My wild, red hair had been tamed for the first time in years.
The thick makeup some artist had applied made me look like someone else entirely.
And the dress I had on was at least a decade out of style, on top of being way too prim and proper for me.
The alpha didn’t wantme.
That much was visibly clear.
And it was a miracle no one else had seen the scar Bo left on my shoulder, because I was positive the alpha would lose his shit about it when he did. Which probably wouldn’t be safe for me, considering he knew how to fight. Unlike me.
“You look beautiful,” my dad said from the doorway.
“I don’t even look like me,” I said flatly.
“You’re mating with the alpha. That’s what matters.”
“To you, maybe.” I met his gaze in the mirror.
There was no guilt on his face or in his eyes.
He genuinely didn’t give a shit what I wanted. Or needed. Or feared. He’d been included in the email about my wifely duties, too, so I was positive he knew exactly what he had sold me into.
The fucker was willing to give up anything for money and prestige.
Including me.
“You’re lucky he still wants you after yesterday,” Dad said.
I scoffed. “He wants mywomb.”
“I don’t care what he wants. It’s his.”
My inner beast snapped her teeth at him.
My outer beast did too. I heard them click together a little too violently.
Oops.
“I belong tome,” I shot back.
We both knew it was bullshit.
“For thirty more minutes,” my dad said.
My throat swelled.
My heartbeat picked up.
The day had actually come.
I couldn’t get away.
I’d tried to get through the window in my room last night. And past the guards at my door. I’d even tried to claw my way through the wall and floor.
None of it had worked.
I was stuck.
