The Alpha's Contracted Bride

Episode 4

The morning sun came shining through the curtains and bathing the grandiose room of Rome Zoe.

He slowly opens his amber eyes. His beautiful pupils could be mistaken for a light brown color with either a golden or copper tint to them.

His eyes are sometimes called golden eyes when their shade leans toward the yellow hue and because of this he has been begged by top companies for modeling but he reject all the proposals.

Now he looks down at the lady beside him. His face is expressionless as always but his heart skipped just a beat.

He saw Larissa sitting on the marble floor but her head resting on the bed. Her hand held his as though consoling him.

The feel of her palm sent Rome unidentified feelings. The memories of how she had been concerned about him the previous night crossed his mind he suddenly set his jaw.

He pulled away from Larissa and this act woke up the lady. The beautiful lady lifted her head and look around, trying to adjust to the unfamiliar room.

Rome Zoe didn't wait for words. He stood up from the bed and headed to the bathroom but Larissa had stood up from the floor she sat on.

" Rome! " She suddenly exclaimed, stopping him in his track.

She ran to stand before him, her eyes still clouded with concern. She try to touch him but the cold expression on his face sent her a deadly silent warning.

She withdraws her hand and swallowed.

" Are you alright now? " She asked softly while staring into his eyes. " You are ... Ill last night and I ... "

She was still speaking when he left her and goes to his bathroom, surprising Larissa so much. She had never expected him to be so rude.

She had at least anticipated an explanation if not thank you. After some seconds she overheard the running of water that indicates he is taking his bath.

Larissa gulped down hard again and walk to the window where she peers out. There is nothing to feed her eyes on except a deserted gorgeous street. The area where Zoe's mansion was built has no one living around.

The rumors had said Rome Zoe is an introvert who never speaks unless necessary. He hated friends and neighbors. He never had one except his beta, Westin.

After lamenting how unfortunate she is, Larissa tries to cheer herself up with her outing.

She goes to her laptop and opens the lid. She punched on the keyboard for some time and then a smile appears on her face afterward.

" I got a gig next week. Whoo! I should put a call to Rald about it "

She pulled out her cell phone and quickly called the renowned pop star. After the second ring, Rald's voice came through, sounding tired.

" And the bride called " He said, making Larissa smile. " What's up? "

" I promise to come over " She replied.

" Yeah, you did. No rehearsal today for you? "

" Mr. Ryland gave me a week off. My honeymoon, you know " she concluded with difficulty.

" Oh, yeah "

" But I'm coming over to your place. I got this gig coming up next week. It's like a competition. Whoever wins got to perform at your next concert "

" Bullshit. Do you have to go through anything stressful before you could sing beside me? I can give you a free pass Rissa "

She closed her eyes for some time but shook her head in the negative.

" No Rald. I want to earn people's love. I want the crowd to be there for me Rald, not because you are there. I want my fans, people who will listen wholeheartedly to my music "

" You are stressing yourself for nothing Rissa. Others do this. Isn't that how your friend Donya gets to be famous now? She sang beside Kamryn and now she is doing well "

Larissa sagged her shoulder. The memories of how she has caught Donya opening her panties for Kamryn, the second leading popstar, next to Rald crossed her thoughts but she didn't reply to the man at the other end of that. Instead, she said.

" I will be coming up. Maybe you can fix the lyrics for me, see what it's lacking "

" Sure. I got three hours to relax before any other thing. I will be going for a photo shoot soon "

" Okay. I will be there before that "

" Rissa your upcoming gig, did you make any promotion for it? "

" No " She mutters weakly. " Rald I am still trying to get the funds for other things. Don't worry, I will pay for the promotion. Mr Ryland would have but you know how it is "

Rald was about to speak more but she quickly disconnected and let out a shaky sigh. She would hate for him to pay as always.

Her adoptive father never supported her career as a singer so she has to do menial jobs like performing in the street sometimes for tokens from passersby.

Mr Ryland, her manager tried his possible best but things aren't going well. Lack of money has been her setback and she hated to beg for financial assistance from Rald.

Larissa Henley was busy thinking about how to make a promotion for her gig when her dominant husband walk into the room, naked from the waist upward.

He walks towards his closet, all this while never giving Larissa any attention.

However, the lady's eyes wouldn't stop staring at his body. His shoulders and back are broad and perfect.

His hair was short and extremely dark. His skin is shiny and neat. It was glittering under the sunlight that has bathed the room.

He casually turn around to see his wife staring at him dumbfounded. He stops to stare at her for some more seconds to see she is gazing at the spot of his bullet wound.

That morning it has healed up completely. Rome saw a smile on her face before she look away, putting her laptop away.

" Tanya is right. He survived " Rome heard her mutters gratefully to herself before getting up from the bed.

She walks to her bathroom and the sound of water running came later. He slowly refocuses on dressing up and walking out.

When Larissa returns to the room, she is a little grateful that Rome is nowhere to be found. Swiftly she dress up in her Jean and a turtleneck dress.

She left her hair flowing around her waist as she picked up her bag and walk out.

That day she is feeling better than the previous one when she has to marry the grumpy Alpha.

When she descended the spiral staircase and arrived in the living room, she never expected to see Rome Zoe in the grandiose dining room which was at her left side.

All she thought was that he had left for work. She had heard he is a workaholic.

She waited to stare at him for some time, in the process debating about whether to bid him goodbye or not.

He is your husband now Larissa. You should go to him. The man you will be living with for the next six months.

That was her inner voice coaching her. She swallow hard for some time and then approached the dining room.

There she met the butler who has a smile on his face but upon setting eyes on her his smile dissolved into a scowl.

Larissa had learned to be courteous and respectful. She had learned to be less aggressive unless pushed to the very end wall.

Instead of retaliating with a glare of her own, she smiled at him and slowly goes to Rome who was eating his breakfast.

The Alpha of Zoe's pack didn't lift his head when his wife stood before him but he stop eating to hear her words.

" Rome? " She called with little difficulty. " I am going out to meet a friend of mine. I have a gig coming up next week and I decided to go meet up with this friend so he will put me through "

" He? " He asked in a whisper and Larissa frown a bit. She held the urge to roll her eyes.

" Yes. Rald. He has a ... "

" Go " He cut in gently as he resumes eating.

Larissa bit her lower lips as she felt like gorging his eyes out.

Did he just try to dictate the gender i meets up with now?

She walks out of the dining room and appears outside the building. Her eyes roam about for some time and her shoulder sagged.

She remembers the old car she had bought with her hard-earned money had been abandoned in her adopted father's home.

" I should call for a taxi " She mutters to herself before she made to walk out of the gate but then Diego, the chauffeur who had brought her home the previous day quickly approached her.

Larissa was surprised at him but waited to hear what he has to say.

" signora, you are on your way out? "

" Yes? "

" You should wait then. I will bring the car around " He replied with a low bow.

Larissa was surprised again. She looks at him over, realizing he is a handsome man who seems to be in his late twenties.

" Why do you have to drive me? I can always call for a taxi who will ... "

" No. Signore had appointed me as your chauffeur "

" What? Do you mean ... Rome? "

" Yes signora "

She frown again and shook her head.

" Oh " That was all she could manage to say before Diego left to bring the car around. A luxurious, jaw-dropping one that took away her breath.

Diego made to open the car door for her but she helped herself while saying.

" Please don't be too polite. I am Larissa, Rissa for short. You can stop calling me Signora. It made me feel older "

Her words make Diego smile and they ease out of the mansion. They soon entered the busy road and the ride goes on.

" Where to signora? " Diego asked at last.

" Oh, the Savannah suite " She replied and then added. " It's Rissa "

" I ... Don't think I can call you that. Signore is a bit uh ... Sensitive to his belongings. We are instructed to treat everything and anyone that belongs to him with respect so ... "

" I'm not Rome's thing " She replied from the backseat.

" You are his wife signora. You uh ... Belong to him. He is possessive "

Larissa let out a breath of defeat and then lean back. She had the feeling he will be possessive.

Somehow the thought of being his wife, truly, makes her feel at peace. A man she will be able to call her own but sadly that won't be possible.

They have only signed a contract marriage where it benefits the two families. Both the Henleys and Zoe's.

She tried to think about something else. Just suddenly, at that moment Diego stopped Abruptly in the road and pointed out the billboard to her.

Larissa turns to this billboard and abruptly her heart leaps up to her throat.

There she is on this billboard that stood magnificently over the road where the highest number of drivers and pedestrians could see how she sings and smiled.

It's a little ad of about a minute and then it restarts. Though her voice was muted, her beautiful could never be matched. Her smile radiated under the artificial lights.

Larissa's sight suddenly went blurry with tears. She swiftly goes through her bag and then pulled out her cell phone, calling her Manager.

" I saw the ads that were created as an advertisement for my next week's gig. Tell me it's... It's not a dream "

" Rissa! " The man exclaimed in joy at the other end. " Listen I am so excited. The funds for the promotion were seen by me about thirty minutes ago. It's a huge sum of money we are talking about Larissa. How do you make such? "

" Wait, what? " She asked in confusion. " I didn't make any money transaction "

" Really? " Ryland replied in surprise as well. " The transaction was made by an anonymous person. It leaves no traces "

A sigh escaped Larissa's lips as she concluded.

" It must be Rald "

" Oh, I don't think so. Rald makes hid own transaction from Vance's account. straightforward. Well, I'm glad Larissa. Let's see how things go. Thanks to this advertisement your page has grown in a jaw-dropping way. I have full confidence that you will be winning the ticket to perform beside the best popstar Rald at his concert "

" Are you sure about this? "

" Come on. Do not belittle yourself, Larissa. You are the sincerest singer out there. I know this time the world will give you listening ears "

As usual the kind words of Ryland sooth Larissa and made her smile. They said their goodbyes and she told Diego to drive on.

" Congratulations Signora " The chauffeur finally mutters. " I am one of your fans. My daughter made me, actually "

" Really? " She was surprised. No one had ever really liked her except a few.

" Yes. Ginevra is your fan. She knows almost all your songs by heart. Signore knows I am your fan so out of all the applicants he employs me as your chauffeur "

" Applicants? "

" Yes. He employs me only last week. He explains about you and my duty "

" Which is ... "

" To drive his wife "

Larissa quickly looks away. The word ' Wife ' is so good to be true. However, she appreciates Rome for being considerate.

They finally get to Savannah's suite at last and Diego stopped the car before the building while Larissa alighted.

" I will be in the underground garage Signora. You can call upon me when you are done here " Diego stated to Larissa who replied with a smile.

She goes inside the Savannah suite immediately. Everywhere is so much tidy. Anything that has to do with the word ' Savannah ' Belongs to the company that Rald has signed up with.

They are the leading company and it belongs to none other than Vance Savannah, the dubious, Cunning man ever lived. He is also a werewolf but not from Zoe's pack.

Many times he had tried wooing Larissa but thanks to the relationship she was with Gerald Chen, he has kept his cool.

Larissa headed at once into Rald's suite. She had wanted to make a surprise and thank him profusely for his kind heart, for paying for her promotions.

" Look who we have here " The voice of Rald came from behind her and she turn around to stare at him.

He is alone in the long hall, just coming out from a room upfront. He had his hand in his jacket's pocket and his hair unruly like always.

Larissa stares at him for some seconds and smiles. She could see his eyes tired. She has sworn millions of times that there is no one more handsome than Rald but after meeting Rome Zoe in person she sadly takes her words back.

She slowly walks towards him, in his arms. He is the loveliest man she has ever met, aside from her brother, the true son of Henley.

Against Rald's chest, she cried many times when her adopted dad do her wrong.

Rald's hands circled her waist and he hugged him tightly as well while inhaling her scents.

" I miss you " He mutters softly.

" Is that why you pay for the promotion? " She asked carefully but the man was surprised. He slowly eases her back to stare into her eyes.

" No. I didn't pay for the promotion yet. I was just returning from Vance's room to request the p*****t. Why did you ask? "

Slowly Larissa pulled back completely with a frown. She can't wrap her head around it.

" You didn't make the transaction? "

" Yes "

" So who did it ... No " She suddenly declared. " It can't be my dad "

Larissa Henley was thinking about it when Rald interrupted her thought.

" Come on. It must be your step brother "

" No. It can't be him. He doesn't have that amount of money "

" So who? No one is wealthier. It can be your husband. The Alpha of Zoe pack is the only one who is also capable of paying that such amount without breaking a sweat "

At once Larissa stepped back and frown. She shook her head, declining the suggestion strongly. She felt her heart beating for unknown feelings and she hated it.

After she had seen him vulnerable the previous night she had begun to see him as someone else. As her ... Husband.