Unreal

Arabella’s POV
My world fell out from beneath me. Who did Alpha Luciano think he was? That he could pick me up and discard me whenever he pleased. That I was actually his property?
I shook with anger but I refused to give him the pleasure of getting a reaction out of me.
“Of course, Alpha Luciano.”
And Alec. He was just like Alpha Luciano to think a life could be bartered for. To collect me like I was a shoe or car to be acquired. I like that so I’ll just take it to thank you.
I looked at the seemingly guileless fiance who had poisoned the entire harem quarter, looked at his uncle who looked at me like I was a stain to be purged away, and then I looked at my supposed new owner and stepped towards him.
It didn’t matter. As long as I made enough money to escape none of this would matter. It would be even easier to escape from Alec than Alpha Luciano.
I had to plant the device now. I would not get another chance to enter this room again without being caught on camera as the situation with Tina had proven.
So as I moved towards Alec, I slipped my hand into my pocket and tapped the device twice to activate it and let it lie in the centre of my palm ready to be dropped.
Then I deliberately tripped myself as I landed on the floor, I gripped one of the chairs to keep myself standing then slipped one hand underneath the chair to place the device which adhered to the surface immediately.
“Arabella, are you alright?” Alec crossed the space between us and then lifted me to my feet.
“Yes, I am.”
Did they notice what I did? Did anybody?
Alec looked at me over seemingly concerned.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Alec tucked me under his arm like he could protect me from all the woes of the world. “Thank you for the generous gift, Luciano. We’ll be on our way now.” Alec said, taking my hand.
I didn’t give a backwards glance at Alpha Luciano as I left.
********
Alec escorted me to his room.
My new owner, it was so unreal.
These men were unreal. Did Luciano really just barter me off like that?
Alec’s room was way larger than my room at the harem and more opulently decorated than mine but I barely took note of anything. What did Alec want from me now?
“Make yourself at home, at least until we get to my home, you’ll love it there. We are leaving once the wedding is completed.”
Make myself home? As though I had a choice.
I said nothing. Just sat at the edge of the bed gathering my thoughts.
“Why are you so quiet? Is it so unbelievable that Luciano would let you go? I thought he’d put up more of a fight too but maybe he really plans to stay loyal to my cousin. Stranger things have happened.”
I couldn’t hold myself back anymore.
“Why are you talking as though we are friends? Initially, when we met you acted like we were friends. I even thought you were different from him. But you are worse. At least Alpha Luciano doesn’t pretend to be what he is not.”
Alec looked taken aback. He bent and placed himself at my eye level.
“Arabella, surely that isn’t how you view me. I care about you. That’s why I made him give you to me. You will be freer with me. I will ensure you get the best care you deserve, I won’t keep you locked up with a slew of other women. It’ll just be us. I know you are attracted to me as well.”
Alec leaned in and kissed me.
******”
Alpha Luciano’s POV
Giving her away was hard. At a point, it felt too hard that was all I could do to not go after her immediately.
I didn’t care about Arabella. I really didn’t.
“Well, now that is sorted out.” Uncle Tommaso stood up. “Let me get going.”
When he left the room, just Anastasia and I were left.
“So you think I look like a dressed-up cartoon.”
Anastasia broke the silence looking equal parts amused and upset.
I paused. Where had she heard… “You were listening in on our conversation?”
“Yes.” She looked at me. I stood up and strode over to her chair before leaning down towards her making her cringe away from the dark look on my face.
“You are to never do that again. I have killed people for less, Anastasia. Future mate or not, you cannot invade my privacy with hefty repercussions.”
Anastasia stopped cringing back and it seemed like she had become a different person. “Fine but what about me? Do I get to set rules as well? Easy. I will be the only woman you touch.”
I blinked. Was she legitimately serious? Did she really think she could order me around? Who did she think she was?
“You don’t know what you are asking for. You will be the Luna of this pack and the mother of my children. Be content with that. That might be all you can get.”
“But it’s not going to be enough for me. I’ve decided Luciano that I want all of you.”
She crossed the distance between us and kissed my lips. She didn’t kiss like someone who was just learning how to do so. She took charge like she had done this hundred of times. Naturally, I was inclined to show her who was boss so I kissed her back.
The fact that for the past two days, I hadn’t touched anyone while I had been carefully considering the issue and waiting for an update from Mikah among other things could have contributed to the intensity of my response.
In seconds, Anastasia was spotted on my office desk, her hands ripping at the buttons on my shirt, her lips locked onto mine while I pushed the skirt of her gown up. Well, well, it would seem my future mate was a mind underneath the soft and doll-like exterior. With her hands on me, I could almost forget I had given away Arabella.
Then just as we were getting to the good stuff, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I paused.
“Luciano?” Anastasia’s voice was husky with pent-up passion, her lips red and swollen from our kisses, her blond hair mussed and everywhere.
“Nothing.” I leaned in and kissed her harder. So hard that I tasted blood. She moaned against me as I inserted my third finger inside her.
“Please. I need… I want you.” She came apart pushing against me. I was painfully hard, I needed to be inside her now.
I felt a tug in my chest. I pulled away from Anastasia fully now. What was this feeling? My wolf was restless. What was going on? I needed to go somewhere.
“Please excuse me, Ana.” I walked out of the office. I heard Anastasia’s cry of outrage vaguely but I was already moving.
Where did my wolf want to go? I heard Anastasia following behind me. I couldn’t blame her, if I had been a second away from the best sex of my lifetime – yes I am that good – and the person pulled away to go somewhere, I would want to know where the person was going.
I found myself in the guest wing of the pack house. This was where Anastasia’s family was situated at. I felt a chill go down my spine. Surely I wasn’t here because of Arabella. Surely our mate bond hadn’t grown strong enough that we could draw ourselves to each other. Surely… I scented blood. Arabella’s and someone else’s to be precise. I ran.
I should never have let her go. If he’d harmed a hair on her head, I would–
I reached the door and pushed it open.
Arabella stood over Alec’s dead body.