Wanted by My Fiance's Uncle

Chapter 5: Detached

Maria’s POV 

I couldn’t believe my father would slap me. The sting on my cheek wasn’t just from his hand but from the realization that he didn’t care about what I wanted. In that moment, the image of the father I had grown to admire had simply burned away. What was left was a shadow of what I hoped he could have been.

“Let that be a warning to you, Maria. I am Alpha Wolfson, and I am your father.” His chest rose and fell heavily as he declared, “This will be the last time you disrespect my wishes. The decision to marry Alan has been made for you, and you will see it through like a good, obedient daughter, or so help me. I’ll make sure you never see another outside of our estate walls.”

His threat was clear and needed no further explanation. My heart ached from the absurdity of it all. I stared at my father with teary eyes, but I knew my tears did little to move him. So I ran past him, not stopping for anyone, my vision blurred with hot tears that threatened to rain free, but I held them back. I arrived at my room and slammed the door shut. Rushing to my bed, I sank at its foot. Feeling the exhaustion hit me like a brick wall.

Just then, I felt Ruby’s presence awaken in my mind. Ruby, my wolf, had been with me for a few months now. No one knew about her, not that I had planned on intentionally keeping it a secret. It was more so that nobody seemed to listen or care when I told them I had awakened my wolf. The only thing that mattered to everyone was that I was an obedient girl who didn’t dream and was content with the life she was given.

“Screw them all,” Ruby growled in my mind. “Especially Your father and that pompous i***t, Alan,” Ruby was not one to hide how she felt about people, nor was she afraid to speak her mind.

In this case, she was right about Alan and my father, to hell with both of them. My sadness was slowly getting replaced with rage. And I could feel Ruby getting riled up from my intense emotions.

“This is as good a time as any to leave this place, run away, and never look back. Think of all the opportunities we would have once we’re free of this place,” she pressed.

Ruby had since been trying to get me to run away, and I always pushed the idea away, mostly because I was scared of going into the outside world alone. However, with recent events, the thought didn’t seem as frightening. Certainly, a life on the outside was much better than being forced to marry Alan. I shivered at the thought.

Ruby was right, escaping was my only option now. I just needed to think of a way to… A knock sounded on my door, interrupting my thoughts.

“Come in,” I said impatiently.

A few maids walked in, carrying various tailored outfits, shawls, elbow-length gloves, brightly colored ball gowns, and the cream of the crop, a pure white wedding gown. I looked in awe at the amount of clothes they had in tow.

“What’s all this?” I ask, surprised.

One of them bowed and smiled at me. “My lady, These are for your wedding preparations. Just a few outfits we picked out for you to wear on various occasions leading up to your big day.” Her voice was high-pitched with excitement.

I reached out and touched one of the shawls, it was lush to the touch, but everything about this felt vain to me.

“Oh, how wonderful it must be to be engaged to someone like Sir Alan,” another maid said.

“Indeed,” came another. “He’s the epitome of what an Alpha should be, strong, dashing, and humble.”

The maids snickered and blushed like children as they fantasized about Alan. Honestly, it was starting to get on my nerves.

“Do you think Sir Alan would be interested in taking a mistress once he’s married?” another maid said.

The other giggled. But that was it for me. I slammed my hand forcefully against a table, silencing the room. “That’s enough, all of you, not a single word about Alan. You may go.”

“But, my lady, your father insisted you try out your wedding dress, so we…”

“I said get out!” I yelled.

They all scampered out of my room, and I slammed the door shut as soon as the last one exited.

As I turned away from the door, my eyes went to the wedding gown they had brought. It was beautiful and was mostly made of silk and lace. I hated it. I hated what it stood for, what it represented. But I had to wear it lest I suffer my father's wrath. I picked the dress up and began the gruesome process of putting it on. I had gotten into most of it. All that remained was the Zipper that ran down the back. The zipper was stubborn, and as I struggled with it, someone entered the room. I turned around, expecting it to be the maids returning. Instead, I came face to face with Alan.

I froze, but my initial shock quickly turned to annoyance and disgust. “Have you lost your mind? You can’t just barge into my room while I’m changing. You must leave at once,” I said in my most regal voice, hoping to scare him off.

But Alan simply ignored me and stepped closer to me. I backed away until I reached the wall. “What do you think you’re doing, Alan?”

He raised his hand and grabbed me by the cheek. His cold fingers seemed to drain the warmth from me. “Didn’t I say you should watch your tone when you speak to me?” His voice was as icy as his touch.

I tried to break free, but he pressed me harder to the wall. “I call the shots now, Maria. I give the orders, and you follow. The sooner you come to terms with this, the happier you’ll be in our marriage.”

“What the heck are you talking about?” I managed to say between squeezed cheeks.

Alan chuckled lightly. “Funny you should ask. See, I’ve drafted a long list of rules you’ll have to obey from now on until after we’ve officially tied the knot.”

I stared at him, wondering if he was serious or some sick joke.

“Firstly, from now on, you must report to me about your whereabouts and desired destinations at all times. And if I grant permission, my guards shall accompany. Secondly, on no account must you miss dinner without my permission. And thirdly…” His eyes go down to my half-worn dress. “You’ll only wear what I approve.”

There was no way he was serious about this, but as his eyes came back to meet mine, I could tell he was dead serious.

Fury burned inside me hotter than it ever did, but I knew standing up to him now would only make things worse. So I swallowed my pride and gave him the Maria he wanted.

“Of course, Alan, your wish is my command,” I said in an even tone.

At first, he seemed taken aback. He was expecting some form of protest, but he gathered himself all the same, and his smile widened.

“You see, now you’re getting the hang of it. Keep this up, and maybe I’ll grant you a few liberties in your new life with me,” he said haughtily, letting go of me.

I gasped and rubbed my cheeks. Alan turned and walked toward the door. Just before he stepped out, he turned back around. “Oh, and Maria, don’t chase your maids away. They’re here to help you look your best for your big day.” His eyes went to my unzipped dress again. You also clearly need the help.”

With that, he left, and immediately after, my maids returned and helped me into the dress properly. I didn’t say a word, didn’t protest. I remained detached, my mind far, far away.

I remained in this state through all the ceremonies and balls thrown in my honor and through all of Alan’s incessant remarks. It was as if all that was happening had nothing to do with me, and I was simply the observer looking in from the outside.

And just like that, the day of the wedding arrived. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, painting everything in a golden hue, but inside the manor, chaos reigned. Servants and aides rushed back and forth, barking orders at each other to get everything ready.

I stood at the window of my room, barely breathing, as I watched maids run across the courtyard carrying trays of fresh fruits and neatly picked flowers. No one had the time to notice me. No one even knocked to check if I was ready. After all, a bride’s day belonged to everyone but herself.

I turned back into the room. The maid’s uniform I’d stolen the night before was folded neatly on the bed. My hands trembled as I dressed in it, and it took everything to calm my beating heart. When I finished, I caught my reflection in the mirror. No one could tell it was me unless they came in for a close inspection.

A sudden commotion in the courtyard startled me. Peeking through the curtains, I saw the wedding car that was meant to pick me up pull into the driveway. I had to move now or lose my chance.

Climbing out of the window wasn’t easy, but I made it work. My heart pounded as I landed with a soft thud on the ground below. I crouched, listening for any sound of alarms. There was none, so I continued onward across the courtyard, disguised in my maid's outfit. No one looked in my direction more than once.

My feet carried me faster than I thought possible, the cool air burning my lungs as I ran. At the edge of the estate, I spotted a cab idling near the main road.

The driver, an older man with tired eyes, raised an eyebrow when I slid into the back seat. “Where to, miss?”

“The border of Silver Valley,” I said in response.

He hesitated. “That’s a strange place to go for one such as yourself. Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”

“Just drive,” I urged, pulling a few coins from my apron pocket. He sighed but started the engine, and soon, my father's estate was behind me.

As we neared the border, the landscape grew quieter, more desolate. The cab slowed to a stop, and the driver glanced back at me through the rearview mirror. “You know what’s beyond that border, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I answered, even though I wasn’t sure I truly did.

“It’s the human world,” he warned. “No one who crosses over comes back the same. Some don’t come back at all.”

“I know.” I opened the door, and as I stepped out.

The cab driver drove away, and I continued onward on foot. Not once did I look back. This was a decision I had taken far too long to make. Thankfully for Ruby, if not for her, I never would have found the courage to run away.

As I wandered down the lonely, unpaved road, I wondered if anyone had realized I was missing. I imagined the look on their faces, especially Alan and my father. Part of me felt guilty, but I knew that what they had planned for me wasn’t a life. It was more akin to life imprisonment, and I knew that once I made it across the border, my life would finally become my own.

Unfortunately, I noticed a group of figures come up on the path ahead. They were dressed in all black and wore mean expressions. Upon closer inspection, I realized that I recognized some of them—they were Alan’s Guards!