Alpha’s Betted Bride (Gabriella)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 He stepped into the room and walked to where the moonlight now showed him and all his anger. I wish he’d step back again and disappear into the darkness. His eyes were obsidian and his nostrils were flaring. “You dare walk away from me.” I gulped but tilted my head back, suddenly feeling very naked under his gaze. “I assumed the bed reached its max capacity,” I spat and took a step back as he came toward me. Alpha Aiden took one big step and I wasn’t fast enough to move as he grabbed my hand and pulled me in. My eyes gazed down at the floor, my front was pressed up against his, and our strengths couldn’t even be compared. Aiden had his wolf, I didn’t. “Look at me.” His voice rumbled and the darkness behind it caused shivers throughout my body. My eyes were still on the floor, my lips were parted and my breathing was getting heavier. His hand came around the back of my head and he tangled his fingers into my hair. I pinched my lips together to quiet a yelp as he pulled my head back, forcing my eyes to meet his. “You don’t ever walk away from me.” My hands were starting to tremble and the deeper I looked into his eyes the more I wanted to look away. There was a depth of pure darkness and hatred, there was no other emotion in his eyes. Flashback… it The leather came down on my back and this time t penetrated my skin. I knew I was screaming but I couldn’t hear the sound. The agonizing pain was continuing with every whip and the blood dripping down my back was cooling the skin. “Please stop!” I screamed as the tears ran down my face. “Will you disobey another order again?” “No!” My voice was hoarse and my whole body was shaking.

“Do you promise?” I nodded my head and another gut-wrenching scream left my lips as the belt whipped against my back in the exact same spot. “In words!” “Yes p I promise, please just- just stop. I promise,” I cried out. He tossed the belt aside and turned me around. His fingers caressed my cheek and he looked into my Ш 1/5 GND CHAPTER 7 eyes. “This is for your own good, Gabriella. You must learn to obey orders, you’re not like those friends of yours, and you do not have the freedom of making mistakes. Anything you do wrong can affect the whole pack, so never step over the borders again. Promise me. top “I promise,” I said quietly as I stared into the eyes of my father. My friends and I had left the borders to climb the hill on the other side. It was a giant hill and at the you could see everything. It was filled with the most beautiful flowers and when people turned eighteen 4 they would go up there and throw parties. It wasn’t forbidden for anyone else, just me. End of flashback… “Hey, open your eyes,” his voice had gotten softer and I hadn’t noticed how my eyes shut closed as the memory played in my mind. My body tensed when his thumb came up and dragged at my cheek. Had I been crying? F*ck… is hand was no longer on the back of my head but he was still holding onto my arm.

I My eyes opened slowly and I saw much more than I wanted to. His eyes were still as deep but wi much more swirling around in them. His eyebrows were hunched together. His lips were parted but closed just as quickly. As though he caught himself he stepped back and lifted his head. “Grab your things,” he said and clenched his jaw. “No, I’ll sleep here tonight,” I said quietly and wiped what other tears had fallen. “No you’re not, you’re coming with me and if you don’t come willingly I will toss you over my shoulder and carry you back,” He said with anger still laced in his voice. “Alpha-” “It’s Aiden,” he said and cut me off. He walked over and grabbed my dress from the hanger. He walked to the door and then stopped as he looked over his shoulder. “Just call me Aiden.” He said coldly and then walked away. I sighed and looked out into the dark hallway. r 2/5 GND CHAPTER 7 The memory was still in my head as though it had happened yesterday but it was five years ago. My feet were glued to the floor and I was contemplating walking after him or just staying here and hoping he’d leave me alone. The choice wasn’t mine to make though, as none of them were. Alph- Aiden came down again and didn’t speak as he walked over to me. “I warned you.” Was all he said as he lifted me up and tossed me over his shoulder. I started banging on his back and tossing my legs but his hold tightened. “Are you kidding me!” I screamed. “Shh, you’ll wake the whole f*cking pack.” He walked up the stairs as normal, like he didn’t have a person hanging off his back. I felt something eery as he stepped up on the second floor, as though

e was watching me. I raised my head but there was no one there and no movement. someone I needed sleep, I knew the nightmare would continue tomorrow but for now, I just needed to shut everything down. He tossed me down and I prepared for the impact of my body being slammed down on the floor but instead, I felt the softness of the mattress. I quickly pulled the shirt down and glared at him. Aiden didn’t seem bothered at all, he removed his shirt and his tie before starting on his pants. I averted my eyes and removed the covers, crawling down under them and pretending like he wasn’t undressing in front of “No need to shy away, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.” He said with a bored tone. Except I hadn’t, I hadn’t ever seen a guy naked before. This was also why Maries words earlier put me at ease when she said that there were no expectations. I heard the shower turning on and found peace in the short moment I’d be alone. I closed my eyes and burrowed my head into the pillow. Sleep covered me faster than I would’ve thought. I woke up to complete darkness. The shades were drawn and the heavy drapes hung in front of the window but when I turned and looked at the clock it was nine. My eyes scanned the room and reality hit me hard when I realized where I was. Aiden had taken me to his room last night and I fell asleep while he was in the shower. I turned my body slowly and looked behind me but he wasn’t there. The breath I had been holding exhaled and my body slumped gratefully. It was empty so he must’ve woken up and left earlier. I got up and opened my bag, taking my time as I went through my stuff. I grabbed a short floral dress and white sneakers. No sunlight was coming into the room but I was still sweating so there was no way I was wearing pants. 3/5 GNI

CHAPTER 7 I got into the shower and grabbed a clean towel as I stepped out. The mirror was covered with steam but as I wiped it I saw how much a little sleep had done for my face. 1 could either wallow in sadness or I could go down there and see what the day had to offer. Ideally far away from Aiden, or anyone for that matter but I couldn’t be too picky. The second that I opened the door I could hear the chatter. There were a lot of people here and I contemplated turning back and hiding in the room. No, Gabby, you got this. 1 straightened my back and put on the same mask of confidence I had worn since I was eight. “Gabriella!” Marie said loudly from across the room. I had followed everyone else into what I assumed was a dining hall. I plastered on a smile and began walking over to her. Several of the pack members turned their heads and watched me with different emotions swirling in their eyes as I walked up to the table. It was Marie and her husband along with two other people I didn’t know. Aiden wasn’t there, thank god. I “She pulled out a chair for me and I sat down. A woman of Maries age came with a plate of food an on the table was bread, jam, bacon, and coffee. “How did you sleep?” She asked and looked at me with those loving eyes. “Really good actually,” I said and smiled at her. “Gabriella, this is Cole, he is Aidens best friend and Beta and this is Bob, he’s our Gamma, he took over from his father when Aiden stepped up as Alpha.” guess I better try and remember these names. “It’s nice to meet you,” I said and smiled. Bob nodded his head with a mouthful of food but Cole was different, he had something on his mind and a little grin was what gave it away.

“You too,” Bob said once he had swallowed. “Yes, very much so. Tell us a little about yourself.” Cole said and leaned back in his chair. I eyed him for a second, he was making a stance and acting almost amused. “What do you wanna know?” I asked and started cutting into the eggs on my plate. “Anything-” He said and shrugged his shoulders. He made a thinking face and then shook his head. “-what do you miss most about your old home?” Getting right in there huh? O 4/5 Tue, May CHAPTER 7 He didn’t seem like a person you would spill secrets to so I trod carefully. “I haven’t really had time to miss anything yet,” I said and smiled at him but my smile was fake and he could see it. It was tense and I wasn’t making an effort to hide it. He narrowed his eyes and smirked. “Oh come on, there has to be something. Your old bed? It must be hard to have other people in your room when you’re not used to it,” he had a knowing look on his face. Did Aiden or that Sam girl tell him about the other night? “As I said, there hasn’t been any time to think of things like that. If it comes up, I’ll let you know,” I said and chewed down on the food. “I’d really like that,” he said and then chuckled. I didn’t know him and I knew nothing about him but my disliking was still there and it grew with every passing second. “Your brothers seem nice,” he said and my body tensed. He wanted a reaction and he was trying to find the right buttons to push to get one. I “They are,” I said but my voice was guarded and I cursed myself. A glint flashed in his eyes and I bit down on the fork as I placed more food in my mouth. The chair next to me was pulled out and I felt his shoulder brushing against mine as he sat down.

“Come on now, let’s talk about fun things,” Aiden said and leaned back in the chair. “How nice of you to join us, son,” His mom said with a stern voice and glowered at him. He winked at her and licked his lips. “I had some matters that needed to be taken care of,” He said. J 5/5