Two

~CIARA~

No. No. No.

My fingers trembled around the contract as my eyes scanned it again.

Graham Hayes.

The same Alpha from earlier.

The same man whose touch still burned against my skin.

I’d heard rumors about his ruthlessness. Cruelty. Unhinged personality. He didn’t seem like the polite man that had steadied me on the road. “I can’t marry him,” I voiced out my thoughts. “I…can’t get married to a man who just wants me to produce pups for him.”

My stepmother’s mocking laugh made my stomach drop through the floor. I knew that laugh. It was the one that came before she said something hurtful. “Why else would he marry someone like you?” Her voice bit into my skin. My eyes burned and my vision started to blur. “You should be grateful. An omega like you being Alpha Graham’s breeder is practically charity.”

My heart sank. “Mom!”

“What?” She snapped back. “Stop acting like you don’t like the idea of warming Alpha Graham’s bed and check out the damn wedding gown. It needs to be perfect for tomorrow.”

I blinked back my tears to keep them from falling. From my peripheral vision, Stephanie was giggling, saying something about how pathetic I am, and I just ignored her for my own sanity. I paused when I picked up the dress. “This…it belongs to my mother, why did you have to make adjustments on her dress?”

“She’s dead, right?” Stephanie smirked. “The living has to make use of what’s left.”

“My daughter is right.” My stepmother eyed the dress. “The dead’s dead, nothing can go to waste.”

My voice broke. “But you could have left it the way it was.”

“Your waist needs to be snatched!” She yelled. “Alpha Graham needs to sway the minute he sets his eyes on you. Check it out and let me see if it needs any other adjustments. Hurry.”

Sometimes, I wanted to yell back at my stepmother and tell her I was done with all her games. Tell her I was sick and tired of being her puppet. Tell her I didn’t want to be a side piece anymore—but my father’s cruel hits and the several scars on my body made me rethink my words. My stepmother’s words were like law in this house. If I go against her words, I’d get starved, beaten, and might eventually end up sleeping out in the cold.

I don’t  think I can handle that right now.

So I just dragged my legs up the stairs to wear the dress. After all, the wedding was tomorrow. I just wanted to get it over with.

~~~

After staying up all night to prepare my mind for the marriage, I didn’t think I’d wake up nervous. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and all I could see was a young woman being forced into a life she didn’t want.  

My mother would have never allowed this.  

The moon goddess shouldn’t have taken her.  

“I’m applying the final touch of your makeup.” Giselle, one of my father’s maids, smiled down at me. “God, you’re such a pretty bride.”  

“Giselle, don’t.” I whispered. “Don’t try to make this feel right.”  

Her eyes softened. “I know it isn’t. I’m sorry you’re being forced to get married to—” She shuddered. She couldn’t even bring herself to call his name. That was how much fear he instilled in people. “I’m sure it can’t be that bad.”  

“I’m getting married to a monster.” Tears prickled the corner of my eyes and Giselle panicked.  

“You…you can’t cry, you’ll ruin everything and Janet’s going to make sure you’re punished.”  

“Honestly, I don’t care anymore.”  

“Ciara—” She came to sit next to me and took my hand. “I know this is hard, but look on the bright side. You don’t have to see Janet and Stephanie anymore. Your father can’t beat you up just as he likes.”  

The thought of that was exciting, but I didn’t like giving myself false hope. “You don’t know if Alpha Graham is going to encourage their cruel acts.”  

She shook her head. “If there’s one thing I know about that Alpha, it’s the fact that he always protects whatever belongs to him. And after the wedding, you are his.”  

I closed my eyes and inhaled a sharp breath. I really hoped Giselle was right.  

“Hi, sweet sis.” Stephanie’s high-pitched voice made my stomach drop through the floor. “It’s time!”  

My heart pounded violently as I forced myself to stand. This was it. The moment I’d been dreading. I took one step after another, moving past Stephanie like she was literally invisible.  

By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, my father gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He took my hand in his. “Ready, child?”  

My skin prickled with unease when he tightened his grip on my hand to the point of pain. “Yes. Yes, I’m ready.”  

When we stepped into the wedding hall, everyone’s eyes were on me.  

“Smile.” My father’s stern voice reached my ears. “And keep your legs moving.”  

I forced a smile onto my face despite how terrible I felt, counting my steps toward the altar, but again, my clumsiness got the best of me. I tripped, nearly falling on my face, and the same firm grip steadied me.  

The most beautiful blue eyes roamed my face.  “We meet again, Miss Norman.”  

I gulped. “Al…Alpha Graham.”  

His fingers tightened around me. “Soon,” he murmured, his voice low enough for only me to hear, “you’ll be calling me husband.”