Mated To My Sister's Boyfriend

Chapter Three: A dream and a Nightmare

Marina's POV

“This looks great,” I giggled excitedly as I delicately donned the last dress in the black box set aside for me in my room by Alpha Dunne.

Staring at my reflection in the large, gold-plated mirror beside my bed, a grin sprouted out on my face. My simple, yet classy blue gown showcased just enough cleavage and featured a high slit on the right side and the ambient lights hanging from the ceiling further enhanced its allure. The fit was so impeccable that it felt tailor-made for me.

Maybe it was. Perhaps, Alpha Dunne had the perfect image of exactly how his mate should look and ordered the tailors to craft the dress meticulously. Or maybe it was just me trying to put things together that didn't exist and why not?

He had opened the door for me to get inside like a perfect gentleman. He ensured that there was foodstuff available in the kitchen. He even got me beautiful dresses. Surely, he felt something for me.

Dressing down in a big white polo and black shorts, I returned the box to the wardrobe. Then, I sat on my expansive bed and let my eyes wander over the walls which were painted in a luxurious velvety burgundy well adorned with portraits of the previous Luna Queen, Alpha Dunne's mother, hung just above the well-polished table opposite my bed.

The growling of my stomach reminded me that I'd had nothing to eat since I woke up in the morning. My head ached a little too. Still, the fear of facing Alpha Dunne confined me to my room. I didn't want to get berated by him again.

But I had to leave eventually. I couldn't let myself die of hunger just to avoid his cruel words. I had to make food for myself and for him too. He hadn't left his room since morning either.

“Maybe if we give him some food, he'll see that you love him and he'll love us too,” Ariel suggested in a whisper.

She was right. At least, I hoped she was. Regardless of what we both wanted, we were mates. The Moon Goddess had bound us together, so we just had to make it work. I had to make it work. Maybe if I showed him so much care, he'd change. Maybe.

Gathering some courage, I got out of bed and walked down the hallway. His scent filled my nostrils as I walked, growing stronger, the closer I got to his room.

I could hear his every breath, his footsteps as he slowly paced around his room. Even when muttered a few words under his breath, I heard him. So, I wondered… Was it just the mate bond or did my hearing get weirdly better? I couldn't tell.

He was awake and could walk out at any time and that made my heart throb even faster. Yet, I walked down the stairs. I hadn't gone that far to cower back to my room.

On getting to the kitchen, I was met with the warm glow of pendant lights above which cast a beautiful ambience on the sleek, polished surfaces. My eyes darted around the large kitchen, with the neatly organised utensils and the well-polished wooden cabinet on the right side grabbing my attention the most.

Quickly, I cooked some pasta, scrambled eggs and beef as quickly as I could. It was the fastest thing I could make and one of my favourites too. Then I dished the food, placing his plate of food in a tray alongside a cup of water and some juice.

Leaving mine in the kitchen, I took the tray and walked back up the stairs to his room. My heart pounded nervously as I stood in front of his door, trying to gather some courage to knock.

Knock! Knock!

I waited anxiously as he walked to the door. With every step he took, my legs buckled in fear, struggling to hold onto the tray which threatened to fall from my shaky hands.

He asked me not to show up. No, he warned me sternly. He said my presence irritated him. Yet, he was my husband and I had to take care of him. Right?

“What the hell are you doing at my door? Are you out of your mind?” He barked as soon as he opened the door, almost causing me to drop the tray in shock but I held on still. “Did I not warn you to never come close to my room?”

“You – You did,” I stuttered, barely maintaining eye contact. “I was hungry so I decided to make some food for us both. I thought you might be hungry.”

“Some food? Did I tell you that I wanted any food from someone as filthy as you?” With a glare, he shoved the tray off my hands, spilling the contents on the floor.

I stared at the food that I made with love spilt on the floor and the ceramic plates shattered before returning my gaze to him. “Why…”

“I’m not hungry. Take your food elsewhere, anywhere but around me,” he rudely warned. “I don't want you, Marina. Don't try to win me over with your stinky food. Stay the hell away from me!”

As tears streamed down my cheeks, I wanted to yell back at him for treating me so badly. I wanted to bark at his face for making a mess of my efforts. But I couldn't.

“There's more in the kitchen just in case you get hungry soon,” was all I could say to him and it seemed to rile him up even more. “Or if you change your mind.”

“Nothing will ever make me change my mind,” he growled. “Are you not ashamed? You're trying so hard to win the heart of your sister's boyfriend with food? Don't you even have a conscience?”

That was it. His words were more than I could take. “I'm sorry,” was all that I could mutter before retreating quickly to the kitchen to get a broom and clean up the mess.

When I got there, I sat down on the hard marble and placed my hands on my head as I wondered what I had to do to win his heart. My appetite was gone as his words left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I recalled Mia's words too and I knew it was only a matter of time before she'd show up to fight for him. I had to do something. I had to find a way to get him to see just how much I loved him. I had to make him love me too, even just a little.

“Am I a bad person?” I whimpered to my wolf. “Is it wrong for me to want him for myself?”

“He’s our mate, Marina. He belongs to us,” Ariel assured me and that was more than enough for me.

I got up and picked up the broom with a renewed spark in my eyes as an idea popped up in my head.