The Billionaire's Mate

CHAPTER 3

“He doesn’t like to be late, young mistress.” Irene said out of breath as she pushed the door open.

Luke was already there. With his back to us, he stood before a twenty-foot mural of a massacred village with a towering werewolf standing on a heap of human skulls. His silhouette was still, unflinching and mysterious. He had a glass of whiskey in his hand.

He was six-foot-five of devastating charm wrapped in shadow, his jet-black hair tousled like it forgot to behave, carelessly enough to look like a hot mess. His lips too perfect to mean anything true.

“I’m ready,” I said. Despite the circumstances, I felt nice after showering and wearing something comfortable.

Luke turned and his eyes lingered on my dress. It was impressive to know that he had measured me silently with his eyes when we were in Marlowe’s office.

“It’s a perfect fit,” I offered, trying for peace.

We were married against our wishes, but that didn’t mean we had to hate each other.

Luke’s expression didn’t shift.

“Thank you, Irene,” he said flatly, ignoring me. His face was blank of expression or emotions, hidden behind his raven-coloured hair that fell across his temples, and I could sense that he was angry about something.

Irene bowed and left the room, leaving me alone with him.

The silence grew thick before he finally strode across the room; his eyes burned with the same murderous promise I had seen in Marlowe’s office. I stepped back. He didn’t let me.

My chest rose and fell too fast. His words weren’t rage; they were ice, deliberate and cold.

“The only reason I agreed to this façade is because I have a duty and because I swore an oath to the Magistrate to help your father,” he growled. “I detest every human that so much as breathes air, and that includes you. I’m the only reason you have your head on your shoulders. I will tolerate you, but the day you defy me is the day I throw you out for the wolves.” He released me.

My knees trembled. My heart was beating loud enough for me to hear, and I knew from that moment that Luke Elderman hated me, even before I knew his name.

My lips quivered and I wanted to ask why. Why me, if he hated humans so much? Why didn’t he just say no to marrying me?

A servant burst through the doors, and after he bowed without reading the room, said,

“The guests are ready to receive you.”

---

“Welcome to the Elderman clan.” Everyone chorused as Luke and I descended from the stairs with our hands intertwined. We looked like the perfect couple, and I wondered if all the guests knew that our wedding was fake.

Everyone wore black, including Luke. I was the only one in white. It was a bit creepy.

I tried to smile, but his words haunted me. His body beside mine was rigid, his jaw tightening whenever someone complimented me, calling me beautiful, saying he was lucky.

Lucky? He looked like he’d rather be tied to a corpse.

The party was filled with so many old people. Some of them looked like they were in the Mafia, and some of them looked like withering hags that liked to gossip.

I tried to fake a smile, but it would not come. His voice kept repeating itself in my head, and I wondered why Luke Elderman hated humans.

“Well, well, well. Luke Elderman, married?!” A voice broke through the crowd, amused and mocking. He had chestnut-coloured hair that frenzied across his forehead like a hot mess, and light green eyes with strawberry-plum lips. He was hard to stop looking at.

“Desmond,” Luke said without warmth, draining his glass.

Desmond ignored him. He caught my hand and kissed it lightly, never breaking eye contact. My cheeks flushed.

“Joyce Regalia,” I said, a little breathless.

“I know,” he smirked. “The girl who turned the world upside down simply by existing. We all thought you were dead. Imagine our surprise when you returned only to marry Luke. Just like you always wanted, when you were small.”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

“Desmond,” Luke’s voice cut sharp, a warning growl. “Enough.”

“Oh, come now,” Desmond pressed mischievously. “She doesn’t remember?” He turned to me. “You used to run through these halls when you were seven years old ever since you found out that Luke Elderman was your destined mate. The news shocked everyone, as well as myself, I must admit, when we heard he imprinted on a human girl. But you know how fate is. It never lets us decide.”

My skin crawled. My voice broke. “I… I was here when I was seven?”

Before either could answer, a shadow figure cut through the crowd. The black haired woman from the intruder’s band, Henrietta.

Without hesitation, she shoved me aside, crushed her lips against Luke’s in a kiss and dug her hands into his hair hungrily.

The hall fell silent. The room swam. Whispers curled around me like knives. My throat tightened, the dress suddenly suffocating.

“Come onnnn, Henrietta,” Desmond said mockingly.

I got up from the ground, ignoring Desmond’s outstretched hand, breath caught in my throat. The crowd’s silence was deafening.

Luke didn’t stop her. He didn’t look like he wanted to, but he didn’t stop her either. He didn’t look at me. He simply let her do it, cold and unbothered, as if my humiliation meant nothing.

I wanted to scream. To demand why. Instead, I turned and ran, past their mocking eyes, past the whispers. My heels betrayed me when I got to the top of the stairs.

The marble rose up to meet me. Pain exploded across my skull.

Voices blurred. “Blood!” someone shouted.

Through fading vision, I saw Luke’s face above me, unreadable, empty. Then I saw Henrietta smirk and touch Luke’s shoulder.

And Desmond’s voice, cruel and amused, was the last thing I heard, “She’s going to die. Humans are always so soft.”