His Quiet Protection
1126 Words
Grace paced the hallway as she waited for her mother, who was still in surgery. Cassey held her hand as they silently prayed and hoped for all to go well.
"You still have not explained to me how you came about the money in a short time," Cassey demanded.
She didn't even know how to tell her that she is now married to the feared Alpha Darius, how her life has changed in a flash, how she is now a placeholder for a girl she has never met before. Grace sighed deeply, her lips parted, but no words came out.
"Did you know where I went?"
"No, a friend just said they needed an extra hand with the cleaning service, so I referred you. Why?" She leaned in, excitedly, as though Grace had hot news for her.
Well, practically she did, but one part of the contract stated that she told no one of the marriage arrangement. Not many people had attended the wedding ceremony, but it had to be held for the peace of the pack.
"I..." Grace began to speak when the doctor came out.
They rushed to him as they waited for news of how the surgery went.
"The surgery was successful. Now we need to follow up closely on her treatment and recovery."
Grace finally breathed, her racing heart finally calmed. She checked her watch and saw it was 8 pm. Darius had only allowed her leave if she agreed to return before 9 pm. She had argued, but that had fallen on deaf ears.
"Thank you, Doctor. I need to go now," She said to Cassey, who was looking confused.
She would have guessed that Grace would spend the night next to her mother.
“Wait!” She held Grace's arm, stopping her from leaving. She could tell there was something up with Grace.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"Cassey, I need you to wait here. I want to get some flowers for her so she sees something beautiful the minute she wakes up." Grace said.
In the huge mansion, Darius paced the living room as he watched the time.
"Isn't she supposed to be back already?" he asked Peter.
"You don't think she ran away, do you?"
His brows shot up at the thought of Grace running away. "She wouldn't dare! Look up everything you can about her. I need to know who I married."
Peter looked confused. He had known Darius since they were kids, but he had never seen him get so restless and impatient. "Could it be the bond?" He thought within himself.
"So this is where you are." Grace looked up to see her stepfather, Richard, and stepbrother, Kain, walking up to her aggressively.
"Do you know the stress you have put us through? Do you know how hard it was finding you?" Kain asked.
"Where is your mother? Did you both think you could hide forever?" Richard grabbed the bouquet she was holding.
"Give that back!" Grace reached out for it, but Kain pushed her to the floor.
She fell hard and bruised her knees and palm.
It felt like she was back to being twelve. She was defenseless, helpless, and alone. Her stepfather would beat her for every inconvenience. She had never been free, and even now, as an adult, she still didn't feel free.
"How dare you and your mother run away from me!" Richard threw the flowers on the floor, stomping on them hard with his foot.
"Why can't you leave us alone? You don't need us, and we don't need you either!"
They both laughed as they exchanged a father and son glance. They really were blood-related. "Now that we have found you, you need to pay up for all the times you let Kain and me starve." Richard grabbed her purse and opened it as he poured out the contents.
Some bills poured out of it. Grace tried to pick the last cash she had, but Richard pushed her back and stepped on her fingers. "Arghhh!!" Grace screamed in pain.
Kain picked up the bills on the floor; his brows shot up as he counted the money. "Just $20! How can you be so pathetic?"
"Where are you keeping the rest of the money? You have to give us $4m."
Grace burst into laughter at the ridiculousness. Why should she have to give them any money? She dusted herself off the floor and stood in front of Richard.
"If you both need money so much, why don't you work for it?"
"Oh, I see you have a nice ring there." Kain grabbed her hand, and the diamond ring Darius had given to her shone brightly.
"Isn't that a diamond ring?" they both exclaimed.
"Did your sugar daddy give this to you? I know you couldn't have gotten this from your petty jobs," Richard said.
"You have been sleeping around, well, good for us. Once we sell this ring, we can finally live fine!" They both squealed at the thought of selling her ring.
"No! I will be in trouble if you take this. I can't let you." Grace bit her father's hand as she took to her heels.
"Get her, Kain!" He screamed, holding his bleeding hand as they chased after her.
"Not so fast, darling!" Richard grabbed her hair and pulled it back.
Just then, two black SUVs came to a halt in front of them. Some guards came out and opened the door. Darius stepped out of the car, his wavy hair flying as the wind hit his face. His broad shoulders sat well in the custom-made suit he wore. He adjusted his jacket and walked towards Grace.
"So this is where you were?" He looked up at Richard, who was still holding on to Grace's hair.
"And who the hell are you?"
His guards moved to hold Richard, but he raised his hand up, signaling them to hold on. "Who am I?" he asked.
"Oh, you must be the one sleeping with her. Look here, man, she belongs to me." Kain placed his hands on Darius's shoulders. The air stiffened, and even Kain knew he had messed up.
Darius grabbed his hand and twisted it to the back. “You are one foolish human."
"Let me go!" He cried out.
Darius flashed his red eyes at Richard, and he instantly let go of Grace's hair.
His guards stood quietly with their mouths wide open as they watched.
"If I were you, I would run as fast and far. I never want to see you around her."
Richard picked up Kain, who had fallen on the floor, holding his arm as he cried. "As for you, we will be back," he said as they scurried away.
- Writer
