Sweetie, you're wasting my time.

Zeno

"My name is Nero Hades, and you, Alpha, look like you're mine." 

His words echo in my mind again and again. The longer I look at him, the more I feel like my head is spinning. Especially with the tone in which he said the word "mine". He said it so loudly and with so much emphasis that I'm sure even our neighbours heard him. 

Even though we're literally in the spotlight, and I'm sure my pack members don't want to miss out on the drama, his men slowly lead everyone to their seats. 

Never, not in a million years, did I think I'd be thankful for the Rogue Alpha's men around me. 

Wait, he can't be the Rogue Alpha now that we've met. He said his name was Nero. Fuck me dead and bury me pregnant for all I care, but from everything I've imagined about this man, I never thought he'd be as good looking as he is. He's tall, handsome and has such a deep voice that I'm nearly certain he leaves a trail of wet women wherever he goes. 

Which makes me wonder- why would he want to marry me? I didn't think of this before, but now that we're face to face, well, he's looking down on me, that damn skyscraper, I can think more clearly. This Nero looks like someone who gets everything he wants, so again- why me? My pack is small, relatively weak compared to our allies, and we don't have much to offer. 

I snap out of my daze and frown at the smirk across his lips. Great, the monster noticed me staring; this must be my day. I clear my throat, "Excuse me, yours?"

"You're excused," he says as a beautiful, bright smile replaces the cocky smirk. 

Oh hell no, I didn't think of his smile as beautiful just now! I can't think of anything close to this man that is even remotely beautiful or nice. He's a cold-blooded murderer and whatever will happen is nothing but a business to save my pack. There's no way I'll ever fall for his charms, no matter how hard it may be to resist him: him and that damn smile. 

I run a hand through my already messy hair and snort, "No, that's not what I meant."

As if on cue, the cocky attitude is back, and Nero opens his arms as if waiting for me to run into his embrace. "And this is no way to greet your future husband. Where's my kiss?" The question throws me off guard. 

What should I answer now? How do I, preferably politely, tell him I'd rather shove a cactus up my ass than kiss him? Gee, if I say that out loud, I'm sure he'll have a comeback prepared for the occasion. Nero Hades is not getting anywhere close to my no-no parts, and I won't give him a chance to tease me about it either. 

For once, my father arrives just in time to save me from the humiliation I brought upon myself. He stops beside me and offers his hand to Nero. "Ah, Alpha, I see you arrived safe and sound. It's a great honour to meet you." Oddly enough, the smile on my father's face looks genuine. All this time, he has spoken so badly about the Rogue Alpha, but when they meet, my father seems happy to be standing in the same room with the monster. 

"We've met," Nero announces, ignoring my father's hand. His eyes don't leave me, and I swear this must be how an ant feels under a magnifying glass- Nero's gaze burns. 

My father drops his hand to his side, but as suspected, he doesn't miss the opportunity to complain. "Young man, I'm trying to be as nice as possible. There's no need to march in our pack and act like an asshole. Please, leave that to your enemies, not allies." 

Nero turns his attention to my father, dropping the teasing mood he was in just seconds ago. His face turns stone cold as he adds. "And that's no way to talk to your son-in-law, old fart."

A sharp intake of breath makes me turn to the side and watch my father's face turn beet red as he hisses, "How dare you?"

Nero steps toward us and leans forward, so his face is closer to my father's. "Well, since you pointed out the obvious age difference, I'll return the favour." He states matter-of-factly. I'm amazed at how quickly his mood changes. One minute he was teasing me, then he got all serious at my father's arrival, and now, he shows his annoyance by focusing on the watch around his wrist. "Anyway, I have places to go and things to do after this. You two have wasted enough of my time. Shall we start the ceremony or break the agreement?"

"I believe..." My father tries to speak up, but Nero's far too quick to cut him off. 

"I didn't ask you." His eyes capture mine. "I asked my bride since he's the one who's supposed to get married today. We may have discussed the overall deal, oldie, but it bothers me that you didn't bring in the person whose future you're about to decide." The bride? A goddamn bride? Even if we go through with this agreement, I'm as much of a groom as Nero. We're both men! In the heat of the moment, I almost miss that he adds: "So, what's it going to be, sweetheart? Up to you."

"You're giving me a choice?" I'm sure I don't look nearly as surprised as I am shocked. Since when does the Rogue Alpha offer someone a choice? Are we sure we're dealing with the right guy, and he's not a fraud?

"Yep." 

"But why?" I tilt my head, still trying to comprehend why Nero behaves like this. It can't be that these stories and rumours aren't based on actual events.

"There's not much difference between a war and a marriage in my books, sweetheart." Now that Nero shares such thoughts, I see it, he's the Rogue Alpha. 

I roll my eyes at the pet name, "Can you restrain yourself from calling me that? I'm an Alpha too; I'd like to keep some self-respect, thank you very much."

"Sweetie, you're wasting my time. Things to do, places to go, remember?" Nero's answer doesn't surprise me the slightest. 

No matter what I ask him, he won't take my words seriously. The marriage isn't and won't be based on genuine feelings, and I'm sure he will not lift a finger to make it something real. Not that I have any intention of doing so myself.

"Alright, then, let's get this over with."

"Clever, I like that." He grins like a Cheshire cat. Damn this man and damn his good looks. I think I'm getting myself into a bigger mess than I thought. 

I wave my hand in front of his face so the Rogue Alpha knows that nothing he might say will bother me. "Yeah, yeah, the sooner we get this over with, the better."

Welcome to the shitshow I'll call my life from now on.