The Monster they made me marry

CAMILLA'S POV “I disagree dad… I can't marry him.” “Get into the car.” Tears rolled down my cheeks as I gripped the hem of my dress. Turning my gaze to my sister Evanthe. “Talk to dad, please…please I can't marry the monster, you know…you know he’s cursed.…” I saw it, tears and agony in her eyes, as she grabbed a tissue to wipe the tears and adjusted my makeup. “I'm sorry sister, you know dad’s words are final.” “This— this can't be, I can't be the only solution to the park bankruptcy.” I snapped, knocking the makeup powder and throwing it directly at papa. I didn't mean for it to reach him…but it did anyway. “Andrew!!” He called out to the guard but Evanthe stood in front of me. “She's sorry dad, give her time she's still overwhelmed.” Andrew came in and with the snap of dad’s finger I was lifted and pulled outside. “I can't marry him…. Dad...sister….he would kill me like he killed omegas for sport.” Despite struggling and wiggling he held me tighter than a rusting belt and shoved me into dad's SUV. The dark trees of Blood Eclipse territory blurred past the tinted windows, watching sister's teary expression, she couldn't help and struggling now was useless. Stupid …stupid pure bloodline. Why doesn't my sister have it, dormant pureblood gene? What was the dumb ass excuse for me to be sold to him.. Oh yea, he takes my mark, the High Council grants him permanent legal claim over our northern territories. I looked out the window. "I am just a land deed with a pulse." “No, you are not my lady.” “Shut the f**k up.” I wasn't ready to pull up words of affirmation from Andrew, it wasn't helping. Suddenly the car stopped and the door was filled open in an instant. I didn't get a chance to practice inner mental stability. A row of guards hauled lined up in places so practised and precised My knees hit wet gravel the moment I stepped out. Just wow, what a sign of bad luck already. The Blood Eclipse packhouse rose ahead of me. Black stone. Dark glass. A fortress built by people who had never needed mercy. I pulled my coat around my body and walked up the steps. The heavy oak doors swung open before I could knock. He was leaning against the staircase like he had been waiting for something to disappoint him. Young. Brutally young. A black shirt stretched across a chest that looked carved from stone. Dark tattoos coiled up both arms. His jaw was sharp. His bottom lip had a silver hoop piercing that made him look like a God himself. Alpha Ricosta….he was supposed to be old, supposed to look old? He was 224 isn't that what the rumor mentioned? He was tossing a lighter. Click. Clack. Click. Clack. He did not look up. "Guest wing. Third floor." He said, catching the lighter one final time and closed his fist around it. "Do not touch anything." With that, he turned and walked up the stairs. Was that it? Was that all? No introduction. No threat. No acknowledgment that I was a human being standing in his foyer soaking wet. Just three sentences and a broad back disappearing into the dark. The silence he left behind was worse than anything he could have said. I followed behind anyway, barely reached the third floor landing when I heard a voice. "Well. He definitely did not warn me about you." I spun around. A man was leaning against the wall at the end of the corridor. Same height as Ricosta. Same dark hair. Same striking face. But his eyes held something entirely different: a warm, slow amusement that made my stomach do something stupid. He was not Ricosta. "Dante Vighann." He pushed off the wall and walked toward me with an easy confidence that felt nothing like his brother's cold precision. "And you must be the bride whose father's debt bought us." The moment he said that he kissed the back of my palm, and I felt his cold soft lips on it. "Camillia Vale," I said stiffly. His eyes moved over my face slowly. "Camillia." He said my name like he was tasting it. "My brother is an idiot." Before I could respond, a door somewhere below us slammed. Dante's expression shifted slightly. He tilted his head toward the staircase. "You should get some rest." His voice dropped lower. "And stay in your room tonight, little bride. This house has rules after dark." He disappeared around the corner before I could ask what that meant. Such a real wolf…. I like him already. ★★★ I didn't sleep, of course I dare not sleep in a place where I couldn't breathe properly. I lay on the unfamiliar bed and stared at the ceiling while the rain hammered the dark windows. Somewhere below me, two voices rose and fell through the walls. I crept to the door and pressed my ear against it. Ricosta's voice was low and controlled. "Stay away from her." Dante laughed softly. "She is interesting, You cannot blame me for noticing." Argh…. nonsense. The balcony called me before the thought of escaping did. It was late at night and I was sure no one was going to pay attention. My wolf instincts pushed me forward. ‘Go. Jump. Now.’ I did, landed my butt on the wet flower branches and definitely ruined it. The packhouse was massive and dark and completely silent at this hour. The night air hit me like a wall and I ran. The tree line was close. If I could reach it, shift, disappear into the forest— The moment I took another step I was gripped from behind my mouth, sealed with the arms so hard that I couldn't move. I was suddenly spun around. Ricosta stood behind me in the dark. He was not even breathing hard. He looked down at me with those dead storm-cloud eyes and said absolutely nothing. I yanked against his grip. "Let go of me." He did not let go. "I will not stay in that house like a prisoner," I hissed. "You cannot…" With a snap of finger, guard assembled immediately "Lock her up, basement 23.” “No…no wait…”