Say My Name
The man's hot breath splashed against Stella's neck. Just one inch, and those lips would gently touch her ear.
Stella's eyes dilated in fear of how close they were, and thick, long fingers weaved with her slender ones. She was swept off her feet, and before she could even register what was going on, Valeric threw her over his shoulder and walked toward the glass elevator.
He stepped in and didn't let her down throughout the ride to the second floor. The doors chimed open, and he walked out.
They made it down the hallway, which had rooms on the right side and a white wall on the left. Valeric stopped in front of a room with a black door and turned the knob.
He entered the room with her, and Stella, who held a grimace, waited for him to put her down, but he didn't.
"Sir, y-you don't always have to do this. I can walk on my own." Her voice, surprising to her, was quiet. It wasn't intended.
Valeric cocked a brow and locked the door. He sat her down on the bed and silently studied her for a moment. She was too thin, as if they barely fed her, and her skin was too pale. Yes, Omega's fall sick, but not like human's do, so he was sure that wasn't the case.
Her family simply never paid attention to her. She was neglected.
Stella was confused by his intent to stare.
Was he pondering when to get rid of her? She fidgeted with her hands and swallowed hard, unable to meet his emotionless gaze.
"What do you want?" His voice was smoky and reminded her of dark streets and moonless nights.
She finally met his eyes with raised brows. "What?"
A finger swept a strand of short hair from her face carefully, and Valeric pressed his thumb to the flesh under her right eye. "What do you want? Ask for it."
"Uh…" She fumbled with her words, her blue eyes darting around the room. "Well, can I have my own bedroom? I'd like it if you could let me…"
The words died in her throat as Valeric immediately let go, and his hand dropped to his side. He was peering straight into her soul.
She couldn't move, she could only see that piercing gaze. The room was so cold all of a sudden.
He was angry…? Was it what she said?
"Why?" Valeric questioned.
Stella panicked. The words were stuck in her throat, and her body was completely overwhelmed with fear. This was a man that not even her father could look straight in the eyes.
Valeric's brows arched upwards, and a momentary daze passed over his cold face. "I can't allow that."
"You're my wife, and I'm your husband. We share the same room."
Opening her mouth, Stella searched for the words and found none. She anxiously wrinkled her dress and lowered her gaze to the floor. "Are we really…husband and wife?"
"Meaning what?" Something unpleasant narrowed in his eyes, and she watched his hands ball into fists. "What do you think this is? Do you think that I-"
"Nevermind," she immediately digressed, knowing she had to survive him and not die on the first day. "It's fine, sir. I'll share the room with you. Please, don't get-"
"Valeric!"
"Huh?" She was taken aback.
"It's Valeric." He grasped her wrist and hunched over to press his hands on the bed. "You call me Valeric. Say my name."
But Stella wasn't uttering a word. Her entire body had gone numb, being beneath him, and the only thing keeping her back off the bed was his arm.
She was gazing into his eyes, her chest rising and falling in heavy breathing.
"Say it," Valeric demanded with a blank face, yet expectant eyes. "Say my name, wife."
Wife?
"Sir, p-please let go. It hurts." Stella grimaced, tiny bubbles of tears forming at the edge of her doe eyes.
The man's brow flew upward. Quickly, he let go and took steps back away from her. He really hadn't realized, and he was sure he might have snapped her wrist had she not spoken.
He wanted to ask how badly he'd hurt her. He wanted to say he was sorry for it, but none of the sentence was making its way out of his mouth. They were stuck, and he could only ball his hands into fists with a frustrated expression.
Stella swallowed hard.
The way he stood there, tall and broad, with a light frown and his hands tightly clenched, was all too intimidating for a recessive omega like her. He was angry, and she was sure of it. What was he going to do to her? He wouldn't hurt her, would he?
But the man wasn't angry. He was rather frustrated, unsure how to talk to her or what to say,
Her heart jumped to her throat, and she immediately climbed into the bed to back away to the edge, her gaze sweeping over to the lantern, intent on defending herself were he to do anything.
Valeric's eyes seemed to darken a fraction at her action, and his stare wasn't as quite as neutral as it'd usually been. His lips parted, and he wanted to say something, but instead, he gave a curt nod.
"I'll come back for you." He turned and left the room, crashing the door shut behind him.
Stella breathed heavily and slowly let go of the duvet that she'd clutched onto. He'll come back for her. To do what?
She settled her feet on the floor, covered in woven plush carpet, and walked into the bathroom.
A bath—she needed a bath.
————
By the time Valeric returned to her, it was already past midnight. He was clothed in white night pants and a silk shirt.
His eyes crossed over to the bed, but Stella was not there. This caused his eyebrows to furrow, however, they diffused in the next moment when he glanced over to the sofa.
There, she lay on her side, clothed in pink pajamas and curled into a soft ball.
He found himself interestingly amused by this. She couldn't have possibly found the sofa much more comfortable than the bed, could she?
Or…was she avoiding him?