Layla's POV
My hands trembled as the piece of laminated paper fluttered and fell to the ground. It couldn't be true. How could I be married—to him?
"How is this possible?" I clasped my right hand over my mouth. My stance weakened. Lightheadedness took over me as I leaned into the closet wall for support.
"You and I—this is some sort of joke. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have slept with you," I gasped, running my fingers through my hair. I wanted to pull out every lock, just to get rid of this feeling.
My voice choked up in my throat. I was too busy to notice, but Alphonso had closed the distance between us now. He was too close.
He forced my chin up with his crude fingers. And even then, his touch seemed strange. As if he was worried he would break something, he tilted his face before meeting my eyes.
His beautiful brown eyes looked into mine. I wanted them to come across as aloof. Or distant. I wanted to hate him. This was far from the reality I was hoping for.
How was it even possible to marry a stranger I slept with for one night?
"Still scared of me, Little Dove?" The last of his words lingered in the air a little longer. I squirmed to the wall, melting under his gaze.
"How did it happen?" I demanded, and he watched me intently. What did he want?
"You'd remember it all if you didn't insist we override your senses with drugs while we were at it," he said through clenched teeth.
What could he mean?
That's when the shooting pain cut through my forehead. I felt dizzy. My legs weakened, bending over the ground. I was going to fall.
Just when I expected to hit the floor, strong arms surrounded me. They held me like a cage. My back was pressed against something cold. The wall. Our eyes met.
"Mr. Darren—" The words escaped me like a whisper.
"There's nothing to be afraid of now. You are my wife, Layla," he said. "I have paid a good price for your life, and I expect you to be good to me," his voice was as close to a low growl, pitching in my ear.
"Can—can you please tell me what happened?" My voice was weak. Almost as if I was begging him to grace me with an answer. I had to know. Why me? And why him? And why marriage?
"Well, my dove," he traced my cheek, "your diligent ass of a brother lost our money. There was a wager. He lost it too. It was only a matter of time before he was killed," his voice iced over—a striking contrast to how his touch felt. So warm. So close.
"What—"
It was so hard trying to make sense of it all. He was so broody and intimidating. My senses felt overwhelmed.
"Shhh, Little Dove. I'm not done yet. Never talk over me. Understand?" he said, his tone domineering.
"What do you mean, do not talk over you? I'm trying to be really nice here," I said, trying to get a hold of my emotions.
"I never took you to be feisty. Especially since you walked right into my arms after what happened. Was it fate? Or cowardice?" His hands slipped over my thighs. It was then that the awareness sank in.
I was naked. And he was naked. And he was so close. And I couldn't breathe.
"Don't touch me," I glared at him, trying to push him away. But he didn't budge. Instead, his hands moved south.
"I don't remember you saying those words when I was doing that to you yesterday. Do you need a reminder?" He bit harshly into the lobe of my ear.
My arms acted on their own. They hit him against his smooth chest, taking him by surprise. He moved back a few centimeters.
A chuckle escaped him.
"Well, if only I knew you had this side to yourself. I thought you were only a pillow princess," he said smugly.
"What did you do to my brother?" I demanded. He couldn't have harmed him, right?
"So eager, aren't you—" He held me by my arms, tightly. Pain surfaced. My body began to ache. My thighs already felt worn out.
He looked at me with indifference. He was no longer playful or mocking. Cruelty radiated from his touch.
I found it hard to breathe. Suddenly, my chest weighed a ton. All reason and sense vanished into thin air.
Kaifer was the only one that I considered close to family. Surely, my foster mother, Mia, and foster father, Gabe, didn't pay much attention to me. But not Kaifer. He was always nice. He was kind and loved me as one of his own. Like his own sister. He was perhaps the only one who didn't resent my existence.
The thought filled my eyes with moisture. I found it hard to stand my guard.
"Just tell me—" I realized, at this point, that I was screaming.
"I killed your wretched brother. He sold you to us for his 'pass'. You are lucky he didn't turn you to the other families he had a feud with," he spat. His fingers wound around my throat.
"They wouldn't even think of making you a maid, let alone a wife," he uttered the words with sheer resentment.
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Then, why would you marry me?" The words came out in a mindless fumble. It was hurting. All of this. Him, his words and the truth.
How could Kaifer ever do this to me? And now. He was dead. Just like that!
"I don't have any obligations to tell you why I married you. You'll know soon enough that this marriage wasn't done solely with my consent.
You agreed to it. You begged for it. And you were very aware of the things that followed, Layla Chen. Wait for the drugs to wear out and the memories will come back.
Maybe then, you'll know all the things you asked me to do to you. Or how readily you accepted my offer. And how eager your wet p***y was for me.
And, if you don't mind put on some damned clothes. Unless, you have other plans of course.
We will be leaving for my place soon. Before, we leave for Chershire... I insist you clean yourself."
He sounded so sure, that I had no alternative but to believe it. Could it really be so? More tears rolled down my cheeks.
Just what had Kaifer done? What had lead to all of this? If only, I could find out...
I stood there crying, in his arms.
For a moment, he didn't add another word. His grip had loosened. Almost, turned soft. Next, I knew he pressed me to his chest.
"Why are you doing this? You are a monster—" I cried.
"You are mine, Little Dove. A Darren never treats his woman wrong," he said, with conviction. His woman.
If only I could believe that.
***
Alphonso's POV
"You are mine, Little Dove," I said with conviction.
Ever since I had laid my eyes on this woman, I knew she was trouble. Damned be the Chens.
She thinks she is smart enought to trick me into a marriage. Little does she know that she is dragging herself through trouble. I wouldn't be able to give her whatever she thinks she would get from me.
All I'll have to do is keep her around till Grandma gets better.
Ever since the Clan war, the Capo had been eyeing a suitable alpha to replace him. There could only be one. But with my asshole brother's affection with an Omega, there's no telling who'd take charge.
The Darren Family, was a strong competitor for the title. I'd be lying if I said, I didn't have my eyes on the title. But being the Capo's successor would only bring me more pain.
Especially, after what happened with Alyssa, the Capo's daughter.
[Flashback]
"God, Darren... You cannot even get it up! You are just big talk and no show" Alyssa said, totally annoyed.
It was embarassing but true. I hadn't been able to get my member to go erect ever since that accident years ago. No matter what I do, my pleasure came restrained. It refused to release itself despite my various attempts.
It all began with her. But when she was taken away by the spies, I had no idea. We were only kids then. I didn't know what it meant to be fated to someone. Yet, I'd marked her.
The one I loved. With her gone, I was rendered useless. Despite running a Sex Club, I could barely find my own pleasure. Years of withstanding agony, with no reprieve. And to know that she was killed... Didn't really help.
"Alyssa, I am sorry. I'd understand if you want to leave," I said, resigned.
"I thought you loved me, Alphonso," she argued, exasperated.
"I cannot give you what you want. I have been fated to your late sister, Alyssa. I cannot breed and make you a Luna," I said, turning away. I cannot do it unless it's her. My mate. Without her, I was a useless addition to the pack. An alpha in name.
With Alyssa, died my last hope. I thought, that love would be enough. I tried to fall for her. Did everything. Everything that grandma asked for me. But it didn't work. It was futile.
A werewolf can only breed with his mate. And mine was taken away before we reached puberty. There was no way I could hold onto Alyssa. No matter how hard I tried. Because, in my heart... I truly loved one. And my love, was gone. I was a lone wolf.
[Flashback Ends]
But there was something different about Layla Chen. For some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I know it because, it's the first time I've had an erection. And it's because of her.
I felt the blood rush, my arousal pressing hot and insistent against my thigh. A raw, pulsing need—to take her, to feel her against me until my heart stops its wild pounding. The thought of her curves molding into mine, her breath on my skin… Layla Chen had torn through the walls I built, made me feel again. And for that—I hate her.