Chapter 94: My Husband Is Coming For Me. Send Help!

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"Alex!"

I turned just in time to see Leon rushing toward me. The poor guy looked like he’d been holding his breath the whole fight. He reached me and immediately wrapped his arms around me. I stiffened in surprise before gradually returning the hug.

"You were incredible!" Leon exclaimed.

I blinked. "I still lost."

"That doesn’t matter."

"It matters quite a bit, actually. There was a contract involved and shit."

Leon pulled back and beamed at me. "You were so fast. I’ve never seen anyone move like that."

"You should’ve seen me two weeks ago. I spent half my training session flat on the floor, questioning my life choices."

Leon laughed. "You kept getting back up."

I shrugged. "I really didn’t want to embarrass myself."

"You didn’t. Even as you are quite a strange Omega, sir."

I looked at him, my voice quiet. "Do...do you still believe in me?"

His smile softened. "Of course I do, sir."

"Even though I lost?"

He seemed genuinely confused. "Alex, it’s not about winning every time."

I stared at him. "Then what is it about?"

"Not giving up, and you getting better and continuing to prove yourself."

Something tightened in my chest at that simple answer. Maybe that’s why it hurt. I looked down at the floor, suddenly very interested in a specific section of polished wood.

Leon gently squeezed my arm.

"You wanted to learn how to protect yourself," he said. "You worked for it. You stood there and fought even though everyone expected you to lose. You didn’t run away."

"I considered it."

Leon laughed. "I know."

He stared at me, and I stared back. Then he burst out laughing. For the first time since the fight ended, I laughed too. It felt good...normal, almost.

When Leon finally dashed off to grab me some more water, I noticed Nikolai walking toward the exit.

"Snitch Sensei."

He stopped, turning around. "Yes?"

"I wanted to thank you."

His expression stayed neutral. "For what?"

"For teaching me." I said, "I know I’m a difficult student, I complained constantly and I argued with everything you said...but I truly am grateful for your guidance."

Nikolai stared at me for several seconds. Then, to my surprise, the corner of his mouth moved—barely, but I saw it.

"You did well," he said. "Better than I expected."

"That almost sounded like a compliment."

"It was."

"Wow. Should I write this down?"

"Don’t ruin it."

I laughed softly, then my expression turned serious. "Thanks for being patient, with me."

He didn’t reply right away, and I swallowed. "For the first time, I feel like I’m becoming a person instead of something people pass around, protect, bargain over, or use."

Something shifted in his expression, small but noticeable. His eyes softened for just a moment before he looked away. "You’re not something to be used."

"That’s what I’m trying to believe and prove to everyone." I smiled faintly "Will you keep teaching me, Nik?"

For a brief moment, Nikolai’s composure cracked...a hint of color rising in his cheeks, a slight stutter in his posture and that glimpse of humanity beneath his stoic exterior made my next request feel both necessary and a bit scary. "O...okay. If you wish, sir--"

I laughed, and without thinking, I stepped forward and hugged him. Nikolai froze, completely. His arms stayed at his sides, and his eyes widened slightly. I realized what I’d done about two seconds too late.

"O...oh," I murmured, releasing him. "Sorry."

He still wasn’t moving. His face had turned faintly pink.

"I’ll...uh, I see you tomorrow," I said quickly, turning to hurry away before I could make things any more awkward.

Behind me, Nikolai remained standing there, one hand slowly moving to his chest. I probably shouldn’t have noticed. But I did. And for some reason, that made me smile.

"Alex!" Leon came rushing after me with a bottle of water. "You shouldn’t be running right now!"

We rounded the corner, and Leon was still lecturing me when he accidentally bumped into someone.

He stumbled backward. "Oh! I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me, I wasn’t paying attention; I should have—"

"Easy."

The voice was unfamiliar. I paused. Mateo stood there, initially looking mildly annoyed, but his expression changed when he looked down at Leon, who was still nervously apologizing. Mateo tilted his head, then smiled. "Oh? Who is this little kitten?"

Leon froze. I narrowed my eyes. "Oh, hell no."

Mateo met my gaze. "I didn’t even say anything."

"You were about to."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know slimy men like you."

Mateo chuckled. "And what exactly does that mean?"

"It means stay away from him." I backtracked before things could escalate, grabbed Leon by the wrist, and shot Mateo the most serious look I could muster while still catching my breath from the fight. "He’s too innocent for whatever nonsense you usually get into."

Leon looked between us. "Alex..."

"No. I’m protecting you.""

Mateo crouched slightly...ignoring me, while looking at Leon with a playful smile. Mateo’s expression softened when he saw how flustered and pink Leonhad become. He lifted Leon’s chin with a finger, smirking in a way that feltfar too interested "What’s your name, kitten?"

Leon turned bright red. "I—I’m Leon."

"Leon," Mateo repeated the name slowly.

I yanked Leon by the arm. "Goodbye, Mateo."

"But—"

"Goodbye or I’ll fight you next."

I dragged Leon away. Behind us, Mateo laughed. I glanced back once. He was still watching Leon, and that look made me suspicious. Very suspicious...I wasn’t well versed in love and romance or the outside world in general, so I thought Alphas didn’t care much for Betas romantically or sexually because they couldn’t produce pheromones.

So why was Matteo interested in Leon unless he just thought Leon was cute and wanted to use him and break his golden heart.

But unfortunately, I had more immediate issues to deal with...like my husband, the contract, and whatever Lorenzo had in mind now that I had lost.

By the time evening rolled around at the estate, my body was protesting every little movement. I took the fastest shower I could manage, mostly because standing under the hot water felt like the only reasonable thing to do after being tossed around by a mafia Don all afternoon.

Once I stepped out, the mirror had fogged at the edges. I stared at my reflection. My hair was damp and hanging over my forehead. Bruises were starting to show on my skin, and there was a faint mark near my jaw. I looked exhausted...older, in a way. But there was something different in my eyes. I had fought. I had lost. But I had still fought.

I touched the edge of the bruise on my cheek.

"Well," I muttered to my reflection, "this is it."

My reflection didn’t give me any useful advice. I sighed. "Goodbye, virginity. You will be missed...or not, you’ve done nothing for me."

Eventually, I slipped into a bathrobe and walked into the bedroom. The room was quiet, our bed sat in the center, perfectly made, looking far more innocent than it had any right to.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands resting in my lap. Suddenly, all the confidence I had gathered throughout the day started to evaporate. The fight had been easier, at least there I knew what I was supposed to do: move, block, strike, survive.

This was different. No instructions to follow. No stance, no strategy, no Nikolai directing me on where to put my feet. Just the contract. Just the knowledge that I had lost.

My heart began to race. I stared at the closed bedroom door. Lorenzo would come. He said he would. And for the first time since marrying him, I wasn’t waiting anxiously because I feared he might decide on my future without consulting me.

No, I was waiting because I already understood what tonight meant. And that felt even more terrifying...but at the same time, very exciting.

I leaned back a bit, staring at the ceiling. My pride hurt, my body hurt more, and underneath all that dread was an unwilling, confusing anticipation that I refused to look at too closely. I pulled the robe tighter around myself.

"Fucking fantastic," I whispered.

The room remained silent. I listened to the distant sounds of the estate settling for the night, each tiny noise seeming louder than it should have been. Then I heard footsteps somewhere beyond the door, and my heart jumped. I sat up straighter.

The footsteps grew closer, and suddenly the weight of the contract felt heavier than it had all day, like a second skin hanging over me.

I stared at the door, just waiting.