Brutal

Brutal
OPAL
The next day, I wake up determined to get this matter with Bruce resolved. 
Aunt Janice was right. I have to assert dominance or I'm never going to earn a voice among these people. If I'm also a leader, then I have to participate. I don't see why I have to sit around all day and do nothing when I could probably be giving input on the decision-making. 
Bruce hasn't been home all day. The maid I inquired with asked me if I wanted to give him a message, but I told her that wasn't necessary. 
I know he married me because of the alliances between him and my father, but what about me? Should I stand aside and do nothing while they make all the decisions?
He arrives before dinner, and I know this because the maid is kind enough to tell me. I thank her, take a few deep breaths, smooth my hair down, and then venture downstairs. 
I head to his office—I was exploring the house earlier, and the maid told me he's always there. I raise my hand and knock. 
"Yes?" He sounds tense.
"It's me. Opal."
There's silence for a handful of seconds—long enough for me to wonder if he's going to ignore me—but then he opens the door and we come face to face. 
Goddess, will the sight of his face ever stop reminding me of that night?
"Is there something wrong?"
"No," I answer. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."
He searches my eyes intensely for a handful of moments before gesturing for me to enter his office. His eyes are burning through the back of my head as I walk past him. 
The door clicks shut and my heart somersaults. I have to pull myself together right now. 
"What can I do for you?" he asks as he walks around his table and grabs a seat. The way we're talking so casually like we haven't seen each other's bodies...it's strange to me. This shouldn't be happening. 
"I wanted to ask you about my duties."
"Duties?"
"As a leader? We have to share responsibilities. That's the whole point of this arrangement, right?"
"As I said to you the other day—there'll be a meeting when we'll discuss all of this."
"When?" I push. 
Something flashes in his eyes and it looks a hell of a lot like irritation. "I'll have to discuss with my family and other Alphas."
I fold my arms. I'm not convinced by what he's telling me. "What do they have to do with this? This is a discussion that's supposed to happen between the two of us before anyone gets involved. I'm supposed to find out what I'll be doing with everyone else?"
His jaw ticks. He doesn't say a word to me in response and frankly, I'm not at all bothered by the change in his mood. He wants to be pissed? He can do just that. 
I'm not leaving this office without answers, and if that ends up happening, then it won't be because I didn't show interest. At least I tried. 
"Why did you marry me if I can't participate in pack politics?" I question. "Maybe you're afraid that I'll mess up, but I have to start at some point."
Bruce leans closer to me. His face is completely transformed and his voice is a low rumble in his chest. "I married you because your father treated you like cattle and I bought you. Simple as that. Your responsibilities will be discussed when I figure out what to do with you, alright?"
It feels like he's thrown a bucket of ice-cold water at my face. Rage consumes me to the point that it blinds me. "Cattle, is it? Oh, it's a cow you fucked?"
"I'm only—"
My hand reaches across the desk in a flash and collides with his cheek. His shock is the same as mine. My stinging hand is proof that I did this—I lost control and struck this man I barely know. A man I'm depending on.
I rise from my seat, but I'm moving too slow, for some reason, and I can't reach the door before him. I reach for the handle, but he grabs my arm and forces me to turn around and face him. 
My heart's slamming against my chest and it feels like I can't breathe. 
"Hey," he says. Why does his voice sound so distant? "Opal. Opal, look at me."
I hate how the command makes me meet his gaze and look away moments later. Bruce then forces me to look at him by shoving two fingers under my chin. His eyes search mine. He looks so different from how he did just moments ago, seated across that table. 
"I'm sorry," he finally says. "I shouldn't have said those words. I wish I could explain how...I wish you'd understand just what—"
He cuts himself off and looks away. My breaths are slowing, but I can't stop thinking about what he just called me. 
"Dammit," he curses under his breath before looking back at me. "Dammit, Opal. Things would've been a lot easier if I'd...you drive me crazy."
His face is merely inches away from mine now, and I can taste his breath. I'm aware of every little thing. How close he is to me. How his finger is caressing my inner wrist. How his eyes are filled with an anguish that's so great it's palpable. 
His face blurs, though. The tears are coming. I look down and try to control myself—I don't want to lose control here, in front of him. I don't want him to know just how badly his words hurt. They really hurt. They remind me of what my father said to me and how he treated me in the moments before the wedding. 
It's too much for me to handle. 
Bruce is still looking at me apologetically but right now, his apology means nothing to me, not when his words have left such a tender sore. 
I tear my hand away from his, twist the handle behind me, and the door flies open. I nearly lose my footing, but manage to stand upright. Then, I walk away from him and don't look back. 
But I know he's watching me walk away.