The Alpha's Mistress

61

Word Count: 1859

~Sienna

The midafternoon sun warms my skin, shifting over the page in front of me.

This is absolutely ridiculous. The words in front of me are nonsensical and frankly amusing. I'm hardly paying attention even though Zion insists its important.

Apparently the fact that I grew up without a targeted education to raise me as a leader is beyond abhorrent. Despite Zion not wanting me to have a lick of real power, he's insisted I be educated just in case.

The so called education is ridiculous, but at least it's filled my week with something to do while I wait to see Onyx again.

"How is your study going, Sienna?" Zion asks, standing in the door way of the quasi classroom that has been set up.
 
I don't look up at him, tapping my pencil against the table absently. "Fine."

"Learning anything new?"

I roll my eyes. "Oh I'm learning plenty."

Zion makes his presence known on occasion. I've seen him more since being here than I did in a whole month as a child. I know he wants me to feel trapped, to feel like I can't escape.

Why would I even bother escaping? No matter where I go, he has the right to call me back to him.

"Good, it's important to keep your mind active," he states. "Especially when we've has to push back your wedding."

I glance over to see him glaring at Alston, who is sitting in the corner of the room reading.

With nothing better to do, Alston and I have been spending a lot of time in each other's presence. He's a strangely comforting presence, even if we don't talk most of the time. Just knowing I'm not alone here, in a place full of trauma is helping a lot.

I imagine Zion isn't blowing up at me like he used to because Alston is the buffer between us...

"Alston has been sick," I remind him bitterly, sweeping my gaze to Alston who shifts uneasily.

Zion was reluctant to accept Alston's excuse for pushing off the wedding, but he has no reason to believe Alston is doing this for my benefit, since he's the one who gains from our marriage.

"You seem a lot better today," Zion notes, looking over Alston sceptically.

He clears his throat. "I'm getting there..."

"By next week you'll be ready."

"I want to hold off another week," he says suddenly. "There are people I want at my wedding. Special people."

I watch Zion, surveying his reaction. We need this extra week so I can convene with Onyx again and make our final decision about which option we're going to take.

I've poured over other options that don't include marrying Alston or carrying his child, but I've come up empty handed. Hopefully Onyx is having more luck.

"Don't tell me you're getting sentimental. It's not as if you're marrying for love," Zion mutters, rubbing his forehead.

"It will be the only time I marry," Alston insists. "Whether it's for love, or not, I want some family and friends attending that will need more than one week's notice."

I stay quiet, tapping the end of my pencil against my lips.

Alston is facing my father down with not a flicker of fear in his eyes. It's his weakness that appeals to my father, so I'm nervous.

"Fine, but remember that every day you wait is another day that Onyx may find a way to come between our agreement," he hisses lowly, as if I can't hear.

"That is very unlikely."

At least Alston is a good actor. He doesn't give a single thing away, which eases some of my tension. Still, at any moment he could change his mind about our agreement and I'll be doomed.

I hate knowing I'm relying on his good will.

Zion slides his hands into his pockets. "Who knows. He seems to love my daughter."

"He doesn't seem to, he does," I grumble, shaking my head. He doesn't know what it's like to truly love someone so he's taking it out on me.

"He's an Alpha, daughter. If you do not think he will move on quickly now that you are gone, you are very mistaken."

I almost laugh, shaking my head. "I'm not the mistaken one."

At least Alston has kept the fact that Onyx and I are mates to himself. Part of me thought he would use it against me, but that remains to be seen.

"He has a world of choices," Zion comments. "Why would he wait for you when he can pick another? Perhaps he will come to his senses and take that Violet girl as his wife again."

"Whatever."

He's only saying this to cause doubts, to stop my desperation to get back to him. It won't work. Nothing he can say can take away my hope that Onyx and I will come back together again.

I get up, wanting some space from Zion but he steps into the doorway, blocking me from exiting.

"Sit, Sienna." He motions back to my seat. "I'm not done speaking to you."

The backs of my teeth grind together as I consider him. Reluctantly I sit down, a heavy weight bearing down on my chest. He's terrorised me and now he wants to put the cherry on top.

"Now, I'm not a traditional man. What is important right now is producing an heir to continue on my reign once I'm gone," he starts. "You do not need to be married to do this."

Alston straightens. "Zion, don't—"

"Don't make me say this more than once." His eyes darken. "Get to it. You can start tonight."

I launch from my seat, my hands balling into fists. "No, you can't make—"

"I don't want to hear it," he snaps, his powerful voice filling the room. "Go, now. Or face the consequences."

There is no challenging him. He has the power, and as much as I want to fight him, I can't. Anymore pushing and he would find other ways to retaliate against us.

"Yes sir," Alston mutters, giving me a sidelong glance.

We walk upstairs wordlessly. We opt for going to my room, passing by guards that will no doubt report back to Zion if we didn't do as he instructed.

The moment the door closes behind us, I whirl around, pointing my finger at him.

"Don't even think about it..."

"Come on, I wouldn't do that." He holds his hands up defensively.

I sit on the bed, dejected. My head falls into my hands, the reality of my situation collapsing on top of me.

"This is so fucked." I look up hopelessly. "What are we going to do?"

"You give me an heir, and I kill Zion," Alston says with a shrug, as if it's so easy.

"But that would mean..."

I break off, a wave of nausea rolling over me at the thought. For a second I think I can fight it off, having become used to feeling ill when I think about the agreement I'm about to enter into, but it becomes too much to bear.

Rushing into the adjoining bathroom, I barely make it to the toilet before I'm throwing up.

My stomach aches and my throat burns and at one point I feel tears falling from my eyes. Once I'm done and the toilet is flushed I lean back, sitting on the cool floor for a moment while I regain my breath.

"Good to know I repulse you."

I look up to see Alston standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. A smirk plays on his lips as he looks over me, concealing the briefest flicker of concern.

"The thought is so horrifying." I shiver. "Not because you're not a good looking man, but because I never want to be with anyone but Onyx."

He sighs. "I get that."

"We'll figure it out...we have to." I stand, bracing my arms against the sink as I stare at myself in the mirror. I've been so depleted of energy since being away from Onyx, my eyes dulling and my skin turning sallow.

"You have one more week, Sienna. It's all I can give you," Alston murmurs.

"I know. You can imagine how hard this is though, right?"

"Of course, I feel terrible. You are a nice girl, Sienna. You have a lot of fire in you, and you'll do anything for those you are loyal to. I really admire that about you," he says, watching me wash my mouth out under the tap. "But...I need to protect my interests too."

Turning to face him, I nod, patting my mouth with a cloth.

"I understand."

And I do. The resentment for him being part of what's putting me in this decision has melted away. His people are going to starve if this goes wrong, and I know his intentions are in the right place.

"I know you do, because you're good like that." He follows me back into the bedroom, sitting next to me on the bed. "I'm not good like you."

"You are. A bad person wouldn't be willing to do all this for someone he hardly knows," I remind him.

He smiles. A real, earnest smile that he's not wearing to protect his true interests — I'm looking at the real Alston and it's nice.

"I feel like I know you so well already, you know that? More than most people."

"I know how to get along with Alpha's," I laugh softly. I quickly realised Onyx wasn't anything to be afraid of, and although he's more special than most, he's as easy to get along with as anyone else.

Alston is the same, although our relationship is strained. I don't think we'll ever be close friends, but keeping friendly may ensure he doesn't turn on me.

"You're easy to talk to." He watches me with gentle eyes.  "You're making life here a lot easier."

"Let's just hope we don't have to fuck, huh?" I joke, nudging him, pretending like my stomach isn't turning again.

He smiles tightly. "Hmm. Yeah."

"I guess we better settle in for the rest of the night," I mutter. "He's not going to believe something happened unless you're in here all night."

He stands, stretching. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"That would be ideal..." I admit, rubbing the back of my neck.

As bad as I feel for casting him to the ground, having him in my bed is only going to send mixed messages. I don't think he's actually interested in me, but just in case...

"Can we still talk, though?" he asks after a few minutes of silence. "I've been so lonely for so long..."

"Of course we can."

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