4. No right to refuse

Aelia’s POV

My gaze snapped to Pedro Montonio’s grim expression, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The two men in front of me weren’t just kneeling anymore. They were kowtowing—slamming their foreheads into the pavement with sickening force. Again. And again. And again.

Blood splattered onto the ground, mixing with the dirt and filth of the alley. The sound of flesh meeting concrete echoed, a gruesome, rhythmic beat.

I stumbled back in horror. “What are you doing?! Stop that—you’ll kill yourselves!”

They didn’t stop. They didn’t hesitate.

It was like they had to do it. Like stopping wasn’t even an option.

I turned to Pedro, my voice shrill. “Make them stop! Stop it!”

He barely glanced at me. “I can’t.”

I blinked. “What?”

His expression remained infuriatingly calm. “You have to accept their apology to free them.”

“…What?” My voice came out breathless, disbelieving.

I looked back at the men. Their movements had slowed, their strength fading, but they kept going despite the mess of blood pooling beneath them. My stomach twisted violently.

“A-Apology accepted,” I stammered, the words barely leaving my lips.

They collapsed instantly, slumping over in their own blood.

A wave of nausea hit me.

I should run. My legs should move.

But they wouldn’t.

I was trembling, barely holding it together, until Mike’s hand settled on my shoulder, grounding me just enough to stop a full-blown panic attack.

The sight of blood had always revolted me. But tonight, it wasn’t just revulsion, it was something worse.

It was helplessness.

I hated it. I hated it!

“Shouldn’t you thank me for saving your life?”

Pedro’s voice dragged me out of my spiraling thoughts.

My hands curled into fists. I refused to look at him, but Mike spoke up first.

“Thank you, Sir Pedro—”

“Not you, boy.” Pedro’s voice cut sharp through the air. “Her. Miss Aelia.”

I inhaled sharply and finally turned to face him.

The shadows of the alley stretched over his figure, making him appear even more imposing. He was dressed in black, a long coat and gloves, giving him an air of someone out of place in this time. Yet, his golden suit accents, his rings, his perfectly styled hair… they screamed wealth, power, maybe even royalty.

But his cold blue eyes?

They were nothing but trouble.

Trouble looking for a mate. And I wanted no part of it.

“…Thank you, Mr. Pedro.” The words felt heavy on my tongue.

A smirk curled his lips. “If you’re truly thankful, then why don’t you repay me?”

A spike of unease shot through me.

My pulse quickened. It felt like I had just walked into a carefully laid trap.

“Mr. Montonio—” Mike began, but Pedro didn’t even spare him a glance.

“Shut your mouth.”

Mike bristled, but Pedro was already looking back at me, his tone deceptively smooth.

“Go ahead, princess. Tell me all about your plans to repay me.”

I stiffened. His gaze held an edge of amusement, but something about it made my stomach knot.

I needed to get Mike out of this. He had already suffered because of me, because of my case. This wasn’t his battle.

I forced myself to meet Pedro’s gaze. “What is it you want, Mr. Pedro?”

Mike nudged me under his breath, but I ignored him. I already knew Pedro wouldn’t have followed me all the way here for nothing.

He didn’t respond right away. His silence stretched, the tension thickening around us.

I frowned. “Don’t you want something from me, Mr. Pedro?”

“I want you.”

My heart skipped.

Not from excitement. Not from attraction.

From dread.

“…What?” My throat felt tight.

He chuckled.

The freaking laughed!

And I hated the way it made me feel like a fool.

“Why do you look so pale?” he mused. “What are you thinking?”

Then, with a slow smirk, he clarified, “I meant I want you for tonight—”

“You son of a b*tch!”

Mike lunged, but I was quicker.

I slapped a hand over his mouth, my other arm locking around him to keep him from making a mistake he couldn’t take back.

I didn’t need a prophecy to know what would happen if Mike touched Pedro Montonio.

Sure, I was angry. I was livid. I was violated.

But the bitter truth? Some people in this world were untouchable.

And Pedro Montonio was one of them.

Mike glared at me, his whole body shaking with fury. His silence screamed at me —Are you really going to let him talk to you like that?!

I turned back to Pedro, forcing my expression into something unreadable.

“You’re coming with me tonight,” he said, voice casual, like he was inviting me to dinner. “For a chat. I’m sure you’re curious too.”

Mike was against it.

I saw it in his eyes.

Felt it in the way his body tensed even after I let him go.

But I forced a smile. “It’s fine. We’ll see each other tomorrow at work.”

“Aelia, are you insane?!” Mike barked. “What do you think you’re doing?! Come to your senses!”

I didn’t respond.

Because I already knew.

Pedro wasn’t leaving without me. Whether I agreed or not.

And in my opinion? It was better to walk into the trap than be dragged into it, blindfolded and unconscious.

At least this way, I had some control over how it played out.

So I moved.

Step by step, towards the sleek black car waiting for me.

I didn’t dare look back, didn’t dare meet Mike’s eyes. If I did, I might lose my nerve.

Pedro opened the door for me, like some kind of gentleman.

But the moment I slid inside, my heart slammed against my chest.

Because I already knew…

I regretted this decision.