Hell Bound

CHAPTER 11

Alithiya sat at the edge of her bed, her room dark except for the moonlight filtering in through the open window. Her fingers picked at the material of her gown absentmindedly as she contemplated her predicament.

On one hand, she knew that going with Dragon would be for the better. She wouldn't have to live in constant pain as she watches her former lover fawning over his new bride, nor would she have to worry about how the pack members would react when they see her eyes. 

On the other hand, she would be leaving her parents and brother. Granted, they had been her safe keepers, but they were still her parents. They were not her birth parents, true, but nonetheless, they had watched over her all these years. While, a part of her wanted to know more about her birth parents, she understood that that is a wish that will never come true. They were dead, but she knew that there'll be a place in her heart reserved only for them.

Outside, the night was silent, as it always was.  

She sighed. She looked at the box at the foot of the bed and nudged it with her foot. It was wrapped elegantly with a pretty bow on top of the lid. She looked at for a moment with growing apprehension, but picked it up, nonetheless. 

She stroked the lid for a moment, then taking a breath, she lifted it and dropped it beside her. Inside the box was what she could imagine as the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. It was black but then again, black had always been her favorite color. She picked it up and out of the box. 

With a gasp, she stood up, with the dress clutched to her body. Quickly, she walked over to her full length mirror and studied her reflection. 

The dress was, as she had originally thought, elegant. It was sleeveless, and the waist was cut up from the sides up to her hips, so she imagined that the sides of her waist would be bare, when she wore it. The material continued downward and the skirt was elegant and fell to her ankles and she imagined that it would swish around her ankles as she turned from side to side. It was tight from the waist up but loose from the waist down. And the back was bare. 

She was excited but nervous to wear something that would show so much skin. 

Minutes later, she was standing in front of the full length mirror, again, wearing the black dress. She turned from side to side, inspecting the dress with a critical eye. She had to admit, she did look good. As she expected, the sides of her waist was bare as well as her shoulders, arms and back. The dress fitted her slender figure perfectly and complemented her hourglass shape. She turned again, and the dress swished around her ankles. She smiled. 

"It looks good on you,"

She turned around, startled and sighed in relief when she saw it was only her brother, Ricardo. He was leaning against her door frame and was studying her with a frown. 

She turned her back to him, and went back to studying her reflection, with a critical look in her eyes. She frowned. "You think so?" she asked softly. 

From the mirror, she could see her brother nodding. At twenty years and four, Ricardo was a big man, with a buff figure that indicated that he was used to outdoor work. He was a tall man, but then again, all the men in the Rowen family was tall and muscular with darkly good looks that made any woman swoon and sigh. Thankfully, having lived with them for over a decade had made her immune to their charms. With his chestnut hair and tawny eyes, that is a sign of the beast residing within his human body, he had had his fair share of breaking hearts. That was until he found his mate. It was like someone had pushed a stop button, and suddenly he was the perfect gentleman. 

It was hilarious to watch as he tripped about trying to woo the only woman, beside his mother and sister, who looked immune to his handsome looks and charms. But the end result was satisfying to say the least. Now, he was happily married to the love of his life, his mate and they were expecting their first pup. Life couldn't have been more perfect. 

She smiled fondly at her brother. Since the news of his mate's pregnancy, he had been extra careful with her and her moods. Looks like Jenna had kicked him out again. 

"Jenna kicked you out again?" she quirked an eyebrow at him. 

He grimaced and nodded, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. 

She smiled in amusement. "What was it this time?" she asked, lightly. He smiled at her sheepishly. "I may or may not have called her fat," he said, then winced. 

She shook her head, clicking her tongue at him, sympathetically.  "Tsk, tsk, It's official. You men are idiots!"she exclaimed. 

"Hey, it's not my fault! I only told her to take it easy, what with the pup coming along. She got emotional," he said, defensively. 

She shook her head. "You better start grovelling, tomorrow, then. You can take the couch tonight," she said. 

These kinds of thing had happened so often, during the last few months, that it had become a regular thing to keep the couch ready for him, in case it happened, again. And it wasn't a wasted effort on her part either. Jenna kicked her mate out of their room most of the nights, because he had said something that had made her emotional. And telling him to be sensitive was like hitting a brick wall. Don't get her wrong. Ricardo loved her mate very much, but when it comes to dealing with an emotional and pregnant Jenna, he wasn't very useful.  So out of five nights of the week, he spent the night on the couch. 

He grimaced and gave her a small smile. "Thank you, little sister,"

She waved away his gratitude. "No need for that. Just go to sleep, and start think of ways to get back into her good books," She said. He sighed in exasperation. "After this, I'm never going to touch her again," he muttered. 

She snickered. "Well, good luck to that, big brother," she said. 

He sighed, and then frowned at her. "You do realize that dress is for demon mating ceremonies, right?" he asked. 

She shrugged. "Is it?" She asked, lightly, avoiding his searching gaze. 

His frown deepened. "Alithiya?" he said, softly. She looked at him. He strode forward and cupped her face, not letting her move her gaze from him. He licked his lips, nervously. "This isn't what I think it is?" he asked, his gaze searching hers. "Is it?" he asked, softly. 

"On the contrary. It is exactly what you think," At the cold voice that sounded behind him, Ricardo whirled around and swore. 

Alithiya looked at the intruder and took a step back in alarm. For standing there, leaning against her door frame, with his ankles crossed, was Dragon in all his handsome glory, and like susual he was wearing a cold smirk that sent shivers down her spine. 

Ricardo, oblivious to the thoughts running through his sister's mind, snarled as his beast picked up the scent of demon. "You!" he growled, his eyes flashing a golden color, indicating his beast was awake. 

"What're you doing here, demon?" He snarled, standing in front of his sister, in a protective stance. 

The demon lord smirked coldly, his eyes filled with fake innocence. "Can't a man come and greet his soon to be bride, wolf?" He asked, nonchalantly. Then his gaze fixed on hers, and he gave her a mocking smile, as he said. "And may I say that you look absolutely ravishing, my darling," he drawled out. 

She blushed and started to speak but was cut off by a furious growl. "His WHAT?!"

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Nice! I hope you like this chapter. I stopped it short because it's late. Hope you'll like it! 

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Thank you! 

Yours Truly,

Scorpio121