Four

Aria’s POV

I ate my food with so much nervousness. I wasn’t even chewing. I was literally swallowing every bit of it. I fear I might have indigestion later.

It’s just that today marks the third day since Father sent his men into the woods to find the man who’d marked me. The men would be back today and if they don’t find that man, Father might disown me.

Knowing I have such a reality awaiting me, how can I possibly calmly eat?

“Please, baby. I really want it.” Ivy pouted, clinging to Jaxon. They’re both having breakfast here. And then there was Ivy’s Mum too.

My Mum was long dead. So, yeah.

“But I got you a diamond necklace last week, baby,” Jaxon said, pinching her cheek.

Ivy pouted, resting her head on his shoulder. “But that was last week and that was a necklace. This, here,” she pointed at her phone’s screen. “…is a dior bag, limited edition. I want it.”

“You’re such an extravagant princess, ain’t you?” Jaxon chuckled, and then he kissed her forehead. “But sure, baby, anything for you.”

“Yes!” Ivy squealed, hugging him. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you more.”

“Awwn, ain’t you two the cutest?” Ivy’s Mum cooed. “This is how it should be. Two lovers destined by the moon goddess are bonding and loving each other every day. Not sneaking off and getting involved with some random hoodlum.”

Her shots at me were painful and precise. But I held it in. She’s never liked me. I should be used to it by now.

“Thank you for the meal,” I said quietly, standing from my seat. She didn’t answer me. I didn’t wait for an answer. I just took my plates and headed into the kitchen.

I dumped them on the sink but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Tears dropped down my face, and soon, I was sobbing.

Wasn’t it funny how everyone assumes an Alpha’s daughter should have the happiest life? How do I tell them that my life was far from being a happy one?

“You know crying won’t solve anything,” Jaxon’s voice made me gasp.

I quickly cleaned my tears before turning my head. He was standing at the door, hands in his pockets, leveling me with his scrutinizing gaze.

“What do you want, Jaxon?”

“Just checking up on you.”

“That’s really sweet of you.” I scoffed. “You didn’t check on me three days ago when you were having the time of your life with my sister.”

“I would have, but you ran into the woods and got involved with another man. I still can’t believe it.” He chuckled dryly.

I didn’t respond to that. He walked in fully, heading in my direction.

“You shouldn’t be in here, Jaxon.” I blurted out as he kept coming closer to me. “Ivy won’t like to see us here together.”

“I just need some kind of explanation from you.” His eyes narrowed. I hated how close he was standing to me. It was slowly messing with my head.

“Jaxon…” I breathed out, trying to walk past him but he blocked me.

“Tell me something, Aria,” his voice dropped in a whisper. “We dated for years and I never got to taste you. You were holding on to some stupid morals. But you gave it all away to a stranger on the same night of our breakup.”

“I…” honestly, I had no right words to say. It genuinely doesn’t make sense that I held on to my virginity for years only to give it up like it meant nothing. And worse, to a weird handsome stranger.

“What was your reason? Didn’t I seem good enough for you to give it to me? Wasn’t I deserving of it? You’d rather give it to a dog than to me?”

Something about the demeaning way he was talking to the stranger upset me.

“You have no right to question me, Jaxon. You chose my sister. You cheated on me with her. So go be with her and leave me alone!” I tried walking past him again but he grabbed my hand.

“Your Father plans on selling you off to an Alpha who’s got a mate and concubines.”

My heart tightened at his words. “What?”

“If his men don’t find the man who took your virginity and marked you, your Father is going to give you off to a man older than you, who has a mate and concubines. Your life will be miserable forever.”

Hot tears rolled down my face. “He won’t do that. He loves me…”

“Sure, but he loves his reputation more. If the news of your promiscuity gets out, people are going to ridicule you. To avoid that, he’s sending you far away from him. Now you’re not very pretty so you don’t have many suitors. You have just one suitor.”

“I’ll get suitors. Father won’t sell me off to an older Alpha. He won’t do that to his daughter.” I mumbled continuously but it seemed I was more trying to convince myself than him.

“I fear it’s going to happen. But there’s just one way you can stop it. Actually, two ways.”

“Tell me.”

“Well, first, you’ll need to pray that your Father’s men find the man who deflowered you.”

I’ve been praying so hard that they find him. But somewhere deep down, I have this feeling they won’t. That man doesn’t seem like the type of man who’ll allow a bunch of soldiers to capture him.

“What’s…what’s the second option?”

“Be my mistress. And I’ll convince your Father not to sell you off to that Alpha.”

My heart tightened even more. “What?”

He smirked. A taunting smirk that made my heart burn. He’s such a jerk!

“Till the end, Aria, I’m still very curious to know what you taste like. So be my mistress and I’ll save you from your impending doom.”

“Miss Aria!” I turned. It was one of the head maids. “Your Father is asking for you in the living room.”

I snatched my hand from Jaxon’s grip and followed the maid out. We got to the living room. Father was seated on a single sofa. Ivy and her Mother were seated on a double sofa. One of Father’s soldiers was standing behind Father. I recognized him as one of the men who went into the woods.

Father scowled at me and signaled at the soldier. “Tell her everything you said a minute ago. She needs to hear it directly from you.”

The soldier bowed and darted his gaze to me. “We searched every corner of the woods, Miss Aria. But we couldn’t find any man who suited your description.”

“Did you check the tavern?” I asked panicky.

“We definitely did. But the people who run the tavern claim they don’t know any man of your description.”

“That can’t be true,” I spluttered out, as tears fell down my face. “He was there. There was a tall, lanky bartender. He saw him…”

“That’s enough!” Father thundered. I shuddered and quickly snapped my mouth shut. He stood with so much rage. “It’s settled. You’ll be getting married to Alpha Locke and that’s final!”

He stormed out of the living room. Everyone followed him quietly until it was just me in the living room.

My head was spinning. His last words wouldn’t stop echoing in my ears.

Alpha Locke? Alpha Jacob Locke? That’s the man I’m getting married to?

That…ruthless, womanizer?