2. Be A Good Dog.

Nadia’s POV

This marriage was not going to work.

I had spent the entire weekend convincing my mom that going to a new pack was a bad idea. Of course, I had to hide that the real reason I didn’t want her getting married was because her future family didn’t want us.

Every time I remembered the scene from yesterday night, I wanted nothing more than to give Ares or whatever his damned name was a dirty slap.

Cocky bastard.

Yet, nothing I said could change my mom’s mind. I took a deep breath as the car that had picked us up from the airport came to a slow stop in front of a…

Holy goddess.

I mean, now this explained why. Did Ares get scared thinking that we would affect his inheritance?

The gate before us was tall and had no opening for us to see the house behind it, but the mansion itself was towering, and even from here, I could see that it had to be huge.

After about a minute, the gates opened and then the car drove for another ten minutes before we were finally in front of the mansion.

What was this? The White House?

“Naddie, Arnold is a good man and you would see it once you meet him,” my mom said as she squeezed my hand.

I forced a smile and nodded.

“I trust you, Mom,” I lied.

The door to the side where my mom sat opened, and then I watched as she threw herself into the arms of the man standing there. Before I could open my own door, an older man, dressed in a green suit that was buttoned up to his neck, opened the door for me.

“Welcome, Miss.”

I gave him a small smile, unsure if I was meant to reply in a certain way or not.

My mom’s voice floated over, and she walked hand in arm with a middle-aged man.

He had some similarity in features with Ares, or maybe it was just the imposing aura around him, but as our eyes met, he gave me a warm smile that immediately made him seem approachable.

“Arnold, this is Nadia.”

Mom did the introductions, and I stretched my arm for a handshake; however, Mr Callaghan pulled me in and got a hug instead.

“Can’t believe I finally get to have a daughter,” Arnold joked and gave me a quick pat on my back before releasing me.

“Your mom won’t stop talking about you and I have long realized that having a daughter is more rewarding than sons.”

They burst into laughter as though there was some hidden joke that only the both of them understood.

How perfect.

Can’t believe that jerk wanted to break them up by throwing around his Daddy’s money.

I trailed behind them as we walked into the mansion. Lining the entrance, several uniformed staff stood together and gave a small bow as Mr Callaghan walked past them.

Like the outside, the inside of the mansion was magnificent and stunning. I could bet the one million dollar card that this place used to be a palace from ancient times or something.

I realized very quickly that my mom and her new husband seemed to have forgotten that they had an audience as he led her through a hallway while holding arms.

“Miss Nadia, I will show you to your quarters.”

Yes! I was fucking right. It was a damn palace.

Who the hell still lived in a palace in this time and age?

“Sam, don’t worry, I’m sure my sister and I could use some bonding time.”

My entire body froze at the familiar voice, and my body betrayed me by sending some shivers at the memory of his mouth nibbling my ear.

I turned around and there he was.

Ares was beautiful. In the light of day, I could see his bright green eyes gleaming with an emotion I couldn't place yet. His hair was not styled, and instead, it looked like he had run his hands through the golden curls quite a number of times.

Unlike his dad, Ares gave off no warmth. Instead, he had a darkness around him that added a devilish charm to his beautiful features.

The moon goddess most certainly didn’t know a man like this sneaked to earth from the underworld.

“You can’t possibly be making plans towards me, sister. I think your mom has that nailed already.”

I stepped forward, my heart hammering in my chest, but the anger and disgust I felt towards him were greater than my fear.

“If you are anything like your mother, then I can understand why she’s not here to give you the love you so desperately lack.”

The moment I said that, I regretted it. Somehow, my mouth had moved before my brain, and judging by the way Ares was looking at me?

I was so fucking dead.

The green in Ares' eyes had darkened till they were starting to look almost bluish, and as he took a step forward, I took two steps backward.

I couldn’t take my words back. But I regretted them. I shouldn’t have dragged his mom into it.

Not like he shared the same thoughts either way. He had insulted my mom at every chance he got.

“I can’t believe Dad actually found such disgusting people to taint the family.” He spat.

“Was the money not enough?” He added almost immediately, and I raised my hand with only one mission in my mind.

Before I could hit my aim, Ares grabbed my arm and then pulled me until I was pressed against his chest.

“Are you misunderstanding something here? You want to lay your hand on me, sister?” He asked in a lazy drawl.

I swallowed. “You are crossing the line, Ares.”

His hands moved very swiftly.

One minute he was holding my arm, and the next minute, he had his hands wrapped around my neck in a tight chokehold.

He leaned in close and kept his gaze locked on mine.

“You should have accepted that charity and walked away when you had the chance. Now that you are here, you should know your place.”

Almost as though he sensed that I was about to speak, his hands around my neck tightened even more until he was cutting off my airflow.

“You want to keep your life?”

I was right. Ares was the devil and he had found a way to sneak out from the underworld.

Where was all the staff I saw moving around the place a minute ago? I was starting to struggle, and I forced some air in through my mouth.

“You want your life?” He asked one more time and I nodded.

I needed to survive first. After that, I needed to run as far as I could from here.

“Then be a good dog and go down on your knees.”