His Substitute Wife

The First Night of Marriage

Aleena shakily stood to her feet, causing her dress to sliver even higher up her thighs. She quickly held down to it and looked up at her new husband with wide, quivering eyes. 

Zayd stared at her for a few moments too long, his midnight dark eyes showing not even an ounce of emotion. He then locked the door of their bedroom, causing Aleena's heart to shake anxiously. Did he too agree with his elder? Did he want her to fulfil her womanly duties as his wife? If that were the case, she would she never be able to get away from him. Although Aleena herself was above average in height, Zayd still towered over her. His body also looked as if it were made of steel. No matter how hard she would have tried to push him off of her, it would be to no avail. If he wanted her, he would have her. 

Zayd walked into the room and just as Aleena thought he would walk right up to her, he moved around her and stepped into the bathroom. For a second Aleena sighed in relief however, she then realised that he was probably preparing for their long night. 

Feeling dreadful and out of ideas, she decided that changing her outfit to something more modest would benefit her so she opened the closet, only to see nothing but male outfits. She then remembered that her clothes were still in the other room that she had been staying in. With a slightly scared and mostly frustrated sigh, she quickly pulled out a shirt and put it on. The shirt was too many sizes too big for her so it completely buried her, however, Aleena didn't mind. Although her legs were still on full display, she was glad that the almost non-existent fabric she had on her body before was now covered up. She felt a lot more at ease that way. 

Just as Aleena finished closing up the last button, her groom walked out from the bathroom without a shirt on. A hiccup like sound escaped Aleena's lips out of surprise. She may have had a lover, but she had never actually seen a man so exposed before. Although her family was more on the modern side, her father had a religious upbringing and as a result, Aleena was raised modestly. Therefore, seeing a man so exposed in front of her, even if it was his upper body, it made her feel as if she was doing something sinful. 

Noticing Aleena's change in outfit, Zayd looked her up and down before he walked over to a bedside draw and drew out an item that Aleena couldn't see. When she did see it though, her heart rate sped abnormally fast and she felt as if she was going to faint. He was holding a pocket knife. 

Aleena's chest heaved faster and harder with each step he took towards her. When he was close enough to be able to attack, Aleena shut her eyes tightly and fell to her feet. She was feeling petrified. 

Although Aleena wasn't from a tribe, she knew a lot about them. They were strict and they solved all of their problems with blood. They were like the mafia only they were not as forgiving. It was why there were so many on going blood wars. They were extremely dangerous and prideful. 

So when Aleena saw the weapon, it was no surprise that she assumed the worst. Her fear only worsened when her body was suddenly lifted off the ground. 

With a fearful gasp, Aleena opened her eyes to find herself in her husband's arms. Somehow, that made her hyperventilate even harder to the point where she looked as if she was about to have a seizure. 

Zayd placed the shaking girl on the corner of the bathroom bench top. He then showed her the knife, making her close her eyes in fear again. 

"Please," she breathlessly gasped, bringing her knees up in a protective position. 

"Please what?" his smooth voice sent shivers down her spine. How could someone with such a warm tone be so cold and murderous?

"I-I'm sorry," she found herself apologising for reasons unknown to herself. "P-Please don't kill me." 

Silence followed after the words left her mouth. Each second that went by in silence only served to increase her panic. Finally after what felt like an eternity, her husband spoke.

"Open your eyes." When she shut them even more tightly after hearing him speak, he repeated his words, only this time more forcefully. "Open your eyes."

Ever so slowly, Aleena opened her eyes and came face to face with her husband who was leaning down so that their faces were levelled. Another gasp of surprise escaped her lips over their close proximity but she did not shy away. She stayed as she was and waited for him to do whatever he was planning. 

He suddenly lifted his hand that was holding the knife, which caused Aleena to flinch a little. However, to her surprise instead of the blade facing her, it was the handle. 

"Take it," he told her, causing Aleena's brows to furrow in surprise. 

She still took it though. She would much rather prefer that the weapon is in her hands than his. 

Once he was unarmed, Aleena slowly dropped her legs from her chest and let them touch the ground. She then looked up at her husband with a curious look on her face. 

"I'm not going to kill you," he said, sounding almost offended. He then took a step back and picked up the toothbrush holder and removed his toothbrush from it before he filled it with some water. He then placed it down before he moved back to stand in front of Aleena. 

Aleena watched in confusion and curiosity as he held his arm out for her. She stared down at his arm, unable to figure out what she was supposed to do. 

"Cut," he ordered, his voice void of any emotion as he held his arm up higher for her. 

"W-What?" 

"I need you to cut me." 

Aleena's mouth dropped from shock. 

"N-No," she forced out, "I can't!" 

He's a pervert, she thought. There was no way someone normal would find pleasure in being abused like that. Yet he was doing this on their wedding night. Her eyes unintentionally landed on his chest, looking for other signs of his sins. Had he been doing this type of foreplay with Nihal as well? 

"Either cut me," he said, his voice so dangerous Aleena felt her insides shiver, "or go to bed with me." 

Aleena's face contorted into many different expressions. However, the two most prominent ones were disgust and fear. She could not believe what she as forced to do. The two options were worse than each other. 

"I won't do either of them!" she suddenly found herself saying. She was surprised how brave she suddenly sounded. Despite the fact that her insides were quivering, her voice came out clear and concise. 

Zayd pressed his lips together, although his face was suddenly void of emotion. 

"I don't take no for an answer," he spoke harshly. "Consider it a blessing that you get a choice." 

Aleena scoffed and tried to push him out of her way, but he didn't budge even a bit. Instead, he stepped closer to her, making her voice hitch from the sudden proximity of their bodies. Although they were not touching, she could feel the heat of his body on her own and it was blazing hot. 

"If you don't cut me in the next two minutes," his voice came out warningly low, "I will assume you want to fulfil my desires." 

Aleena gulped before she slightly lifted the hand with the knife. However, before she could even get it close to his skin, she dropped her hand back down. 

A look of disappointment flashed on Zayd's face but he quickly covered it and took a final step closer to Aleena so now that her soft body was held flush against his strong chest. Zayd placed on hand on the small of her back, making her unintentionally move forward, further into his chest. Aleena's eyes widened and although she tried to move backwards, the hand that was placed on her back held her tightly in place. With his free hand, Zayd held on to the button closest to her neck and then in one swift movement, he pushed it downwards, breaking all the buttons and letting the shirt fall open. She was completely exposed to him now. 

Aleena's heart began to hit against her rib cage so harshly that she was sure he could feel it against his skin. 

"One final chance," he whispered into her ear, before he moved his lips dangerously close to her own. 

When Aleena didn't respond, Zayd made his move. The hand that was now free moved to her neck and tilted her face upwards so he could have better access. Once again, Aleena began to hyperventilate and before his lips could touch her own, she swung the knife upwards defensively and let it pierce through the skin of his torso. 

Zayd slightly stepped back and looked down at Aleena's handy work. Aleena was so shocked by what she had just done that she stared at him with her hand still on the handle of the knife and tears in her eyes.

Blood began to ooze out of the cut and without any sound or emotion, Zayd wrapped his own hand around Aleena's and directed the knife out of his skin. 

"That should be enough," he told her, his eyes moving away from the stab wound and towards a shaken Aleena. "You may go to bed now."