Sense My Silent Alpha's Heart

Chapter 2

Today is Christmas. And instead of the smile I’d normally plaster on my face, and the bubbly feeling that’d plant itself in my chest, all I felt was dread simmering under my skin because on this very day, I was required to marry the Alpha of the shadow pine pack.

I sat in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection as one of the maids finished doing my makeup. I was already wearing the long wedding dress Briar had happily prepared for me, and I sat there stiffly, as my hair was tied into a bun, clenching and unclenching my fist, knowing that my life was about to change.

And to think that throughout the year, I had looked forward to this day with excitement in my heart. Christmas was the only day I’d manage to feel free and to forget my sufferings and just be myself. Laugh, love, dance, play. I’d do it all. And even if Briar comes barging in on me, I’d still put a smile on my face and apologize for whatever I’d done. Because it was Christmas.

But this morning, as I joined the maids in the kitchen to finish preparing the last of the dishes, instead of excitement, I only felt a tight knot in my stomach, thinking about what was going to happen to me after today if I was going to be marrying a man everyone feared for damn good reasons.

I’d watched as everyone shared jokes and laughter, humming Christmas carols as they worked, infecting the atmosphere around, but my lips had remained tightly pursed and a dark shroud had hovered above me as I worked in silence before Briar dragged me away, forcing me to prepare for the wedding after going on about how Alpha Gideon had already arrived and the ceremony was about to start.

“That’s enough.” Briar stepped in, scrunching her nose as she took in the state of my small room before approaching. Her eyes caught the little Christmas decorations I’d done in my room, and she stifled a laugh. “You still had time for this when you should be thinking about how you would communicate with your mute husband?”

“You are supposed to be the one marrying him.” I ground out through gritted teeth, and her eyes darkened as she kicked the chair I’d been sitting on, pushing me to the floor.

“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? One of you is a servant no one loves, and the other is a mute useless Alpha who wouldn’t even be able to win an argument. You two are perfectly deserving of each other.”

A defiant look crossed my eyes, and I told her. “I’ll make sure I tell him just how great you think about him.”

For the first time, I saw how Briar’s face had paled. Fear flickered through her eyes for a moment before she tried to throw a punch at my face, but stopped mid way as if remembering she was not supposed to touch my face. Her fist rammed into my stomach instead, and I groaned in pain, spitting out blood as I clutched my stomach.

“I see you’ve grown balls, Evelyn.” She growled, her wolf coming to the surface. “Go ahead. Tell him whatever you want. You think he’s going to believe you?” She laughed darkly. “Pray you don’t offend him and end up dying like a rat on your first day in his pack. You have no idea how dangerous he is, Evelyn.”

Oh, I do. And that was why I was so scared. At least with Briar, I knew she’d never actually kill me, even if she’s threatened to before, but with Alpha Gideon— I couldn’t tell. The things I have heard about him were all ugly things.

I wiped my lips clean just as mother came in with a bunch of flowers which Briar took and threw into my arms.

Mother frowned, staring at the blood on my lips, but she said nothing except for. “It’s about to begin. Hurry on out, Evelyn.”

I didn’t protest. I mean what could that actually solve? I resigned to my fate and let them lead me out.

The wedding truly had already begun. I stared at my decorations as we passed. I’d personally hung up those Christmas lights and giggled like a little girl as I prayed for Christmas Day to come quickly, but now that it was here, everything felt gloomy. It didn’t feel like Christmas, where I’d be all smiles no matter what happened. Because I knew it was different this time.

I gripped the bunch of flowers tight in my hands and entered the hall.

All eyes immediately rested upon me. And in that moment, I realized how real this was. My wolf stirred inside me, probably noticing my discomfort as I took one step at a time forward while several curious gazes followed me.

My eyes fell upon the man standing at the altar, waiting. He wore a grey suit that screamed expensive and black shiny leather shoes I knew was worth a lot. His hair was oiled and combed back in an elegant way that left me deeply impressed. I could feel his aura from here. A typical suffocating air that could only belong to someone as powerful as him. His jaw was clenched tightly, his eyes hard and dark as they roughly took me in.

My wolf stirred again. There was something about him that excited her. Maybe it was because of the way he looked. To be honest, I imagined his features to resemble those of a devil. But he was breathtakingly handsome, and tall and hot, I almost forgot all the awful things I’d heard about him. I couldn’t take my eyes from him, even though I wanted to, and as I drew closer, his scent wafted into my nose.

He smelled like rain. I don’t know why, but his scent soothed me in ways I could not explain. I instantly wanted to bury my head into those strong chest of his I could clearly outline from his suit and take in more of his scent. I tried to control myself, but I gulped the air greedily for his scent, now only a few steps away from him.

Something was wrong with me. Why was I feeling this way over a total stranger who was likely to kill me in a few hours?

‘Mate!’ My wolf announced as if to answer my question, and I froze instantly. My body trembled from the shock as I wondered if I’d heard her wrongly.

‘What did you just say?’

‘Ours, Evelyn. He’s ours!’ She squealed, and I stood there frozen, staring at him and him staring back with a deep scowl on his face as if he’d also just realized it.

That we were mates.

And he didn’t like it one bit.