Chapter 2

Stella's pov

Before I could ask what he was talking about, Eli turned and walked away.

My gaze remained fixed on his receding back until Alpha Mattias spoke, tearing my attention away from it.

"Well then, the ceremony is over for us. We should be heading home. There's much you and I need to do tonight."

The words sent a shiver down my spine, and the mere thought of mating with this man made bile rise to my throat.

An older woman I recognised as his sister stepped forward, helping me to my feet. "Well, aren't you just a gorgeous thing. I wonder where my brother found this one."

My cheeks flushed as I muttered a silent thanks, following them both out of the reception hall.

"You can call me Anya." She smiled sweetly while her perfectly manicured nails dug into my wrist.

A car was already waiting outside to take us to their villa nearby, and my heart raced the whole ride there.

By the time we got out, I was reconsidering my choice to do this. Saving my family wasn't worth losing my dignity. Especially when they didn't even appreciate it.

To them, this was duty. And my whole life was a pawn they had finally chosen to play.

"Be careful, dear. I wouldn't want you to fall and mess your dress up before your big night." Anya rushed to help me get out of the car, her eyes twinkling.

She helped me into the large mansion, guiding me to the twin steps that sat at the fourth wall of the lobby. "We just need to get you settled before my brother comes upstairs to have you."

"Have me." The words echoed unconsciously, and she came to an abrupt halt.

"Yes, of course. You have to consummate, or you aren't really mated. And unless you're mated, my brother cannot help your family."

And there it was. The threat that had been looming over my head for weeks now. "Of course. Let's go."

The bedroom was one of the most luxurious places my eyes had ever landed on.

I'd seen houses smaller than this.

Anya helped me to the bed, smiling sweetly. "Now, Mattias likes taking the dress off himself, so you don't really have to do anything. Just let him take what he wants, and you should be fine."

"How many people have been here before me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as my gaze shifted to the bed beneath me.

Her lips twitched, forming a soft smile that could only be mocking. "You have to be more specific."

"What?"

"Do you mean brides or in general? Because that would include the mistresses, concubines, and whores, and I don't think I could count them if I tried."

My jaw clenched with each word, and the only thing holding back my tongue was my teeth clamping down on it.

She turned to leave, stopping when my fingers lashed out to grab the hem of her dress.

"Problem?"

"No." I shook my head. "I mean, yes. Aren't you supposed to give me something for the pain? It's my first time, and my mother said you would..."

"Oh, the tea?" She cut me off. "You silly girl. It's not for pain. It's just to make you as fertile as possible, which we don't need. You don't need to have any children at all. Eli is already the heir. All you have to do is keep my brother pleasured and happy."

Her hands reached for mine, slowly pulling mine off her dress. "Do your duty, Stella. I'd hate to have a reason to despise you. Before you make any choices, think about your family."

A minute later, she was gone, the door slamming shut behind her. A lock clicked, the sound making me wince.

My skin prickled, goosebumps rising across it when voices echoed through the door.

I shot to my feet, knees trembling. My eyes darted across the room, searching for any form of escape that would get me away from him.

Eventually, my gaze settled on the door, and a reckless plan began to form in my head.

Screw my family. There was only so much humiliation my body could absorb because of them.

And sleeping with Alpha Mattias just wasn't one of them.

The voices drew closer, and my resolve strengthened.

I lifted the heavy dress off the ground, kicking off my heels so running would be more comfortable.

Seconds later, the door unlocked, and the white-coated metal was shoved open right as I charged forward.

The person stepped in, but I was already moving too fast to stop.

My body only came to a halt after slamming face first into Eli's chest.