Forced Into an Alliance

Sloane's pov.

A knock on Dad's study was all it took. I didn't wait for permission before I twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.

Dad was seated on the swivel chair, his hand tapping slowly on the desk.  

“You really want to do this?” I stopped in front of him and asked.

Our eyes locked and silence stretched between us, the only sound echoing in the room being the sound of his fingers tapping away on the desk.

“He's not mine.” His voice was flat and his tone unbothered. Silence reigned after his words, and a smirk appeared on his face. “That makes him useless”

He added. “No one will question me if he dies anyway”

My fists clenched and my fingers dug into my palm.

“I hate you!” I spat, anger coursing through my veins.

Again, he acted unbothered. He raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “You are running out of time, Sloane”

“Make a decision”

My throat tightened.

“If I do this…..” The words rolled out of my mouth slowly. “Carl lives”

Dad didn't respond but his silence was enough of a response. I closed my eyes shut and my face creased.

“I’ll do it” It took me a lot of effort to say those words. “I'll marry him”

It had never been recorded in history that an Omega stood a chance against an Alpha and mine won't be the first if I tried to go against Dad. Most importantly, I had to protect Carl.

A smirk escaped Dad's lips and he stood up, moving closer in a way that unsettled me. “Good choice, daughter”

He was standing too close and it took everything in me to resist the urge to step back. The scent of his cologne invaded my nose, disgusting me in a way that made me feel like retching.

“Lucien won't notice,” Dad said calmly with a smile. “He won't know who he mated until after everything is done”

My stomach twisted because I knew he was wrong. Lucien is not a fool.

Or my instincts could be the one who's mistaken.

“Promise you'll never threaten Carl's life again” I swallowed hard, staring at Dad with a darkened face.

“Of course,” he smiled. “He will be doing totally fine in the hospital if you stick to the deal”

“The marriage will be for just a year, you don't have to worry about anything,” he added.

I was glad he said that. I didn't want to stay with Lucien. He isn't just any alpha, he's arrogant, cold and calculated. I know because we were once in the same college.

I didn't say another word to Dad, I only turned and walked out of the room, but the moment I stepped out of the room and intended to close the door, his voice rose.

“She agreed”

He was suddenly on a call and that made my brows furrow in confusion.

“She didn't suspect anything,” Dad continued.

I froze.

“Making her take your place was a right decision”

My jaws dropped. He was talking to Bella.

The realization hit me hard because Bella didn't disappear, this was a plan between her and Dad.

A plan to trap me and get me mated to Lucien instead of her!

I swallowed hard but I couldn't do anything. If I refuse, he'll harm Carl.

Anger boiled inside me but I resisted the urge to storm through the door and challenge him. Instead, I simply walked away.

That night, I couldn't bring myself to sleep. I rolled and turned on my bed, thinking about what would happen if by tomorrow, Lucien finds out the bride he married isn't the one he's supposed to marry.

By late afternoon the next day, I was exhausted but I forced myself to dress up…..

In my sister's wedding dress.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, Hannah standing behind me. She held a brush which swept across my face and I swallowed hard.

I was nervous.

I still didn't like this idea of getting married to the alpha who once took pleasure in watching me get bullied when we were in college.

Lucien didn't only watch me get bullied, he also humiliated me in front of the whole school.

I was so stupid back then.

Almost all the girls in the school were going crazy over him, they'd kill to be in his face and I was one of them.

He was an Alpha, strikingly handsome.

I did something none of the girls were ever able to do while they crushed on Lucien. I wrote a letter to him, confessing my love.

I expected rejection, and it happened. Just that it came in a way I didn't expect.

Lucien replied to me in front of the whole school, putting me at the centre of humiliation.

The moment was still etched clearly in my head no matter how hard I tried to erase it.

“You like me?”

Laughter echoed among the crowds.

“You, an Omega?”

His words pierced through my heart a million times, and I wished the ground would swallow me whole.

Lucien threw the letter to my feet and walked away while the students laughed at my guts, calling it something disgusting.

“It's not too late to escape, Sloane” Hannah's voice came in a whisper, cutting through my thoughts. “Run, Sloane. While you still can”

“I heard the Alpha of Blackstone pack is a monster, and he doesn't even go easy on Omegas like you” she rambled.

I faked a small smile because I already knew. But when it comes to Carl, I had no choice.

Run and leave my brother all alone here? That was impossible.

“Thanks Hannah. Just don't apply too much makeup for the mating”

Soon, Hannah was done. I was led out of the room with my face veiled and Hannah escorted me to the hall.

As we walked, I wondered how many people were seated in the hall. I wondered what they'd think when they saw me.

Who would they see under the veil? Bella or me?

I wondered if my Mom was watching and my heart clenched knowing that Carl wasn't here to hand me flowers on my wedding day.

Hannah opened the door and smiled, urging me to walk inside. I stepped inside and the door closed behind me but everything felt wrong the moment I entered.

My steps slowed and my eyes roamed around the hall. There was no music. No guests, no voices. It was as if the whole wedding talk was a lie.

My face moved around again and then I saw him.

Lucien Collins.

He was standing still, facing Dad.

He looked like he already owned the room and the thought alone made shivers run down my spine.

His face snapped and our eyes met under the veil. Heat crawled through my whole skin as I stared at him.

And this was why I had always kept my distance.

The reason why I had always tried to stay away from him whenever we were in the same space.

The same reason why I hated the idea of him mating Bella.

The same reason why I had foolishly written a letter to an alpha when I was only an Omega.

It was because of this….

The heat that wouldn't stop threatening to rip me apart whenever I look at him.

The burning sensation that appears out of nowhere when I look at his face.

I lose control when it comes to Lucien Collins. My nipples harden and I suddenly start to fantasize about him touching me whenever I'm around him.

I always end up touching myself when I'm alone while thinking about him.

And that?

It has always been my little secret.