FREYA
"Marry me," he breathes, his soft silver gaze locked with my wide ones. Is he crazy or just unhinged? How do I respond to a marriage proposal from a total stranger, especially since I'm engaged?
He cocks his head, a lock of his raven black hair falling over his forehead. My breath hitches in my throat at the alluring sight of him. This man is most definitely not human. His beauty is inhumane and I have the feeling that the smell of roses emanating from him is his natural scent, not a cologne.
"Why? I don't know you," I say through gritted teeth.
A smile curves his lips, and I suck in my bottom lip, trying not to show how much effect his smile has on me.
"Is it because your potential groom asked you out in a club?" He asks, raising a brow.
"I told you. I don't know you," I hiss, rising to my feet. The steady music bouncing off the walls of the club is starting to give me a headache.
"You can tell that I'm not human, can't you?" His voice drops lower, sending goose bumps spreading over my body.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that I'm rejecting your proposal," I tell him and he squints at me, looking serious.
"You're a werewolf but I can't sense your wolf. What happened?" He presses and I wince, deciding that it's time for me to head out.
"It's none of your business--"
He cuts me off, his eyes darkening.
"It is my business because you're my mate. You felt it earlier when I kissed you, didn't you?"
My heart rate speeds up at the thought of the kiss we shared right before his sudden proposal...
"I should remind you," he continues and I furrow my brows, puzzled.
Before I can say anything, he's leaning towards me, cupping the side of my face as he claims my lips in a passionate kiss that sets fire to my blood. My heart feels as though it's going to explode. His hand skims down my side and settles on the small of my back as he deepens the kiss, setting every fibre in my body on fire.
It's strange. I let him kiss me and I like it. I shouldn't...
Not when my wedding is tomorrow...
When he pulls away to gaze at my face, my stare drops to his moistened, plump, cherry-pink lips. And something in my stomach stirs. Fuck, I want to kiss him again.
Is this it?
Is this what the mating attraction feels like?
No, I should snap out of it. He might be a werewolf but I'm not, not since I lost my wolf.
A lump forms in my throat as I bring a hand to his hard chest and pull away from him.
"You don't want me?" He asks casually and I look away, worried that I'm going to get sucked in by the sight of him once more.
"I'm not marrying you. I'm engaged to be wed tomorrow," I reply, picking up my purse from the table.
"Then, why are you here, dressed like that? If you were engaged to a man you love, you wouldn't come here at all," he says and I freeze, annoyance clawing at my insides.
"It doesn't matter. I'm leaving," I hiss. He grabs my hand and pulls me into his arms, startling me.
With his hard, masculine body pressed against mine, it's safe to say that my thinking system has crashed. For reasons, I can't point out, it feels familiar and safe.
"It matters to me, Mi Cielo. I will propose to you twice tonight. You will eventually say yes to me. I promise you," he whispers in my ear and saunters away. I stare at his tall figure, confused.
As I storm out of the club, I realize that coming here is a mistake. I've been stressed out about getting married to Caleb whom I've been secretly dating for a year. He's the cheating kind. No matter how much he says he loves me, he always sleeps with anything resembling a woman. This marriage is an arranged marriage between his family and mine. Even so, they don't know that we've been dating.
The moment I reach my car, my phone rings out and I fish it out from my pocket.
"Is this Ms. Freya Delgado?" A woman says.
"Yes."
"I'm calling from Skyline Hospital about your mother. She's been scheduled for an emergency surgery which is taking place in one hour. You don't have to worry about the bills, it's been paid in full," she continues.
"By who?" I blurt out, puzzled.
"He asked us to keep his name anonymous," she responds.
On the way to the hospital, my mind is a jumbled mess. It's strange that after three years of being in a coma, my mother needs an emergency surgery.
....
Today has been a strange day. My mother's surgery was successful. However, I still can't figure out who had paid for it.
After such a long day, I'm seated in my sitting room with a bottle of wine. My mind wanders and thoughts of the dark haired stranger fills my head.
If he's truly my mate, why didn't he show up before today? I was once a fully fledged werewolf. Everything changed three years ago when I lost my memories and my wolf. The only memories I have are the ones I made when I awoke from a coma, three years ago. According to my father, I'd been involved in a fatal accident.
My thoughts came to an abrupt halt at the sound of the doorbell. I glance at the digital clock, furrowing my brows. 02:45AM.
Why would anyone visit me by this time?
Hesitantly, I make my way towards my front door and take a peek at the small door monitor. But there's no one there. My frown deepens as I input the code and unlock the door, pushing it open to peek out of it.
Right then, a pair of dress shoes steps into my line of vision and I look up to see a familiar face.
The stranger from the club.
"W-what are you doing here?" I stutter, stumbling backwards. His expression remains blank as he strolls into my house, shutting the door behind him.
"I told you that I was going to propose twice. I meant it," he tells me, a mysterious glimmer in his eyes.
Rushing towards the coffee table in my sitting room, I grab the half-empty bottle of wine, brandishing it like a weapon.
"Don't come any closer!"
He blinks, burying his hands in the pockets of his tailored black pants.
"Or what?" He drawls and I gulp, intimidated by his presence.
"I'm going to scream," I tell him.
A smirk curves his lips, his eyes darkening.
"Oh, come on... you don't have to rush. I intend on making you scream out my name while I make love to you," he states, his deep voice caressing my ears.
Despite myself, my face heats up as I press my thighs together. I'm supposed to be repulsed and afraid. Instead, I'm getting aroused. I must be very drunk.
"What do you want from me?" I ask, hoping that the smell of my arousal won't reach him.
"Marry me," he states as he moves dangerously closer to me, swallowing up the distance between us by his overwhelming presence.
"I...I.."
"You're indebted to me now. You should do as I say if you don't want more trouble," he says, his gaze pinned on me.
This man is truly crazy.
"What are you talking about?" I ask and he flashes me a chilly smile.
"I paid for your mother's emergency surgery," he begins, an impassive expression on his face.
"If that's the case, I can pay you back..." I start to say and his eyes darkens.
"I don't want your money. Right now, I have my men watching over her. By my order, they would do anything," he drones.
My stomach tightens, nausea sweeping through me.
He's blackmailing me?
"Now, you're just being petty," I choke out, anger pulsing through my veins.
"It didn't have to get this far. This is your fault," he responds.
I stare at him, wondering if he's merely bluffing. However, this man doesn't strike me as someone to be taken for granted. There's some kind of darkness attached to him.
How is this man my mate?
"What's your answer?" He asks, raising a perfectly arched dark brow.
Should I involve the cops?
No, this man isn't even human.
"I...I will marry you. Don't hurt my mother," I stutter.
In a blink of an eye, he hands me a marriage document and places a pen in my hand.
"Sign it," he urges.
"I stare at him, baffled by his audacity. Still, there's nothing I can do, and this irks me to no end.
With shaky hands, I sign my name on the document and he does the same.
"Now what?" I rasp, downing more wine from my wine bottle.
"We're married now, Freya," he drawls and I freeze.
Wait, I never told him my name. How long has he been planning this. Has he been stalking me?
He takes the wine bottle from me and places it on the coffee table with care. Then, he straightens and approaches me, a sultry look in his eyes.
"W-what are you doing?" I slur, moving backwards until the back of my knees hits the couch. I sink down onto the couch and he hovers over me, his gaze roaming my face like he's about to eat me up.
"Are you drunk?" He asks and I shake my head.
He grins, his eyes lighting up.
"You are drunk. But, that's okay. I will make you remember all of it," he whispers and my eyes widen.
Remember what?
He goes down on one knee, his hand inching towards the hem of my shorts. Then, he presses a sensual kiss to my thigh. A gasp tumbles out of my lips and he looks up at me, his heated gaze locked with mine.
"You have no idea how much I've ached for this moment," he breathes.