by Aria Chase
“Sign this.” Vasek stabbed a finger against a solid line. “And here, and here.” He indicated two more forms. “Initial these.”
With a frown, she leaned over the desk, intent on examining the papers. “What is it?”
“A prenuptial agreement.”
She gasped. “What?”
“It’s standard. Just sign.” Charlotte’s attempt at reassuring her lacked any sincerity. “Once you sign, Jared will sign as well.”
“Do you have an attorney, Miss Edwards?”
She shook her head, her heart jumping at the pleased gleam that entered Sewell’s eyes when she divulged that information. “I never expected to need one. What am I agreeing to here?” She let out another startled gasp when Vasek pushed a chair against her knees, forcing her to sit down or fall down. The three of them stood over her, intimidating her with glares of reproach at her slowness. She swallowed down the urge to mindlessly obey, focusing her gaze on Sewell. “What are the terms?”
“You’ll be generously compensated when you divorce. As long as you don’t act in an inappropriate manner during the marriage, you will receive a monthly stipend and a home anywhere in the world, provided it’s not on Evergreen Island.”
Charlotte interrupted Sewell’s oily recitation. “Please understand it would be awkward to have you remain on the island after a divorce.”
Sewell didn’t wait for Alyra to respond. “If you should have children, they will remain with their father. Again, you will be generously compensated for any inconvenience.”
Alyra shook her head. “No way.”
“Be reasonable. This is all standard.”
She turned her head to glare up at Vasek. “Somehow, I doubt that clause is standard. I want to speak with Jared.”
He couldn’t seem to hide his pleasure in saying, “He’s not on the island. I sent him into Seattle to handle some business for me.”
She nodded. “I see. What else is in here?”
“You will maintain proper decorum at all times. Should you cause a scandal, you immediately agree to a divorce. If you refuse, you lose all compensation.”
“Look.” Vasek took the paper from Sewell, slamming it down on the desk. “This is the most important thing. We’ve set the time limit on the marriage for two years. You behave, and you’ll walk away from this arrangement wealthier than you can imagine. Provide Jared with an heir before the dissolution, and you’ll be set for life. That’s all you really need to know.”
“Time limit?” Alyra looked at Charlotte, trying to hide the desperate confusion swirling through her. “I don’t understand.”
“You didn’t think this was permanent, did you?” Charlotte blinked, as if baffled by the concept. “Jared only needs to be mated to ascend. After he takes his place and everyone settles in, he’ll have no need for you. We’re merely making certain there are no ambiguities in the arrangement, such as the issue of children. Vasek and I prefer you not be the mother of our future grandchild, but we want that contingency covered.”
“I assure you, it’s all fair.”
She shook her head at Sewell, denying his assertion. “Your assurance means nothing. I know who you work for.” Alyra slid away from the table, gaining her feet. “I won’t do this. Jared didn’t tell me anything about this.”
“Unless you sign these papers, there will be no ceremony.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t care.” Anger propelled her to the doorway. She didn’t even stop to gather her clothes as she stormed through the house, ignoring the chidings issued from behind her. Not too loudly, she noted sourly. Mustn’t have anyone gossiping about what was happening at the Sundown place.
The rage carried her to her small home and lingered while she packed two suitcases. She was in the middle of filling the third when her door slammed open, and Jared stalked inside. A look in his direction revealed he wasn’t pleased, but she was beyond caring. She continued packing, dumping in toiletries without regard to neatness.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jared asked.
“I’m leaving.”
He took two steps toward her, his expression one of disbelief. “I thought we had settled all this. It was a shock to have Mother tell me you changed your mind. I was barely off the plane when she came running out to tell me, making no attempt to hide her pleasure.” He snorted. “Why are you doing this?”
“I’m just saving us two years, and you a pile of money. Oh, and of course, avoiding tainting your precious bloodline with my genes.” She slammed shut the case, zipping it so fast that her fingers stung. She heaved it beside the other two and paused to glance around, making sure she had retrieved everything that belonged to her.
He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m confused. What are you babbling about?”
She turned on him, her eyes flashing. “I’m ‘babbling about’ that damned prenup agreement, which spells out exactly what you expect of me, and for just how long. I guess it slipped your mind to mention it, huh?”
“Shit. I forgot all about that. Father mentioned it last night, but I left early this morning and didn’t have a chance to see you.” Jared’s brow furrowed. “What’s the big deal? He told me it was all standard.”
She sniffed. “Read it and tell me that.”
“There really isn’t time—”
“Go to hell. I’ve had enough with being bossed around and told what to do. I’m done.” She made a slicing motion with her hands. “This was insane. I knew it from the start, but I ignored it. I never should have let emotions get the best of me.”
“What do you mean?”
She bit her tongue as punishment for saying something she never planned to reveal. Her mind racing, Alyra pretended to misunderstand his question. “I’m talking about your mother and her mission to mold me into whatever she thinks I should be. She treats me worse than a child, Jared. She doesn’t respect me, and worse, she makes no effort to hide the fact.” A wave of exhaustion swept through her, and she sagged forward, hugging her middle. “I don’t want to be your mother’s puppet the rest of my life… or even the next two years.”
Jared shook his head, his irritation clear. “Whatever has you so upset, I suggest you get over it. I know Mother can be difficult, but she only wants what’s best for the pack. You’re not what she had in mind, but she’s doing her best to help you. Frankly, I’d expect a little gratitude, not all this complaining. It isn’t every day an Omega becomes Lupina. Did you think it would be easy?”
A bitter laugh escaped her. “No. I didn’t think at all. If I had, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“No, if your goddamned brother and my faithless fiancée had done any thinking, we wouldn’t be in this situation. It’s up to both of us to make the best of it.” His tone lost the sharp edge of anger, and he seemed to be trying to calm down. “I’ll go read the paperwork to see if anything is unfair. Just get ready for the ceremony. We’re getting married in two hours.”
She didn’t bother to respond, other than to sink into the nearest chair. The resounding slam of the door behind him revealed he was still angry. Alyra wanted to be, but her heart ached too painfully to allow anything to intrude besides the hurt she was feeling. It wasn’t a secret Jared didn’t love her. He had made it plain from the start that she had earned her position as future Lupina because of Elijah’s betrayal. So why did it hurt so much to have him make it so clear he had no love for her? Damn her treacherous heart, and damn Jared for making her feel this way.
6
Jared’s stomach turned over with disgust when he read the prenuptial agreement spread out on his mother’s writing table. His disgust wasn’t just with his parents and the attorney. It was also directed toward himself, for the harsh way he had spoken to Alyra. He’d had the nerve to tell her she should be grateful for what his parents were doing. After reading the conditions of the prenup, he was amazed she hadn’t done more than simply refuse to go through with the wedding.
Sick, he shook his head. “What were
you thinking, to do this?”
“We’re protecting our family.”
“You’re sabotaging everything.” He glared at his father, daring him with his eyes to repeat his words about protecting the family. “No wonder she tore out of here. I wouldn’t sign this damn thing. You’re predicting our marriage will fail before it even begins.”
“Be practical, Jared. It’s obvious your union can’t work. It’s better to have the terms of your deal set forth before you make it official.” Charlotte attempted to touch his shoulder, but he shrugged away her hand. That didn’t deter her. “It might have been a shock for the girl, but she had to realize upfront that this is finite, and she won’t be a Sundown just because she’s maneuvered you into having to take her as a mate.”
“I maneuvered her, if you must know.” With a snort, he tossed the papers at Sewell’s feet. “Get out. Now.”
“I have to be present for the signatures—”
Jared took a step toward him. “There aren’t going to be any signatures. I was amenable to a basic prenuptial agreement, because I knew Father would object otherwise. I didn’t expect this assault on Alyra. There’s no way in hell I’d make her sign that.” He turned his back on the attorney to stride to the door. “I’ll be lucky to get Alyra to go through with the ceremony. It’s going to take a long time to earn her trust again.”
“Why do you care, son?”
He paused in the doorway to stare at his father. “Because she’s my mate.”
“She’s trash, nothing more. If it weren’t for pity getting the best of me, she and that hooligan of a brother wouldn’t have gotten you into this mess. I never should have allowed their mother to become part of the Sundown pack.”
“And I never should have allowed you to talk me into that damn thing.” Jared turned away from them, ignoring the tears welling in his mother’s eyes, and strode through the house, making his way to Alyra’s.
Words circled through his mind as he walked, but he couldn’t decide what was the best way to begin. Should he apologize immediately, or first agree the terms stunk? Would it be best to smooth over the situation with the news he wouldn’t force her to sign a prenuptial agreement? Or should he tell her he had no intention of limiting the terms of their marriage to two years? After last night, he had no intention of letting Alyra go.
With a nod, as he knocked on her door, he decided that was the first thing he should make clear. She needed reassurance he wasn’t using her. In his anger last night, she had been a convenient substitute, but that had changed as he made love to her. Alyra inspired feelings in him that no woman had ever kindled.
He had felt indifference for Elise, accepting their union because he had to, but taking no joy in the idea. With Alyra, he couldn’t wait to get the ring on her finger and make their mating legally binding in every way. He just had to convince her to go through with it and hoped he could do so in a gentle way, rather than resorting to pressuring her. But whatever means it took, he wasn’t releasing her from her vow. She was his mate, and she would accept that before the night was through.
***
She had thought about running. The suitcases were in her hands, and she had opened the door, then changed her mind and closed it. After what Elijah and Elise had done, she had no choice but to go through with the marriage. If Jared demanded two years from her to pay for Elijah’s sin of falling in love with Elise, then she would give it to him.
By the ways of the pack, the sins of the father became the son’s. Using that reasoning, her brother’s crimes were hers. She would even sign that foul contract, because it didn’t matter. There would be no children, because there would be no sex. If he wanted a business deal, he would get it.
He couldn’t expect it to be both ways though. If Jared wasn’t willing to give their union an honest chance, she refused to sacrifice her love and pride on the altar of sexual desire night after night, in the hopes of eliciting a spark of emotion from her husband. It was better to be businesslike from the beginning, to force herself to accept their mating meant nothing.
When he knocked on her door, she cast another glance at her reflection in the mirror, deciding she looked passable. She had brushed her hair straight, letting it fall down her back. A careful makeup job hid most of her strain, and Visine had cleared up the red in her eyes from the storm of tears she had indulged in after accepting her fate. At another impatient knock, she rose from the vanity table and crossed the room to open the door. “Is it time?”
His eyes widened, and he seemed at a loss for words. “For what?”
“Has Reverend Cooley arrived? He should be here shortly, and there are a few things to finish on my dress.” She swept past him, closing the door with a click. Alyra took a few steps before realizing he wasn’t following. “Have you changed your mind?”
He shook his head, evidently stupefied. “I read the prenup—”
She pulled a face. “I overreacted, didn’t I? It makes sense to have the details of our partnership spelled out in writing. I should have enough time to sign it while the seamstresses finish the dress.” Once again, Alyra started walking, unsurprised when Jared caught up with her. His hand on her back caused a shiver of awareness to go through her, and she clenched her teeth, determined to ignore the frisson of sexual attraction.
“You don’t have to sign it. I sent Sewell away.”
“That was silly. He’ll just have to turn around and come back.” She marveled at her icy façade, amazed at how well she was maintaining it. “As your father said, it’s just standard.”
“I’m sorry about Father and Mother ambushing you that way.”
She shrugged. “I should have expected it. It just caught me by surprise, but I’m fine now. I’m grateful they’re looking after our interests.” A small smile of satisfaction tried to break across her lips when she saw Jared wince, but she forced it back. If she was going to be professional about this, she couldn’t toy with him.
He walked beside her into the house. Alyra dismissed her discomfort at passing through the front door and continued on to Charlotte’s sitting room at a militant stride, determined to get through the rest of the evening. After the ceremony, in the privacy of whatever room Charlotte assigned her, she could give in to the tears threatening to fall, but not before then.
They seemed discomfited by her reappearance, and neither Charlotte nor Vasek tried to meet her gaze. Alyra ignored their lack of welcome and walked with purpose to the writing table. She saw some of the forms spread out still, and a stack of papers on the floor. Sewell hovered in the background, and she was unsurprised to see him. Until the Ascension, Vasek was still Alpha, and he wouldn’t have allowed the attorney to leave, regardless of Jared’s orders.
With brisk efficiency, pretending it didn’t hurt, Alyra signed all the forms without speaking once. When she was done, she laid the pen on the desk and turned to Charlotte. “There’s still a bit of trim to add to the dress. Where is Aria?”
With wide eyes so like her son’s, she nodded. “I’ll fetch her.”
Alyra went to the chaise lounge that had previously held the bolts of fabric and settled into what she hoped was a serene pose, avoiding the gaze of Jared, Vasek, and Sewell. Her stomach tightened into knots when Jared bent over the desk to sign the contract. Deliberately, she forced herself to ignore his obvious reluctance, not wanting it to soften her. She was proud that her face remained frozen in an icy expression.
When Charlotte returned, seamstresses in tow, Alyra walked past her to the other women, addressing her questions to them. She no longer felt intimidated by her mother-in-law. Having her role spelled out for her eased her need to impress Charlotte. Why bother, when she would never earn her respect? Did it matter for two years? She would endure whatever the other woman threw at her.
She moved to stand on the stool so the women could finish the dress, letting her gaze focus on the mirror, though she didn’t see her image. Instead, she saw herself in two years, bitter and hardened from the experience of
being Jared’s business partner. It wasn’t an attractive picture, and she forced the thought from her mind, not wanting to dwell on how she would change in the next two years. By the time it was over, she would be a completely new person. Whether a better or worse person would emerge remained to be seen.
The chiming of the doorbell interrupted her thoughts and sent the seamstresses into a flurry of activity. Vasek, Sewell, and Jared had left the room, and Charlotte followed suit, presumably to answer the door to the reverend, as Aria secured a veil to Alyra’s hair. She placed it over her face, smiling with satisfaction. “You make a beautiful bride.”
“I dress for success.” At the flip remark, Alyra stepped off the stool, pausing only to thank the women for their hard work before leaving the sitting room to go in search of her errant groom and the waiting minister. Following the sound of voices, she navigated her way to what appeared to be a study a few doors down the hallway. What a romantic place for a wedding, she thought, rolling her eyes. It was the perfect setting for a business merger though.
As she entered the room, Charlotte and Reverend Cooley stopped speaking abruptly. From the flush on the celebrant’s face, whatever they had been talking about involved her, and it probably wasn’t flattering. She squashed the dart of self-pity that tried to flare and marched over to Jared, while nodding to the reverend. “Can we get this done?”
The old man’s eyes widened in his gaunt face, and he floundered, as if searching for a response. Vasek nudged his elbow, and Reverend Cooley nearly dropped his Bible. Upon clearing his throat and flipping open his Bible, he seemed to regain a measure of composure, and his voice was rich when he began reciting the traditional opening for the ceremony. “Dearly beloved…”
Alyra put up her hand. “Do you have a condensed version of that, Reverend? It’s been a long day.”
He looked to Charlotte for guidance. Her lips were so tightly pursed as to almost have disappeared into the depths of her mouth, but she managed a tight nod, her eyes spitting fire at Alyra.