ChapterOne
1116 Words
The church smelled like roses and candle wax.
Guests whispered and turned in their seats as the music played.
I held my father’s arm, walking slowly down the aisle toward the man I was about to marry—Ethan Blake, the perfect catch. He was handsome and polite, and he came from old money; he was every parent‘s dream. Ethan has always been friendly to me, so I told myself he was a good candidate for a husband. I don’t think I loved him, not really. But I just needed to settle down with someone.
I was halfway to the altar when the heavy wooden doors at the back slammed open.
The music stopped, and gasps rippled through the room.
A man stepped inside. He was tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair that fell over his eyes. His eyes looked so cold that they almost didn’t look human. He wasn’t dressed for a wedding. He was wearing a black shirt, a leather jacket, and boots.
And I knew exactly who he was.
Damian Blake. Ethan’s older brother. The one who’d left the family years ago after a fight no one would talk about. The family wasn’t expecting to see him again.
“Lena,” he said, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
My grip on my father’s arm tightened. “What are you doing here?”
He didn’t answer me. Instead, he walked straight down the aisle like he owned the place. Ethan stepped forward, trying to block him from proceeding.
“Damian, don’t,” Ethan warned.
Damian ignored him and moved ahead. When he reached me, he took my hand and pulled me toward him.
“What the hell—” I said, but he leaned down and whispered into my ear, his breath warm against my ear.
“You were never meant for him,” he said. “You were meant for me.”
Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist and turned for the door. The whole church was in full chaos. Someone yelled to call the police.
Damian!” Ethan’s voice rose. He stepped in front of us. “Let her go now.”
“Move,” Damian said. His tone was cold, and he seemed very determined to accomplish his mission.
Ethan didn’t move. “You’re insane.”
Damian sighed, already tired of the conversation. He shoved Ethan, and he stumbled onto the pews.
I tried to resist his pulling. “Stop! You can’t just—”
“I can,” he cut in, “and I am.”
In seconds, we were outside. The cold air hit my skin. My dress dragged over the ground as he pulled me toward a black SUV parked at the curb.
“Damian, stop!” I tried to twist away, but his grip only tightened.
“Get in the car,” he said.
“No!”
He opened the back door and pushed me inside. He didn’t push me aggressively, just with enough force to make it clear I wasn’t leaving.
I scrambled for the other door, but it wouldn’t open. I heard the clicking sound of the door. I knew I was trapped.
The driver hit the gas before I could think. I looked in the rear mirror, and I could see my family getting further away from me as we drove.
I pounded on the glass. “Damian! Let me out!”
“Sit back,” he said from the front seat.
“Why are you doing this?!”
He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “Because you don’t belong with Ethan.”
“You haven’t seen me in years! You can’t just decide—”
“I’ve always known,” he said. “From the first time I saw you, I knew you were supposed to be mine.”
I stared at him, my chest rising and falling too fast. “That’s insane.”
“Maybe,” he said, “but I don’t care.”
I shook my head. “Ethan’s your brother. This is—this is wrong.”
He looked away and frowned. “Ethan doesn’t deserve you. He never did.”
“You don’t even know me.”
His eyes darkened. “I know enough.”
I pressed back against the seat with my hands gripping the fabric of my dress. “You can’t keep me like this. People will come looking for me. The police—”
“They won’t find you,” he said.
I stared at him. My voice got lower. “Are you going to hurt me?”
He turned around and looked at me, and for the first time, he didn’t look angry. “No, Lena. I’m going to take care of you.”
“That’s not what this looks like,” I shot back.
He didn’t answer.
The drive was long and silent, except for the sound of the tires on the road. I kept my eyes on the door handle, but I knew it wouldn’t open from the inside.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the SUV turned onto a narrow road through the mountains. Trees stood on both sides of the road, blocking out any sunlight.
When we stopped, I saw a massive stone house set against the forest. I could see lights glowing in the windows.
Damian got out and opened my door. “Come on.”
I didn’t move. “No.”
“Lena,” he said quietly, but there was a firmness in his tone. “Don’t make me carry you.”
My eyes widened. I slid out of the car, keeping as much space between us as I could.
Inside, the house was warm, with a huge fireplace in the main room. Everything smelled like cedar and smoke.
“Upstairs,” he said, pointing to a staircase.
I crossed my arms. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what this is.”
He moved closer. I could hear his breathing. “This is me keeping what’s mine.”
“I’m not yours,” I snapped.
His lips curved into the faintest, coldest smile. “Not yet. But you will be.”
I swallowed hard. “You can’t make me love you.”
“I have time,” he said.
“How much time?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“One year and six months,” he said, as if it had already been decided. “That’s all I need.”
I stared at him, holding my overflowing dress close to my chest. “And if I don’t?”
His eyes held mine. He didn’t blink or look away. “You will.”
- Writer
