Fallen 12

Fallen 12 Summary

Meadow and Alaric’s flight back to Seattle is filled with tense silence, reflecting the emotional turmoil Meadow feels after recent events. Despite sitting face-to-face, Alaric avoids eye contact, focusing on his laptop, while Meadow is consumed by the memory of their intimate encounter—a first for her that contrasts sharply with her past relationship, which lacked physical connection and was marked by emotional pain.

 

Meadow struggles with the aftermath of discovering her fiancé’s betrayal and the deep-seated hatred from her sister, Juniper, who has caused her immense pain. The sudden shift from heartbreak to a confusing new relationship with Alaric leaves her questioning everything, especially the idea of marrying a stranger just to lose her virginity. Alaric’s calm and collected demeanor contrasts with her inner chaos, and he challenges her to ask one question about their arrangement.

 

When Meadow presses for details, Alaric reveals that marriage to him is a serious commitment involving a contract with rules and responsibilities. He explains that she will move into his house, take his name, and live under his protection, emphasizing that she won’t be alone or burdened by financial worries. Meadow is taken aback by his decisiveness and the reality of what this marriage entails.

 

Alaric mentions a contract that will outline their agreement, leaving Meadow uncertain about the specifics but aware that her life is about to change drastically. He also reveals that a guest suite has been prepared for her, reinforcing the temporary and uncertain nature of her new role in his life. The chapter ends with Meadow feeling overwhelmed and resigned to the fact that Alaric Ashford’s presence will profoundly impact her future.

CHAPTER 0012

Meadow’s Perspective:

The flight back to Seattle was enveloped in a heavy silence that felt almost suffocating. The quiet wasn’t peaceful—it was sharp, irritating, and somehow more unsettling than any argument could have been.

Since stepping onto the jet, Alaric hadn’t once glanced my way. We sat directly across from each other, yet his attention was locked solely on the laptop perched on the tray in front of him. I assumed he was working, but how could he possibly behave as if the intense moment we’d just shared—him making me come with nothing but his fingers and unwavering eye contact—had never happened?

Because I couldn’t pretend it hadn’t.

That memory consumed me, playing on repeat in my mind.

It was the first time anyone had ever touched me like that, which made it all the more surreal. Ridiculous, even. Here I was, a twenty-three-year-old woman who had been in a relationship with a man for two whole years, and the only physical intimacy we’d ever shared was a kiss.

Well, I had given Tyler a blowjob once, but he had stopped me halfway through, telling me I was terrible at it.

And touching me? He never did. He said he wanted to wait until marriage. I never questioned it back then, even though now I see all the red flags I ignored.

I was hopelessly, foolishly in love.

“Don’t ruin that beautiful face with a frown,” Alaric’s deep voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

I lifted my head to meet his gaze, raising an eyebrow when I noticed he’d finally set his laptop aside.

“What’s going on in your head?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I replied too quickly, my voice barely hiding the turmoil inside.

“Nothing?” he repeated, leaning back with a skeptical look. “I don’t buy that for a second.”

I pressed my lips together, biting back the urge to lash out. “I just don’t want to talk about it right now. Maybe you should focus on your work or whatever you were doing.”

I hadn’t meant to snap, but the weekend had been brutal. Emotionally exhausting. And then there was him—Alaric—who had promised to take care of me, only to make me come and then retreat into silence.

“Ah, I see,” he muttered, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he leaned forward. “You’re upset with me.”

“I’m not—”

“Don’t even try to deny it,” he interrupted sharply.

I sighed heavily, turning my gaze away from him. My teeth grazed my bottom lip as I debated whether to share the storm raging inside me.

Finally, I let it all out. “It’s just… the last few days have been hell. I found out that my fiancé—the guy I dated for two years—wasn’t even really mine. And my sister… she hates me so much she had to…” I shook my head, the vivid memories crashing over me like waves.

Tyler driving into Juniper from beneath, her moans like a wild woman’s, kissing him right in front of me—

Juniper had hurt me in ways I couldn’t even begin to count. Her hatred ran so deep, fueled by reasons I had no control over.

She had sworn to destroy me because she wanted to see me break.

“And then, on that same night, I meet you. And suddenly, I’m supposed to marry a stranger just so I can lose my virginity?” The words tumbled out, raw and unfiltered.

Alaric didn’t flinch. Not once. He just sat there, watching me unravel like some wild creature caught in a trap.

Because that’s exactly what I was.

I rubbed my palms against my thighs, releasing a shaky laugh. “I mean, who does that? Who trades one life-shattering mistake for another?” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Who gets fingered in the backseat of a car and then boards a private jet like it’s no big deal?”

“You did,” Alaric said quietly.

I scowled. “That was rhetorical.”

His lips curved into a faint smile. “You asked, so I answered.”

I found myself wondering what his genuine smile looked like—one with teeth, not just a smirk or a twitch of his lips.

I hated how calm and collected he seemed. Meanwhile, I was here, spinning out of control, replaying every second of that moment in the SUV as if it were etched behind my eyelids.

“Seriously though… I don’t get it,” I admitted, my voice softening. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand why you’d want to marry someone just because she can touch you. What if I was… I don’t know… a murderer or something?”

He let out a sharp breath, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. I was so captivated by those deep blue orbs that I didn’t even realize I was staring until he cleared his throat.

“Clearly, you have a lot of questions you won’t stop asking,” he said, running a hand through his thick, dark hair. “Fine. Ask me one question. But just one. Then no more until I get back from work and you decide whether you want to sign the contract or not.”

I froze. “Contract? What contract?”

His mouth twitched in amusement. “That was your one question, Meadow.”

I crossed my arms, scowling at him. There was so much more I wanted to ask, but if he was going to play by his rules, I would.

“Fine, Alaric. What contract are you talking about?”

His brows furrowed slightly. “You didn’t think the only thing you’d get out of this marriage was losing your virginity and a few sex lessons, did you?”

Heat crept up my neck, making me feel exposed.

Alaric leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a serious tone. “Marriage is a commitment, Meadow. And marrying a stranger is an even bigger one. You’ll be moving into my house, taking my name, and living under my protection. That comes with rules. Rules that have to be agreed upon with ink on paper,” he paused, eyes narrowing. “With full, sober consent.”

I opened my mouth to respond, then closed it again. Honestly? I’d never even considered this far ahead.

“No one said anything about moving into your house,” I finally whispered.

His expression remained unchanged. “Where did you think you’d go?”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh… my apartment?”

God, Meadow. You’re so damn naive.

Why did I think I could just go back to that apartment where Tyler lived?

“No,” Alaric said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “From the moment I slip that ring on your finger, you’re my responsibility. You won’t live alone. You won’t pay rent. You won’t have to worry about groceries, security, or any idiot from your past trying to crawl back into your life.”

His voice deepened, filled with an unshakable certainty. “You live where I live. Because you’re my wife.”

I swallowed hard, feeling a tightness in my chest. “You’re… very bossy.”

His mouth twitched again. “I prefer decisive.”

Of course he did.

“And this contract,” I pressed on, unable to wrap my head around it but knowing I was already pushing the boundaries of my single question, “does it lay out what I can and can’t do? Like, do you expect me to cook? Clean? Have children?”

I was teasing—mostly. The children part, though, I wasn’t joking. Alaric was a billionaire; I wasn’t about to lift a finger in that house.

But his eyes flashed with something unreadable.

“You’ll see the contract soon enough,” he said, suddenly sitting back and grabbing his laptop as if we hadn’t just discussed the most life-altering legal agreement I’d ever face.

“Mel has already prepared the guest suite for you.”

“Mel?” I echoed, confused. “Guest suite?”

He gave me one last look. “Until you decide what you want to be, that’s what you are. My guest.”

And just like that, the conversation was over.

And just like that, I reached a stark conclusion.

Alaric Ashford was going to be the death of me.