Ariel pov
"What the hell were you thinking back there?" he yelled at me, banging the table. "I left you for two hours, and everyone was already after you." He barked, "Why was that?"
I looked at him without talking. He checked for injuries on my body, dropping my hands up and down. I was already healed.
"Alpha Derek, it wasn't my fault. Your beta told me to run, so I did," I responded.
"You could have just mind-linked me like you did in the forest instead of running like that," he yelled. "Now we have trouble on our hands." He ran his fingers through his hair.
"No, it's your problem," I argued. "If you had allowed me to go when I wanted, maybe this would have been avoided."
"No need crying over spilled milk, little one," he said. "I have a solution to our problem." His gaze was intensely on me.
"What is that?" I queried.
"Be my bride, but only on paper!" he said.
"What are you kidding me?" I looked at him. "I can't get married to you. I barely even know you. You don't even know me."
"Let's skip the formalities," he said. "Oh, we are not skipping anything. For all I know, you want to trap me."
"What is your name? I forgot to ask," he released a chuckle in this critical moment.
"Ariel," I responded.
"Ah, Ariel. If you don't make this decision tonight, I'm afraid you might not do that unfinished business of yours you wanted."
"Why would I?" I asked.
"Because you will be long dead by then," he said.
I weighed my options; he was right. If I didn't accept this whole marriage idea, I would be taken to the Alpha King. I shuddered at the thought.
"Couldn't I just escape?" I told myself. "No, you can't. This place is a fortress built to keep kings away from harm."
I responded back to my thoughts. I guess I would go with option number two: be his bride!
"What is in it for you?" I asked, trying to know his stance.
"I want a bride, and I want you too. It's as simple as that," he said. "I already have the contract drafted. It's in my drawer. A year should be enough to convince them that we are together, and then you can easily leave."
"Before I sign this contract, I want something in return," I said.
"And what is that, little one?" he sized me up in the Shadow Pack's logo.
"I want your power to exact revenge on my enemies," I said.
"Ah, yes. I was hoping you would say that," he smirked as he stood up to get the contract. "Here, sign it now."
I watched as I signed my life away to a brute.
"Ah, you have a nice writing style. Almost reminded me of someone I know," he said.
"What was he talking about?" I glared at him.
"So, it's done. You are my bride for a year," he smiled, looking at the contract, satisfied with himself.
"Wait a moment. What was the doctor talking about before he died?" I asked.
"Do you really want to know more about it?" he unbuttoned his shirt and flung it to the floor, revealing his toned muscles.
"You know what? Let's forget I asked," I turned my face from the view of his body to hide my flush from my cheeks.
"Don't tell me you are a virgin," he neared me.
"What are you doing, Alpha Derek?" I yelled.
"Oh, it's in the contract. You have to sleep with me to convince everyone," he said.
"What? I can't do it," I stepped away from his view, but his strong hands grabbed me, pulling me closer to him. I could smell his after-shave.
"I can't do this," I stared fearfully at him. "Please let me go," I begged, afraid of being raped by him.
"Don't get any silly ideas," he said, zipping the Shadow Moon clothes off me. I was still wearing the hospital clothes.
"Wear the clothes on the bed," he pointed at the nightwear on the bed.
I looked at him, expecting him to leave the room. "Don't kid yourself, little dove. I wouldn't look. I just need you to lay beside me on the bed."
"Okay," I clenched my fists.
I climbed the bed and turned to the other part of the bed. He lay beside me, putting his arms around my body. I couldn't sleep throughout the night as I thought of what I was doing in the bed with the enemy.
I was awoken by the sudden interruption of a loud bang on Derek's room door.
"If it isn't my brother playing rescue with the girl he hardly knows," a male figure advanced to where we lay. It was morning already; I didn't know how I had slept, but I did. But who was this? He looked exactly like Alpha Derek, but he had less physical build-up.
"Ray, you are bothering me," Derek yawned, pulling up the covers around him nonchalantly.
"Who is she, if I may ask?" Ray glared at me.
"She's none of your business, Ray. Get the hell out of my bedroom before you regret it!" Derek spoke up.
"Oh, it's all my business since the Alpha King would want to know too! He demands your presence, and your excuse of a bride." Ray sneered.
"Ray! Alpha Derek yelled aloud, standing up on the bed. "Don't make me regret not snapping your neck earlier."
"Oh, don't bother. I will be taking my leave now. I just came to pass a message across." Ray turned and left.
I could feel Derek's anger simmering through him as he clenched his fist.
"Get ready, Ariel. You are about to meet my father. Expect to be thrown off your feet." He walked to the bathroom, taking his bath.
After we had both taken our bath and dressed up, we walked down the corridor to go meet his father. My palms were sweaty, and my heart was beating fast. I tried calming myself down, but I couldn't. The Alpha King was more ruthless than his son.
When we reached the meeting place, I could see elders sitting amongst their seats, and a throne was kept for the king. All rise! The elders stood up as their king sat on his throne.
I gulped hard; he indeed looked brutal. On his body was the skin of a werewolf, which was skinned and made into clothes.
"Derek, my son!" The Alpha King's voice boomed. "It has reached my ears that you have finally found a bride!"
"Yes, Alpha," Derek bowed.
"How well do you know her?" The Alpha King asked calmly.
"I know her enough to know that my wolf feels safe around her," Derek replied.
"What!" I gasped, looking at Derek. Was he joking?
"Have you marked her yet?" The Alpha King asked.
"Not yet, after we get married," Derek replied back.
The Alpha King's eyes narrowed. "I want to meet her," he said.
Derek pulled me forward, and I curtsied. "Ariel, my bride," Derek introduced me.
The Alpha King's eyes scanned me from head to toe. "She's beautiful," he said. "But is she worthy of being the queen of the Shadow Moon Pack?"
"I assure you, Father. She is," Derek said.
The Alpha King nodded. "Very well. I approve of your marriage. But remember, Derek. If she fails to impress me, she's out of the pack."
I felt a chill run down my spine. What had I gotten myself into?