind my eyes, but I forced them back.

I wouldn't cry.

I couldn't cry for this monster

But Grace's words slammed into my brain.

‘He'll fuck you bloody.’

“No!” The sound ripped out of my throat like a battle cry. I wrenched myself away from his arms, rolling backwards to the other end of the bed.

Everything seemed to go still at that moment.

Dimitri flipped the bedside lamp on and stared at me. His face cold and expressionless.

What did I just do? He'll kill me.

"You don't want me." His voice cut through my thoughts, cold and sharp like a knife.

I drew back on reflex, before snapping out.

"What?"

"Haven't you never heard the word 'no' before?"

Shut up, Elena. For God's sake, shut up.

He laughed drily, folding his hands over his chest. “I hear that too often. The guy who I killed tonight said that over and over again, till he couldn't say it anymore."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. My courage faltered.

"So are you going to kill me too?"

He laughed again, coldly. "That depends."

A smile twisted across his lips , I was like a cornered dog, biting and snapping, but my opponent was a wolf. A very big and dangerous wolf.

"I don't think my father would be happy if you hurt me." I said softly, hanging onto father as my last string of hope.

But the look in his eyes snuffed that out so quickly before I could blink. "Is that a threat?"

I averted my eyes from his.

My father might risk war over my death, not because he loved me, but to keep face. But definitely not over a few bruises or rape. For my father, it wouldn't even be rape. Dimitri was my husband and my body was his to take whenever he wanted.

"No?" I said weakly.

I hated him for making me do it

Dimitri crossed the distance between us and forcefully pulled me closer to him.

I winced as he pinned me down on the bed, our faces merely inches apart.

“Let go… please don't..”