Chapter 3
-Jared-
Watching the ring slide onto Astrid"s finger and hearing the priest pronounce us as husband and wife evoked no sense of satisfaction within me. Instead, it enhanced the suffocating feeling of entrapment. While Astrid beamed up at me, a sinister glint shimmered in her eyes—a silent pledge of her ownership over me.
She seemed to believe this marriage granted her free rein to wield power over me, and I dreaded her next move. But I refused to be broken by it. If I could endure Alison"s torment during our childhood, I could withstand whatever games my wife had in store.
The ceremony proceeded as planned, an intimate affair with only family and the priest present. Despite the chapel nestled within their home, I knew no amount of religious sanctity could redeem this family. They were tainted to the core, and now I was irrevocably intertwined with them.
Glancing at Vince, I found solace in his presence among the others, his smile offering a semblance of comfort. He would forever remain my only family, unshakeable in that bond. The priest"s voice brought my attention back to the present, instructing me to kiss Astrid. I hesitated, recoiling from the thought, but before I could react, Astrid seized me, pressing our lips together in a gesture that made me feel queasy. She grabbed my arms, compelling me to embrace her, while the onlookers applauded our union.
Breaking away at the earliest opportunity, I felt Astrid"s grip tighten on my right arm as we faced our small "family". She effortlessly played the role of the happy wife, while I struggled to maintain the fa?ade of a devoted husband. Following tradition, we exited the chapel, yet the day was far from concluded. As guests began to arrive for the celebration, Astrid guided me away to a secluded room overlooking the festivities already underway.
Astrid approached a small bar cart, pouring drinks for both of us, but I refused to partake in anything she offered. When she extended a glass to me, I simply stared at it, keeping my hands in my pockets. She chuckled, setting the glass down on a nearby table. Despite her pristine white wedding attire and meticulously applied makeup, there was nothing pure about Astrid, a truth starkly evident in her eyes.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"I thought we should celebrate properly, just between us. We are husband and wife now. Both in God's eyes and in the law's eyes. We signed the papers, the priest united us, so shouldn't we toast to that?" she replied.
"No, I don't think we should. We both know this isn't exactly a marriage of love."
"No, because marriages of love are so much more fragile," she told me, sipping her drink.
"How?"
"Because love can die. You and I will always be beneficial to each other, meaning we will never not need each other," she told me.
"I'm not so sure," I whispered, but Astrid heard me, her smile growing as she stepped closer to me and grabbed my black jacket, pulling me closer.
"Are you planning to kill me, husband?"
"I have no intention of killing you. I'm just not so sure about the other way around."
She looked a bit puzzled. "Why would I kill you? I told you, I need you."
Her eyes began gleaming with desire, and I knew what appeared in her mind.
"And once you're pregnant?" I inquired. "Once you have what you want."
"What we want," she corrected. "We are husband and wife now."
"Fine. Once we have what we want, what will you need me for?"
Astrid smiled, then downed her drink. With a smile, she turned around, showing me the zipper on her dress.
"Unzip," she told me.
"What?" I asked.
"Unzip. Let's consummate the marriage."
"Now?"
"Now." she confirmed.
I sighed, realizing that whether I postponed it or not, the outcome would remain the same. If I refused, I wouldn't be surprised to find myself bound in her sex dungeon, forced to sleep with her against my will. At least by agreeing now, I could maintain some control over the situation. So, I reached for the zipper and carefully lowered it, assisting her out of the dress. She stood before me in nothing but stockings and heels, a coy smile playing on her lips.
"You do realize the windows aren't covered, right?" I pointed out.
"I don't care. Let them watch," she chuckled, striding toward me and pulling me close. "Now, back to what you said about needing you. Jared, who does the world belong to?"
"Is that a trick question?" I replied, uncertain of where she was leading with this query. As she slipped her hands into my jacket, removing it, I let it fall to the ground, and she eyed the guns I was carrying, amused by my caution.
"Men," she answered, locking eyes with me once more. "This world belongs to men. Am I a man?"
"I think that's a difficult question to answer these days," I remarked.
Astrid rolled her eyes before taking my hand and placing it between her legs, urging me to touch her. Her breathing grew heavier, and she drew me closer, our faces mere inches apart.
"I do need you," she breathed. "I need you because you possess what I don't."
"A controlling wife?"
"A cock," she corrected, her smile widening. "So even when you get me pregnant, I will need you. I will need you to do it again, and again, and again."
"How big is this family going to be?" I growled, removing my hand. She chuckled softly, drawing me closer, her lips brushing mine, sending unpleasant shivers through me.
"Very big. So we better get started."
Astrid knelt down, undoing my belt and unbuttoning my pants, lowering them enough to free my cock and stroke me before taking me into her mouth. But everything about Astrid left me feeling detached. Despite her beauty, there was no genuine attraction.
Astrid pulled away, almost shaking her head in disappointment before standing up to meet my eyes.
"Shall we do a little roleplaying?" she teased.
"I don't think I would like that."
Astrid stepped back, pressing herself against the windows, offering a view of her naked body to anyone who might be watching. It seemed to arouse her, but not me.
"I can be your little slave today," she offered, sparking thoughts of Alison in my mind. I shouldn't react. I could think about something else. I could conjure a different thought, or even imagine Astrid collared and at my mercy. But to my dismay, it brought no satisfaction or warm desire. It seemed Alison's pain was what excited me. Was that surprising? Why hadn't I rid myself of her yet? Why was I hesitating? I had everything I needed to finally be free of her, yet I found myself tempted to agree to Astrid's game.
"What do you say?" she asked. "Shall I act like her?"
"You could never be her," I stated.
"Oh? You sound quite fascinated by her. Is she that good at satisfying you? Can she do something I can't?"
"Astrid, the only thing similar between you two is the fact that I hate you both. But at least with my slave, I knew she loathed when I fucked her. You want me to."
"I see. So that's what gets you going? A little force, a plea not to touch me. I knew you liked things dark, I just didn't know you were into such depraved games," she taunted.
"You don't know what you're talking about," I snarled, because it wasn't just anyone's rejection I wanted. There was only one person I wanted to hear it from, but that was never going to happen again.
"Please, Jared, don't touch me. I hate you. I don't give you my consent," she mocked me, not even trying to put effort into the game.
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head a bit. "That was awful," I told her.
She chuckled and shrugged. "What can I say? I do, in fact, want your huge cock in me. I bet it's going to hurt in the best ways."
"Most men would probably enjoy hearing that. Me? It makes my dick shrink."
She glanced down at my flaccid cock before smiling at me with a smug smirk. "Doesn't look smaller to me."
"It isn't going to happen," I sighed, beginning to fix my clothes, but Astrid tsked at me, vexing me with the sound.
As I turned to her, she wiggled her finger at me. "Jared, first of all, we are going to be watched from now on, outside and in the bedroom. You must know that."
I rolled my head tiredly, acknowledging that she was right. We were going to be under surveillance from now on.
"Second of all, what do you think will happen if people take notice of how cold this marriage truly is and no kids are going to come out of it?" she inquired.
I didn't answer immediately because I already knew the answer, but admitting it felt like locking myself truly to Astrid forever.
"It will be seen as a weakness. Something others can exploit. We are meant to look united. Do you and I look united right now?" she asked, finally dropping the jokes and teasing, becoming serious and revealing the sharp mind hidden beneath the flirting.
Astrid wasn't foolish. I knew that. Despite being the smaller wolf, she was just as deadly. I couldn't walk away. I had to fuck her on full display, showcasing to everyone how "happy" we were. I even came to realize why Astrid wanted us to do it now. We would appear as that lovesick couple unable to wait until later. It was a cunning move, but it took two people to conceive a child, and for that to happen, my cock needed to grow hard.
"Well?" she challenged me, raising an eyebrow.
"Fine, but you aren't facing me."
She laughed as she turned around to face the outside world, her hands pressed against the window, and her backside presented to me. I approached her, undoing my pants again, trying to conjure memories of being with Alison. Instantly, a fire surged through my veins, and I reached for my cock, stroking myself, feeling me harden. I knew I should divert my thoughts away from Alison, but at that moment, this was what aroused me, and I needed to get it over with. I seized Astrid, positioning myself.
"Remember, not my ass this time. We discussed how you make a child," Astrid chuckled, and I reached out, muffling her with my hand as I thrust forcefully into her, hearing her gasp at the impact.
"Just stop talking," I growled in her ear as I began thrusting.
I pounded into her relentlessly, driving her body forward, and she began moaning into my hand. I didn't aim to give her any pleasure, but her hand slipped down her body, and she began pleasuring herself while I continued. I shut my eyes, mentally transporting myself far from the room and away from Astrid's panting.
She started climaxing, her inner walls contracting around me. I moved faster, momentarily losing my rhythm as I imagined someone far better than my dreadful wife. I envisioned blue eyes filled with tears and a fierce gaze. I recalled a body marked with my initials. I remembered her cries. That was what propelled me over the edge, and I came inside Astrid, emitting a dark groan at the peak of my ecstasy.
I opened my eyes only to realize whom I had come inside, and while the sweet release transitioned into revulsion, a small sense of fulfillment lingered, knowing I had done my duty. However, I understood that this one instance would not free me. Astrid had made it clear that we were to build a large family. My torment had only just begun.