ROSALIA’S POV
I slowly lifted myself to my tippy toes and placed my lips on his.
His lips, which always felt sweet and welcoming, now felt sour and distasteful.
The kiss barely lasted 2 seconds before I immediately pulled away.
“That’s not how you usually kiss me,” he complained.
He placed his arm around me and pulled me back in.
A shiver ran down my back, and I tried to step away, but his hand kept me firmly in place.
“Don’t be dramatic.” He lowered his head and whispered in my ear.
I wanted to get as far away from him as possible, but I stayed still.
He kissed me again and made sure it lasted longer this time.
When he pulled away from my lips, he then trailed kisses from my chin to my neck.
He kissed along the bruises he had formed on my neck.
They felt like threats.
When he let me go, I quickly slipped away and ran toward the door.
As my hand wrapped around the handle, Alphonso had already reached me and was standing behind me.
His hand came over mine on the door handle and stopped me from leaving.
For how long do you plan to torture me, Alphonso!?
“I love you, Rosa,” he whispered in my ear as he pressed his muscular body into mine.
I stilled, waiting for him to leave.
However, he remained pressed against me.
Then it finally clicked what he wanted from me.
“I love you too, Alphonso,” the words choked out of my mouth.
The words I had said to him countless times so effortlessly now felt forced and constrained.
“If you try to run, I’ll find you,” he warned.
He kissed the top of my head and moved away from the door.
Finally, I could leave.
My body was still shaking as I walked down the hallway from his office.
A scream left my lips as my hand wiped my mouth of his kisses.
Had he changed, or was he always like this?
But I never noticed?
In a week, we would form the mate bond.
I couldn’t let that happen.
A mate bond was binding by law; the female belonged to her mate.
No one could override the Moon Goddess’s law.
Alphonso and I would be stuck together forever once the bond was sealed.
Not to mention, the mechanics of the mate bond allowed the two bonded to sense and feel each other’s wolves and abilities (if any) by becoming ‘one’.
A shiver went down my spine at the thought of him discovering it.
If he wants me this bad with no ability, I don’t want to imagine what he will be like when he knows.
Aimlessly walking around, I found myself in the Ramirez gardens.
This was where I’d met David the night before.
Was it really impossible to run away?
Could Alphonso have been bluffing to scare me?
Who am I kidding?
He’s a powerful alpha and a billionaire.
Realistically, he might find me before I’d even left Madrid.
A deep, defeated sigh left my mouth.
For a while, I just sat in the gardens, terrified for my future.
A screech from the corner brought me out of my thoughts.
I went toward the sound and found Patricia.
She was with a Ramirez sentinel, kneeling beside a guard dog that lay on the ground.
As the official Ramirez Pack healer, she had to come to the estate every day to do her duties.
Mainly tend to Sentinels or the Ramirez family when they were injured or fell sick.
Her hand glowed as she held the dog and touched its throat.
A large, thin object was stuck in its neck.
“Good boy,” she praised the dog once it was out.
He barked, and it came out as an odd screeching noise.
Like it had inhaled a helium balloon.
“That doesn’t sound quite right,” she laughed, then touched the dog’s throat again, and her hands glowed.
The dog’s bark improved, as its pitch sounded more normal.
Part of me felt jealous watching Patricia effortlessly use her powers.
She had had many years to practice and control them.
She also did ability studies at university to learn more about them.
Hopefully, I could be that skilled with my powers in a few years.
She then said a few words to the sentinel before he left with the dog.
Patricia got up and saw me as she turned around.
She smiled and began making her way towards me.
I let out a sigh.
Should have left before she saw me.
“Hello, Rosalia, I’m on my way to give a report to Alphonso,” she said, laughing.
I rolled my eyes.
“You look excited,” I commented.
“Of course I’m excited; you never know what might happen,” she said cheerily, implying she might do something with Alphonso.
Was she okay with this situation?
Us having to share him?
And why was she making it seem like she was winning him over from me somehow?
I thought of the vision of her speaking with her mother last night and how she eventually wants to be Luna.
Last time at the engagement party, I lost my composure with Patricia.
But wouldn’t fall for it again this time.
Why would I fight over Alphonso?
“I hope you enjoy your time. You have to make the most of your situation, I guess,” I said casually, an idea suddenly coming to mind.
“Excuse me?” She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
“Well, because that’s all you’ll ever be, isn’t it?” I tested her.
Doubt was on her face.
“I’m not sure I’m following you,” She snapped in annoyance.
“It’s quite simple, really. Think carefully: why am I, the woman with no ability, still getting to be his Luna even though you’re right there? It makes no sense.”
The confidence wiped clean off her face, and a frown appeared.
“You’re talking nonsense.”
A cynical smile spread across my face as an idea came to mind.
“Am I?” I snidely replied.
“It’s obvious, Patricia. All you’ll ever be is a side chick, but he will always come back to me and present me to the public.”
Hurt and nervousness were clear on her face.
My vision had been right about her.
I saw a large group of sentinels marching and walking through the park, and I secured an escape route.
“Face it, once Alphonso and I are BONDED, there’s nothing you can do. A mate bond is permanent after all,” I said, scaring her.
A wolf can only form a bond once; even in death, you remain bonded to your partner.
Theoretically, if you can break the bond, you can form another.
However, breaking one is extremely difficult and risky.
It’s a taxing and precise ritual that has to be performed with both parties alive and present.
Which is why the Moon Goddess temple doesn’t allow bonds to be broken.
Failure can cause intense physical pain, resulting in illness, damage to the wolf, and damage to the ability, if they have one.
“…All you’ll ever be good for is a warm wet hole,” I continued.
I didn’t mean to be so crass and distasteful with my words.
Patricia was fuming.
Her face was practically red and her hands formed into fists.
Good.
Get angry.
The angrier you are, the harder you’ll work…
“You fucking bitch!” She screamed and lunged toward me, but I dodged and ran away laughing.
I headed for the group of sentinels and ran through them to avoid Patricia.
I heard a frustrated sigh as I ran out of the gardens and into a corridor leading to one of the many mansion entrances.
Perhaps there was a way out of this.
I can’t fight Alphonso directly.
However, maybe I don’t have to.
David came to mind during my conversation with Patricia.
Perhaps I could fit him in this as well.
I took his contact information to help him out with his debt.
Though impulsive, risky, and unfair my idea might be, I have no choice.
I would compensate him well for it.