CHAPTER 3

AMARA POV.

I had to remind herself why I was doing all of this. I had to fight down the feelings that flowed through me when his warm lips touched the side of my temple, or the way his fingers held my hips. I was doing all of this for my brother, Alex, and Jared. Because Alex had done so much to look after me after our parents passed away. He deserved to have success in life.

Milton House really was a beautiful place. On the outside it reminded Amara of a royal manor that was hidden away in secret, the trees surrounding it shielding it from the outside world with the many little houses that sat protected withing its protected circle.

Finally, the party was over, and I was utterly exhausted. Emotionally and physically. My face hurt after all the forced smiles she had to put on. As soon as Ace and I re-entered the huge house of his, I kicked off my shoes and scooped them up with my one hand before turning to Ace. “Could you please show me to my room? I need to get this dress off," I said in a snappy tone. “There are three levels in this house. Except for my parents, we have the entire top floor at our disposal. There are a total of eight bedrooms up there to which my parents have the far-right bedroom and ours will be to the right.” He spoke as he motioned me towards the elevator. I faltered in my steps just as I stepped inside the elevator. Ace pressed the up button and the lift started to go up.

"What do you mean our bedroom?" I asked shocked even though I partly expected this. This is what Ace Milton wanted all along although I can’t imagine why he would have gone through all this trouble for it. "We are married, and we have certain obligations to attend to." he said as he pinned me with a look. He stepped towards me, and I took a step back, swallowing nervously.

I let out a nervous laugh. "Listen you oaf! Just because I agreed to this shit show of a marriage, but it doesn’t mean that it is real. Understand?” I said as I backed myself against the wall of the elevator. I could kick myself for appearing so vulnerable in front of him, but I had to stand up for myself. Ace looked at me like an animal would look at his cornered pray, but I had to stand strong. “W- we are going to sleep in separate bedrooms. If you don't like it, then you can shove it.” I said and I uttered a small shriek when his hands suddenly caged me in, and I suddenly found my body flushed with heat as I found myself pressed against him.

"Is that so?" he said huskily in my ears and a shiver ran down my spine that went straight to the middle of my stomach. “I bet that I can change your mind…” He said with a mischievous smile that played around his lips.

"There are bedrooms for a reason, my dears." Hugo said as he and Clarissa stood in front of the open doors of the elevator, arm in arm. I didn’t even hear the door open and now my cheeks were burning up with embarrassment about the situation his parents found us in.

"I know the two of you are married now, but do try to keep yourselves decent please," Clarissa said, a spark of mischief shone in her eyes. I knew she only meant well but I was tired and with Ace so close to me, I wasn’t feeling like myself at all. Now that the wedding was over, the façade for pretend was over and done with. "With all due respect, Mrs. Milton, but marrying Ace was the last thing I wanted to do." I said as I managed to wiggle myself out from between Ace and the elevator door. Ace's eyes narrowed angrily, and he grabbed her arm tightly. "Let's go to our room," he said through gritted teeth.

"No," Hugo said sternly and I swear I saw his eyes flash a shade of red. I must have had too much champagne after all. I thought to myself. "What does she mean by that, son?" he asked Ace and that was when I realised that they didn’t know!

"Nothing father, she is just angry over a little fight we had," Ace said, tightening his hold on my arm painfully.

Clarissa must have seen me winch because a dark look came over her beautiful face. "Ace! I don’t believe your father and I raise you to manhandle a woman. Release her," she ordered icily. With a pained pull on my face, I rubbed the painful part of my arm when he did as his mother ordered and let me go. His father looked angry, but she didn't care. She wanted to hurt him the way he had hurt her, and it was glaringly obvious that his parents knew nothing about his blackmail stipulations.

"Thank you, Mrs, Milton. I was just letting Ace know that we were going to sleep in separate bedrooms. I want him anywhere near me." I said seriously and glared a look towards Ace.

"There is no need to be afraid of your wedding night, Amara. It is quite natural to be nervous." Hugo said in trying to ease the tension between all of us. I went red at the mention of a wedding night. It was disturbing, especially when it was coming from his father. "That's not it," I started but I got interrupted by Ace. "You'll shut your mouth if you know what's good for you," Ace snarled and there was an audible threatening tone to his voice that had me hesitate whether I should tell his parents the truth or not, but I decided to hell with it. I have already lost everything, what more could he take from me?

I gave him a challenging look. "What? Don't you want your parents to know that you blackmailed me into marrying you? That you made me break the heart of the man that I really love?" I snapped, my eyes watering at the mere thought of Jared.

"ACE!" His mother exclaimed while his father fell silent. I immediately knew that he wasn't so surprised, nor was he angry at his son either, but Clarissa was.

"Amara?" Clarissa said, addressing me as she threw a glare at Ace. “Come with me , my dear.” She said as she took me gently by the arm and started to walk away with me to one of the doors that must be one of the many rooms that this level housed. "This will be your room.” She said once she opened the door and ushered me inside. “I’ll prepare a separate bedroom for my son on the opposite end of yours." Clarissa said sternly.

"Thank you.” I said gratefully and Clarissa gave me a small smile before she bid me goodnight. “Goodnight." I said back before Clarissa closed the door behind her. I quickly went to the door and locked it before I turned to lean my back against the door, and I sighed in relief. I secretly hoped that his parents would give Ace an earful.

***

ACE POV.

I stared at my parents in my study. My mother hadn't said anything since we decided to continue our conversations in private. I was feeling a bit nervous at the silent treatment I was receiving, which was ridiculous because I was the alpha now. My father will be stepping down as alpha now that I was married and about to be mated.

"Damnit, Ace. Have you lost your mind?" She chastised me from the other side of the desk. I shrugged. "Come now mother. We have always done what needed to be done for the sake of the pack." I said and I could see the anger swell in her eyes. "Forcing your mate to marry you would be a first for the family.” My father said nonchalantly.

Clarissa gave him a chastising look. “What?” He asked innocently and my mother sighed. She looked tired. She has been up before dawn in order to make this day amazing and I hoped to Goddess that Amara at least appreciated how the wedding turned out.

“Marrying this girl was a wise decision, but I have to know. Does she know what we are? What you are…? and what the both of you will become to this pack?” My mother asked. I have kept myself scarce in the last month in order to avoid these questions. I shook my head in the negative and she gave another tired sigh. “I gathered as much by the few times that I spoke to her.” She said before piercing me with a stern look. “Tell me you weren’t going to try and mate and mark her tonight without her knowing? Because that could turn out disastrous and not just for you but all of us.” She said and I sat back against my seat at my desk. “Off course not. I would never do that to her. Mating and marking a human without their knowledge can cause them to go insane or in some cases even death.” I said and sighed. “Truthfully, I can’t think of a way to tell her without her freaking out and risking her running away…” I said and my father caught on. “That is why you married her so soon. So that she can move in here and when she finds out, it would not be possible for her to leave.” My father said and I nodded, but the look on my mother’s face spoke of disapproval. “You can’t keep the girl here against her will, Ace.” She said and I nodded. “I know, but what else could I do? She was about to marry that Turner bastard and my wolf was driving me crazy.” I said and I closed my eyes. This was so not what I was imagining doing on my wedding night.

"This isn't the way to win her over, Ace. If you keep this up, she will hate you more and more each day." My mother said as she turned to my farther. "Don't be too long, Hugo," she said before walking out of the study. My father looked at me in thought. "Why did you wait so long to approach her?” He asked and I shook my head. "You heard what she said. She was happy with Turner. She never would've left him for me," I said with a bit of growl in my voice. I clenched my fists just thinking that if I hadn’t stepped in, he would have been the one that married my mate.

His father smirked. "Now that she's in your hands, you know what to do? Make her fall in love with you. Use the bond to your advantage if you have to, but make it work. She hates you now, but she’ll eventually come around and change her mind." my father said. With a final good night nod, my father turned on his heel and left my office.

I wasn’t a bad person for wanting my mate. I had stopped lying to myself and my wolf that I wanted my human mate. I just need to make her forget about her ex-fiancé and show her that I am not the cold-hearted bastard that she thinks I am.