Chapter 4||

4. Ray||

I knew Ethan's brother didn't like me and if I was being frank, I didn't like him either. But I didn't have a better choice.

I wished uncle Jonathan didn't make me come here. I wished he just allowed me to stay with him. We could have figured something out somehow—

"This is your room, my lady," one of the maids suddenly said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I forced a smile on my face and nodded at her, before taking a hesitant step into the room she was showing me.

"We'll let you rest and I will return in an hour for dinner." Without waiting for my response, all three of them bowed and then walked away from the door.

With raised brows, I closed the door and sighed. If this was how my life was going to turn out, then I was in serious trouble.

"You can do this Rachael. This is not a big deal," I mumbled as I walked to the bed. "All I have to do is avoid Nathan and stay calm, till this— whatever it was passed and I could go back to my uncle."

The words gave me peace as it was simple enough. How long could it take anyway, a month or two?

Uncle Jonathan would definitely fix everything before that and I would go home. I wouldn't even remember any of this.

Knowing that the robotic maid would be back for me, I turned my attention to the room.

The walls were painted white just like the rest of the palace. But there were three other doors in the pristinely white room. Taking a wild guess, I went to the first one and luckily, it was the bedroom.

I checked the second and it turned out to be a walk-in-closet while the last was the balcony.

I made a mental note to go back to the balcony to clear my head as I retraced my steps to the bathroom. I took a long shower and settled for a simple dark dress I found in the closet.

For my hair, I rolled it into a bun and tapped some cream I found on the dresser into my skin. As I finished with that, I returned to the bed and tried to close my eyes to calm my nerves.

Just a few minutes in a bell rang in the distance shortly followed by a soft knock at the door, sending my heart into a pound.

"Yes? Come— oh shit!" I hissed as I recalled that the door was locked.

Quickly I moved to unlock it and found the same maid there.

"It is time for dinner my lady. The entire family awaits your presence."

"Oh... Thank you." I threw a quick look at the room— contemplating if I should politely decline— but decided against it. "Sure, please lead the way."

She bowed once more before waving her hand to the corridor and then she began to walk. Silently, I followed her but in my head, my nerves were starting to rise once more.

I refused to think about what was waiting for me and focused my energy on the rhythm of my breath.

But as soon as we got to the dinning hall, I felt it— Cold calculative eyes.

I knew I should just ignore it and focus on the direction the maid was following but stubbornly, I stopped moving and my eyes met the source of the wicked stare. Nathan.

"I see the human whore decided to stay... Interesting." He growled as his eyes took in my presence.

Cold air suddenly washed through my spine as if his eyes were fingers that grazed every part of me.

"Nathan, behave yourself. Rachael is our guest!" Alpha Edgar roared, pulling my attention away from Nathan.

Quickly remembering my manners, I gave a little courtesy to the older man and he smiled, motioning to the empty seat beside Nathan.

"Please, my dear, have a seat."

I nodded shyly and started heading to it but just before I got there, Nathan raised his legs and placed them on the seat.

"Oops, this seat is occupied, father. Maybe she could join the maids," he said with an annoying smirk on his face.

Deep anger was already starting to boil within me and I was very close to forgetting my manners and erupting when I felt a warm hand suddenly pull me back.

"Rachael," Ethan called and my eyes quickly snapped away from his brother to him. "Come seat me with me. Forget him."

"Thank you," I mouthed to him and he subtly nodded before passing me a plate.

"Take whatever you want," he said.

The plan was to just pick through my meal and return to my assigned room but as my eyes landed on the first tray the maids brought, my stomach danced in excitement, reminding me of how hungry I was.

The deliciously dripping chicken and spaghetti was impossible to ignore.

Quickly, I took the serving spoon and scooped some for myself. I was going to put the first spoon in my mouth when Nathan's crew words caused me to freeze.

"Please someone should bring me a new serving spoon. You don't expect me to share the same spoon with this dirty whore, do you?" He growled and my blood ran cold.

"Nathan, I am going to warn you for the last time—" Ethan started to say but his father held out his hand, stopping him mid-sentence.

"Ethan you don't have to advise him," Alpha Edgar began, slowly moving his dark eyes to Nathan and then me. " He should know that it is in his best interest that he starts to get along with dear Rachael..."

As soon as those words left his mouth, my heart jumped in my chest as unease filled every cell in my body. I turned my eyes to Ethan but his frown only deepened as he ignored my stare and turned to the plate in front of him.

"What are you talking about father?" Nathan asked the question we both dreaded.

A grin covered Alpha Edgar's face as he replied; "I have decided that for peace to reign and for Rachael to have a viable reason for staying under our protection, you will have to marry her."

"What?! No!" Nathan yelled while I froze.

Everything within me felt misplaced as panic and anger clouded my thoughts. I could hear their voices, but it felt like I was in a different place, hoping my denial could turn true.

"Oh yes, son. You are going to marry dear Rachael. I have already sent invites to the council... You either do this or I will have to pass on your birthright to Ethan."

Alpha Edgar's cold words cut through me like a sword. His authority irritated me further and my head began to shake as I refused his idea.

"Father you can't do that. I don't even want her! And you know it!"

"Well, it's good that I have told you then. So make sure you start liking her already... Except you want your title and benefits gone—"

"I don't want this..." I finally whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Excuse you?" Alpha Edgar whispered, turning to glare at me, like I had magically appeared there.

The anger within me snapped and I couldn't hold back anymore.

"Rachael, try to—" Ethan started to say as his warm hands tried to calm me but I brushed him away.

"No. I do not want this!" I repeated with more strength in my voice.

"Rachael my dear, this has already been decided. Neither you nor Nathan have a choice in this," Alpha Edgar added with that same arrogance that I couldn't ignore.

With my hands fisted, I slowly got off the seat. "Well I am sorry, but I cannot accept it. I am not some property for you to decide for without my consent... I am not marrying anyone!"

His eyes darkened and the hold he had on his fork loosened. "Young lady, you are under my care. There is no one else ready to protect you out there except me—"

"No, you are wrong," I hissed, shaking my head and turning away from the table. I was done with them. "My uncle is still alive and I'd rather try my chances with him than marry your son!"

"Then it is time you know..." He let out a voice that sent my heart pummeling to my stomach.

I stopped moving and turned to face him. "W— what are you talking about? What am I supposed to know?"

"Jonathan is dead."