Chapter 4 The First Attempt

Xena’s POV

"Tonight is about fulfilling the blood pact," Alpha Dominic stated, his eyes avoiding mine completely.

His voice held no warmth. It was flat. Empty. Like he was reading the contract out loud to me.

I swallowed.

"You mean like right now?" I asked.

He nodded as he took off his suit jacket. "Undress."

The command was blunt. He had already begun unbuttoning his shirt, his movements efficient and detached. My eyes took in his solid chest and muscular arms, but I was too anxious to feel anything.

This was it. It was finally happening.

My hands trembled as I reached for the zipper at the back of my dress. I fumbled with it once, twice, before finally pulling it down. The fabric slid off my shoulders, pooling at my feet. I stood there in nothing but my underwear, my arms crossed over my chest.

He didn't look at me. His gaze stayed fixed somewhere above my head, distant and cold.

"On the bed."

I climbed onto the mattress, my body stiff and uncooperative. He followed, his presence heavy and suffocating. The bed dipped under his weight as he positioned himself above me.

"This is just the agreement," he stated. "Nothing more."

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

He reached for my thighs, his large hands gripping my skin firmly, spreading my legs apart. His thumbs pressed into the soft flesh of my inner thighs. 

I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the sheets. My body was rigid beneath him.

I felt the blunt pressure of him against my entrance and then my body betrayed me.

A shudder ran through me. My hips jerked back involuntarily, and a small sound escaped my throat. I couldn't help it. I was terrified.

He froze above me.

"What is this?" His voice was sharp. Accusatory.

I opened my eyes. He was staring down at me, his expression dark and unreadable.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I just—"

"You're acting like I'm forcing you." His jaw tightened. "You signed the contract. You agreed to this."

"I know—"

"Then stop looking at me like I'm the monster here."

I flinched at his words. I opened my mouth to explain, but nothing came out.

He pulled back, his eyes blazing with cold fury. "You think I want this? You think this is some kind of pleasure for me?"

"Alpha Dominic, I didn't—"

"You wanted the money," he cut in. "You wanted the payment. You signed the papers. Don't stand there now and pretend you're some victim being dragged to the altar."

His words hit me like a slap.

"You took the payment," he continued, his voice dropping to something colder. "You agreed to this arrangement. This is what you signed up for."

I felt tears sting my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

"You're right," I said, my voice steady despite everything. "I signed the contract. So let's get this over with."

He stared at me for a long moment. Something flickered in his eyes—surprise, maybe. Or irritation.

Then he moved back into position.

I inched closer to Alpha Dominic, grabbing his neck. I could feel his body heat against mine. I tried to steady my breath, but I couldn't.

"Shit!" I screamed and rolled off the bed.

"I can't do this," I said. "I just can't. I don't know what's wrong with me—"

Alpha Dominic ran his hand through his hair and looked at me. He was already getting frustrated. This was getting much more difficult than I'd thought.

I felt absolutely nothing towards Alpha Dominic, yet here I was, standing naked in front of him.

"You've signed the agreement, Xena," Alpha  Dominic stated. "There's no backing down now."

"I know. I just—I don't think I'm ready yet."

He let out a deep sigh.

"I'll pay you three times what you're receiving," he stated, searching my eyes for a reaction.

So that's what I was now—a woman who could be bought.

"Three times?"

"Yes."

This meant I could clear my mother's hospital bills faster.

I bit the corner of my lip and said, "And you'll keep to your promise?"

"I'm a man of my word," Alpha Dominic replied.

"Okay, I think I'm ready," I said, and Alpha Dominic moved closer to me.

My back pinned against the wall, he placed his hand around my waist.

Everything about this man was repulsive.

I couldn't touch him even if I wanted to. I was only doing this because I had no other choice. Instead, I just stood there, stiff and unresponsive.

He lowered his face toward mine. I closed my eyes, bracing for contact.

But his lips never touched mine. He stopped just short, his breath warm against my skin, then pulled back. His jaw was tight. His nostrils flared as he brushed his nose against my neck, inhaling deeply.

"Alpha Dominic? Is everything okay?" I asked.

Silence.

His eyes locked with mine.

His eye color changed for a split second before returning back to normal. It was like he had just come out of a trance.

His jaw clenched.

I watched his throat bob as he swallowed and said, "Yes, everything is fine. Let's continue."

"Okay," I whispered, and his hands were back on my waist.

I wondered if he felt the same way I did. Like this shouldn't be happening at all.

I swallowed hard, my body getting stiffer with every touch.

And then he stopped.

This time, he didn't just pull away. He grabbed my neck tightly, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Wh...what are you doing to me?" I tried to scream, but his grip around my throat tightened even more.

I stepped on his foot, but he didn't budge.

"Tell me," he said.

I looked at him confused, struggling to gasp for air.

"Tell you what?" I tried to say.

My hands pushed against his chest.

This man was a psychopath.

"Tell you what?!" I screamed, but he didn't release me.

His eyes had gone even darker, the tips of his fingers changing into claws.

I felt the sharp edges around my neck, digging deeper into my flesh.

He finally let go of me, tossing me to the ground.

I choked on air and tried to steady my breathing as I looked up at him.

"Are you crazy?" I screamed, but he didn't move.

"I'll only ask this once, Xena," he stated. "And if you dare lie to me, I'll cut your throat and feed it to the wolves."

My fingers started to tremble as I slowly got up and faced him.

"What is it that you want to know?" I asked.

He hesitated at first, his eyes furiously searching mine.

It felt like he was looking for something.

"What's your relationship with Freya?"

Shit.

He knew.