33

Livia's POV.

I was seated at a table before me as I went through some files when the front door of the house slammed so hard. I trembled from the shock as I tried looking in the direction to see who was responsible for it.

The atmosphere of the house shifted immediately like a wave of shock.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the table as my heart began to pound. Yes, Hayden was home, and the atmosphere of the house automatically changed.

I slowly stood, smoothing my dress over my hips, trying to calm the tremor in my hands and my reflection in the glass cabinet betrayed me, wide eyes, pale lips, and a woman who looked like she was preparing for battle rather than greeting her husband.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway, each one louder than the last, and then he appeared.

Hayden stepped into the room like a storm that had finally found somewhere to break. His dark coat hung open, his tie loose, his hair slightly disheveled by the cold wind outside, but it was no anger on his face.

It was something worse, he looked charged, alive and almost exhilarated.

His eyes locked on me instantly. “There you are,” he said, his voice low but before I could respond, he crossed the room in long strides and pulled me into his arms.

The hug was tight, too tight as his arms wrapped around my back like iron bands, pressing me against his chest as the scent of expensive cologne and winter air filled my lungs.

I just stood, and for a moment  I couldn’t breathe.

“Hayden…” I murmured softly trying to catch my breath.

He lowered his head, his lips brushing my neck as he inhaled deeply.

“You are mine, Livia,” he whispered against my skin. “No matter what they say about you, no matter what Belle tries to do,"he said.

My stomach twisted immediately when I heard Bella's name.

I slowly pulled back, my hands pressing against his chest so I could look into his eyes.

“What did Belle do?” I asked quietly, searching his eyes.

His lips curled, not into a smile but into something colder.

A short, humorless laugh escaped him. “Oh, she tried,” he said. “She really tried today.”

My heartbeat quickened. “Hayden… what happened?” I asked calmly to see if he's going to open up to me or not.

He walked away from me, loosening his cuffs like a man recounting an entertaining story rather than something serious. 

He poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter on the side table, the amber liquid swirling in the glass.

“She thought she could provoke me,” he said casually. “Thought she could challenge me.”

I frowned as I was confused about what he was saying.

“Bella challenged you?” I asked and he chuckled darkly.

“Oh yes. Zach’s precious little wife has suddenly developed a spine.” he said.

He took a slow sip of the drink before continuing. “So I decided to remind her of her place.”

A chill crept down my spine.“How?” I asked carefully and his gaze flicked back to me, sharp and amused.

“I drove her around the city,” he said. “Let her see just how comfortable I am with my own marriage.”

My chest tightened. “What do you mean?” I asked.

He stepped closer again, his expression glowing with satisfaction. “I told her about us,” he said.

The words hit me like a slap. “You… what?” I asked, confused and he laughed.

“Relax, Livia. I didn’t give her details but I made sure she understood that unlike her pathetic excuse for a husband, I actually enjoy my wife.” Hayden blurted out.

My stomach dropped. “Hayden…” my voice came out strained, “our marriage isn’t a weapon,” I said.

“Oh, but it is,” he replied smoothly as his hand slid around my waist, pulling me closer again.

“And it worked beautifully,” he said and I stared at him.

“What did you say to her?” I asked.

His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.

“I told her how sweet you are,” he said. “How quiet you get when I touch you and how shy you are in bed.”

The room spun as I heard those words from him. “Hayden,” I whispered, horrified. “Why would you say that?” I asked.

He tilted his head like he didn’t understand the problem. “Because it’s true,” he said.

“That’s private,” I said, my voice shaking and he shrugged.

“Everything about you belongs to me, Livia. There’s no such thing as private between us.” he stated wickedly.

A knot formed in my chest as he continued speaking, pacing slowly like a man savoring his own words.

“You should have seen her face,” he said. “When I told her how much I enjoy the way you tremble,” Hayden said, laughing bitterly.

My hands curled into fists. “That wasn’t trembling because I enjoyed it,” I said quietly.

He stopped walking as his eyes flicked to me.

“What?” he asked, staring at me.

I swallowed. “That’s fear, Hayden.”

The silence that followed was heavy and then he laughed.

“Fear?” he repeated.

“Yes.” I replied.

He stepped closer again, his gaze sharp. “You are afraid of me?” he asked, looking deeply into my eyes.

I didn’t answer as he immediately grabbed my chin gently, forcing me to look at him. “Livia.”

My voice was barely a whisper. “You don’t notice it because you like it.” I said.

His eyes darkened. “Like what?” he asked.

“The control,” I said. “The way I don’t fight back.”

For a moment, he just stared at me, then his lips curved into a slow smile. “That’s because you are mine,” he said simply.

I felt something inside my chest crack. “No,” I whispered.

His brows pulled together. “No?” he asked.

I stepped back slightly. “You don’t love me, Hayden.”

The words hung in the air immediately I said it.

His expression hardened. “What did you say?” he asked angrily.

“You don’t love me,” I repeated softly. “You love the fact that I’m easy to control.”

His jaw tightened. “That’s not true,” he said, trying to defend himself.

“Yes, it is.” I affirmed.

His voice dropped dangerously low.

“You are speaking nonsense,” he roared.

“I’m not,” I said, my hands shaking. “You don’t want a partner. You want someone who won’t challenge you.” I declared.

“And that’s a problem?” he snapped.

“Yes!” I replied.

The word came out louder than I intended and the room went silent.

“You think my fear is affection,” I said quietly. 

“You think my silence is loyalty.” I continued.

His eyes burned into mine. “And what is it really?” he asked.

My throat tightened. “It’s survival,” I replied.

The tension between us became suffocating as he stared at me like he was seeing a stranger.

Then slowly, his hand tightened on my waist again. “You are overthinking,” he said coldly.

I looked toward the door, the heavy wooden door that separated this house from the outside world, from freedom, from war And from enemies.

My mind whispered something I had been too afraid to admit before.

Maybe the rival pack wasn’t the real danger, maybe the real enemy was the man standing in front of me.

The man whose arm was still wrapped around my waist, holding me, claiming me and owning me.

For the first time since marrying Hayden, I wondered if I would ever escape him.