Ariana's POV
I stared at him with wide eyes, my hands desperately clutching onto his as he tried to pull off my towel.
"Please, don't," I pleaded, fear coursing through my veins. I couldn't bear the thought of being naked in front of this stranger.
"Let go of my hands," he commanded in a cold tone, but I refused to release my grip.
"I can bathe myself, I swear. I minute, please...." I begged for a moment to bathe myself, hoping to salvage some dignity.
"There's no point in hiding your body from me, Ariana," he remarked before letting go of my towel and walking away.
I felt humiliated, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. If only I could find my despicable parents and unleash my fury upon them.
As the bathroom door closed, I loosened my towel, relieved to find that I was still wearing my black skirt and singlet.
A sigh escaped my lips. However, my singlet was translucent, and if he was the one who covered me with the towel, then he must have seen more than I cared to admit.
"He has seen part of my nude," I complained both in embarrassment, fear, and anger.
It was all that bastard's fault, it was Lucas's fault.
If not for him, I would have been safe in my room.
I don't want to care about what had happened to him, but if this man as cold and powerful as this extent has seen him on me, and he said I was sold to him.
"Oh my god!" I gasped, my hand covering my mouth in disbelief. Did he kill Lucas?
The memory of Lucas's lifeless body flashed in my mind.
Was this man a murderer?
Realizing that my requested minute had passed, I hurriedly bathed under the shower, afraid that he would walk in on me.
I wrapped the towel around my body, using it to dry my hair, and then stepped out of the bathroom.
Before leaving, I glanced out the window, hoping for an escape route, but my hopes were dashed.
With the towel securely tied around my chest, I surveyed the room until my gaze met his.
He sat on the bed, engrossed in his phone, but then his eyes shifted to his wristwatch before he raised his head, locking eyes with me.
"Go to the closet over there and dress in something decent," he instructed, his attention returning to his phone.
I let out a silent sigh and tiptoed out of the bathroom, entering the walk-in closet.
Once inside, I closed and locked the door.
As I gazed at the array of feminine clothing hanging before me, I was taken aback.
There were countless beautiful dresses, overwhelming me with choices.
I closed my eyes and picked one at random, finding a black dress, slightly oversized.
Since I was in no mood to deliberate, I decided to wear it.
After putting on my underwear, I slipped into the dress and stepped out of the closet.
However, when his gaze fell upon me, his eyes widened in surprise, making me also check out what I wore.
"What is this, Ariana? Out of all the dresses!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with anger. Was he so hot-tempered? Couldn't he see that I was in no mood to dress luxuriously? I just got sold out of my home, not by thugs, but by the people I called my parents. It wasn't a celebration so why would I dress according to his taste?
I looked down at myself and discovered that I had accidentally worn the dress backwards.
I instinctively covered my mouth with my hands, trying to stifle my embarrassment. How could I have worn the back of a dress? Was I so depressed to such an extent?
"Ariana, change that dress now before I kill you!" he threatened, his anger intensifying.
My eyes widened in fear, and my embarrassment vanished, but I remained rooted to the spot, too frightened to take a step.
"Are you deaf? I said to change that dress!" he reiterated coldly, prompting me to slowly back away.
The embarrassment was overwhelming. I was too emotionally drained to realize my mistake.
Before I knew it, he approached me, closing the distance between us, and forcefully pulling me into the closet.
I shifted away from him, observing as he rummaged through the clothes, searching for a suitable replacement.
Eventually, he produced a black lace gown that would hug my curves, cascading down to the floor.
However, when he turned to face me, I had already slipped out of the closet and back into the room.
I watched as his face paled, his frustration growing.
"Would you come right here!" He yelled at me, and reluctantly, I approached him, careful to maintain a safe distance.
"Come here," he ordered, tapping his foot on the floor.
I stepped into the designated spot, only to receive a sharp strike to the head with the gown he held in his hand.
I winced in pain, shielding my face as the stinging sensation spread.
"Stop being foolish!" he snapped, his voice filled with irritation.
"You act as though you're smart, but you're a foolish low-class lady who has lost her senses. How could you oversleep in your workplace till the next day? That is just to prove how lazy you are. That's also why the guy you claimed to be your brother tried forcefully mating with you. You better start using your brain, or the next time you make me raise my voice, I won't hesitate to shoot a bullet through this thick skull of yours. If you don't believe me? Dare me."
His threat hung heavy in the air, and I felt my heart sink with despair. Was I lazy? I just felt sick, that was why I had overslept.
I usually don't oversleep. Was he mocking me because Lucas tried mating with me? It wasn't as though I could stand him. He was way stronger than me, so what could I have done? I tried my best.
He was embarrassing me so much, and I couldn't take it anymore.
I remained standing before him, tears welling up in my eyes, and in a swift moment he tore my dress, leaving me in only my underwear but I made no attempt to cover my nearly exposed body.
What was the use? I had no one to protect me from this fate, being forcibly claimed by someone who was not my mate.
Silent tears streamed down my face as I stared at the ground, my voice barely above a whisper. "What do you want from me?"
He remained silent for a moment, his gaze piercing into me.
Finally, he spoke, his voice softer but still cold. "You will find out once we reach my pack."
An overwhelming mix of fear, confusion, and anger consumed me.
I despised the circumstances that had brought me to this point.
I wanted to defy him, to resist his control, but deep down, I knew I had no choice but to comply for the sake of my survival.