Stella remembered her time at the Chevalier estate so vividly, as though it happened yesterday.
It was hard to forget everything that had happened and what the Chevaliers had put her through. The first time she witnessed Ophelia’s true nature was at her seventeenth birthday party. That also marked the beginning of Stella’s nightmare.
“You dare to call this a present?” Ophelia’s voice cut through the banquet hall. “Do you think someone like me, the daughter of the Marquis, would consider wearing this meager thing?”
Stella had wanted to gift Ophelia something meaningful. Hence, she had bought her a simple, elegant bracelet made of lavender-colored crystals, matching the scent of her pheromones. Of course, it had not been cheap. The alpha chose a timeless design, suitable for a lady to wear on any occasion. Unfortunately, it was considered far less lavish compared to what high-ranking noble ladies typically wore.
“…”
Facing Ophelia’s sudden change in temperament, Stella was at a loss for words. She watched the bracelet shatter as Ophelia tossed it onto the floor like trash. Whispers of humiliation rippled from every corner of the hall, coming from members of the Chevalier branch family. They knew Stella was a member of House Albrecht, the daughter of the former duke, yet she seemed to lack even the basic knowledge to choose an appropriate gift for a noble lady.
“What is that cheap thing?” one of the ladies beside Ophelia commented. “I’ve never seen that kind of thing before in my life!”
“I know, right?” The second cousin shot a condescending look at Stella. “How could she present such a cheap toy to our Ophelia?”
Ophelia then ordered the butler to clean up the mess and throw the bracelet away. Even then, Stella stayed composed since it was technically still her fiancée’s birthday. She pressed her lips together, forcing herself to apologize for ruining Ophelia’s mood on such an important day, and took her leave. At that time, she had naively thought she was genuinely building a good relationship with Ophelia, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.
In the public’s eye, Stella and Ophelia appeared close, seen as the perfect couple.
In truth, she was the Chevalier’s prisoner. This arranged marriage was a cover. House Chevalier had played a major role in supporting Anthony’s ascension, and Stella was just a reward for their loyalty. Her half-elder brother couldn’t have cared less what Chevalier decided to do with her. Ophelia could do whatever she pleased with Stella.
Everyone in the family knew her as Ophelia’s pet. If Stella ever resisted or defied the Chevaliers, the family wouldn’t hesitate to oppress her until she submitted. The young alpha was forced to attend every family dinner, seated beside her fiancée. For a month, they deceived her with warmth and hospitality. It was all staged to make Stella lower her guard before they revealed their true selves. Raw and twisted.
“Stella, have you ever tried this drink?” A pink-haired man said, taking a sip of the family’s finest wine. “This is an exquisite wine from the finest vineyard in Northland, owned by us, of course.”
Theo Chevalier, the eldest son of Marquis and Ophelia’s elder brother by three years. He inherited Marquis’s pink-shaded hair and Marchioness’s amber eyes.
“Unfortunately, I am still underage to drink,” Stella replied calmly. “I can’t offer any comments on that matter.”
“That’s rude of you to refuse my offer.” Theo pressed further as he wore a smug smile.
He snapped his fingers, wordlessly ordering the nearby servant to pour her a glass of red wine. However, Stella politely declined. In aristocratic society, it was deemed inappropriate to drink before reaching the age of seventeen. Of course, Theo knew this basic etiquette very well, but that didn’t stop him.
“It wasn’t my intention to offend you, Lord Theo.” Stella’s tone stayed calm. “I simply find it inappropriate to do so at the dining table.”
He fell silent before rising from his seat. Theo made his way to Stella with a glass of wine in hand. She braced herself and expected him to force her to drink, but what she wasn’t prepared for was what came instead. He poured a full glass over her head, drenching her hair and shirt.
“Now, you can tell me what it tastes like,” Theo said, his tone laced with satisfaction.
“—!?” Stella was at a loss for words. She rose sharply from her seat and shot daggers at him. “What is the meaning of this—”
She was cut off mid-sentence when Theo’s fist struck her stomach. The sudden ache caught her off guard. She sank to her knees, gasping for air. Before she could recover and rise again, the pink-haired alpha had already rested his foot against her shoulder, forcing her back down onto the floor. Despite the display of violence, everyone continued their meal as though nothing happened.
“Brother, your wine got on my clothes.” Ophelia sighed, looking at the wine stains on her fine dress. Her words were just as cold and heartless as her elder brother’s. “Do you know how expensive these clothes are?”
“My sincere apologies, Ophelia.” He turned to her with a smile. “How about I take you out to the city after lunch to go dress shopping? You can buy anything you want.”
Theo spoke casually with his little sister while his feet continued crushing Stella. The moment the man felt her resist against his sole, he delivered a violent stomp, forcing her back down.
“U-Ugh—!”
“Ah yes, you haven’t answered me yet.” Theo turned his gaze to her. The scent of whisky in the air grew thicker, exerting absolute dominance over Stella. “What does Chevalier wine taste like to you?”
“You shouldn’t try to break Ophelia’s toy, Theo.” A pink-haired beta lady exhaled softly as she interjected into the conversation.
Eleanor Chevalier, the youngest daughter of the Marquis, was born to his second wife, making her half-sister to Theo and Ophelia. In fact, she was just a few months younger than Ophelia. Marquis Chevalier had three wives and four children, nothing out of the ordinary in noble society where alphas often have multiple partners. Theo and Ophelia had been born to Marchioness Shannon, his first wife. Eleanor was born to his second wife, Lady Florence.
“Oh, my bad then…”
He lowered his gaze at the young black-haired alpha and met those icy blue eyes, glaring intensely up at him. Even beneath his feet, that had not killed her spirit. Like a predator, waiting for its chance to attack him. Stella’s defiance only fueled Theo’s aggression. His smirk widened with thrill, and he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of face she would wear once he shredded every last bit of her dignity.
“You should train your dog properly, Ophelia,” Theo said. “She’s so unruly and dared to refuse my offer.”
“I’ll make sure to educate her properly.” Ophelia brought the rim of the cup to her lips, sipping her tea nonchalantly. “Can we continue our meal, or are you going to keep hurting my alpha?”
“Right, I forgot that she is your favorite.”
He gave her one last kick before returning to his seat to resume his meal. Amid the pain and humiliation, Stella slowly glanced at Ophelia from the corner of her eye. There were no signs of emotion on her face. She simply ordered Stella to clean up and get ready to leave for the city in thirty minutes. All Stella could do was keep her lips shut and comply with Ophelia’s orders.
At the appointed time, Stella got into the carriage with Ophelia and sat beside her. Across from her sat Theo, clearly unimpressed that his sister brought her along. He made no effort to hide his bitterness towards her.
“Do we need to bring this mutt with us?” Theo let out a sharp exhale. “Leave your dog behind.”
“Mind your language when we’re outside, Theo.” Ophelia reminded him sternly. “Stella and I have an image to maintain in public, if you care to recall our past conversations. I expect you to behave like a good brother around her.”
“Hmph, fine.” He threw himself back against the seat. “I suppose I’ll play along with your game.”
Stella stayed quiet while keeping her eyes fixed out the window for the entire ride. She heard the siblings speaking in the background, but she ignored every bit of it. Once they arrived in the city, Stella followed Ophelia and Theo to every high-end boutique they came across. The omega tried on every dress that caught her eye and picked a few of her favorite choices from the racks.
“What do you two think about this dress?” Ophelia turned to the two alphas, standing off to the side.
“You’re beautiful in anything, Ophelia.” Theo smiled, wearing a perfect brotherly façade before turning to Stella with a warm smile. “What do you think, Stella?”
His smile made her nauseous. She wished that they would ignore her instead, rather than forcing her to be involved in these pretentious conversations.
“What do you think about this dress, Stella?” Ophelia pressed again, since Stella refused to answer her question earlier.
“…I believe it will be beautiful on you.” Stella forced those words through her teeth. She answered only to end the conversation.
Ophelia smirked quietly, laced with satisfaction, before she continued trying on more dresses. Noble ladies typically had their handmaidens help them change, but Ophelia hadn’t brought hers today.
“Lady Ophelia, we have a selection of professional staff members who can assist you in the dressing room if you would like.” A female boutique lowered her head as she spoke.
“That’s fine. I have my fiancée who will help me.” Ophelia glanced over to Stella with a playful smirk.
It was intentional that she had left her handmaiden behind. This was scripted from the start just to torment Stella. As they stepped into the changing room, Ophelia made her alpha unzip her dress from behind and helped her into a new one.
Then the sweet scent of lavender hit Stella, thick and alluring. She nearly choked and had to hold her breath. Of course, Ophelia had done this on purpose. Exposing her scent gland, letting her pheromones flood the air to tempt the young alpha into her little game. Stella bit down on her lip and endured it. Thankfully, her resentment towards Ophelia was strong enough to give her the strength to resist.
“Which color do you think suits me?” Ophelia glanced over her shoulder to ask for her opinion.
“I couldn’t care less about what you want to wear,” Stella responded, her tone harsh and cold.
“You can at least pretend to say something,” Ophelia said as the corner of her lips curved up. “We’re still outside.”
She turned and gripped Stella’s injured shoulder firmly, making her wince in pain. The pink-haired omega leaned in closer, her lips grazing her ear.
“If you give me a thoughtful answer, I will consider treating you nicer,” Ophelia whispered, her tone soft and low.
“What makes you think I would trust the words of a Chevalier?” Stella responded, almost hissing.
“I keep my word.” Ophelia smiled with quiet confidence. “Look at me, and tell me what color suits me best.”
She had no intention of stopping or leaving this changing room until Stella gave her the answer she wanted. The young alpha exhaled loudly as her brows furrowed.
“Something white or blue,” Stella said as she glared at her. “There, is that good enough?”
A soft, satisfactory smile formed across her face before she continued with her shopping. Ophelia picked a handful of dresses before visiting the next shop to find matching accessories for her new wardrobe. By the time they returned to the estate, the sky had already turned scarlet.
“Stella, take all my dresses back to my room,” Ophelia ordered her fiancée as she stepped out of the carriage.
“…” Stella exhaled quietly. A hint of annoyance flickered in her eyes.
The moment Theo caught Stella having an attitude toward his sister, he didn’t hesitate to discipline her on the spot. Just as the young Albrecht was carrying the bags, his hand seized her shirt collar at once.
“Hey mutt, how dare you show my sister an attitude—” Theo raised his voice, and Stella could see his hand clutched into a fist, ready to strike.
“Theo, I told you I'd be the one to discipline her.” Ophelia snapped and shot a glare at him. “Don’t cross the line.”
Perhaps Stella was lucky that Ophelia intervened just in time before this impatient alpha could’ve struck her in the face. Theo reluctantly let go of her before returning his gaze to his sister.
“I’m just concerned about her unruly attitude.” Theo tried to explain himself. “No one disrespects my sister in front of me like that.”
Shortly after, they parted ways, and Stella followed Ophelia back to her bedchamber. Once she set all the bags down, she quickly returned to her room without a word. As a prisoner in this household, Stella received a room connected to Ophelia’s. This way, the omega could keep a close eye on her day and night.
However, Stella stopped dead in her tracks before she could take another step inside.
It was a mess. Everything in her room was destroyed. Anything that could be torn had been shredded to pieces, scattered across the floor. The furniture had been heavily damaged beyond repair. For a moment, Stella wasn’t sure how to feel. The abuse and oppression had already numbed her. She felt nothing. This manor was already hell enough; it wouldn’t make a difference that her room had become another one too.
“That Theo…I didn’t expect him to be this childish.” Ophelia said with a sigh as she stood behind her. “I knew he was up to something mischievous again.”
Ophelia looked over Stella’s shoulder and witnessed the state of her fiancée’s room with an indifferent expression. She turned to her handmaiden, Emily, and ordered her to take care of Stella’s room and replace everything by the following evening.
“Emily, I need to see the room become spotless like new by tomorrow,” Ophelia instructed her maid in detail. “Replace everything that was destroyed. Use as much money as necessary. Theo is going to pay for the mess he caused me.”
“Yes, my lady.” Emily lowered her head. “I’ll get started right away.”
“…”
Upon hearing those words, Stella could hardly believe it. She was used to being oppressed by Ophelia, but now she was helping her instead. The omega could feel a pair of eyes staring at her, narrowed with disbelief.
“Is that how you treat someone who is helping you out?” Ophelia said, her arms crossed.
“I doubt you’ll do it out of goodwill,” Stella responded, her tone edged with suspicion. She had learned the hard way that a Chevalier could never be trusted. “You won’t do it without getting something in return.”
“It is simple, because you’re mine,” Ophelia smirked with ease, feigning worry. “It is my responsibility to take care of my pet, isn’t it? Otherwise, it would reflect on me poorly.”
“…”
“Now that your room is a complete mess, I suppose you had no choice but to sleep with me tonight,” Ophelia said as she watched Stella’s expression twisted with disgust, just the way she liked it.
Stella felt the chill run down her spine. She would rather sleep on the cold, hard floor than share the bed with this woman. Questions kept flooding her mind: What was she planning to do with her? Was this one of her schemes to get Stella to sleep in her room? Too many questions, but no answers. All just speculations.
“Don’t worry, I have no interest in mating with a child if that’s what you’re afraid of.” Ophelia giggled, clearly seeing how wary Stella had become. “I’m simply offering my room for you to rest in tonight.”
“Well, I’m glad you have some dignity left in you to not act so shamelessly.” Stella shot back.
“I’m simply keeping my word.” Ophelia shrugged. “Have you already forgotten?”
Back at the boutique, Ophelia had said she’d treat her nicer. Was it a coincidence? Was it staged? Stella didn’t know what to think or believe. Nevertheless, she would deal with it tomorrow. It had been a long, grueling day, and fatigue had started to take its toll on her.
As night fell, Stella was strongly against sharing the same bed with Ophelia, even though they were just going to sleep. However, that wasn’t going to stop the omega. She had her ways of forcing Stella to comply.
“Come sleep in bed, or get sedated.” She smiled as she offered two options. “Your choice.”
“…You’re insane,” Stella muttered under her breath.
“Fufu, be a good girl and come sleep next to me,” Ophelia said, tapping the bed. “I have an early morning tomorrow, and I need my sleep.”
Her sudden kindness made Stella even more cautious. As she reluctantly lay down in bed beside her, she stayed fully alert to Ophelia’s every movement. But that didn’t last long, as Stella eventually succumbed to exhaustion. It was a long, deep sleep, and surprisingly one of the best she had had since she moved here. When Stella opened her eyes, the sun was already up, and Ophelia was nowhere to be found.
A small note had been left for her on the bedside table.
[Your clothes for today are on the table. Go wash up, get changed, and come find me at the library.]
Ophelia’s kindness suddenly felt so foreign to her. Stella rose from the bed and realized that her shoulder wasn’t as inflamed as she expected, despite having ached so badly yesterday. For a moment, a thought crossed her mind, but Stella swiftly shut it down. It was best to expect the worst, especially from a Chevalier.
Stella got up, got changed, and let out a long sigh. A life in this hellscape felt never-ending.
Where was this going to end?
It wasn’t just Ophelia and Theo she had to deal with constantly.
Many members of the Chevalier branch family believed they also shared the same right to target Stella. They were typical arrogant nobles, delighting in sneering comments whenever they found the chance. They knew that Stella wouldn’t fight back, which made her a perfect target.
“Stella, do you think these earrings are pretty?” one of Ophelia’s cousins spoke up loudly. “Oh, wait! I doubt you would truly understand since you didn’t know how to choose a decent gift.”
“Oh gosh, you’re so mean, Mabel!” Another cousin chimed in.
“Don’t worry about it, Stella.” Mabel smiled in her direction, a condescending one. “It’s okay to not be well-versed in these things, since you’re an alpha. I can teach you what kind of things we Chevaliers love to wear.”
Mabel Chevalier, one of Ophelia’s older cousins, a distant one, and the one Stella considered the most obnoxious of the lot. She found ways to mock Stella whenever she could, and the other cousins would join in for a laugh. It was annoying, but far more bearable compared to Theo’s violent temper. At least Stella could simply ignore whatever came out of their mouths.
Today, the young ladies of the family gathered at the gazebo in the garden for an afternoon tea. Of course, Stella had been forced to come along with Ophelia. She stood off to the side, away from others, but that didn’t stop them from trying to draw her into their conversation.
“Stella, inform Emily to bring more tea for us,” Ophelia commanded with ease while sipping her tea.
“There are other servants nearby that you could order. Why must it be me?” Stella shot back, defying her fiancée in front of her cousins.
“Dear me, do I need to remind you who owns you?” Ophelia sighed, lowering her teacup onto the table. She glanced at Stella from the corner of her eye, cold and indifferent.
“…” Those words only reminded Stella of her true status within Chevalier’s territory, and then a sigh escaped her lips. “Fine. I’ll be right back.”
It was indeed a servant’s duty to attend to their ladies and lords, but Ophelia relished watching Stella follow her orders. Perhaps they took pleasure in humiliating a proud Albrecht alpha who couldn’t fight back, so long as she remained here. Once she returned with Emily and a tray of freshly brewed tea, Stella walked off to take a breather, leaning against one of the stone pillars near the gazebo.
It was a short, quiet moment of peace to herself. A moment she could relish.
She exhaled once more, gazing out at the beautiful garden as the cool breeze carried her mellow scent of pinewood. One by one, omegas at the tea table shifted their attention, glancing bashfully in Stella’s direction. Unlike other alpha men in the family with thick, musky scents, Stella carried a unique fragrance of smoked pinewood, as though standing beside a warm, cozy fireplace.
As much as they enjoyed toying with her, the omegas couldn’t deny the magnetic attraction they felt toward Stella. Compared to alphas they knew, the young Albrecht was considered quite charming, and her pheromones were pleasant and alluring. Hence, Mabel decided to test her luck and make a bold request of Ophelia.
“Hey Ophelia, would you consider letting me borrow your alpha sometime?” Mabel asked nonchalantly.
“Borrow her for what purpose?” Ophelia replied with a question of her own, her eyes still on her cup of tea.
“You know what I mean. Just a couple of days to have some fun.” Mabel giggled. “She’s your alpha, but there’s no harm in sharing a little, right?”
Stella heard every word, and her face twisted with disbelief. She felt nothing but pure disgust and was taken aback by how shameless they were. No one in their right mind would boldly ask their own cousin to let them sleep with her fiancée. If it ever came to that, Stella was certain she would fight back regardless of the consequences that followed. She could tolerate abuse and disdain, but not this.
“Ophelia, have you slept with Stella before?” Mabel pressed on. “Is she good in bed?”
“Gosh, Mabel...” Another cousin nudged her shoulder. “That’s inappropriate of you to ask—"
“Oh please, I know all of you have the same question.” Mabel chuckled as she knew everyone at the table shared her curiosity, but only she dared to ask.
Ophelia took her time enjoying her tea while her expression remained unreadable. Everyone, including Stella, waited for her response. As she slowly lowered the cup onto the table, her icy green eyes met Mabel’s.
“How bold of you to assume that I would share what’s mine with anyone else.” Ophelia’s voice dropped to a freezing temperature, instantly wiping away the smiles they had seconds ago.
That wasn’t a question. It was a threat, a warning to remind her foolish cousins of their place. The atmosphere turned eerily silent all of a sudden as they knew they had crossed the line with Ophelia.
“Our apologies, Ophelia.” One of the cousins tried to ease the tension before glancing at the others around the table. “I think we joked a little bit too much, isn’t that right?”
“I-Indeed! We’re sorry if it sounded like we crossed the line.” Another cousin chuckled nervously.
Stella knew that wasn’t a joke. If Ophelia were to give them permission, they would’ve gone along with it without hesitation. The only reason they backpedaled was that they had realized they had crossed the line with her. Ophelia smiled quietly, but her eyes remained cold and indifferent. Her gaze alone was enough to send chills down their cowardly spines.
“Let me be clear. Stella is mine alone to enjoy.” Ophelia continued. “She is not here for your amusement, to satisfy your lust and thirst for a bed partner.”
Her sharp tongue instilled fear in them at once. As expected from the Marquis’s eldest daughter, Ophelia didn’t tolerate their ignoble behavior and rebuked them openly. If Stella had to be honest, she was satisfied with the look on all their faces: fear and shame. All of a sudden, everyone sided with Ophelia and collectively agreed that Mabel had crossed the line. With no one on her side, Mabel’s hand curled into a fist and trembled with humiliation until her knuckles went pale.
“I just remembered I have matters to attend to,” Ophelia said as she rose from her seat. “Please continue to enjoy the afternoon tea.”
She smiled nonchalantly as she excused herself. Stella followed closely behind her and exhaled with relief. For once, she was grateful Ophelia had not stooped as low as her relatives, which spared her life from those shameless vultures.
Once arrived in Ophelia’s bedchamber, she ordered Stella to sit down on the couch. She did as she was told while the older omega studied her quietly, her expression indifferent, and her eyes indecipherable. The next thing Stella knew, her face had snapped to the side. Then followed a sharp, stinging pain spreading across her left cheek. She sat stunned for a few seconds before her mind registered what had happened. Her brows furrowed with a mix of anger and confusion.
“You…”
Stella shot daggers at her, but Ophelia was completely unbothered. She began to reprimand her for needlessly attracting her omega relatives at the gazebo earlier with her pheromones. Though it had never been Stella’s intention, Ophelia decided to punish her regardless.
“How feral,” Ophelia smirked as she gazed down at her. “Should you be giving me that kind of look?”
“…” Stella refused to respond, her eyes still fixed on her fiancée.
“I suppose I must punish you,” Ophelia said, crossing her arms. “Remove your vest and unbutton your shirt. Now.”
“W-What are you—”
“Don’t let me repeat myself, Stella.” Ophelia cut her off mid-sentence. “Unless you wish to anger me.”
The more Ophelia treated her like an animal, the more her resentment grew. One day, if she managed to leave this hellscape, she vowed to make sure that the Chevalier would pay threefold for what they had put her through. For now, her priority was to survive, no matter what it took.
And so, she began to remove her outer vest obediently.
“Good girl,” Ophelia smirked quietly. “Unbutton just the first three.”
She watched Stella throw her grey vest aside before unbuttoning her shirt. The only thing keeping her from drowning in this humiliation was her desire for revenge. Once Stella undid the third button, Ophelia told her to stop. The omega moved closer and straddled her lap. This sudden closeness made Stella’s entire body tense up. The moment she tried to resist, Ophelia grabbed her face. So close now that it was impossible to avoid those piercing, deep green eyes.
“You’re mine,” Ophelia whispered, the corner of her lips curved up. “My sweet adorable alpha, entertain me.”
“You—!”
Ophelia pushed her fiancée’s head to the side, burying her face into the crook of her neck, lips brushing against her smooth skin. Stella jolted with disgust. She resisted, trying to push Ophelia off, but the omega shifted her weight to pin Stella down. Sometimes, being born an alpha made things difficult. With every breath, Ophelia’s sweet fragrance stirred her senses, warming her body from the inside and wearing down her resolve to resist.
“Wait!” Stella raised her voice, resisting desperately. “Don’t you dare—!”
Something like teeth grazed the juncture of Stella’s neck, exactly where her scent gland was. She shoved Ophelia back on instinct, which only annoyed the omega. She let out a sharp exhale before the sharp crack of the slap echoed. Burning numbness spread across Stella’s cheeks again as she pressed her lips together. That slap was a wordless warning.
“Try pushing me away again, and I might reconsider Mabel’s request.” Ophelia’s voice dropped to a freezing chill, sending a shiver down Stella’s spine.
“…!!”
“Apologize, and I’ll consider forgiving you.” Ophelia stared down at her, waiting.
“…My apologies.” Stella forced those words through gritted teeth.
Her icy blue eyes burned with resentment, both fists clenched so tight her knuckles turned pale. Now that Ophelia was satisfied with the apology, she smirked and leaned in closer. She interlocked their fingers together, keeping Stella’s hand occupied and unable to push her away again. Stella hated it, but what could she do? She resisted, fighting back the disgust.
“Very good…” Ophelia whispered. “Make sure to put on your best act and please me.”
Her lips returned to the juncture of the alpha’s neck. She breathed in deeply, filling her lungs with Stella’s pheromones. The faint, burnt scent of pinewood mirrored her alpha’s current bitter mood. At least, it was enough to heat Ophelia’s body.
The lavender fragrance grew stronger, sweeter, and more intoxicating.
Stella bit down on her lip and swallowed hard. Her body and mind were at war with each other, yearning for two completely different things. It was truly an excruciating experience. The more Ophelia’s lips grazed her skin, the hotter Stella’s body burned until it was impossible to control her pheromones.
“G-Guh…” Stella breathed heavily, wincing with discomfort and pleasure. “Nngh…!”
The moment Ophelia’s teeth sank into her neck, all the strength drained from her body at once. She gripped the omega’s hand tighter, trembling. The young alpha panted heavily as she desperately fought against her primal instincts, and it was exactly the sight Ophelia loved to see.
“How does it feel to be marked for the first time?” Ophelia studied the claiming mark now printed on Stella’s neck. “It feels good, doesn't it?”
“Shut…up…!” Stella muttered with great effort. Even with her body weakened by Ophelia’s enticing pheromones, the raging fire beneath those blue eyes still burned fiercely. “You are…disgusting!”
“You could be a little bit more honest, like your body.” Ophelia chuckled softly. “Your pheromones smell even sweeter than before, blending so well with mine.”
She kissed the bite mark again, savoring Stella’s pheromones. The young alpha could despise it all she wanted, but the chemistry between an alpha and omega was undeniable. Stella’s body didn’t dislike what Ophelia had done to her. After a few breaths, the omega pulled back to gaze at her stubborn, rebellious alpha.
“I don’t dislike how you are so stubborn,” Ophelia said as she gazed into her fiancée’s blue eyes. “It excites me to see how long you could last before you surrender yourself to me.”
A smirk touched her lips before she leaned in and sealed their mouths together. Stella was caught completely off guard, eyes widening, before she felt Ophelia’s tongue slip past her lips. She tried to gasp and pull away, but that made the omega deepen the kiss. The more she resisted, the longer their lips stayed locked. The sweet scent of lavender flooded her mouth and airway, nearly choking her.
All Stella could do was squirm helplessly beneath Ophelia until she was satisfied.
With every act of cruelty from the Chevaliers, it only nurtured the seed of resentment in Stella’s heart grew deeper. All the humiliation and abuse, she would never forget any of it. This first kiss. This first marking. Stella knew that this was just the beginning.