KIARA'S POV
I nervously fidgeted with the hem of my sweater as I sat across from the alpha’s imposing desk. The room was luxurious, filled with leather chairs and mahogany bookshelves, a stark contrast to the humble factory I'd worked at before. I swallowed hard and tried not to be intimidated by the sheer wealth of the man in front of me.
I had grown up knowing just my mother. My father had left us when I was just five years old, leaving us to fend for ourselves. My mother worked hard to provide for us, and I had always known that we didn't have much, but we are happy.
I was a young lady who believed in hard work, so when the time came for me to begin working, I worked hard, putting in all my best, and preparing for college.
But all that changed when my Mother fell ill. Lydia, my Mother, had fallen off due to an accident in the marketplace and had since suffered Paralysis.
I had worked day and Night trying hard so I could fend for my Mother, and myself. Being an only child, and a breadwinner was no easy feat, and that was why I decided to look for an extra job that could pay more.
And so that I could fend for myself.
“Mom, I’m going for an interview at Kalin Corp, today. Pray to the moon goddess that I get a job there, they’ve got very good salary bonuses for even Cleaners.” I said as I cleaned my mother's body.
“But… would..you be…okay..over.there? I..heard…They aren’t..nice…in..that..place?” My mother stuttered, and I smiled at her.
“Let’s be hopeful Mother. If I do get the Job, I can save up and take you for the treatment that could make you walk again. I would love to see you back on your feet.” I said and my mother broke into a slow wide smile.
I wiped the tears falling from my eyes, as I freshened up for her interview. My mother had lost her ability to walk, and it affected her speech, making her speech a bit more slurry.
I sighed and threw on the most decent dress I had, a cloth that accentuated my bodily curves. The beautiful specimen I was to look upon, yet nobody saw through it.
I was one of the minority who lived on barely bread and Water.
“One day I’ll be rich. And I’ll find my mate and he’ll be rich.” I said to my Mother every morning, pursuing the affirmative
The fact is that I was the epitome of Beauty, hard work, and brains and I believe that will take me a long way even though I'm from a poor background.
But I had no way to show it. I hadn’t finished High school, ever since my Mother fell ill, and I had lost the chance to become the person I had wanted to become.
I stared at my shoes, my mind coming back to the present, where I sat in the reception at Kalin Corps, waiting for my name to be called.
“Kiara Stardust?” The secretary called and I looked up hurriedly.
“That’s me,” I said.
“It's your turn to see the President.” The secretary said and I nervously stood up and entered the Office.
“Good Morning, Alpha.” I greeted and he just looked up and stared at me.
He stared at me for a while and I was able to read his expression like something about me seemed to worry him, his facial expression says it all.
“Please sit.” He motioned to me to sit across from him and I did. I looked nervous, tapping my knee and looking around.
"How can someone be so unsure of herself?" He said to me as if he was getting Irritated.
I wanted to say something but he cut me off.
"So, Miss Stardust, why do you think you're qualified for this position as a cleaner at North Hill Corp?" His voice was smooth, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes that made me wonder if l was being made fun of.
"Um, well, Mr. Dawson, I'm a hard worker. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to support my mother." I tried to keep my voice level, I couldn't ignore the way my mind and body was reacting.
My own wolf was stirring as well, but I tried to ignore it, but it was nagging at me.
What exactly was my wolf trying to do? Why was it so anxious?
I looked around and I could feel my cheeks become hot with discomfort. Something about this man irked and excited me.
But I couldn’t put a finger on it.
"Interesting," The young man replied, leaning back in his chair and he stared at my face intently.
BRYANT'S POV
I knew what the problem was.
Because I could feel it too. The discomfort is too obvious.
“Would you like me to put on the AC? You’re sweating.” I asked and she shook her head.
“No, no. There’s no need. I’m fine, President Bryant.” She said and I nodded softly.
There's something strange and different about this lady among all the females I have met.
She felt Ominous.
Like she had come to destroy the balance of my life.
I can feel it.
U could no longer control my wolf.
Damn it, I sensed it as soon as she stepped into the building, and into my office.
The scent of my mate. This poor, unsophisticated thing was my mate.
And I had no plan to keep her as my mate.
Not when I had Anna.
My wolf took control and In a low growl, he uttered "Mate."
As I struggled with my thoughts, and I felt ashamed that I couldn't keep my wolf calm not to split out that word just then the door to my office opened and my father, Kalin Edward, walked in. He was a man of upright principles, with a strong sense of honor and duty.
He had always been a source of guidance and support for me, and I knew that my father would have some wisdom to offer me in this difficult situation.
"What's going on here?" My father asked, looking between me and Kiara.
I hesitated for a moment before responding. "Kiara is my mate," I said softly. "But I can't be with her. I made a promise to Anna."
My father frowned, looking at me sternly. "Bryant, you know that rejecting your mate is a serious matter. You can't just do it because of a promise you made to someone else."
I felt a surge of frustration rising within me. I had always respected my father's opinion, but in this case, I felt that he was being unfair. "But I love Anna," I said firmly. "I can't just abandon her for someone else."
My father raised an eyebrow. "Love is a powerful thing, but it's not everything. You need to consider the consequences of your actions. There are plenty of men who have rejected their mates and ended up bankrupt or miserable because they weren't with the one they were meant to be with."
I shook my head. "I won't end up like them. I won't marry anyone else but Anna."
I said firmly to my Dad before drifting my eyes to the poor thing the moon goddess gave me as a mate. I gave her a stern look and she quickly lowered her head. I'm glad that she is here listening as I discuss with my father at least now she will know my true intentions towards her and that I don't plan on rejecting her because I have a woman I'm deeply in love with even though she is not my mate Anna is the woman I want to marry.
My father sighed, looking at me with a mix of concern and disappointment. "Bryant, you're being stubborn. You need to think this through. You can't just throw away a potential mate because of a promise you made to someone else."
I felt my anger rising. I didn't want to hear any more of my father's lectures. I had made up my mind and I wasn't going to change it. "I appreciate your concern, Father," I said icily. "But this is my decision to make. I won't marry Kiara, and that's final."
My father looked at me sadly, as if he couldn't believe his son was being so stubborn. "Very well," he said. "But know that I will always be here for you, no matter what happens."
After my father left I turned to face Kiara and with no emotions in my eyes, I said to her. "Get out," he said finally, his voice low and angry.
She looked at me, hurt and disbelief etched on her face. "What? Bryant, please, we can talk about this-"
"I said get out!" I roared, standing up from my desk. "I don't want to see you again."
She flinched hard at how harsh I was to her, she was staring at me with disbelief because I had seemed a bit nicer before.
With a trembling body and moist eyes, she walked out of the office.
She wouldn’t be getting the job nor will I take her as my mate.
BRYANT'S POVI stared angrily as Kiara flinched in dear. She irritated me. And my father just had to come and make me feel even worse.I pranced around the office, my mind dispersed. My wolf wanted to mark Kiara there and then but I remembered the promise I made to Anna.Anna Morris. She is my Fiance.A woman of Class, beautiful, intelligent, and someone who was goal driven. Kiara was nothing like her.And I could never trade her for Kiara either, just because of some dumb stupid mate bond thing.Never.Urgh, I can’t take anymore of this suspense. I have to put a call through to Anna.I called her line, both Personal, and Office, but she was picking none of them. I sighed in frustration.Dad was already angry at the fact that I chose to reject my mate, and now Anna was not even picking up my calls.Anna called back immediately some minutes later and I picked it up on the first ring.“Hi, my love. I need to talk to you urgently.” I said and she sighed"What's wrong, Bryant? I’m extreme
POV: Kiara Stardust. I sat on the pavement across the street, my heart sunken. All my hope for a better life was gone within the space of minutes. Why did the moon goddess have to make the Alpha my mate? I thought that dreaming of Cinderella's life was going to help me. I believe in getting married to a prince and living happily ever after. But here I was, my life tumbling down, going in circles. I sighed and started to walk towards my second workplace, a small diner. “Good evening, Mr. Liam.” I greeted the manager as I entered the diner. He acknowledged my greetings with a nod. I walked into the changing room and changed into the diner shirt with an apron. “Nicole! Table four needs a waitress.” I heard as I walked out of the changing room. “ "Got it!” I said as I walked to the table. “Good evening, Sir and Ma’am. Welcome to Happy stomachs diner. What will you be ordering?” I said as politely as I could. Both of them, Male and Female, picked up the menu at once. They looked to
BRYANT'S POVI was sitting in my office, going over some paperwork when Anna walked in. I could tell from the look on her face that she had something important to tell me.“Babe! When did you get here?” I asked as she walked in. I hugged her and kissed her.Her face looked sour."What's going on?" I asked, setting aside the papers."I think I have a solution to our problem," Anna said, sitting down across from me."What problem?" I asked, feeling confused."The problem of you needing to get married," she clarified. "I think I have a solution that will work for everyone.”I raised an eyebrow, curious about what she had in mind. "The only solution is for you to come and let's get married, Anna. If that’s not the solution you have, I’m not listening to you" I said and went back to staring at my paperwork.“Just hear me out, first, yeah?” Anna said and I stared at her and sighed.“What is your solution, Anna?” I asked and she sighedAnna took a deep breath before speaking. "I think you sh
KIARA'S POV.I woke up in my room, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. Today was the day I would see Bryant and Anna again. As much as I hated the thought of being in the same room as them, I couldn't avoid it. As his fated mate, I was expected to attend all the pack meetings and events.It had been Three weeks since Bryant brought me to his house to stay with him, as some contract wife.Contract wife my feet. I was more like a slave. Everyone here looked down on me and treated me like I was nobody, even the maids.The worst was Bryant and his Fiancee, Anna Morris.Bryant and Anna had been together for years, and their engagement had been announced not long after I had come into the picture.I knew it wasn't right, but I couldn't help the feelings I had for Bryant. The connection between us was undeniable, but it seemed that Anna had made it her mission to make me feel worthless and unwanted.Bryant might be my mate, but his heart and feelings belonged only to Anna, and Anna made s
BRYANT POV I pushed a strand of hair that had fallen off of my fated mate's face, my entire body was burning up and her breathing was ragged. I turned over to the family doctor, the distress in my voice impossible to hide."Is she going to be okay?"I asked him and then he nodded that showing me it's not a terminal illness, "...just a small fever with enough rest and her taking the drugs that I have prescribed she'll be fine," he added before he left. The more I was looking at my mate the more I could feel the fury inside of me burning like a freshly lit fire that was being fed with Cole immensely, I remained in the bedroom with her for some time slowly calming myself down because I knew that if I stepped out and see my cousin Oscar I was going to do something that he was definitely going to regret.How dare he touch what belongs to me?As my fingers tightened up into a shaking fist I wondered if my cousin had any idea how lucky he was because if he had been able to succeed with hi
BRYANT POV Even though my foolish cousin was trying to appear knuckle and I could see the fear that was masquerading as nonchalance in his eyes as he was slowly backing away from me then he was looking at my grandma and father possibly for protection for what was definitely coming to him. "I really don't know what he's talking about, you all have to believe me…""Of course, we believe you!" my grandma said, rushing to stand in front of him and spreading her hands out protectively."How can you even think of hurting your cousin over the words of a wench? that's just preposterous!" I gritted my teeth and then I looked over to my father hoping for some reason from him.But he just crossed his hands and told me that my cousin was the kind of guy that could get any woman he wanted so I didn't make any sense that he would be trying to force himself on anyone. My blood pressure shot up when I heard this and it was even worse when my grandma added in."Yes my grandson is not such a perver
Kiara povI was recovering slowly and when I was able to stand on my feet even though it was a little shaky my mate told me that his family wanted to see me and my heart was already thumping nervously from that sentence alone.He could see how my face felt pale and the sunken my cheeks went, but he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and told me that nothing was going to happen to me and I only have to give the testimony of what had happened that night.His words gave me a bit of strength but just like I had expected the words of a woman that was basically regarded as a servant in the household meant little to nothing compared to a favored child, Bryant's grandma was constantly interrupting me throughout my story asking irrelevant and irritating questions."Are you sure that you really saw my grandson?" "This is ridiculous, why did you go and hide in the basement instead of reporting it immediately?" "How are we not even sure that you are not faking your fever as well?" When I
Kiara pov It wasn't just the question that he asked that took my breath away but the way he asked it with his eyes glazed and raking all over my body as if he wanted to feast on me.Most of the day I will feel like he was actually looking at me but the moment I turned his eyes were whisked in another direction.Perhaps it was just my imagination I had told myself, but I could see those eyes love glinting against the moonlight as he asked me; "Then why don't you invite me to sleep with you?"I was about to blush and bury myself in my sheets but then I asked myself how long I was going to keep running away from the feelings that I obviously had for this man?Even if the difference between me and Anna were miles apart and I was probably not his ideal woman if also this condition so that we had was only for a short while I should at least take advantage of the time soon as my fingers sunk into the duvet and my eyes traveled over to him I mumbled a response.Confused, he sits upright on t