Chapter 4

SOLANA

      My mind was still reeling. There was something about the way Alpha Roman had spoken about my impending death that made me terrified. Our marriage certificates were ready, and we were heading out of town. By nightfall, we arrived at a sprawling property. The sight of it stole the air from my lungs.

I knew he was loaded. But this was far beyond my expectations.

An elderly woman with greying brown hair rushed to us with a brilliant smile on her face.

His mother?

She hugged Alpha Roman, and he stiffly let her. But her expression didn't falter for once.

Then her gaze rested on me. She beamed at me.

"You're really pretty," she said in a high-pitched voice.

"Anna, she’s my wife. Please take care of her," Alpha Roman said, his head turned towards her. "Prepare her for the ritual. There's no time to waste."

Tara exchanged bewildered glances with me, her terror painted all over her face. My chest tightened, unease washing over me.

"Come with me, dear. Where are your things?" Anna asked, her warm amber eyes fixed on me.

I gestured at the small backpack in my hand. Her face fell, sympathy flashing in her eyes.

She held out a hand to me, and tears welled up in my eyes. Apart from Tara and Alpha Roman, no one had offered me their hand. I didn't even remember having a mother.

"It's okay, I don't bite," Anna told me, and I slipped my hand into hers, letting her lead me into the house.

Inside, the structure was even more impressive. Gold lights, elegant designs, shiny dark marble floors, and beautiful paintings.

The kind of place I never thought I would ever walk into.

"Roman seems to like you," Anna commented. I couldn't help but smile.

"He's a kind man."

She blinked at me as if I'd just told her that a cat just gave birth to a puppy.

"You're the first person to say that."

She hugged me, and I let her, wide-eyed. Tara shrugged when my gaze met hers.

"You're the first person to catch a glimpse of his heart, dear. I sincerely hope that you survive," Anna whispered, and I smiled weakly.

.....

For the first time in my life, I experienced what it felt like to have a bath in a literal master-sized bath with expensive oils and shampoos. By the time I stepped out, I was so clean, I wouldn't be surprised if the bath had cleansed my soul.

Tara helped Anna with preparing me for the ritual. She was trembling the entire time, her eyes shining with tears.

But I had made up my mind.

If this was how I died, so be it.

The dress was more beautiful than the former one I'd worn. This one was made with a material so soft, it brought me comfort. It was red and slightly transparent. The downside was...I was naked underneath.

My unruly reddish-brown hair was hanging down to my waist, my face bare.

Anna led me down a long corridor while Tara stayed by my side the whole time. Finally, we got to a white door. Anna gave me an air kiss and turned to look at Tara.

"Have faith."

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped in, shutting the door behind me. The sight that greeted me had me stiffening. Candles were lit in a V line, and at the edge of the candles, there he sat with his eyes closed.

Alpha Roman.

His hair flowed down to his shoulders, and he was shirtless. There were terrible scars marking his muscular body. I could feel the intensity of his power all the way from where he sat.

"Welcome, child," a feminine voice spoke, and I turned to see a woman who looked exactly like Anna. She was sitting on a chair, holding a red candle in her hand.

Maybe twin? The resemblance was too uncanny.

Her expression stayed cold as she watched me.

"Go ahead, walk towards your alpha," the woman said, and I swallowed hard.

That was it?

Just walk to him?

I had a feeling that there was more to it.

"And if I fail?" I asked.

"You die."

"I just have to go to him? That's it?"

The corner of her lips twitched.

"Did you notice that he's asleep?" She asked, and I whipped my head back to Roman.

His breathing was even, his posture perfectly stable. I wouldn't have known that he was asleep if she had never pointed it out.

"Your main challenge is going to be waking him up," the elder said.

I clenched my fists.

If I failed, I guess I would die as well.

Blowing out a shaky breath, I took a step forward. How do you wake up a sleeping man?

Call his name?

Shake him?

Hit him?

The corner of my lips twitched.

There was only one surefire way. The cheesiest of them all. The most effective.

The moment I crossed the threshold of the first candle, it was as though fire licked across my skin. My veins burned, each step searing through me like molten iron. I staggered, clutching my chest, trying not to scream.

My lungs ached. My ears rang before the first warm trickle of blood slid down my neck.

Still, I forced my feet forward.

I remembered asking Anna what the ritual was for. Her answer had been simple, but it had carved itself into my soul.

"To save his life."

That was it. That was enough.

Roman had saved me. Whether he knew it or not. He'd pulled me out of the ashes of my misery. I owed him my life, and now, I would give it back to him.

My legs shook violently, and I could barely see his outline anymore.

I gritted my teeth, whispering through the agony.

"I'll do this... for you."

The burning grew unbearable, as if my body was being flayed alive with invisible knives. My knees buckled, but I crawled, dragging myself closer. Blood poured from my ears, my nails breaking against the cold marble as I fought forward.

When I finally collapsed at his feet, my entire body trembled uncontrollably. My chest rose and fell in shallow, desperate breaths.

"Wake up," I croaked, my voice raw. "Please..."

But he didn't stir.

"The way to wake a sleeping man..." My lips trembled as I dragged myself upright until my face hovered above his. "...is to kiss him."

For one fleeting second, I hesitated.

My hand cupped his jaw. "If I die... then let me die giving you life."

And I pressed my lips to his.

His body jolted beneath my touch. Heat surged through the air, a powerful force wrapping around me like a storm.

His lips moved against mine suddenly, fiercely, as though he had been starving and I was the only thing that could sate him.

A deep growl rumbled in his chest, vibrating through my entire body. His hands shot up, strong arms pulling me into him so tightly I thought I might break.

"Mine," he snarled against my mouth, and warmth bloomed in my chest.

My trembling fingers clutched his shoulders as the kiss deepened, sparks shooting through my body.

Then, as though pulled by something deeper than hunger, he slowed. One of his large hands cupped my face, holding me with a gentleness I had never known.

And then... he looked at me.

Really looked at me.

His mismatched eyes locked onto mine as if I were the only thing in existence.

My chest clenched painfully, tears spilling down my cheeks.

No one had ever held my gaze.

They all turned away.

They all said my eyes were cursed, a mark of misfortune.

But he... he didn't look away.

"They're beautiful," he whispered hoarsely, his thumb brushing my cheek, catching my tears. "Your eyes are beautiful."

And right there, all of a sudden, his black eye turned green. The exact shade of my eyes.

I gasped, my heart pounding faster.

The vision in my right eye blurred, and before I could make sense of it, there was a heavy knock on the door.

"Alpha, it's me, your mate, Zamora. I...I had a vision."

Wait...

His mate?