Alpha Darrell’s Redemption: Fated to the Betrayed Alpha

Marry me, Sheila

Chapter Six

Sheila’s POV

“If my parents put more pressure on Rosa, it’s only a matter of time before she tells them about you, and I care about you, Darrell. If they find you here, we will both be in big trouble. Some people have been looking everywhere for you. They say all sorts of bad things about you, but I don’t believe any of them,” I say, resting just beside him on my bed in the basement.

While I would like him to stay in my room instead of this basement, I can’t trust that no one will barge into my room. But as for this basement, only I, Rosa, and Darrell know about this place.

It’s the second night I’m spending with him in this basement, yet he has never spoken one word to me since when he said his name that morning he woke up. He’s facing up, his eyes on the ceiling, staring into nothing exactly.

“My father told me casually earlier today that my wedding to the Mayor’s son, Leslie Hall, is the day after tomorrow.” He snaps his head in my direction, and I swallow as his green eyes lock with mine.

I can’t help the fresh tears blurring my vision, even as I try to sniff them back. I stare down at my fingers, wiping my face with them.

“It’s not easy out here, you know? It’s like everything is happening so fast, and it’s all too much for me to bear. I don’t like it here at all. I bet I appear very pathetic to you.” I let out a dry chuckle.

“I guess I’ve been an overly obedient daughter for too long. Despite how much I pleaded with them that I didn’t want to marry him, they still insisted that I show up for the wedding this weekend.”

Something flickers in his eyes, but it disappears as fast as it came.

“They think I’m selfish for refusing to marry him. They said I was ungrateful. All my life, I’ve always put my parents, siblings, and everyone first. Maybe it’s just how I am, and you probably think I’m stupid because of that. But for the first time, I want to be selfish. I want to put myself first, but I don’t even know anymore. I don’t see it happening. All it takes for my life to change forever is that.” He turns his head in the direction of my finger, which is pointing at the clock hanging on my wall.

Then, he turns to me again. “Time. That’s all it takes. In about two days or less from now, I will be the wife of a man I know nothing about. A man I have no iota of feelings for just because my parents pawned me off.”

More tears stream down my cheeks now, and I eyeball Darrell again, who’s rapt attention is still on me. Then, I proceed to ask a question even though I know he will not give me an answer. “Do you think I’m cruel for not considering their feelings in all of this?”

I let out a deep sigh, and I’m about to wipe my tears but freeze when I feel a finger that isn’t mine on my cheeks. It’s Darrell’s. This is the first time he’ll ever be making any form of contact with me since that morning he almost crushed my wrist. It’s also the first time I’m seeing his face so close up because he’s leaning towards me.

“Do you want me to get you out of here?” His voice, low, deep, and a little husky, slices through my mind.

My eyes dilate, and I prop myself up to a sitting position. If his breath isn’t still lingering on my skin, I would think that I imagined his voice.

“Will you?” I ask, searching his eyes, and when he doesn’t say another word, I continue. “I would be more than happy if you could get me out of here. I—I know my way around and c-can get us some money to go to some far place. Somewhere far away from this town, and I can guarantee your safety there too. I just want to get out of here, Darrell. I don’t care where. I don’t want to marry Leslie Hall.”

Fresh, uncontrollable tears trickle down my cheeks, and snot goes out of my nose. Then, I feel strong arms wrapping around me, leaving me stunned for the second time tonight. But after a few moment, I relax into Darrell’s embrace, basking in his masculine scent which I’ve grown accustomed to—a confluence of pinewood and musk.

His arms feel like the safest place in the world, and I can’t help but wonder what life will be like with him. I wasn’t lying when I told Father that I was in love earlier today, and his suspicions were right. I’m in love with the man everyone thinks is a criminal. I have no idea how it happened, but I love Darrell, and even though I know nothing about him, I trust him.

Everything about this moment feels right, even though a part of me wonders what’s going on with me.

No matter what anyone says about him, nothing is going to change that. Then, after moments of silence stretch between us, I hear the sound of my heartbeat, which slams hard, and I’m certain he can hear it too, but if that’s the case, he doesn’t comment. Not like I expect him to.

Slowly, I disengage from his embrace and gaze up at him, and without thinking of the consequences of what I’m about to do or where the boldness came from, I press my lips against his soft ones in a quick kiss that makes my face heat up.

I’ve never kissed a man. Neither have I been kissed, but the mere touch of our lips ignites something I can’t quite place in me.

Darrell appears a little stunned, and the silence hanging in the air only intensifies my embarrassment, and I’m about to save myself from further mortification by running off when he pulls me back to himself and presses a kiss on my lips. The moment his lips touch mine, my thoughts freeze, and all sense of reasoning goes out the window. His lips begin to move on mine as he presses me against the bed with his hard body, his tongue parting my lips and delving into my mouth, creating a foreign but sweet sensation in me.

His hard body molds into my soft one as he grabs my jaw tenderly—his touch so gentle, as if careful that he might break me.

His hand travels to my lower back, and I shiver from his touch, certain my cheeks are crimson red by now, and his hand stops moving.

My breath hitches as he retracts his mouth from me and watches me with his dreamy eyes.

“I…” I swallow, wetting my lips, a reminder that his lips were just on mine only a few seconds ago. “I…have a confession.” His silence urges me on, and my eyelids flutter as his peer into mine, causing my heart to race even harder.

“I think I’m in love with you.” His eyes narrow at me, but he doesn’t let me go. “I know I sound crazy, but I’ve fallen head over heels for you, and I don’t care if you think this is weird, but I want to be with you.”

“Despite not knowing who I am?”

His voice sends another bone-deep chill down my spine, sucking the air out of my lung, particularly because I don’t expect any words from him.

“I don’t care about that, Darrell. Besides, it’s not like it’s your fault that I know nothing about you. You remember nothing about your past, and it doesn’t matter to me. All that matters is that you’re a good man. I know a good man when I see one.”

Then, without wasting another second, he crashes his lips against mine in one urgent, passionate kiss that has my core pulsating. I feel hot all over as he plants rough kisses everywhere on my body, and when his mouth clamps on my naked breast, I gasp, arching my back in pleasure and pulling his head closer to me, like my life depends on the pleasure his tongue is giving me.

My n*****s harden immediately into tight buds, and when his hand travels to my lower body and cups my folds, I immediately clamp my thighs together, trapping his hand there, and he freezes on me.

Then, his eyes find mine again, and I can tell what is on his mind even though he doesn’t say a word.

“I…I’ve never been touched, but it doesn’t matter. I want this. I want you. Now! I’ve never wanted anything more than I want you right now. Please, don’t stop.”

And as if I just tore open his last layer of restraint, he yanks my clothes off, baring my naked body to his sight, and the intensity of his eyes as they rove over my body tells me everything I need to know. He finds me attractive. The evidence of his desire presses against my thighs, hard and ready, and I accommodate his finger when he pushes it into me, before trying more, raw pleasure shooting through my body, accompanied by unsilenced moans.

By the time he thrusts into me, raw pain shoots from my core, but as his lips take mine again, I get lost in the sweet sensation of his kiss that when I feel his full length in me again, my pelvis stretches, accommodating him better.

As his pace increases, my pain is slowly replaced with raw pleasure. My legs wrap around his thighs as he moves in me, our bodies mingling like they were made for each other, till I feel a fresh wave of pleasure hit me as fireworks explode within me. In that moment, I realized that there is no going back for me. I love Darrell with everything in me, and I want it to remain so forever.

***

I’m certain that by now, my parents must have found out that I’ve left the town because today should have been my wedding day if Darrell didn’t come to my rescue. I can imagine the rage on their faces when Rosa tells them about Darrell and my elopement with him.

Everything worked as planned. Yesterday, when I went to see the mayor, I managed to slip a golden object into my dress without getting caught, which I sold off at the market. I also hired the services of a boat owner who helped us get away from the town very early this morning.

We settled in now in a town far away from my parents in the countryside.

It would be almost impossible for the mayor to find us here.

We also found a space up for let where we paid for from the remaining money I got from selling off the gold I stole from the mayor, who is probably also red with rage by now.

Despite knowing how bad things can get for my parents because of my actions, I have zero regrets about them.

All I want is a quiet life with Darrell, and I can already imagine kids giggling around the house and clutching my fingers during hide and seek.

But a part of me feels like I pulled Darrell into all of this, particularly because he’s never said anything about being in love with me or wanting this life I want us to share.

“Let’s get married, Sheila.” His voice cuts through my thoughts, and my eyes widen at him, a wave of shock pulsing through me. When his lips curve in a smile, I blink, wondering if this is some imagination, but his warm hug says otherwise.

His lips press on my forehead, but I’m too stunned to even react.

Then, he speaks again, repeating his words, something he’s never done since I met him. “Marry me, Shiela.”