✿ Ulyana's POV

I got off my motorcycle and sulked my way up to the front door. I heard voices and I listened in.

“How could you Eamonn? That girl had been through so much already. She lost her entire family before she was barely two years old. And now you go and fuck up and she has to deal with the casualties?!”

“Don't you think I know how bad this is, Yannick?!” my grandfather growled. “My only son, along with his wife... your only sister... and all three of my grandsons were victims of that massacre! How is it possible to forget that?! I made bad investments, I know that! I didn't mean to sink my empire into the ground, you should know that! And I most certainly didn't know Zoltan MacQuoid would drag my little girl into this!”

“And I know that, Bubba” I interrupted, fully walking into the living room.

They turned. All I wanted to do at this point was crawl upstairs into my bed because I knew I couldn't get out of this one.

“Oh, Ulyana” Yannick's wife cooed as she got up from the couch.

She made her way to me and the look on her face confused me. She'd never liked me. One time in third grade, I went over to stay with her and my uncle for a week. I had a nightmare one of those nights and instead of trying to calm my fussy seven-year-old self down, she locked me up in the dog cage in her study and told me she wouldn't let me out until I stopped crying.

I spent the entire night in that dog cage and Mitchell knew about it. But of course, he'd never want to cross his mother.

Sadness swirled in Fiona's eyes and I furrowed my brows. My uncle crept up beside her, the same look on his face.

“How are you feeling, kiddo?” Yannick asked, taking my hands into his.

I glanced at my grandfather who stood far behind with Brett behind him. He looked drenched with worry. I smiled at him and turned back to my uncle and his wife.

“Ulyana, you don't have to do anything that man says. We're a family and we're going to figure this out together” Yannick said.

“Your uncle is right, dear” Fiona sighed. “You don't have to fix the mistakes of others.”

I frowned at her. Others? This person was my family too. The person who loved me most in this world. My grandfather. Of course, I was going to fix this for him. Even if it meant marrying the actual devil.

“I think my granddaughter can make her own decisions, Fiona.”

I looked at him.

“Eamonn, are you serious right now? Are you really trying to get my niece to cover up your mistakes? She barely knows this man!” Yannick barked.

“Don't you dare use that tone with me Yannick!” he growled.

His expression was monstrous.

“You want to sell my niece off to that man?” my uncle asked. “She's all I have left of my sister and you want to pass her off like this isn't a problem?”

“I'm not selling my granddaughter, you know that! But what other choice is there?!”

“Let him go to the council!”

I frowned.

“You want them to put my grandfather away?” I asked, taking my hand away from him.

My uncle looked at me.

“It's the best thing to do, Ulyana. You know that.”

“No” I stepped away and walked closer to my grandfather. “No one's putting the only family I have left away.”

Yannick made a face.

“We're your family too, Ulyana. And unlike this man, we're not going to rope you into any problems!”

“Just stop it, uncle Nick, please” I huffed.

Zoltan MacQuoid had already given me a hard time. I didn't need him or anyone else adding up.

“Is this what you want, kiddo?” he asked.

“Putting my grandfather away isn't an option.”

“Well giving up my late sister's only surviving child isn't an option either!” he barked.

Then he turned to my grandfather.

“I'm not going to let you lead my niece to the alter as if she were some sacrificial lamb, Eamonn. I would never forgive myself and my sister would never forgive me.”

“You think my son will?” my grandfather asked. “I promised to take care of her. You think this is easy for me?!”

“Well turn yourself in!” my uncle barked.

“I'm marrying him!” I screamed.

This was the only way out now. Everyone's eyes widened and they all turned to look at me.

“I'm marrying Zoltan,” I said calmly this time and lifted my left hand.

My grandfather stepped back.

“Uly—”

“It's okay Bubba,” I said. “I went to see him and we're engaged now. He's going to do a formal introduction to his pack tomorrow night and so we all have to be there.”

He just stared at me, pale-faced and looking like he was going to have a heart attack. If he was, I wouldn't want to be here for it to make me feel even more guilty.

“Well, I'm tired. I wanna go to bed so I'm going. Goodnight Bubba” I smiled and hugged him before walking away and up the stairs toward my room.

I was glad no one said a word. The hours passed afterward and I just laid there on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I heard a rattle on the door.

“I'm asleep!” I called out.

The door creaked open and Chole peeked her head through.

“Well, then I'm going to sit here and watch you sleep.”

I let out a small chuckle and she smiled before fully walking in. I sat up and created room on the bed for her to sit down beside me.

“Do you wanna cry?” she whispered, staring in the direction my mother's picture hung.

“I haven't cried since Anton jilted me at the alter, Lolo,” I said.

“And I'm supposed to believe that?” she asked.

“Being forced to watch sappy romance movies and wearing a dress to the last party I had to attend doesn't count so yes, believe it, Lolo.”

She laughed shortly then briefly looked away from my mother's portrait.

“I don't know what to tell you to make you feel better, miha” she sighed.

“I don't know how anyone can say anything to make me feel better, Lolo.”

“We could always poison the man,” she said and resumed staring at the picture.

I laughed.

“Oh trust me. I thought of doing that countless times today in his office” I said. “And then I cried in the elevator because I knew from the moment he put the ring on my finger, that I'm trapped.”

She snaked her arm around me and I leaned into her and sighed.

“I'm doing the right thing, aren't I, Lolo?”

Who was I kidding? It was the only option that the demon gave me. Chole sighed loudly and slowly rubbed my shoulder.

“Your mother would never watch you make a wrong decision, angel. Never.”

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

✿ Geneva's POV

I watched him zip up his pants and roll his neck.

“Zoltan's been acting strange lately” I sighed, absent-mindedly poking at my nipples.

“He has?”

I shifted my weight.

“You're telling me you haven't realized?” I asked. “You're his best friend.”

“And I'm screwing his cousin. So I'd appreciate it if you didn't get in his way” he said.

I furrowed my brows.

“You know what's going on, don't you, Warren?”

He turned, his blonde hair in a chaotic state.

“Eva, it's not mine to say. He's Alpha. He makes the decisions and we follow.”

“So he's about to make a big decision that's why he's been acting strange?”

He gave me a look as he buttoned up his shirt.

“Don't get in the way, babe.”

I sucked in a cheek.

“Are you seriously not going to tell me anything?”

“If you can't wait to find out like everyone else then just walk up to him and ask him. After all you're his favorite cousin.”

I made a face.

“I am not.”

He chuckled.

“Right.”

What did he know? And why wasn't he telling me anything?

“You should get dressed.”

I arched a brow.

“Tired of your mistress already, Warren?”

He made a face.

“I've told you not to call yourself that. You're not my mistress. You're the woman I'm in love with.”

“But can't be with because you're married. And that makes me the other woman, aka the mistress” I added.

“Geneva you're not...” he took in a breath to calm down, “... you know how it is. She needed citizenship and as her friend, I just...” he huffed, “It's not a marriage based on love and you know that. You're the one I love. And we're getting a divorce. You know that too.”

“For eight years, Warren?” I chuckled again, trying not to get pissed, “We've been sneaking around for eight whole years.”

“And you're getting tired” he concluded.

This time I made a face.

“You're not allowed to assume for me” I stated.

He sighed and sat beside me on the bed as I drew the covers to cover my chest.

“I'm not going to stay with Claire anymore. And we're not going to spend Christmas in secret this year. I promise” he said softly, taking my hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss.

I smiled.

“Now how about we—”

“Pack meeting!”  Zoltan's voice cut through my thoughts.

I groaned from the force and Warren chuckled.

“I told you to get dressed, didn't I?” he asked and pressed a quick kiss to my lips before getting up.

“You're not going to tell me what this is about either, are you?” I asked, slightly amused.

He smirked and opened the door.

“Get dressed and find out.”

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

✿ Ulyana's POV

“You okay, Miha?” Cholo asked.

I turned away from the mirror.

“I'm wearing a dress that actually looks good on me, Lolo. Of course, I'm not okay” I frowned.

She chuckled.

“They sent me to come get you. Your ride's here.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I thought Bubba was taking me.”

“He was. But your husband to be thought otherwise. He personally sent a limo for you.”

Now I wanted to ride there in my motorcycle just to piss him off. I rolled my eyes and just grabbed my purse.

“The sooner I get this over and done with, the better,” I said.

Cholo smiled sadly at me and wrapped me in a hug.

“Everything's going to be fine, angel, okay? I'll be right here when you get back, mm?”

I nodded and left her in my room.

“Oh, Uls. Don't you look super pretty? I regret not asking you to be my third wheel to our middle school dance” Mitchell teased.

“Mitch, be nice. Your cousin is going through a lot already and right now what she needs is her family's love and support. Not your washed-up sarcasm” Fiona scolded.

Mitchell waved her off and left the room. His mother turned to me with a weirdly bright smile.

“How are you feeling, my dear?”

“Miserable, Fiona. Absolutely miserable” I answered, finally making it down the stairs.

“Oh my poor girl” she pouted sadly. “Such an unlucky fate. I don't blame you for feeling miserable, Ulyana. But get this...” she gently touched my arm, “... no condition is permanent. Even yours. I'm sure you learned that lesson when I let you out of the cage years ago.”

I let out a sarcastic laugh and closed her wrist with two of my fingers, plucking her hand off my arm.

“Touch me again and I'll put you in a permanent condition” I growled lowly.

Her smug look disappeared and she took several steps back.

“Let's go wait in the car, instead Mitch. We can't be late!” she nervously called out to her son and hurried out the door.

Mitchell walked in, staring after his mother as she ran out the door before looking at me.

“What are you waiting for? Go with mommy” I smiled at him.

He narrowed his eyes.

“I don't know what you said to her, Uls, but I liked that she looked afraid. So whatever you did, you keep doing it, couz.”

He winked and walked out. I chuckled and followed him out. And as I did, I caught a glimpse of the distraught look on my grandfather's face.

“Miss?” the chauffeur called, holding the door out to me.

“One minute” I replied and made my way to my grandfather's car before he got in.

He quickly replaced the distraught look on his face with a smile when he saw me approaching him.

“Is everything okay, darling?”

I nodded.

“Is everything okay, Bubba? And think carefully before you lie to me” I warned.

He chuckled lightly.

“I'm alright, Ulyana.”

“Then why do you have that look on your face?” I asked.

“Because I feel like my heart is about to burst, darling. I can't watch my little girl sacrifice herself for my sake.”

“Bubba stop it. You'll make me sad” I sighed, taking his hands in mine. “I'm not sacrificing myself and you know I'd do anything for you just like you would for me because I love you. Now if you're sad I'm doing this then what's the point of going through with it?”

He cupped my face in his slightly trembling hands.

“I am so so sorry my darling. I didn't mean to rope you into this.”

I smiled and hugged him.

“I know, Bubba. But I want you to be okay. Then I'll be okay. That's all I want right now, I'm okay?”

I felt him nod his head.

“Well, then I'm okay.”

I smiled.

“Good. Because I'm going to need to be okay before I face that demon without actually scratching his eyes out” I said.

It got my grandfather to laugh and I finally let him go, knowing he was definitely better now. He got into his car and waves me off to get into the limo. The drive to the Moonstone Pack territory was quite the journey but we eventually got there.

I slipped on my coat as the chauffeur got down to get the door for me. I nodded a 'thank you' to him as I climbed out and the bright lights from the grand building in front of me nearly blinded me.

Ugh, the devil likes light?

I shook my head and turned towards the direction my grandfather and the others were standing.

“Excuse me, my lady. But you can't go in with them” a young boy said to me.

I furrowed my brows at him.

“Why the hell not?”

“I'm sorry but it's the Alpha's orders.”

I glanced at my grandfather who smiled reassuringly at me.

Easy, Uls.

“Well, then how am I supposed to get inside?” I asked the guy.

“This way, if you'd follow me please,” he said pointing towards the opposite direction my family was being directed to.

Brett and my grandfather lingered behind for a while till I finally gave in to understand why the devil wanted to usher me into hell through the probably actual gates of hell.

My grandfather held out his hand to me and I took it. He squeezed it and smiled at me and I smiled back.

“See you on the other side?” I asked.

“Always” he replied and let me go.

Brett nodded at me and walked off with my grandfather. I sighed and turned to the young boy who was still waiting for me.

“Let's go,” I said.

“After you, my lady.”

I walked ahead and he directed me through the very similar corridors. We approached a door and I heard his footsteps cease behind me. I stopped.

“What happened?”

“Nothing, my lady.”

I groaned silently.

“Please stop calling me that,” I told him. “My name is Ulyana. Not my lady.”

He reluctantly nodded.

“Okay. Is this the entrance I'm supposed to take?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Well let's go then.”

“I'm sorry, Miss Ulyana. But I can't go through there with you.”

Again with the titles?

I sighed.

“Why the hell not?” I asked, brushing it off because he wasn't going to call me without a title.

“I can't use this door because it's the Alpha's orders. Pack members aren't allowed to use the same door as the family members and close relations of the Alpha.”

I chuckled.

“That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard,” I said.

The young boy didn't laugh.

“Oh you're serious” I blinked.

“I don't joke about matters concerning the Alpha, Miss Ulyana.”

I bobbed my head.

“Well okay,” I said and turned to face the large double doors.

Hell. I can feel it.

I picked an itch on my arm and let out a sigh.

“It's just through here, right? So I just have to wal—”

I turned and he was gone. I rolled my eyes and opened the door. It was empty as I stepped in. I gently closed the door and looked around.

Where was everyone? Or this was a trap?

I turned around and that's when I heard the murmurs. I whirled around and leaned towards the murmurs only for my eyes to widen.

Did he run a pack or an army of convicts? My eyes searched the crowd and I spotted Mitchell with a girl. He was obviously trying to woo her into his bed. I rolled my eyes and continued to look through.

Where in hell do you find the devil?

Then suddenly the murmurs ceased and everyone was looking in my direction. For a second, the fear I felt when Anton noticed me in freshman year came back. I clenched my jaw and held my breath. This could go down in two ways.

They'd either get tired and stop staring or I'd pass out and skip this entire introduction crap. And where the hell was Zoltan?

As if reading my mind, a warm hand slipped around my waist. On instinct, I tried to tug away but his grip only tightened in response to my struggle. He smiled at me and leaned close to my ear.

“You look pretty. Now do me a favor and remember who you're doing this for so you can act pretty too” he whispered.

Goosebumps broke out on my arms at the thrill I felt with his voice low and his lips so close to my ears. My heart began to pound.

What are you doing, Uls?! He's the enemy! The devil!

But I knew what it was. It was the dress. I didn't like wearing dresses. I never did. And now it was messing with me.

“Can you not hold me like this?” I asked.

“Remember who you're doing this for” is all he said.

He then guided me before the gathered pack members.

“Thank you all for being here on such short notice. I'll be brief.”

My eyes remained on the floor.

“Alpha Eamonn... if you'd please” he gestured to my grandfather.

My eyes met his before his legs began to move. Brett followed closely behind. I gave him a small smile and he nodded at Zoltan.

“The Moonstone Pack and the Nightshade Pride Pack will be joined together soon by marriage,” Zoltan said. “The marriage between Alpha Eamonn's granddaughter and I.”

Murmurs broke out in the hall. A particular ginger-haired girl caught my eye. She had this amused yet confused look on her freckled face as she stood a bit away from the rest of the pack members.

She was pretty and she looked very important in her posh dress. Zoltan cleared his throat and I looked at him.

“What?”

“Smile,” he said between his forced smile.

I faced his pack members and smiled. A few others smiled back while the rest gave me pity-filled looks. The ginger-haired girl in particular was laughing. Was she getting hysterical?

“The engagement party comes off in three days and then the wedding follows next weekend.”

My eyes snapped back onto his face and I frowned.

“Next weekend?” I asked.

“That's all the announcement for tonight. You may leave” he said to his pack and let me go.

“Next weekend?” I asked again, going after him. “Are you trying to make me more miserable than I already am, Zoltan?!”

I could cry. He stopped and turned to me.

“You're the one who agreed to this so why are you complaining?”

“Agreed? You literally forced this down my throat!”

“Well if you've changed your mind, all you have to do is tell me and I'll go to the council right aw—”

“No!” I cried out.

He looked at me.

“No” I repeated, more calmly this time. “That's not an option” I sighed. “I just think this is going a little too fast. People will have questions.”

“You're not expecting me to court you, are you?”

I eyed him.

“Like I'd ever want someone like you courting me” I retorted.

“So no more complains then. The sooner we get this over and done with, the better.”

For once I agreed. There was no need to delay this. I didn't want this but there was no way out. So why delay the inevitable?

I sighed and nodded.

“Okay. No more complaints.”

He looked a bit surprised by my willingness to just cooperate but he didn't say a word.

“Come on then,” he said and took my hand.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To make sure there are no questions to be asked.”

Thank you for reading!
Vote and comment if you enjoyed the chapter and recommend!
See ya.
~the_atticwriter