Chapter 5- Don't make me ask again

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I realized with horrifying clarity that this was my new reality. I had no choice—Kael had decided, and there was no turning back. Even Luca knew he couldn’t stand against him. But despite everything, I couldn’t stop the ache in my chest when I thought of Luca. He was a liar and a cheat, but he was the one I thought I could depend on. How did it all end up like this?

Why does it feel as if I'm cursed? 

As I got into the car, I felt trapped. The dark secret I’d been hiding—the real reason I was willing to marry Luca, even after everything—would have to stay buried, at least for now. Kael couldn’t know, or it would destroy everything. But the danger that secret carried felt distant compared to the nightmare I was being dragged into now. Even if Luca was a coward, at least I knew what to expect from him. Kael? He was a whole different beast, a force that could shatter everything I had left.

The car sped away from the chaotic hall, and I couldn’t help but feel pity for myself. Two powerful Alphas wanted me for different reasons—one out of duty, the other out of possessive obsession. And as much as I feared Kael’s control, I knew that this wasn’t over. Luca wouldn’t just let me go that easily. Would he? 

Kael’s grip was like iron around my wrist. No words were exchanged, but the tension was suffocating. He was dragging me into his world, and there was no way out.

When we finally reached the hotel, Kael didn’t bother with pleasantries. He stormed through the grand lobby, his presence enough to make everyone scatter. The staff bowed and looked away, avoiding his gaze as if even meeting his eyes could bring ruin. I tried to keep up, stumbling a few times as his hold on me remained unrelenting.

“Kael… please,” I whispered as we approached the elevator. 

He ignored me completely, his eyes focused ahead as the elevator doors slid shut. The silence was suffocating, the mirrored walls reflecting just how small I looked next to him—how insignificant. My heart pounded, my thoughts racing as I desperately searched for a way to break free. I thought about Luca, wondering if he’d even care that I was gone. Would he just move on with Indie like it was nothing?

The elevator chimed, and we stepped out onto the top floor. Kael pulled me along until we reached the double doors of the penthouse suite. With a shove, he pushed them open, revealing a lavish room fit for a king. But my eyes were glued to the massive bed at the center, the implications hitting me like a punch to the gut.

“Kael… I need some space,” I managed to whisper, my voice trembling. “I can’t stay with you like this.”

He turned to me then, his expression one of cold amusement. “Space? Do you think you deserve anything?” His eyes raked over me, making me feel small, insignificant. “You’re nothing more than a weak little girl who couldn’t possibly satisfy a man like me."

His words stung, but I couldn’t find the strength to argue. I felt his gaze linger on my dress—a shimmering silver gown that hugged my figure with a low neckline that revealed the curve of my bosom. The gown had once made me feel elegant, but now, under his scrutiny, it felt like it was too exposing.

I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears. His words cut deep, but what could I do? He was Kael—the most powerful man I’d ever known, and I was just… me.

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a cruel whisper. “You’re not even close to what I need. You’re fragile, easily broken. Do you honestly think you can keep up with my needs? My desires?”

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. All I wanted was to escape, but there was no way out. I thought of Luca again, imagining how different things would be if I had just played my role and ended up as his Luna. But Kael’s presence forced those thoughts aside. He was right in front of me now, his eyes gleaming with that same possessive obsession.

His grip tightened on my arm as he took a step back. “Strip,” he commanded, the word heavy with authority.

I stared at him, wide-eyed, hoping he was bluffing. But there was no mercy in his expression, no sign that he would let me off the hook.

“Kael… please,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “You can’t—”

He cut me off with a menacing look, his eyes narrowing. “You’ll do as you’re told, Aria. You belong to me, and I get what I want. Now, strip.”

I felt sick, every nerve in my body screaming at me to run, but I couldn’t move. The fear was paralyzing, suffocating me.

When I hesitated, his eyes darkened with impatience. “Don’t make me ask again,” he warned, his voice carrying a threat that sent chills down my spine.

A sob caught in my throat as I slowly reached for the zipper at the back of my dress. My hands shook uncontrollably as I tried to pull it down to reveal my black lacy underwear. The humiliation was unbearable, but I knew that defying him would only make things worse. I hated myself for being so weak, for giving in to him, but what choice did I have?

Kael watched me with satisfaction, his eyes never leaving me as I struggled to obey. “Pathetic,” he muttered, almost to himself, as if I were a disappointment he had expected all along.

The air grew tense as Kael’s gaze hardened. Before I could process what was happening, he was on me, his lips crashing into mine with brutal force. It wasn’t a kiss of passion or affection—it was a kiss meant to dominate, to remind me of my place. I gasped, struggling against him, but his hold on me was too strong. His hand tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, as if I had any say in the matter. His lips moved against mine, rough and unyielding, leaving me no room to breathe or think.

Tears blurred my vision as I tried to push him away, but it was useless. His grip only tightened, his kiss growing more demanding, more possessive. It was as if he wanted to erase any trace of Luca from my mind, to mark me as his in a way that I couldn’t ignore.

Finally, Kael pulled away, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction as he watched me gasp for air. “You’ll do exactly what I say, Aria,” he growled, his voice low and menacing. “You’re mine now. Don’t forget it.”