Page 7 of Her Arranged Alpha
"Are you going to willingly walk inside, or do I need to carry you?"
Jillian looked at me for the first time in hours and glared. "Eat shit." She opened the door and hopped out, slamming the door shut behind her.
I inhaled slowly, questioning how this was going to work for us. I questioned if the other women spoke this way to the guys when they were first forced to marry. Was I the only one who had a feisty chick? I doubted it. I'd heard some of the arguments the guys had with their wives.
I then remember she was likely afraid. Anyone would be scared in this situation, and everyone reacted differently. Some people leaned into their fear, and others leaned into their anger.
I got outside and headed up to the front door, where Jillian stood with her arms crossed. She looked around the neighborhood before turning to the door. I unlocked it and pushed the door open. Jillian stepped inside, and I watched her face fall.
"What is my house not nice enough for you?" The words slipped out quickly before I could even think.
"It's nice. It's just white," Jillian said as she looked around. Her lips formed a thin line, and her eyes scanned the rooms. "I'm just surprised, is all."
She must have been talking about the walls because I knew the furniture wasn't. I had top-of-the-line furniture. I had someone decorate for me, so I knew it looked good. Everything was in fashion.
"It's new. I had the entire house furnished when I bought it."
"It's characterless," she stated as she slipped her shoes off and walked further into the space.
I ignored her comment and forced a smile. "We should lay some ground rules down while we are here, since we are going to be doing this." I waved a hand between us. "And I want to make sure that we are both comfortable here."
Jillian stopped at the edge of the rug in the living room, and her head moved as she surveyed the space. "Such as?"
"You aren't leaving this place until the ceremony."
She rolled her eyes and started walking around the living room. "You've said that like eight times."
"I want to make sure you get how serious I am. If the Council found out about what you did, Jillian. They would not go easy on you."
She made a face and ran her hand over the couch before turning to the fireplace. "I get it, I'm a prisoner in a terrible furnished house."
I scowled. "This is furnished nicely. All high-end stuff."
She turned and sighed. "You clearly let someone furnish this because it looks like a page straight out of a catalog. You aren't anywhere in here. This house doesn't feel like a home."
I looked around, seeing her point. When I went to the guy's house, you could tell it was lived in. There were toys around, papers placed in random spots. The house felt warm when you entered it.
"Well, you can change things if you want," I offered, smiling at her in the hope it would help break the ice. It didn't. She looked away.
I sighed. "Rule two, I don't enjoy a smartass, and you should probably get that under wraps."
She continued walking, running her hand over the fireplace. "Get used to it. You're the one who forced me here."
I tossed my keys onto my small table by the door. "Rule three, once this marriage is set, you will find a job or at least do something. We may be married, but I still want you to do something with your spare time."
She glanced at me. "And if I don't want to work?"
I looked at her, confused. "Do you not want to work?" I knew that she probably didn't need to, as I worked, but I didn't see her as the type of person who would stay at home and do nothing.
She moved into the kitchen, her footsteps soft. She rounded the counter, taking in the cabinets and the island. "I liked what I did, but this is a new town, and it takes time to adjust."
I took her words in and nodded. "I understand that. Believe it or not, Jillian. I want you to be comfortable here. This will be your new life, and we both have to make adjustments." Ididn't agree to most of this, but I wasn't a monster. We had to handle the cards that we were dealt.
I watched as she walked around the kitchen, her hands running over the granite counter. She stopped at the fridge and looked slightly impressed. "I'll say the kitchen is nice."
"I'm glad the kitchen impresses you."
She continued to walk, and I tilted my head at her. "What are you doing?"
