C2 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. “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.”

From my peripheral vision, Stephanie was giggling, saying something about how pathetic I am, but 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.”

Something inside me snapped. “What did you just say?”

Stephanie didn’t cower. “I said the dead is dead and—” I crossed the space between us and smacked her so hard, she stumbled a few steps back.

Her eyes widened with shock. “Did you just slap me?”

“You can insult me all you want, Stephanie. You can call me useless, pathetic, weak, whatever makes you happy, but I won’t stand here and listen to you talk about my mother like she was nothing!”

Stephanie looked genuinely shocked.

“Have you lost your damn mind?” Janet shrieked, her palm colliding with my back as pain shot through me. “How dare you put your filthy hands on my daughter!”

I winced.

“You’re not just a worthless omega, you’re an ungrateful bitch as well.” She continued. “Now listen carefully. Tomorrow you’re getting married to Alpha Graham and you’re wearing that goddamn dress. Now go upstairs and check if it needs any damn adjustments before I lock you up in the basement.”

Anger burned through me.

“Hurry!”

I lowered my eyes and turned toward the stairs before things escalated further. As I climbed them, clutching the dress against my chest, only one thought occupied my mind. I was getting out of this house tonight.

~~~~

I waited patiently for everyone in the house to go to bed before climbing out of my window. My heart pounded wildly as I landed on the grass and took off running, not pausing for a minute because of how cunning my father was.

I was close to the eastern border already. I could already smell my freedom, taste it even. Hope surged through me so I pushed myself further, sprinting through the dark woods because my life literally depended on this.

Then I came to a sharp halt as my gaze landed on the wolves standing ahead.

My father’s guards?

No, no no.

They weren’t supposed to be here today.

My stomach dropped because there were too many of them, their eyes scanning every possible route out of the pack like they had been expecting someone to try to escape.

As though they had been expecting me.

“Well, this is disappointing.”

The sound of that voice made my blood turn to ice. I turned slowly, watching as my father stepped out from behind the trees, dressed like he’d been waiting for hours, his hands clasped behind his back.

There wasn't an ounce of surprise on his face. “You really thought I wouldn't see this coming?” he asked calmly.

My hands curled into fists as tears burned my eyes. I was this close. “You can't force me to do this.”

His expression remained unchanged. “Unfortunately, Ciara, I can.”

Anger flared inside me. “I am your first daughter but you’re selling me off like livestock!”

“I'm securing this family's future.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “No. You're securing yours.”

His jaw tightened. For the first time, I knew I'd hit a nerve. “Take her back.” He ordered the guards, and panic exploded inside me.

I turned around and tried to run again.

But I barely made it three steps before strong hands grabbed my arms. “Let me go!” I screamed, fighting with everything I had, but the guard didn’t bulge.

My father watched me cry out for help without moving an inch. He didn’t even look guilty. My heart twisted painfully as he stared down at me like I was nothing but a pawn in his game.

“Lock her room,” he ordered coldly. “And station someone outside the door until morning.”

~~~~

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 didn’t know if Giselle was trying to comfort me or make me feel worse.

“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. I hated this man with everything in me. He took my hand in his. “Ready, child?”

I glared at him. “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. I couldn’t tell if it was due to the exhaustion from last night’s escape or the pain in my chest, but I tripped before everyone, nearly falling on my face.

A firm grip steadied me before I could hit the floor. 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.”