Arranged To The Beast Alpha

Spark of stubbornness

LEAH

“Sarah,” I called out, stepping quietly into her room. She was sitting cross-legged on her bed, head tilted down over an old sketchpad. It was one of mine, worn and dog-eared, covered in a few half-finished ideas I had abandoned.

I crossed the room and sat beside her, the bed dipping under my weight. “What are you doing with that?” I asked, my voice soft but with a faint edge. Seeing her with it… well, that felt like someone digging up the past I was trying so hard to bury.

*Nothing*, she signed, her hands quick and nonchalant, but I caught the way her gaze flicked down. A spark of stubbornness.

I sighed and gently took the pad from her, trying not to let the flood of memories overpower me. She didn’t need to see that. “I don’t do this anymore, Sarah. You know that.” I managed to keep my voice even, but she turned her face, grabbing her headphones as if that would end the conversation.

“Sarah.” I reached over, pulled the headphones off, and set them aside. “We need to talk.”

*Paint for me*, she signed, insistent as always. *Just once.*

I ignored the plea, shaking my head. “Look, I was down in the dungeons just now for my punishment. I know you don’t usually care about all that, but something else is going on.” I could feel her looking at me, but I wasn’t sure how much I could tell her. She already had enough to worry about.

Her face softened as her hand moved gently to my cheek. Her eyes widened as she took in the faint bruises. I knew I couldn’t hide those from her.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly.

*You don’t look fine,* she signed, her fingers hovering in midair, hesitating.

“I am.” I forced a smile that even I didn’t believe. “Anyway, I was thinking maybe we could get out of here for a while. Just us. Maybe grab a coffee or something. Anywhere but this place.”

She paused, then raised her hands, signing carefully. *Will you paint?*

“Sarah, not this again.”

She set her jaw, crossed her arms, and signed. *Then I’m not going anywhere.*

“Come on, you don’t understand,” I said, almost pleading now. “We need to leave, even if it’s just for an hour. It’s not safe here. Please, Sarah.”

She tilted her head, studying me. *Are you okay?* she asked, her hands moving slowly like she was afraid of the answer.

I took a deep breath, giving her my best, most convincing smile. “Better than ever. So will you come with me?”

She looked at me for a long moment, then finally nodded. “Great.” I grabbed her hand, pulling her up, my heart pounding as I led her towards the door. Maybe if we moved fast enough, we could slip out unnoticed—

But just as I reached for the handle, it twisted from the other side. I froze.

My father stepped in, blocking the doorway. Adrian stood behind him, flanked by three guards. His eyes darted from me to Sarah, a mocking smile spreading across his face. “Going somewhere?” His voice was soft, cold, even amused.

“We were just going for a walk,” I said quickly, holding Sarah’s hand even tighter. I could feel my palms starting to sweat. I tried to keep my voice steady, but my other hand gripped her shoulder for support.

Father didn’t bother to respond; they just nodded to the guards. “Take her.”

Two of them stepped forward and pried Sarah from my grip. I felt a stab of pain as her fingers slipped out of mine.

“What are you doing?” I demanded, struggling to keep my voice level. “Adrian told us to stay out of your way, and we’re doing exactly that.”

Father took a slow, deliberate step toward Sarah, his eyes sharp and calculating. “Are you?” He reached out, fingers brushing a strand of her hair, and the sight made my blood boil. I fought to stay quiet, knowing any outburst would only make things worse for her.

He gave a mocking chuckle, then reached down to take her hand, his fingers pressing into her wrist. “There’s always a substitute, isn’t that right, Sarah?” His voice was too calm, too cold—it was a statement, not a question. A reminder.

“You can’t do this. She’s barely seventeen. We’re your children.” My voice cracked, my desperation slipping out despite myself.

He just smiled a slow, cruel smile that made my stomach turn. “Is that a change in your decision?” His voice was edged with malice as if daring me to push him further.

Sarah looked up at me, her face pale and wide-eyed. Fear. Confusion. I could see she didn’t understand what was happening, and it broke me.

“Yes,” I whispered, the words ripping out of me. “I agree. I’ll do what you want. Just let her go.”

Father gave a small nod, and the guards released her instantly. She stumbled back, free at last. He barely looked at her, just motioned for me to follow. “Bring her along, Adrian,” he called over his shoulder. “We must get you ready for your meeting.”

As I was led out, Sarah reached for me, her eyes desperate. Adrian pushed her back roughly, and she stumbled, her hands dropping to her sides in defeat.

I felt my shoulders slump as I was pulled forward, each step heavier than the last.

I was taken back to my room, and a maid was there, ready to doll me up of course, and it took an excruciating amount of time.

Eventually, the maid slipped out, leaving me alone in the room, and I let out a slow, frustrated breath. In the mirror, I barely recognized the girl staring back at me.

The layers of makeup, the tight curls pinned carefully—it all felt fake, like a mask painted on for someone else’s benefit, not mine.

Maybe on a better day, I would think I looked beautiful, but not today. Not when I was being dressed up like some prize, on display for a stranger who’d supposedly be my future husband.

The door creaked open, and my heart skipped. I turned, half expecting one of my father’s advisors or a guard, someone here to whisk me off to complete this nightmare. But it wasn’t either of them. It was Adrian. I felt tense immediately.

Of course, it would be him—my brother, always lurking, always watching, always waiting for a moment to intimidate or remind me where I stood in this family.

He didn’t just bark orders like usual. No, this time, he stepped inside and kept coming closer, something in his gaze that made my skin crawl. There was a sharpness to his stare, something unsettling. Predatory.

I forced myself to look away, pretending I didn’t notice, hoping he’d just get it over with and tell me what he wanted.

But he didn’t. He kept moving forward, inch by inch, his silence more unnerving than anything he could’ve said. I felt my heart hammering as I took a step back, and another, until my back hit the wall. His eyes were on me, cutting through the space between us until he was so close I could feel his breath against my cheek.

I could barely choke out the question. “What are you doing?” My voice was steady, though everything inside me twisted with revulsion. But he didn’t answer. His silence, the way he leaned in, breathing in my scent like he had a right to—it made bile rise in my throat. And then, he muttered in a low, taunting whisper, “You don’t mind sharing, do you? Before your new husband does?”

I shoved him back with every bit of strength I had, my voice lashing out before I could stop myself. “I’m your sister.”

He scoffed a harsh, ugly sound that only made me feel sicker. “Half-sister,” he sneered, as if it made any difference, as if it excused whatever filthy idea he had in his head.

I couldn’t listen to another word. Before he could step closer again, I brought my knee up in one quick, desperate motion, catching him exactly where I wanted. Adrian crumpled forward, a strangled groan escaping him as pain flashed across his face, his eyes filling with a dark, furious rage.

I didn’t waste a second. I spun and darted out of the room, slamming the door behind me. But as I stumbled into the hallway, two guards waited outside, their eyes hard, expressions unreadable.

“Your father awaits.” One of them informed me.

They stepped forward, blocking my escape, and I forced myself to hold my head high, to keep my face calm, though my heart beat wildly in my chest. With a silent prayer, I asked for strength, knowing Adrian wouldn’t let this go.

And as they led me away, I knew one thing for certain: whatever came next, I would face it with my head held high, no matter what Adrian did.