117.

Faraz straightened his posture, his usual confident stride carrying him across the room toward his father. Ibrahim stood in the doorway, his face a mask of cold authority. The older man’s piercing gaze flicked between his son and Alana, a look of displeasure creasing his features. Faraz knew that look all too well; it was the same look his father reserved for situations he deemed out of his control.

“Father,” Faraz greeted, his voice calm, almost disinterested, though the tension between them was palpable.

Ibrahim’s jaw tightened, but he managed a polite nod toward Alana, who quickly wiped her tear-streaked face, trying to regain her composure. “Alana, please excuse us,” Ibrahim said, his voice flat and dismissive. “This conversation is not for your ears.”

Alana hesitated, her gaze darting between Faraz and Ibrahim. There was a part of her that didn’t want to leave Faraz alone, but the weight of Ibrahim’s authority left her no choice. She nodded, her hands still trembling, and hurried from the room, casting one last worried glance at Faraz before disappearing into the hall.

Once Alana was gone, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Ibrahim closed the door behind her and turned to Faraz, his eyes blazing with barely contained anger.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ibrahim hissed, his voice low but sharp. “You were supposed to play your part quietly, not cause a scene.”

Faraz crossed his arms over his chest, a defiant smile tugging at his lips. “I was just getting acquainted with my fiancée, Father,” he said, his tone laced with mock innocence. “Surely there’s no harm in that?”

Ibrahim’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t test me, boy. This arrangement is delicate, and you’re already pushing the boundaries. You think I don’t see the way you toy with that girl? Alana’s family is influential, and we can’t afford for you to ruin this.”

Faraz’s smile faltered, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. “I know what I’m doing,” he retorted, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur. “Don’t forget, you’re the one who put me in this position. You wanted me back in the family fold, didn’t you? Well, this is the price.”

Ibrahim’s mouth tightened into a thin line, his hands clenching at his sides. “You’re here to obey, not to question,” he snapped. “Remember your place, Faraz. You may have been chosen for this alliance, but that doesn’t mean you’re untouchable.”

Faraz’s onyx eyes darkened, and he took a step closer to his father, the tension between them electric. “My place?” he echoed, his voice as cold as ice. “You think I care about the place you assigned me? I’m here for my own reasons, not yours. Don’t mistake my compliance for loyalty.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence heavy with unspoken animosity. Then, Ibrahim exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. “Fine,” he bit out, his voice tight. “But mark my words, Faraz. If you jeopardize this engagement or our family’s reputation, there will be consequences.”

Faraz’s lips curved into a smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “Understood,” he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a fiancée to reassure.”

Ibrahim watched his son leave the room, the door closing behind him with a soft click. As Faraz walked down the hall, his mind spun with thoughts of his father’s threats, Alana’s vulnerability, and the game he was playing—a game that, despite its risks, he found exhilarating.

He found Alana in the garden, sitting on a stone bench beneath the canopy of twinkling fairy lights. Her arms were wrapped around herself, as if she were trying to hold the pieces of herself together. She looked up when she saw him, her eyes wide and uncertain.

Faraz’s expression softened, and he approached her slowly, his footsteps quiet on the cobblestone path. “Alana,” he murmured, his voice unexpectedly gentle.

She stiffened, her gaze wary, but she didn’t move as he sat beside her. “What did your father say?” she asked, her voice a whisper, barely audible over the rustle of the leaves.

Faraz reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “Nothing that concerns you,” he said, his tone smooth, reassuring. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

Alana’s lips parted, and she searched his face, looking for a sign of deception. “Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice cracking. “You act like you care, but... but I don’t know if I can believe you.”

Faraz leaned in, his eyes locking onto hers. “You should be afraid of me,” he whispered, his voice low and husky. “But I promise you, I won’t let anything hurt you. Not even my father.”

Alana’s breath caught, and she shivered at the intensity of his gaze. Her fear and confusion warred with the strange, undeniable pull she felt toward him. It was madness, this connection they shared, and yet... she couldn’t bring herself to pull away.

Faraz’s hand found hers, his fingers intertwining with hers in a gesture that felt both possessive and protective. “Trust me,” he said, his voice a dark, seductive promise. “You’re part of my game now, Alana. And I always protect what’s mine.”

The garden was cloaked in the soft glow of fairy lights, but the tension between Faraz and Alana burned brighter than any light could. Alana’s heart raced, her mind torn between fear and the unexplainable pull she felt toward the man beside her.

Faraz watched her carefully, the way her chest rose and fell with each shallow breath, the way her eyes darted away from his gaze. She was like a cornered bird, unsure whether to flee or trust the hand that had ensnared her. He loved this—this dance between power and vulnerability, fear and fascination.

Alana swallowed, her throat dry. “Faraz,” she began, her voice trembling, “I don’t understand any of this. Why do you pretend to protect me when I feel like... like I’m being pulled into something I don’t understand?”

Faraz’s grip on her hand tightened slightly. He leaned in closer, his onyx eyes devouring every detail of her face. “Because you are,” he said, his voice low, almost a caress. “You’re caught in the middle of something far bigger than you, Alana. But if you stick with me, you’ll be safe. Do you understand?”

Her lips trembled, her mind a whirlpool of confusion. “Safe?” she echoed. “How can I feel safe when I’m afraid of you?”

Faraz’s smile was a blend of satisfaction and something darker, more dangerous. He loved that fear, the way it mixed with her vulnerability. But he also wanted her trust, wanted her to need him, to rely on him. It was a delicate balance, one he was eager to maintain.

He lifted his free hand to cup her cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle. “Fear isn’t always a bad thing,” he murmured, his thumb brushing over her soft skin. “It keeps you alive. But I want you to remember something.” His eyes bore into hers, a promise lurking in their depths. “I may be a monster, but I’m your monster now. And I won’t let anyone touch what’s mine.”

Alana’s eyes widened, and she shivered, the heat of his words washing over her. She felt trapped, like a moth drawn to a flame, unable to escape the heat even though she knew it could consume her.

“Faraz,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Why me?”

His gaze softened, though the intensity never left. “Because you’re different,” he replied. “You make me feel things I shouldn’t. Things I don’t understand. But one thing is clear: you’re mine to protect, mine to claim, and mine to keep.”

Alana’s pulse thundered in her ears, and she tried to make sense of the conflicting emotions swirling inside her. But before she could say anything, the distant sound of voices intruded on their intimate moment. Footsteps approached, and Faraz’s expression shifted, the mask of composure slipping back into place.

He released her hand, rising smoothly to his feet. “We’ll talk more later,” he said, his voice cool and composed. “But remember, Alana: no matter what happens, you stay close to me. Understood?”

She nodded numbly, unable to speak. Faraz’s dark presence loomed over her for a moment longer before he turned and strode back toward the house, his movements confident and purposeful.

As Alana watched him go, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just made a pact with something far more dangerous than she could ever comprehend. But she was too deep now, caught in the web Faraz had spun, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to escape.