The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness
Chapter 44

-MARIE

-

Breathe in, breathe out.

Whoa, that isn't what I was expecting to see... When I asked Carlos what time his Alpha wakes up, I didn't think going up to his room would result in me seeing him with another woman. And that too, none other than Kataleya Rossi.

I thought he hated the Rossis? Sure over dinner I felt like he didn't mind her but... to have her in his room... clearly having just woken up...

My hands are trembling as I ball them in fists, trying to calm my nerves. Is this the kind of union I'm going to be in?

Maybe he won't agree to the engagement. Maybe he'll be turning us down... I hope so.

I should- "Ouch!"

I stumble when I hit a wall of muscle and look up to see it's none other than Jose. Guess both he and his Alpha are alike.

"What are you doing coming from the Alpha's floor?" he asks sharply, glancing at the steps behind me.

I smile bitterly.

Oh, he knows.

I scoff. "What's wrong? Worried I'd learn about your alpha's dirty little secret? Too late. I already did." I shove past him, only for him to grab my arm and stop me from leaving.

My eyes flash as I growl menacingly. "I am of alpha blood.

Don't you dare touch me!" I snarl as I shove him off me, my heart thumping wildly. 3)

"I'm sorry, but you have to understand-"

"Oh, shut the fuck up, asshole. You are both alike.

Disgusting pigs." I hiss as I close the gap between us, my eyes blazing.

"What happened back then-"

"Don't try to pretend you didn't know!"

"I didn't know when we danced or when we..."

"Fucked? Yeah, no need to be modest. You really weren't back then," I snarl.

"I didn't know who you were until the following morning!

Don't hold this against me!" he hisses, trying to keep his voice down as he now grabs my elbow, spinning me around and wrapping his arm around me tightly, and clamping a hand over my mouth.

I struggle, but it's futile as he pulls me down the hall and into the room I was allocated.

He lets go of me and shuts the door behind us. "What the f**k are you doing?" I spit the moment I'm free from his hold.

"Trying to explain to you-"

"Alright, explain this to me. You came to our pack, wanting to enquire about my dad's connections and about his daughter, right? Before I even knew about the proposal, you were there when you had that conversation with my father before you came out for a night of fun, right? You must have seen my photograph in my father's office."

"Yes, but the picture in the office was a much younger you.

You didn't look like you did at the club!"

"And I'm to believe he didn't show you an updated image?"

He runs his fingers through his hair. "He did show Enrique another, but I didn't pay attention."

I scoff. "Right, ok, yeah, but there were similarities between me and my fifteen-year-old self, which covered half of the wall behind his desk! Hard to miss."

"Look I'm-"

"Unlike you when I was at that club, I didn't know I was to be engaged! I didn't know a bunch of fucking asshole men were already deciding my future for me!" | snarl.

He looks down, "I'm sorry... only when we were leaving the pack when I saw you watching us from your balcony did I realise who you were." That hurts.

"Right... but you know what, I didn't replace out about the engagement until a few months ago, not knowing my fate was written for me one and a half years ago, but you knew.

You men are all alike!" I back away, feeling sick. "Yet you didn't think to let him know. Maybe you should tell him.

Maybe he'll not want to go ahead with this whole shitty engagement."

I was excited to have Kataleya in my corner. I had thought we'd become friends... I didn't realise she would look me in the face, smile and act all sweet only to go and fuck the man I'm supposedly engaged to. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Narugi.com. Visit Narugi.com to read the complete chapters for free. By all means, I wish shed just have him, I'd rather wait for my mate. But witnessing that from Kataleya, that was low. "I'm sorry that you're the one who's being pulled into this mess. Things are complicated..."

Yeah, they fucking are, but I don't think he realises I have no option but to do this. Dad isn't exactly the person who will let me live my f*****g life as I wanted. I had hoped Alpha Enrique might be the one to give me some hope of a future that wasn't so bleak... Guess not.

"Get out of my room," I order, glaring at him.

I hadn't recognised him at first. The tattoo on his cheek was new, and his hair was different. What happened between us was a one-time thing when I was partially drunk.

"My words aren't going to mean anything, but I wasn't thinking straight that night... It was a mistake-"

"Yeah, it was."

He titts his head, about to reach for me when I step back. "I realised I should have told him, but I knew that-"

"That it was just a business deal between your alpha and my father." I cross my arms, turning my back on him." Leave, or do you want me to spelt it out for you?"

I'm always just a burden to everyone. Just someone who's used for other's means...

He sighs and I hear the door opening. I'frown when I don't hear the door close and turn, ready to slam it shut when I come face to face with none other than Alpha Enrique himself.

"Can I help you with something, Alpha Enrique?" I ask, trying my best not to disrespect him.

I dislike him. His arrogance, his attitude and the way he's just... playing.

"Since you already saw enough, let me fill you in. You are just a business deal between your father and me. You're a strong she-wolf, and one who will possibly make a decent Luna, but it is Kataleya Rossi who will mark me. She is far stronger than you." Confusion and irritation flit through me as I watch him sharply. Something about that entire wording felt off.

"So, you are choosing her, right? You will marry her, after all, she can offer you so much? Her father has far more links than my father could ever dream of. So this is over, right?" A flare of hope rushes through me, but I try not to get my hopes up. If Alpha Enrique refuses me, Dad can't force me.

He cocks his brow, his annoying face looking far too smug." No. It is not. You don't really have a choice. Our deal will go through. I wilt mark you and you will be the one who will carry my pups and you will be my official luna."

"You just said Kataleya Rossi will mark you."

"And I will mark you." I laugh in disbelief. I don't care if I sound like a maniac, but this is beyond stupid, it's ridiculous! I can't help it, but is this fool for real?

"And Kataleya Rossi will allow that? To be kept as a side piece. Does she know of your stupid plan?" I sneer. I'm ready to become a nun or something. Men. Yuck.

A dangerous smirk crosses his face as his cold eyes bore into mine, sending a shiver of fear through me.

"She will do anything for me."

That's disappointing...

"I see..."

But I won't.

"Now, since that's clear, I have training to deal with," he says arrogantly.

That stings. This entire thing is a joke to him. Everyone is right. He is cold-hearted and cruel.

I look down. All my life I was made to feel like I was lacking.

First for not being a son and then being the reason my mom died, and now... by the man I'm supposed to be marrying...

"It's nothing personal. You will be happier this way," he says callously.

"Happier being the other woman? Or is she the other woman? I'm not sure right now. You could have offered my dad something else. You didn't need to ask for my hand in marriage in return for what you need."

He's watching me silently, and I can't read his expression.

All I can think of is his and Kataleya's faces when I saw them... the smell of sex in the air.

"You don't know how the world works, Señorita Marie... so I would recommend-"

"Then here's my deal... you can make me your 'Luna".." I raise my hand, signing mock quotation marks as I emphasise the word. "But I won't be carrying your pups. I will not let you touch me. I will not be a side piece while you f**k your princesa!" I spit. I'm terrified inside, knowing that he could throw me in prison right now and it would be valid. I'm disrespecting an alpha in his pack, in his own house.

"You will not disrespect her." His voice is low and menacing, but it's only fuelling the rage inside of me.

"And you will not disrespect me," I counter, my eyes blazing as my wolf surfaces, my heart thundering.

may not be an alpha, but I am strong. I have spent my life proving to my father that I can be an alpha, be the son he never had, even if I failed.

One look into his eyes and my wolf forces me to submit, but it does nothing to lessen the anger within me. He steps towards me, and I can feel the terror ripple through me.

Unwanted, unwelcomed, but my body is not listening to my mind.

The door opens and Jose quickly steps between the two of us, shielding me from Enrique's wrath.

"Enrique, your aura," he says quietly.

"I'm perfectly fine," Enrique says coldly, but there's something off, and that's when I feel it.

Cold, deadly, poisonous.

Darkness.

I look around, my heart thundering. In my own rage, I hadn't even noticed the immense aura that was rolling off him in waves.

"Throw her in the dungeons, a few nights there, and she'll learn not to disrespect me," Enrique says, his eyes glimmering orange.

Strange, I thought his eyes were gold. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but it makes my stomach churn with unease.

I'm about to speak when Jose grabs my wrist, pulling me close. That's when I realise something is very, very off. His heart is racing as he keeps a watch on his alpha.

"And this time, Jose... if I replace you disobeyed me..." Enrique leaves his threat hanging as Jose drags me to the hall, making sure I'm not in Alpha Enrique's sight.

"Oh, and since I'm screwing this all up anyway, you should know that your Beta fucked me when you came to ask for my hand in marriage. Maybe he didn't know who I was, but he sure could have told you when he figured it out!" I snap, refusing to let Jose drag me away, although he's trying to shut me up.

"Stop it!" Jose growls warningly.

"Damn! How does it feel knowing your own Beta hides things from you!" I shout.

I don't care if I'm being a bitch right now. I want to hurt them! The way they hurt me and made a mockery out of me!

A menacing snarl rips from Enrique's throat as his glare turns to Jose, who is pale.

I smile victoriously, but I'm the only one who looks satisfied.

Perfect. He may not want me, but it must still hurt his ego that his precious beta keeps secrets from him!

Jose shakes his head, his eyes meeting mine, a look of pure disappointment in his and for a fraction of a second, I feel guilty, but it's only for a fraction of a second. I really don't care for these assholes.

"Thank you," Jose says quietly to me, although he obviously doesn't mean it. There's a mixture of emotions in his eyes, but I don't care.

She might be a princess, but I'm a human being, too. I have feelings, too. What they did to me was wrong.

And so, with those thoughts in my mind, I glare back at him defiantly.

"You are most welcome, Beta Jose," I whisper back before ripping my hand free and storming down the hall, wanting to get away from here.