I.
Zion Evans already knows his worth in the world. A stepping stone for his family. He is the unwanted child of his father and a prostitute. He’s a stain on the powerful Evans family, one they were forced to keep and claim to prevent any scandals.
He has been told multiple times ever since he was a child that it has become ingrained in him.
So it was no surprise to him when he was told that he would be married off to the supposedly playboy son of the Lancer family. Because that seems to be the only use he has for the family.
Even though both of them are Alphas.
“The engagement is already final. What’s left is for you to just walk down the aisle and become his husband,” the wife of the house, Madam Lilian Evans, informed him with a narrow look in her eyes. His father, Master Harold Evans, simply drank from his red wine while staring at him indifferently.
Zion impassively nodded his head. He accepted the order without any complaints, as was expected of him. As was what he was already used to doing.
“We will meet the Lancer family this afternoon. Get ready. Be your best self.”
After telling him what was expected of him, the couple left him alone in this small house where he lived, separated from the main family house.
Zion just continued sitting on the couch in the living room, not having any intention of moving. He took a deep breath and lightly sighed.
He is going to get married. Though he doesn’t know the exact date, he knows it would be soon. There wasn’t any reason to delay it, after all.
His supposed husband, Klaus Lancer, is also an Alpha. In this union, both of them are at the top of the gender chain. They are also complete strangers to each other. It’s obvious that this marriage is only happening for the connection between both families.
Truthfully, this should not even be happening. An Alpha marrying an Alpha isn’t unheard of, but it is unusual simply because both are dominant people. It could not be helped that clashes would happen.
And between Alphas, that’s disastrous. Especially when their families are both influential.
Zion could try to understand why a marriage between two Alphas is happening between the Evans and Lancer families objectively, but he did not bother. What is the use anyway?
Even if he did know the reason, he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. The information he would gain would be useless. He wouldn’t even be able to use it.
In the end, he doesn’t live for himself. He lives for the Evans family. They hold his life in the palm of their hands. He is nothing without them.
He doesn’t have any friends or acquaintances. He cannot go out of his own house, as he has always been watched 24/7, every single day. He doesn’t even know how to communicate well. Even his own emotions are a struggle for him. He doesn’t have any connections aside from his indifferent family, the twins, and his professional tutors.
He’s alone, and he is already used to it. At least he could sleep in a good house and eat anything he wanted.
He’s living. That’s the only thing that matters.
It’s still nine in the morning, and meeting his fiancé is in the afternoon. Though he doesn’t know the exact time, there’s no harm in getting ready early.
Though he wonders what Madam Lilian was talking about before they left earlier.
Be your best self.
How to be his best self?
Wasn’t he always his best self? He behaves, he doesn’t fuss, he doesn’t speak unless he’s spoken to, and he doesn’t react.
That’s good, right? Because that was all he knows. Just like he has always been in every second and every day of his entire 27 years of life.
Perhaps it’s okay? Because he thinks that what he is today is already his best self.
Maybe it’s the clothes? He’s going to wear a formal suit anyway, so he’s probably set.
His every move was meticulous as he arranged the clothes he was to wear and the things he wanted to bring, such as his phone and watch. It was a part of his routine. The only difference that day was that he was now going out.
This is the only time he would ever be able to step foot outside his house and the Evans property.
For the first time, he felt a stirring inside his chest. He didn’t know what it was, but he could feel his heartbeat getting faster and his lips twitching of their own accord.
What is this feeling? he asked himself while clutching his chest. He had never felt that in all his life. He wondered what it was.
Because he liked the sensation even if he also disliked it at the same time, as he felt that he could not control it if it became too large and noticeable.
He had to be his best self. He couldn’t deviate from his usual actions. It would be ugly.
But his lips continued twitching to the side, and his feet kept bouncing. He felt his energy bouncing higher and higher.
Please, be calm. He instructed his heart. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he knew it wouldn’t be good if it continued.
Be my best self. Don’t deviate from the usual, he repeatedly told himself.
Thankfully, he managed to calm down before lunchtime. He ate his food just like usual and then immediately set about getting himself ready.
He wanted to be done before one even came.
Just as he had slipped his watch onto his wrist and slid his phone into the pocket of his tux, a knock came on his door.
“Young Master Zion, the Master and Madam are here.”
Without answering, he opened the door of his bedroom and gave a slight nod to the maid before he went down to the living room, where the Master and Madam were waiting.
Master simply gave him a once-over while remaining silent. Madam Lilian, on the other hand, critically looked him over, from the casual style of his long hair down to the shine of his shoes, before finally giving a sharp nod.
“Good. You cleaned up.”
Zion did not say anything.
“Let’s go,” the Master ordered before he turned around and walked towards the car. Madam Lilian looked him intently in the eye.
“Do not shame us. Be on your best behavior.”
“Yes,” he answered. That would be a simple thing to do. He only had to be his usual self.
Madam Lilian’s face twisted when she looked at him before she finally turned around and walked towards the car.
Zion silently followed.
TBC.
