Chapter 4 Mate

Evelyn was now sitting In the backseat of Luca's black SUV, she thought to call Lizzy, a secret friend she has but kept from her family, but she changed her mind almost immediately after thinking about it. What could she possibly tell her? Hey, I'm being pushed to marry a mafia beast in a secret mansion, and I might or might not be killed before breakfast.

Yes, that would not be well received. What could her friend do about it anyway?

The city vanished into the distance, replaced by meandering roads and towering, trees that appeared to go on forever. The driver remained silent. Neither of the two bodyguards in front of her even looked back. She was confined to a moving prison. All it has are tinted windows and leather seats.

Though anxious, she kept her courage. Evelyn had long since discovered that, particularly in her world, it was never helpful to display weakness. Being the daughter of a mafia boss did not guarantee you an advantage in life. It made things more difficult if anything.

"Where are we going?" Her voice broke the stillness as she asked.

A guard looked at her in the rearview mirror. "To your new home. Luca Romanos."

She nibbled on her lip. Aside from getting married to the beast, the Romano family are trouble. What if something goes wrong between the two families? Then she becomes the bait. Had her father and uncle Dmitri thought of this before leaving her to the enemy's den?

It felt like five hours even though the drive didn't take more than two. The whole time, her mind was racing. Right now, she despises her father and her Uncle. She detested the entire world.

Their car pulled up in front of a mansion in the Romano estate; Evelyn surveyed the building, looking through the car window. The building was beautiful. It has stone, tall walls, and iron gates that creaked as they opened.The guard unlocked her door as the vehicle came to a stop.

After a moment of hesitation, she alighted.

The front doors opened before she could process everything, and Luca Romano stood at the entrance.

He looked the same as when he discussed the marriage with her. His messy, dark hair and piercing eyes. He looked good, even with a stern face.

"Welcome to your new home." He said it low and rough.

"I wasn't allowed to come with my stuff."

"You won't need them. You have all you need here."

Slowly, she moved forward. "Then what? Try the whole "fake honeymoon" thing after signing the marriage contract?"

His gaze stayed on her face. "Fake or not. We are now married, whether we want it or not. Get used to it. It's for the good of us both."

Her stomach felt all twisted up. "Correct. Yes, I get that, and the instructions were clear. I try to opt out; you serve me my father's heart. You don't need to repeat that part."

"Good girl, you forgot a line, though."

"Hun? What line?" she inquired with a frown. Before Luca could respond, even though he doesn't look as if he was ready to give her an anser, Evelyn felt a sharp pain in her chest. Her heart felt tight, but Lucas caught her before she fell.

He looked worried, but his arms remained firm. "Mate," he muttered.

"Mate?" She wheezed, "What the hell does that even mean?"

Instead of answering, he carried her inside after picking her up as if she were weightless.

She hisses, feebly fighting, 'Let me go.' 'I'm no damsel.'

"You're the chosen one," he muttered. "My mate." Evelyn remained quiet because nothing seemed to make sense to her.

He walked through a quiet hall decorated with dark art. The walls seemed to be holding their breath as they passed. He placed her on the bed when they eventually stopped in what must have been her enormous bedroom.

Holding her chest, Evelyn gradually takes a seat. While her head was dizzy, the pain reduced. The pain she felt was beyond her understanding.

Luca crossed his arms and leaned against the dresser's edge. "Your father and Uncle know something about you that I believe you don't know. That's why Dimitri came up with the suggestion of this union."

"Why?" Her eyes narrowed.

He gave her a direct look. "Because he probably knew you're more than who you think you are."

Evelyn winked. "You really think I'll buy that?"

"Do you think the chest pain was normal?"

She wanted to speak, but then decided against it.

"Power and money are not the only things at play here," he stated. "When the time comes, you'll understand better. But for now, you have to take your meds and get better."

"You sound crazy." She laughed hollowly.

"Perhaps I am. It doesn't make a difference."

He pushed off the dresser and headed to the door. "Relax. Tonight might be a difficult one. Most especially for someone like you."

"What?" She yelled.

"You'll see."

"I married a man I barely know and could be dying. What now? An eerie dog? Please make me understand what you mean right now before I go crazy?"

A smirk came to his face. "You won't. Just rest for now, you'll know." Evelyn groaned as she fell back onto the pillows, then the door clicked shut behind him.

This is not possible. It seems real, but is it? Evelyn felt a deep attraction to Luca. She couldn't tell him. Why does she feel drawn to a monster? One that can transform within the twinkling of an eye and tear her apart.

After a warm bath and a simple dinner of chicken and chips, which she pushed around her plate all through and just took a few bites, she returned to her enormous bedroom, avoiding Luca as much as possible; she soon fell asleep.

She quickly fell into a dream. In her dream, Evelyn saw a of a wolf, just like Luca's. It's eyes shining red and a woman shouting in an unfamiliar dialect. She shouted out of her dream, heart pounding and covered in sweat. She noticed that chest ache again, but it seemed strange this time.

Her heart raced when the door opened suddenly.