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 me like a couple, but I don’t really care.
“Um, I want the Chicken rice, with Chicken, babe.” The girl said.
“You heard that right? As for me, I want Beef soup with white Rice. A bottle of wine to go please.” He said.
“Great choice. I’ll be right back with your order.” I said and walked to the counter. “Table four, A plate of chicken rice with chicken, and another plate of White rice with Beef soup,” I said to one of the counter waitresses and waited for the food to arrive in the tray. It didn’t take so long, the waitress placed the tray of food.
I picked them up and started to walk when I bumped mistakenly into a sophisticated looking lady. Both of us crumbled, to the floor, and the food poured on the lady’s body.
“What the fuck?!” The lady cried in anger. “I am so sorry, ma’am. It was an accident. I didn’t mean to.” I said hurriedly, as I tried to remove crumbs of food from her body. Everybody at the diner was staring at us both. Trust me, to always make a mess of myself.
“What in the world is going on here?” I heard the manager say from the counter. Oh shit. I’m about to be fired from the job too. Why does it always have to be this way? My clumsiness always puts me in trouble.
“Your employee bumped into me and poured me food. Do you know how expensive this gown is?” The lady said angrily.
“I apologize, Miss. I didn’t mean to bump into you. I didn’t see you coming. I’m sorry.” I said and bent my head trying to show my remorse.
“Sorry? You’re sorry? Sorry doesn’t cut it, bitch. You just stained my $2000 dress, and you tell me you’re sorry. Do you know how hard it took me to get the limited edition of this dress? You peasants, children of poor people, you do not know your place.” She spat with spite. Tears filled my eyes. Her words were not exactly wrong. My family was a poor one, and that was the reason I couldn’t complete College. But having it rubbed in my face hurt more than ever. I wiped my tears and bowed my head again.
“I’m sorry, Miss. I apologize.” I said with my head bowed.
“Stop saying sorry, Dammit!” She said angrily and raised her hands to hit my face.
She hit me across the face twice and I bowed my head, swallowing down the embarrassment and anger that was brewing inside of me.
It wasn’t the first time I was being humiliated. My tears started to fall, but I said nothing, my head still bowed.
She raised her hand to hit me again as if the first and second weren't enough and I remained still waiting to feel the impact of her hand on my face again when the unexpected happened.
“Do not hit her again.” I heard a low, but hard voice growl angrily and I heard gasps from the people in the restaurant.
“Who the fuck-” The lady whirled around and paused, gasping.
“Alpha Bryant.” I heard and raised my head.
What in the moon goddess’s name was he doing here? And how did he know where I walked?
“You, Miss Kiara. We need to talk. Now.” He said motioning for me.
“Me?” I asked, with my eyebrows raised. He had chased me out of his office because I was his mate and he had someone else in mind, something I had no control over.
“Is there anybody else bearing Kiara in this restaurant? Of course, it's you. Now, in the car.” He said and I nodded slowly.
What does he want?
“It's here,” I said as the Driver arrived in my neighbourhood.
“You live.. here?” Bryant said as soon as he stepped down, wrinkling his nose.
Sure enough, where I lived was disgusting as hell, but I had no control over it.
"What were you doing at my workplace, Alpha? Why do you want to see me?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"I need to talk to you," Bryant said, his tone serious. "Can I come in?"
I hesitated for a moment before stepping aside to let him in. As he walked past me, I could feel the tension in the air. He was clearly uncomfortable in my home, and I couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
Bryant looked around, taking in the small space with a critical eye. "This is where you live?" he asked, his voice laced with disgust.
I could feel my cheeks turning red with embarrassment. "Yes, I know it's not much, but it's home," I said, trying to defend myself.
Bryant didn't say anything, and the silence was deafening. Finally, he turned to face me. "I need your help, Kiara."
I was taken aback by his words. I had heard about the Alpha’s personality. He was someone who took what he wanted by force, without caring about who owned it. He was not one to ask for help. "What do you need?"
"I need you to marry me," he said, his tone business-like.
I was shocked by his proposal. "What? Why? You literally threw me out the moment you discovered that I was your mate. What's with the sudden proposal?" I asked, and folded my hands.
He might be the richest man in Northill, but he was a human like I was.
And I was not going to let myself be thrown around by him. Not while I still have my pride.
Bryant sighed. "My father is pressuring me to get married, now that I have found my mate. Anna doesn’t want to get married now, and I don't have any other options. Except you." He said and I glared at him.
“I am now your option, Alpha?” I asked and he stared at me.
I felt a pang in my chest at his words. I knew that I was his fated mate, but to hear him say that he didn't want to marry me was a hard pill to swallow.
"What do you mean, except me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I mean that I want to propose a contract marriage between us," he explained. "It will only be for five months, and we will both benefit from it. I'll get my father off my back and inherit what I need to inherit, and you'll get the financial stability you need to take care of your mother."
I gave him a hard look.
A contract marriage with the man who is supposed to be my mate? Not a chance.
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
Kiara pov"What's going on here?"My head immediately fell with shame and fear when I heard the alpha's booming voice. I was sure that he was angry and I was going to be scolded by him, maybe saying something like why would I neglect my work just because I was sick and allowed off my duty for sometime.I clenched my fingers together and I waited for him to start scolding me but strangely enough, he stood in front of the other maid."I believe that I asked a question just now so why am I not getting a response from you at all?!"His voice rose and I felt shivers running down my spine even though he wasn't looking at me.The other maid, unlike me, looked very confident as she shot her chest."Alpha Bryant, you won't believe the retarded behavior of this maid here…" she said gesturing towards me then she told her own version of the story that painted me out awfully.I was about to defend myself but I just bit my bottom lip and decided to keep my mouth shut.First, it was the rape inciden
Bryant pov"Alpha Bryant your father wishes to see you,"I was giving Kiara her morning prescription when I got a call from my father, without turning to look at the maid, I told her that I was busy right now and I would see my father later, however, she pressed that it was very important that I see him immediately.With a very heavy sigh, I finally turned to look at the servant."Are you sure that this cannot wait at all?"Suddenly I felt the pressure of Kiara's hand on my shoulder and it immediately sent shivers across my entire body even though I tried to maintain an expressionless face while looking back at her."I think you should respond to your father, it sounds important…"I sighed again."Well make sure you take all of your medicine, I'm going to check when I come back."She nodded with a smile that changed the pacing of my heart for a second and I quickly looked away from her and walked towards the maid who lead me to my father, sitting cross-legged and impatiently as well.