Page 80 of Corruption
I hadn’t intended to speak much tonight, so his warning was somewhat unnecessary. Nonetheless, I nodded, and I was then ushered out of the door by both men. We made our way to one of the cars parked in front of the house, and I ended up sandwiched in the middle between Jared and one of the guards. I quickly realized that this guard was the same one Jared had brought into the bedroom, and his proximity made me exceedingly uncomfortable. I edged closer to Jared, who surprised me by lifting me onto his lap and securing the seatbelt around both of us.
“Comfortable?” he whispered in my ear.
“Not really. I feel rather trapped,” I admitted.
“Good. That’s the purpose of it,” he chuckled as he twisted the chain around his hand, pulling me closer until our faces were mere inches apart. I was almost relieved to see the smile still lingering on his lips. This was the side of Jared I was accustomed to, not the silent and angry one. It appeared that the new collar had put him in high spirits, and I became so engrossed in the smile on Jared’s lips that I barely noticed the car beginning to roll.
Chapter 36
-Jared-
My plan was not exactly well-thought-out. As I had confessed to Vince earlier, I knew that involving Alison in this affair was a terrible idea. But Astrid hadn’t believed me when I asserted that I had my own submissive, and that I was not the one taking on that role in the bedroom. My intention for the evening was to make certain things abundantly clear to my future wife, because it seemed that she needed unquestionable proof. Or maybe I wished that her father would object vehemently to me bringing Alison, leading to an annulment of our engagement. I couldn’t deny that this impending wedding didn’t fill me with enthusiasm, and having a wife who relished locking up my cock was not particularly appealing either. So I harbored hope her father would protest, although I knew I could be unlucky enough for Henrick to desire to serve me my own testicles tonight as punishment for bringing Alison. All would soon be revealed as to how this night would unfold. Until then, I enjoyed the sensation of having Alison chained to me as we drove toward the wolves’ den. Her body was pressed firmly against mine, the red dress she wore leaving very little to the imagination, and I could easily peer down into its depths. It was definitely going to keep me on edge tonight, a prospect I strangely looked forward to.
I had spent the entire day attempting to rid myself of that foolish idea that Vince had planted. I had met with some success, but I welcomed the distraction tonight. I knew that this dinner would not be confined to just Vince, me, and the wolves. Other influential families, people connected to the wolves, would also be present, and I suspected there would be more surprises than just a simple dinner. Events like these often held dark revelations toward the end, and I was grateful for the opportunity to focus on something else, even if only for a night. If this evening proceeded smoothly, with no shootings or stabbings, then I hoped it would mean that Alison and I could return to my house. I held out hope that by returning to our old routines, getting back on track, I could eventually banish the thought of Alison ever having feelings for me from my mind. It still seemed like a ridiculous thought, but one I found difficult to shake. However, as I glanced at her, observing her gaze out the window, watching the world pass by, I felt like a fool for even entertaining such an idea. How could someone like Alison ever develop an interest in someone like me? We were born into entirely different worlds, and her interactions with me had consistently been laced with cruelty. Could someone truly be so incapable of expressing their own feelings that they resorted to cruel methods? Or was it the compulsion to conceal those feelings that overpowered them?
As I watched her, I sensed the car slowing down. We were not yet in the city, but rather in a luxury neighborhood not far away. It was evident that we were not the only ones arriving. Cars were ahead of us, finding parking spots, and people were strolling along a long red carpet leading to a grand white mansion. They certainly didn’t seem interested in hiding the fact that they were hosting a party tonight, but individuals with wealth and power often enjoyed flaunting it. It caused me to roll my eyes. Vince’s house was not mine, and the one I had purchased had only been to remain close to Alison. I could easily find contentment in something much more modest. However, the house before me would undoubtedly become my home at some point. Once I was bound to Astrid, I would also be entwined with the family business, destined to lead it all with my beautiful wife by my side. I was uncertain whether her family even recognized Astrid’s true intelligence or if she was adept at playing the role of the obedient daughter so skillfully that they didn’t notice when she manipulated them. It was admirable, but I wondered what it would mean for our marriage. Would my wife be playing me all the time? It was certainly going to be intriguing to witness her reaction to Alison.
The car slowed down even further, and we found a suitable parking spot. I unfastened the seatbelt, releasing Alison. I allowed her to exit first before following suit. After closing the door, I wrapped an arm around her waist, using the hand not connected to the chain. The chain was quite thin and not very long. I could barely let my hand rest at my side without causing Alison to stumble to the ground. I did use the chain to guide her forward, but I didn’t want her to walk hunched over. Thus, as we proceeded, Vince leading the way with the guards following behind us, I allowed Alison to walk beside me. We were met by guards who conducted a search, checking us for weapons. When one of them began running his hands over Alison, I pulled her closer to me and shook my head.
“No one touches her but me,” I asserted, although the guard refused to allow us to pass until he had searched Alison.
“Jared,” Vince warned.
“Where would she hide anything?” I asked Vince. “She isn’t even wearing panties.”
I heard Alison inhale sharply as I revealed that she was naked underneath the dress. She turned her head swiftly, fixing me with wide eyes brimming with burning anger. I couldn’t help but smile at her, though my focus quickly shifted as Vince continued, “Let him search her, and let’s get going. We both know there are many places to hide a weapon, and we have a dinner to attend.”
I sighed, reluctant to see someone else running their hands all over what I had spent years claiming as entirely mine for a month. However, we weren’t going anywhere until Alison had been searched.
“Hands where I can see them, and be quick about it,” I warned, turning Alison to face me. I observed the guard reaching out, and Alison obediently raised her bare arms. He placed his hands on the sides of her body, running them down her contours, and I could see her discomfort growing. It was clear that Alison detested this intrusion as much as I did. But of course, she was amidst strangers and killers, the little dove surrounded by crows. The guard continued his search, running his hands down her hips, and I kept a vigilant eye on him, ensuring that he didn’t overstep. He stayed obedient, running his hands down one leg, then the other, before gently pushing her toward me.
“She is clear,” he declared.
“Obviously,” I muttered irritably as I guided Alison with me. However, I couldn’t help but notice the way she clung to me, finding safety in my presence. It shouldn’t have felt so reassuring, but it did, and my grip on her tightened as we followed Vince, who now walked beside me.
“I told you it was a bad idea to bring her.”
“No, you asked me if I thought it was, and I agreed with you, but I made the decision to bring her regardless of it being unwise,” I retorted with a smirk.
Vince shook his head, and the house staff stood in a line down the hallway leading to the dining room. They gazed straight ahead obediently, hands folded in front of them. We turned down the hallway and proceeded toward the open doors at the end. Voices resonated from within, and as we finally entered the dining room, the wolves quickly gathered around us. Henrick approached, with his nephews trailing behind. His eyes initially settled on Vince as they shook hands, but they soon scanned over me. I could tell that he had noticed how I was connected to Alison, yet instead of anger, I detected a faint smile. This was not the reaction I had anticipated.
“Perhaps my daughter and you will have a great time being married after all. She loves games too,” he remarked before he and Vince laughed, moving away to find their seats.
Definitely not the reaction I had hoped for. As I scanned the room for Astrid, I found her sitting beside another man, engaged in conversation while running her long, white nails over the back of his hand. However, I believed she sensed my gaze on her because her eyes shifted, and she locked onto me from a distance. A shocked expression overtook her features as she noticed Alison chained to me, and finally, I was granted the reaction I had been aiming for. With a self-satisfied smile, I walked to the other side of the table where Vince had taken a seat next to Henrick, who had clearly claimed the head of the table. I settled into a seat a little further down, positioning myself directly in front of Astrid, who sat alongside her cousins. Her gaze shifted continuously between Alison and me, obviously taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. She believed she could convert me, that even a small part of me desired submission, but she didn’t truly know me.
As I locked eyes with Astrid, I turned slightly and reached out, lifting the hand with the leather bracelet connected to Alison’s chain. I brushed a finger down Alison’s cheek, prompting her to face me. Her eyes held such deep confusion, as she clearly didn’t understand what was transpiring. I smiled at her briefly before returning my gaze to Astrid. Alison followed my line of sight, and their eyes met. Astrid and she exchanged a brief glance, but Alison quickly redirected her attention to me. I looked at her as well, sensing that she was about to ask something, but our focus was diverted as Henrick tapped a fork against his glass, commanding our attention.
“Please take your seats, and let us begin our meal,” he announced.
The lively conversation persisted, albeit at a lower volume, as food was served, and the guests became engrossed in their meals. Personally, I didn’t feel particularly hungry. I was more occupied with relishing the sight of Astrid’s perplexed and slightly surprised expression as she observed both Alison and me. Indeed, this night promised to be exceptionally interesting.
Chapter 37
-Alison-
Of course, I couldn’t help but notice the way Jared and the woman seated in front of me, who I had heard being referred to as Astrid by other guests, were scrutinizing each other. It was easy to figure out their connection, but I never had the opportunity to have it confirmed. I couldn’t deny that she was strikingly beautiful. Her hair was even blonder than mine, and her eyes leaned more toward a grayish hue than blue. Her facial features were delicate, making her appear quite young, yet the aura of power that surrounded her left no doubt that she was no child. She was a grown woman, although I couldn’t discern her age. She wore an exquisite light blue dress that accentuated her curvaceous form, and I found myself stealing glances at Jared, trying to determine if he, too, was captivated by her allure. I knew it shouldn’t matter to me whether he found her attractive or not, and yet I couldn’t help it. Jared had been so enigmatic since our arrival at Vince’s estate, and the whole notion of this marriage, deal, or alliance remained perplexing. He told me it was to ensure our safe return, but why had we become targets in the first place? I had so many unanswered questions, and while they had been troubling me all along, they felt even more pressing tonight as I was thrust into this unfamiliar world.
Despite the vibrant atmosphere, the pleasant conversation, and the delectable food being served, I couldn’t ignore the presence of guards along one wall. They were dressed in black and meticulously observed everything transpiring in the room. While I couldn’t spot any visible weapons, I was well aware that they were armed. As I glanced down the table, where Vince and the man at the end were engrossed in conversation, I noticed how they leaned toward each other as if sharing a private discussion. They were the only ones not engaged in lively chatter, and when the man, who bore a resemblance to Astrid, turned his gaze toward me, his cold, penetrating look nearly sent shivers down my spine. I quickly averted my eyes because there was no mistaking the gaze of a killer. I had looked straight into that dark abyss, seeing something malevolent that I didn’t care for.
