Alejandra's POV
This is crazy! No one will believe what has happened. In just a matter of days, I sat in front of the mirror, with professional makeup artists who transformed me, whom most people considered unattractive, into someone completely different.
She put contact lenses in my eyes, which have heterochromia. At first glance, I was stunned and forgot what I really looked like because of the lenses that now replaced my natural eye color.
"You don't want the guests to look at you strangely, do you?" said the makeup artist, who should have offended me, but it didn't. Since earlier, my mind had been preoccupied with what I was doing now.
I just stayed silent at that moment. I didn't resist and just gave in when Kyle confidently said that we were really going to get married.
Didn't he love Alexis very much? Why did he just accept my father's decision? He even said that it was lucky to marry me. Without any expression. So don't blame me if I didn't believe him and became even more anxious.
"I could destroy your makeup because you killed your twin sister," muttered the makeup artist softly. However, she must have deliberately said it right next to my ear.
"What?" I asked.
She stopped applying something to my face, then looked at the mirror so I could see her expression clearly.
"Why did you kill her? You're ugly, but it's not Alexis' fault. It's a sign that you are cursed and now you've proven it," she said.
I clenched my fists tightly at the insults from someone who knew nothing about me. Everyone pointed fingers, as if what happened was my fault. No one wanted to listen and I had to endure it all. I didn't know for how long.
I just kept quiet, unmoved by her insults, and when I stood at the altar with Kyle, he didn't even look at me.
I should have remembered that I was just a replacement and shouldn't have expected Kyle to look at me, let alone with a loving gaze. That would never happen. He must have hated me, but the pack wanted him to marry and ally with our pack. As the leader, pressured by the elders had him to do this.
"I accept," he replied when the elder who married us asked if he was willing to make me his wife, then recited the wedding vows. He agreed. Without refusal and with an expression that gave no clue as to what was in his heart at that moment.
He must hate me, but... why is he willing to marry me?
Is it just because of the alliance? Or is it the elders' demand that he have children soon? Will he touch me as he should later?
Mom caressed my cheek, but her gaze was reluctant to look at me. Her face was still swollen. It was clear that she was still mourning Alexis's departure even now.
It had been six months, and all the members seemed to be facing prolonged grief.
Would they do the same if it happened to me?
"Even though he is not your mate, you still have to undergo the union ritual," Mom said, which instantly made all my hairs stand on end and my stomach churn.
"He can't possibly touch me," I replied.
"You have to lure him to come to you and do it. It's a sacred tradition, Ale. Promise me you'll do it."
I froze, turning to look at Kyle standing in the doorway, but he seemed reluctant to interrupt the moment between me and Mom. Mom wiped her tears, turned and found Kyle, then approached him.
"Please take care of my daughter, Alpha Kyle. Be happy..." she said.
From the mirror, I could see that Kyle didn't answer, nor did he respond in any other way. He just froze, then let Mom leave, while he stepped inside, closed the door, and walked towards me.
My heart pounded—raced, and my brain kept playing out the erotic scenes we might have in a matter of minutes.
Was I ready?
What if I wasn't? I was still a virgin and some people said that the first time was the most excruciating.
Kyle was an alpha and he definitely had qualities that no other level in our race possessed. Alphas are at the top in every aspect: intelligence, agility, quality, physical appearance—Kyle was tall and sturdy, almost seven feet tall. Can you imagine how strong he was?
Stop it, Ale! Since when did your mind become so naughty?
He arrived right behind me, turned my chair, crouched down, and aligned his eyes with mine. He grabbed my chin, looking me over like he was inspecting something he had just bought. He probably felt regret because there was no joyful expression on his face.
Wasn't he the one who wanted this marriage? Or... was this just a tactic so he could avenge Alexis' death?
"Why did I make this decision?" he muttered, which didn't surprise me at all.
The same question: why are you doing this, Alpha Kyle?
He snorted, laughed bitterly, then got up and walked to the corner of the room where the mini bar was. He seemed to grab a bottle and drink it carelessly. Then, without warning, he took off his clothes, leaving only his long pants and his sculpted body, which made my face flush when I looked at him.
He was so perfect, and together with Alexis, they were the most sexiest couple of the century. It was only natural that everyone was shocked when they heard Kyle's decision to marry me.
He managed to convince everyone that he was fine with this, as if he had already accepted the reality that Alexis—Lex—was gone.