|02

ARIA AKA RED

Once upon a time is such a cliche story, but here we are with me staring at my reflection in the large mirror.

I glide my hands over the beautiful wedding gown that clings to my body perfectly. 

"You look absolutely stunning!" The designer of my gown coos. 

I smile in silence. 

She has to say that if she wants me to buy it, right? 

She lowers herself and begins to fluff around with the train of the skirt, "Whoever he is, he is a lucky man and I hope you'll be happy together." A dreamy sigh departs her lips. 

Lifting my left hand, I look at my naked ring finger that will soon adorn a wedding ring. A gold band to legally state that I am officially off the market and that I exclusively belong to one of the cruellest men alive. 

A Bratva Kingpin. 

Artemis Volkov. 

Did you know that Volkov means Wolf in the English language? 

Pretty ironic if you ask me since he prefers to be addressed as, Wolf. 

A tattooed, raven-haired, sapphire blue-eyed wolf with an insatiable hunger for dominance. A seductive ruthless maniac who leaves a path of destruction in his wake and a mark of devastation upon his victims. 

"You are so young, my child." The designer's voice breaks my train of thought. 

"Not in my daddy's eyes," I mutter under my breath. 

My father is the leader of a low profile gang. His organization specialises in transporting weapons and drugs. Childs play shenanigans compared to the shit Mr Volkov does and my father is making me marry the big bad Wolf to keep the peace between the two warring empires. 

"There!" She claps with a shrill of her voice. "What do you think?" 

Raising my gaze I look her in the eyes as I stare at her reflection in the mirror. "It's beautiful, thank you." 

The front doors to the little boutique fly open with force and they crash against the walls. I watch as four men dressed all in black with serious looks on their faces walk in and they make a beeline straight toward me. 

The designer of my dress screams and I cringe as her high pitched voice violently penetrates my delicate eardrums. One of the men covers an ear with his hand and raises his arm with his gun pointing at her head. She stops screaming and takes off running behind the counter. 

"Affirmative, it is her boss." One of the men says as he speaks into the cufflink on the sleeve of his suit jacket. 

I swivel around to face the four men, gathering the skirt of the gown in my hands and swallowing heavily to stifle the panic that coaxes my throat. My stomach churns and my legs threaten to give out from beneath me. 

I close my eyes, shutting myself out of my reality. 

The smell of expensive cologne wafts through the air. It's woody, with a hint of citrus and it's intoxicating. I can sense his presence and I don't have to open my eyes to know that Artemis is standing before me. 

"Open your eyes and look at me," His deep voice that resembles the sound of thunder demands. 

I pry one eye open, then the other. His silhouette fills my line of vision. I have to use my hand to shield the sun that beams brightly behind him masking his features. I can't see his eyes... I can only feast upon his dark hair, combed back by a brutal hand that brooked with no measure. 

My breath catches. 

Thick black hair, lined with silver at his temples. He wears his age like a fucking cadet badge and I can ponder that his years have been unkind to him. That he has seen the world for what it is, indulging in unspeakable things, relishing in the glorious consequences of his actions, however paramount they have been. 

He takes a step forward out of the sun revealing himself. His face possesses a hooked nose, a thin upper lip and a buxom lower lip. One that hints at secret desires, Lust. Heat. The captivating chiselled jaw that is sprinkled with dark stubble compels me to reach out and touch him. 

But I dont... 

I take a step back needing to create some distance between us. I tear my gaze away from his and they fall upon the cruel scar that tarnishes his throat. A cold sensation thrums through my veins as my heart ceases. 

What or who could hurt him in a vicious, savage manner? 

He takes another step toward me and I take one back until his large hands land on my shoulders preventing me from moving. 

"Do you know who I am?" His voice is cold and his gaze calculating. 

"M-Mr Volkov," I answer lowering my gaze as my voice trembles. 

A snarl departs his lips. "Wrong, look at me." He orders and I snap my head up to meet his blue eyes. 

"You are my wife." He cocks a brow daring me to protest. 

Again, I don't. 

I already knew that my fate had been sealed before he waltzed in. I also like to think of myself as an opportunist, meaning... 

I will take the lemons that life gives me, and I will make lemonade with them. I just need to find myself a big bottle of Vodka to go with it. 

I continue to stare at him with a blank expression on my face. 

"Remove the dress. Whatever fairytale wedding your father promised you isn't happening." He says sternly as his eyes narrow into thin lines. 

"As you wish, Mr Volkov," I answer and wait for him to release me. 

Blowing air out of his nose, he takes two steps back, raises his arm and looks at the expensive gold watch that adorns his wrist. "You have two minutes." 

"Two minutes?" I snort. "It took me thirty minutes to get into the gown." 

"Turn around." 

My eyes grow wide and I shake my head.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Red." He growls stepping forward. 

I close my eyes, bowing my head and I turn around. 

The sound of the expensive material being torn and the zip snapping sweeps through the room. A draft creeps up my back as his cruel hands tear the gown flush from my body until I am left standing in front of him with nothing but a pair of stiletto heels and a thong. 

Tears prick my eyes. I have never felt so humiliated in my life, nor has anybody had the pleasure of seeing me this bare before. Lifting my arms, I cover my naked breasts when I see his eyes staring at my reflection in the mirror. 

Not an ounce of gratitude glazes in his eyes, just a look of utter disappointment. 

He leans forward, "You have two minutes starting now, Red. Don't force me to come and get you." He snarls into the hard shell of my ear. 

A sob breaks free from my trembling lips and I flee for the dressing room with tears gliding down my cheeks.