Chapter 2:

Irene:

Later that night, I am in my younger sister’s room, staring at her pale complexion in the mirror. The Omegas have plastered her face with enough make-up and she’s dressed in a midnight blue dress.

Elva picks at her nails, her face withdrawn from her normal smile, my heart coils in anger. This isn’t fair, this is not the life I want for my younger sister, she’s far too young to get married to a ruthless man.

Elva is the youngest, the sweetest, she never comes out from her room, her eyes always dug in a book, throwing this huge responsibility in her shoulders is just too cruel.

“Elva,” I say slowly, trying to convince her that this is a bad idea. “Please, don’t do this.”

“I don’t have a choice, Irene. This is my duty,” She replies quietly and my heart breaks more.

“You have the right to choose what you want, father may be hard on us but he still loves us,” I grab her hand hopefully, letting her stare deeply into my eyes, her green eyes water with tears and all I want to do is wrap my hands around her trembling shoulders and comfort her while she weeps her heart out.

The door swings open to reveal my father dressed in a dark tux and my mother in her ever so dashing mermaid dress, my elder brother, Alejandro is by their side.

“Alpha Enrique will soon arrive, be ready, Elva.” My father declares and I feel anger curl at the pit of my stomach.

“This isn’t fair!” I try to reason. “Elva can’t do this,”

“You will do as told, young lady! I don’t want you causing a scene tonight, I have worked so hard for this.” He growls at me, and my mother gently calms him down by placing a hand on his arm.

“Don’t be harsh on her, Vincent.” She says softly and I watch them leave the room. Alejandro gives me a pitiful look from behind before following them outside.

Elva stands up, tugging at the hemline of her dress, she gives me a gentle look that tells me she will be okay, but I know enough. My younger sister can’t survive a day in a ruthless man’s arms.

Still, I take a deep breath before walking her out of the room and towards the hall. The announcer says our name as we stride into the room.

There are at least hundreds of people here; each dressed elegantly, this gathering is important for every chief here, our future protection lies in a man’s hands and even the thought of that makes me angry.

My sister joins my father at the end of the ballroom and I am left seething in anger.

“She looks so sad.” My friend, Lilly who’s beside me says. My eyes rake over to Elva, the distant feeling in her eyes. I am supposed to do this, I am supposed to protect her at all cost even if it means giving myself to him.

“I must do something,” I say with eyes full of determination. Lilly widens her eyes and at that moment, the door swings open to reveal Alpha Enrique De Luca.

His presence demands attraction, people make way for him as he strides so comfortably to my father’s side. Two men are by his side, handsome and broad-shouldered, each demanding the same attention, if not all.

It’s hard to see from here but I see his dark brown copper hair glistening under the chandelier light and those broad shoulders. I was not expecting him to look like that, I expected someone maybe in his late forties but I wasn't expecting someone like him...

I watch as Elva makes her way towards him and my heart stops. Instantly, I know the right thing to do. I race towards the throng of people, constantly apologizing as I bump into them.

“Wait!” My voice rumbles through the room as I make my way towards him, panting. When I am in front of him, only then do I stare into his deep amber eyes, a layer of gold around the edges. “I am your bride.” I say calmly.

My sister gasps as she manages to control herself from shaking, but my father remains poised, if anything, silence reigns in the room.

He takes a step towards me, and the thunder of his shoes causes a rumble in my heart. Dark amber eyes stay fixated on me as though trying to read me, the scrutiny of his gaze making me uncomfortable.

Then as if recollecting something, he snaps his gaze towards my father, a peculiar scowl on his face, a shade of red layering in his deep amber eyes. I can hear the loud thumping of my own heart, the blood pumping inside my ears.

“What nonsense is this, Vincent? This is not my bride to be.”