Pretentiousness and grandeur permeated the air during dinner, making it almost difficult for the healer to breathe. She sat in a daze, unable to converse with anyone or even bother to listen to the conversations overflowing all around her. It didn't help matters that her fiancé was constantly glued to her side, watching her every move like a hawk and purposely brushing up against her many times. He'd been this obnoxious ever since they met the alpha of the crescent blue pack in the grand hall and it had only been getting worse since then. The alpha in question, has been staring at her with such rampant intensity that it made her nervous. Surprisingly though, it didn't make her uncomfortable. Whenever her fiancé stared at her before, it felt leery and left a bad taste in her mouth because he always viewed her as an object, merely made for his pleasure. But the alpha staring at her now made her feel flushed and almost..desired?

She suppressed the urge to grimace as her fiancé glided his hand over her thigh from under the table and she stiffened. She grabbed his wrist to stop him from going further but he resisted easily, his clammy hand sliding under her dress and wandering wherever it felt like until she felt sick. His thigh rubbed up against hers and the more she tried to subtly put distance between them, the closer he leaned into her. She wondered if they must appear the part of a passionate young couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other. That disgusted her.

 

 Her feeling of dread rose when she remembered their shared room arrangement, which would have to continue for quite a while. She loathed the idea of having to share a space with him for so long. It was only so much she could do to resist his advances and she wondered if tonight he would try to pressure her into his bed. She already knew his take on general morals and her honour meant little to him, so it was plausible that he might attempt something lewd. She steeled her resolve to do everything she could to stop him and keep him away from her.

The alpha across from her seemed to have picked up on her uncomfortable predicament and he stood up, announcing that they should move to the living room where it was less stuffy. She stood up abruptly, feeling a rush of gratitude and moved forward quickly to try to find a spot furthest away from her fiancé when she was stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of his voice. She whirled around to see her fiancé holding a glass of champagne, which he struck lightly with a fork to gather everyone's attention. She grimaced internally and braced herself for whatever he was planning. His smile widened when everyone was focusing on him and he exclaimed,

'It may not be very well known, but my lovely fiancé simply loves playing the piano.' He motions towards her with his hand.

'My darling, if you could grace us with a lovely melody. You know my favourite one don't you?'

He winked at her. She gave a tight nod and stiffly made her way to the piano, dread making her fingers tremble before she even had the chance to start playing. He would force her to play all the difficult melodies on purpose, all because he knew how much she hated playing them. Has been hating playing them ever since her parents died and the part of her who loved the piano died alongside them. His cruelty knows no bounds, she realises and she's determined not to let him get to her. Irregardless of how painful it became.