BOY BY DAY, THE ALPHA’S MATE BY NIGHT

“You are such an ugly-looking lad. All the makeup in the world would not be able to fix that face of yours.” My stepmother said as she eyed me up and down like I was dirt. I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into the worn fabric of my dress. One would think that after hearing the same words over and over, they would stop hurting me. That I would have grown a backbone by now. But I hadn’t. Her words still hurt. She wrinkled her nose as she slowly walked around me. “Do you have anything that isn’t such an eyesore? This dress is making me nauseous.” I bit my tongue. The irony was almost laughable. She had spent years complaining that my father wasted money on me and that I didn’t need new clothes when I already had some. That was a decade ago. I had learned to sew, patching the fabric over the years to make it fit my growing body. The dress had uneven stitches; the faded material stretched thin over my frame. It looked exactly like what it was—an old rag barely holding itself together. But it covered my nakedness, and that was all that mattered. She stomped to her wardrobe, yanked the doors open, and brought out a silk gown. “Here. Take this.” I froze. She was giving me something.No—lending. She would never part with anything willingly. My fingers hesitated before reaching out. “Are you…” I swallowed. “…Are you sure?” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t look so shocked. It’s just for today.” A pause. Then, her lips curled into a smirk. “Actually, keep it. I doubt I will be able to wash your stench out of it, and I would hate for it to ruin my other clothes.” I held onto the fabric, smoothing my thumb over the soft silk. It was old but still far better than anything I had ever worn. She turned to leave, brushing nonexistent dust from her sleeves. “Your husband will be here soon. You should make yourself presentable.” I stilled. “Husband?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. She barely spared me a glance. “Of course. I have accommodated you long enough. It’s time you repay us.” The floor seemed to tilt beneath me. A husband. I had always known she despised me. I had always known she wanted me gone. But to sell me like cattle—to throw me into a stranger’s hands without warning— “No,” I breathed. She arched her brow. “No?” I cleared my throat, sounding more confident now. “No, I won’t,” “Come now, Sage. It would be a lot easier if you just did what I said.” She tilted her head, her eyes glinting with amusement. “You wouldn’t want me to lock you in that basement again, would you?” I stiffened. I hated that place. The last time she had locked me down there, I had accidentally spilled milk on one of her dresses. I had spent four nights down there with no food or water and in complete darkness. I had night terrors for weeks. She saw the way my fingers twitched and smiled. “Go put on the dress,” she said lightly. “You wouldn’t want to keep your husband waiting.” And with that, she turned and walked away. *********** The moment I stepped into the grand hall, my skin prickled. The man waiting for me—my future husband—was seated on a gilded chair, a goblet of wine in his thick fingers. His belly strained against his tunic, rolling over his belt, and his lips smacked together as he swallowed a sip. Grease from his previous meal still clung to his graying beard. He grinned, revealing yellowed, incomplete teeth. “So, this is the girl.” I felt my stomach turn. “This is her,” my stepmother confirmed, placing a hand on my back and forcing me forward. I swallowed my revulsion and dropped into a stiff curtsy. Breathe. Don’t gag. Don’t scream. He eyed me like a butcher sizing up livestock. “You are younger than I expected,” he mused, scratching his chin. “ A bit scrawny, but nothing a few hearty meals won’t fix.” “She will do whatever you ask of her,” my stepmother assured him. “She has been trained to obey.” Lies. I had never obeyed a day in my life. He let out a chuckle, deep and thick like sludge. “Good. A wife should know her place.” I wet my lips. “My lord,” I started carefully. “Forgive me, but… I was not aware of this arrangement. Perhaps we should take some time—” The man barked a laugh. “Time? What’s there to consider? I paid handsomely for you, girl. This arrangement was settled days ago.” Paid. I clenched my gown. “My lord,” I said carefully, lifting my chin just enough to seem respectful. “Surely, you would prefer a wife who is fully prepared for her duties? If you grant me a few days, I can ensure that I meet your expectations. Wouldn’t you want your bride to be… perfect?” “What foolishness is this? A wife is a wife. You will learn soon enough.” My stepmother’s nails pressed into my skin, warning me to shut my mouth, but I didn’t, not when my life was on the line. I bit down on the pain and kept my voice smooth. “I only mean to serve you well, my lord. A few days to prepare will make all the difference. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.” “And if you do disappoint me?” He leaned back, smirking. “I’ve tamed disobedient women before. A wife needs only a firm hand to remember her place.” My stepmother let out a breathy chuckle. “Oh, don’t worry, my lord. This one learns quickly. A little discipline never hurt her before.” They laughed like the idea of him striking me into submission was amusing. I lowered my gaze. “I will not disappoint you, my lord. I only ask for two days.” He studied me, then let out a grunt. “Fine. Two days. But if I find you lacking…” I swallowed hard. “You won’t.”