Chapter 4

♡Arielle’s POV♡

‘His wife?! He wants me, a woman he has never met before, to be his wife?!’

I gaped at him, waiting for him to tell me that that was his attempt at a joke to break the thick tension in the room but his face remained serious.

‘Why would he want me, a stranger, to be his wife? Does he suspect that I’m an omega?’ I shuddered at that thought and threw it away. If he knew I was, he wouldn’t be asking me; he would be commanding me. I wouldn’t have a choice even if I didn’t want to.

“You want me to be your wife?” I broke the prolonged silence, repeating his statement so he could hear the absurdity of it from my mouth if he couldn’t in his.

“Yes. I want you to be my contract wife.” He replied, his voice as serious as it was the first time.

‘What kind of sick game is this?’ I glared at him. That was the only reason he would ask me that. It was a cruel joke to mock my predicament.

Typical Alpha behaviour, turning anything that didn’t affect them into a joke. He knew I was desperate for money, and he decided to amuse himself, getting my hopes high and crushing them under his feet. Sadistic beast.

“Excuse me, but I do not have time for any crazy game you’re trying to play. Thank you for saving me, but I’m out of here.” I said, dropping the lamp on the chair. I rose to my feet and stormed towards the door.

“I’ll pay you ten million dollars.” He said, and I stopped dead in my tracks. Slowly, I turned to him as his words ran through my head. Ten million dollars. Ten million dollars!

“Did you say ten million dollars?” I asked, hoping I heard correctly.

“Yes,” he nodded and crossed his legs. “I’ll pay you ten million dollars if you agree to be my contract bride for five years. Five million immediately you sign the contract, and the other half and a house in whichever city you want once it comes to an end.”

“So you’re asking me, a woman that you met just last night and who you have talked to for just a few minutes, to enter a contract marriage with you? Why? You’re an Alpha, right? I’m sure you can have any woman of your social class be your fake bride, and they would be delighted. So why me?” I shot my questions at him, sceptical of the entire scenario.

The alpha was offering me ten million dollars to be his fake bride for five years. That amount of money could change my family’s life forever. It was too good to be true, which made me completely suspicious about it. Why me, a woman he just met? I was sure he could get almost any girl he wanted; he was rich and handsome after all, so why me?

“You’re precisely what I need—a stranger, someone who isn’t close to me in any way. It would be easier to keep the relationship purely business and reduce the risk of emotional entanglement.” He explained, and I saw the sense in it.

It would be easier to keep the relationship formal with someone he wasn’t close to than with someone familiar.

“But isn’t asking a woman you met in less than twelve hours too reckless? How do you know I would be a good pretend wife? What if I ruin things for you?” I crossed my hands over my chest.

“Believe me, I’m sure you would make a great wife.” His voice turned gentle and soft, and the intensity of the sincerity in his green eyes sent butterflies I never knew I had fluttering in my stomach.

“So what do you say? Are you in or out?” He asked, standing up and stretching out his hand to me, and I stared at it like it was poison.

‘Ten million just to be married to him for five years? Ten million would change my life forever. I could fly mom to a better hospital in another Alpha-less city and give her the best treatment. In fact, the three of us could move from this deadbeat city to a far better one. Ephraim wasn’t under any Alphas’ rule, and I heard it was far better than Shadowmere, although a bit more expensive, but with just one million, I’m sure we’ll be able to live comfortably. We would pay off all our debt, and Brielle and I could start a business and invest the money to generate more income. We won’t have to suffer anymore if I marry—’

My train of thoughts came to a sudden halt at the word marry, and a sickening feeling filled my stomach.

‘What am I thinking?! Marrying an Alpha?! Am I mad?! How can I be thinking such rubbish?! After all the warnings Mom had given me, I was being swayed by money. As if talking to an Alpha wasn’t bad enough, I was considering marrying him. What is wrong with me? Even though it was a contract marriage, there was no way we wouldn’t have sex.’

My eyes widened at the thought of him touching me. And what shocked me more was that a delusional part of me wanted him to. My sudden perverted nature startled me. Why was I suddenly feeling that way for a stranger? Worse, an Alpha.

It was his scent. I blamed his scent for driving me crazy. That and his good looks. The moon goddess had definitely favoured him.

The alpha had blonde, almost white hair tied in a low, messy bun, striking green eyes that looked like emeralds, and showed his strength. He was tall, and beneath his simple shirt and pants, he had a muscular build that made him intimidating and dominating yet also added to his rogue charm.

I closed my eyes and tried to get my thoughts together and on the right track. I couldn’t get married to an Alpha, contract or no contract. I couldn’t risk my family secrets being exposed because of money, no matter how life-changing the amount was. Money would come another way.

“Have you gotten an answer now?” He asked, his voice sounding way too close for comfort, and his powerful scent hit me stronger, weakening my knees. I opened my eyes to see him standing before me, and I took a small step back.

‘Wasn’t he sitting on the couch some seconds ago? How did he get here without my knowing? Oh right, stealth is one of an alpha’s abilities.’

“Thank you for your help and offer, but I decline.” I said, trying not to sound pained by my refusal and shaken by his scent. The words were like poison in my mouth as I realised I was saying farewell to ten million dollars.

‘It’s not worth it. Ten million isn’t worth entangling myself with an Alpha.’ I tried comforting myself.

“Is that so?” His lips curled to a small smile, like he knew how I was feeling. I hated it.

“Yes, if that’s all, please excuse me.” I spun on my heels and rushed towards the door.

“Wait, aren’t you going to take your purse?” He said, and I stopped before I touched the doorknob.

‘My purse?’ I looked at my right shoulder, where I expected my purse to be hanging, but it wasn’t there.

“Where is it?” I turned back to him, frowning at his smile had grown wider, and he nudged to the bedside table where my little worn-out black purse sat on it.

Jutting my chin up and donning a cool, placid mood, I swept past him, making sure there was a huge gap between both of us. His eyes remained on me, amusement gleaming in them, and I ignored him. I wasn’t going to let him flip my senses upside down with his annoyingly alluring scent or good looks.

After what seemed like an hour of walking, I reached the bedside table and picked up my purse. I slung it over my shoulder; his scent increased in intensity, and I clenched my fist, trying to quench the rebellious flame dancing through my bones.

‘He’s right behind me.’ I gritted my teeth and turned to face him, giving him a harsh glare.

“What!” I snapped. I hated how close he was to me, how my body flushed with heat and hunger for him at his alpha pheromones. Damn my omega genes.

‘Why am I affected by him? Even though I hadn’t taken my pills since yesterday, my enchanted necklace is supposed to keep me protected, so why? I need to talk to Agnes.’

“You’re behaving skittish and jumpy when I didn’t do anything to hurt you.” He frowned; his eyes studied me, and I wanted to shrink back and hide, but I stood my ground. Never show an alpha fear; they feed on it.

“Why wouldn’t I? Last night, I was drugged by my boss, who is also my mom’s friend. I woke up in a strange room and met a man I had never met before who was asking me to be his contract bride.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

“There’s something else, and I’m curious to know what it is.” He brought his face closer to my neck and took a deep breath.

My grip tightened on my purse, my heart banged against my ribs, and I battled with the urge to whine and curl up to his chest.

‘He doesn’t know. He doesn’t know. There’s no way he would know.’ I chanted in my head.

“There’s something about you, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“If this is a ploy to make me accept your proposal, you’re wasting your time. I won’t marry you.” I muttered, managing not to sound as breathless as I felt.

The alpha’s eyes brightened, and his lips curled to the sexiest of smiles, making his already devilishly handsome look look even more devilishly handsome.

“We’ll see about that.”

He stuck his hand inside his trousers’ pocket, pulling out a small business card and holding it out to me. “Here’s my business card; call me when you change your mind.”

“I guarantee you, I won’t.” I huffed and managed to wiggle out of the tight spot he had trapped me in without touching him, and I stomped to the door.

“Wait, I haven’t gotten your name.” He called out to me.

“It’s none of your business.” I ran out of the room, slammed the door shut, and made my way through the hall.

My heart spiked up, my legs turned heavy, begging me to stop, my skin burned, and I trembled. I swayed to and fro and almost crumbled onto my knees. Everything in me was begging me to go back to him. As if. Damn my omega genes. Damn his alpha genes. Damn him for being handsome and irresistible too.

‘The sky would turn purple and fall to the earth before I, Arielle Winston, became the Alpha’s contract bride.’