Chapter 2: The Beast Revealed
839 Words
The ride to Lucas Alaric’s mansion was suffocating, like I was being driven into a nightmare. The air in the car was thick with the weight of the decision I had made. The imposing black gates of his estate creaked open, revealing the sprawling yet hauntingly dark property that mirrored everything I feared about him.
“Miss Evelyn, Mr. Alaric is waiting for you in the main hall,” the butler said as soon as I stepped out. His face was blank, his tone professional, but his eyes held the faintest flicker of pity.
I swallowed hard, squaring my shoulders. “Thank you,” I murmured, stepping inside.
The mansion was beautiful but cold—no warmth, no sign of life, just luxury without a soul. The dim lighting gave everything a shadowy edge, as though the house itself was alive and watching.
And then I saw him.
Lucas Alaric stood at the far end of the room, his tall, broad frame cloaked in a black suit that was as severe as his demeanor. His sunglasses reflected the dim light, masking his eyes but amplifying his presence. He didn’t move, didn’t even turn toward me.
“You’re late.” His voice was low, sharp, and carried no hint of welcome.
I flinched but forced myself to respond. “The driver took a longer route. It wasn’t my—”
“Excuses,” he interrupted, finally turning his head in my direction. “I despise them.”
I clenched my fists at my sides, his arrogance setting my nerves on fire. “I wasn’t making an excuse,” I said firmly, meeting where I thought his gaze might be.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. “You’re bold. Good. I’ll need that from you.”
“For what?” I shot back, my voice trembling despite my attempt to stay composed.
“To survive,” he said simply, his smirk fading. “You’ll find that being married to me requires more than just a pretty face.”
I frowned, my heart racing. “If that’s how you feel, why choose me?”
He took a step closer, and I instinctively stepped back. The air between us felt electric, charged with a tension I couldn’t explain.
“You’ll learn in time,” he said cryptically. “For now, all you need to know is that you’re mine, Evelyn. Your family’s debts are paid, their future secured. In exchange, you belong to me.”
The way he said it sent chills down my spine, but anger burned in my chest. “I’m not an object, Lucas.”
“No,” he agreed. “You’re an asset. One I intend to protect, but one that will follow my rules.”
“Rules?” I echoed, incredulous.
He stepped even closer, towering over me. “You will live here. You will not leave without my permission. You will attend events as my wife and uphold my reputation. And you will never, under any circumstances, betray me.”
“And what if I do?” I asked, my voice a defiant whisper.
His smirk returned, darker this time. “Then you’ll wish you hadn’t.”
The dinner that followed was no less unnerving. Lucas sat at the head of the table, barely touching his food while I picked at mine, too anxious to eat.
“Why do you wear sunglasses indoors?” I blurted out, the question slipping before I could stop it.
He paused, then tilted his head slightly in my direction. “Are you always this curious?”
“I think I deserve to know, considering I’m marrying you tomorrow,” I retorted, surprising myself with my boldness.
A low chuckle escaped him, humorless and cold. “Deserve? That’s an interesting choice of words.”
I bit my lip, regretting my tone but refusing to back down. “Do you? Are you really blind?”
His expression hardened, the air between us turning icy. “Careful, Evelyn.”
“It’s a simple question,” I pressed, my fear overridden by frustration. “You expect me to follow your rules, but you won’t even give me honesty?”
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his lips curving into a humorless smile. “You want honesty? Fine. Yes, I’m blind. But don’t mistake that for weakness.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he stood abruptly, cutting me off. “The wedding is at noon. Be ready.”
He left the room without another word, leaving me to grapple with the sinking realization that I was marrying a man who was far more dangerous than I’d imagined.
That night, sleep evaded me. The mansion felt alive, every creak of the wood and rustle of the wind outside amplifying my unease. I tossed and turned, Lucas’s words replaying in my mind.
“You’re mine!”.
The next morning, I stood in front of the mirror in a simple white dress, my stomach twisting into knots. This wasn’t how I’d imagined my wedding day.
- Writer
