BRYANT'S POV
I 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 sighed
Anna took a deep breath before speaking. "I think you should marry Kiara."
I was taken aback by her words. "What? Why would I marry Kiara? In the first place, how did you know about her?” I asked.
“Good question. Why didn’t you tell me about her? I had to hear from your Dad that you found your mate today and her name is Kiara Stardust.” She pouted and I sighed.
“Listen, babe. I didn’t want to bother you with unimportant things. Kiara is the least of our problems. We already decided to abandon each other’s mate if we ever found them.” I said and she sighed.
"Think about it," Anna said, leaning forward. "Kiara is your fated mate, and you know that you can't marry me. At least not now. But you need to get married to please your father and to fulfill your responsibilities as the future Alpha, and to get your grandmother's assets. A contract marriage with Kiara would solve both problems."
I shook my head, feeling hesitant about the idea. "I don't know, Anna. A contract marriage seems like a big risk."
Anna sighed, looking frustrated. "Bryant, we've been over this. You can't marry me yet, at least for the next five months. And you can't keep putting it off. A contract marriage with Kiara would not harm us both in any way. No one needs to know about it, and it's only for five months. After that, you can go your separate ways. Except you’re scared that the Mate bond is something that can come between us both."
I could tell that Anna had thought this through and had a solid plan. But the idea of marrying someone who wasn't my true love still didn't sit right with me.
"What about Kiara?" I asked, feeling guilty. "How will this affect her?"
Anna shrugged. "Kiara needs money to take care of her mother, and you can provide that for her. Plus, she's your fated mate. It's not like you're marrying a stranger."
“What do you mean her sick mother, how much do you know?” I asked and she shrugged.
“What I need to know. Go to her and present it to her, I’m sure, she’d take it without thinking twice.” Anna said and I sighed.
I have no idea where Anna is going with this, but maybe it was worth the trial.
Kiara stared at me, with cold eyes.
I should have known that it was going to be impossible to convince her.
“Well what do you say?” I asked, I couldn’t stand the stench in the room. The apartment was too tiny. How could a human live and survive in here?
“Nothing. I have to think about it.” She said,
“There’s nothing to think about. This offer won’t pass tonight. If you say yes, I would have your mother airlifted to the Medical center where she’d have immediate surgery. And you’d live in my house. With allowances.” I said and she sighed, rubbing her temple tiredly.
“Will you really take care of my mother, immediately, Alpha?” She asked.
I brought out my phone and dialed my secretary’s number. “Prepare a helicopter for me. There's someone that needs to be airlifted to a medical center now.” I said and Kiara stared at me and sighed.
“Fine…" She said and started to walk in.
“First you need to sign this,” I said, holding out an envelope out to her.
“You can’t wear makeup, and you won’t live in the main house. This marriage is just a sham, just because I need to get the board to accept my proposal.” I said and she gave me a look.
“Where do I sign?” She asked, and my heart dropped.
She didn’t even look the least bit sad or embarrassed. Had she gotten over the fact that I chose to be with someone else? Or did she also have someone in mind?
“Here. Can I go pack my few things up, now, Alpha Bryant?” She said and I nodded.
Urgh, how was I going to deal with this thing for five months?
“We have arrived,” I said and she alighted and gasped at the sight of my huge mansion. I chuckled internally.
This was always the reaction I always got whenever someone came to the mansion for the first time.
“It's so huge.” She murmured.
I gave her a cool look, not even bothering to respond. "Let's just get this over with," I said, before turning and walking towards the door, leaving Kiara to follow nervously behind. As we walked through the grand halls of the mansion, I could hear her sighs and murmurs.
She probably couldn’t help but feel like an outsider in this new world of wealth and luxury.
"Do you always treat people like this?" she asked, hoping to break the icy tension between us. But once again, I ignored her, leading her to a small room in the servants' quarters.
"This is your room," I said matter-of-factly, before turning to leave.
"What about Dinner?" Kiara protested. I stared at her and chuckled.
“They would bring it to you. Freshen up. My grandmother and Father are waiting.” I said and walked out of the room.
About 30 minutes later, she walked into the dining room, dressed in loose pants and a shirt and her hair packed in a messy bun.
“G…Good evening, Ma’am.” She bowed slightly to Grandma.
Grandma looked at her, displeased.
“I wish the moon goddess had chosen a more suitable person as your mate. A commoner. Disgusting.” Grandmother said and Kiara stared and looked at her coldly.
“I’m not interested in mating with your Grandson. Just let my mother be fine.” She said coldly, and without waiting for anybody to say anything, she sat at the table and started to eat, and all of us at the table went silent.
What a bold young woman she must be, to talk back to Grandma.
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.
Kiara's povI knew that I should not have allowed myself to be carried away by him but I couldn't help the fact that my foolish heart had wanted to dream.Propping myself on the bed I stared at the door longingly, wondering when he was going to show up again. Soon the door cracked open and my heart beat with immense joy thinking that he was at the other side but when the person on the other side was revealed it was just a maid.It wasn't Bryant.The amount of disappointment I felt was immense as my heart sank and my back rested against the pillow on the bed tiredly.I thanked the maid but I noticed she didn't respond. Rather she was busy giving me a very dirty look, while she was holding the tray of food.In an attempt to ignore her blatant glaring, I reached out for the tray without pointing out what she was doing but then she held on to it as if her life depended on that tray of food. At this point, I could no longer stay silent."Are you planning to give this to me or are you going