Chapter Text
Sirius stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the far wall like he could disappear into the wallpaper if he stayed still enough. The velvet drapes were drawn tight against the windows, sealing out the day.
His mother’s voice sliced through the silence like a knife drawn slow across bone.
“You’ve refused every match we’ve presented to you,” Walburga said, her tone sharp but oddly measured, like she was tired of yelling. “We’ve tolerated your nonsense long enough.”
Sirius tilted his head back against the wall, eyes fixed on the ornate chandelier overhead. He counted the crystals, slow, deliberate. One. Two. Three. Anything to keep the fury from rising.
“I didn’t realize choosing not to be shackled to some pureblood puppet was considered nonsense,” he muttered. His voice lacked its usual venom. Too quiet. Too hoarse.
Tired. He was so fucking tired.
His father rose from his chair with the rustle of expensive robes, the firelight catching the rings on his fingers and turning his eyes to obsidian.
“You will marry,” Orion said, his voice calm. Deadly. “That is final.”
Sirius gave a short, bitter laugh, but it caught in his throat. He pushed off the wall, arms falling to his sides.
“And who is it this time?” he asked. “Another cousin? Some bored alpha with a title and no personality? One of Father’s old school friends, maybe?”
“You will not speak that way in this house,” Walburga snapped. Her words cracked like a whip. “The contract is signed. You’ve already been matched.”
The world tilted.
Sirius froze. His heart gave one solid, painful thud before it began to race, thumping up into his throat.
“What?” he said, voice thin. “You didn’t even ask me? You didn’t think I should know who I’m being bound to?”
“You wouldn’t have cared,” Orion said flatly. “You never do. You make everything a fight.”
Walburga shifted slightly, her smile was more of a smirk.
“He’s the son of a Ministry official. Well-bred. Strong alpha. Obedient.” Her eyes flicked over Sirius like he was something spoiled. “Unlike some.”
Sirius shook his head slowly, like he could dislodge the truth from his ears.
“No,” he said, and he meant it. Every part of him meant it. “I won’t do it. I won’t bond myself to someone I don’t know. Someone I don’t want.”
“You will ,” Orion said, stepping closer, voice suddenly sharp as steel. “You’re an omega of this house. You do not get to refuse anymore.”
There was a beat of silence so long it almost hurt. Sirius could feel the fire popping behind him, the heat on his back like a warning. The weight of the room pressed in on him, thick and suffocating. Like the walls themselves were listening.
His mother smiled.
“The wedding will be in two days.”
Sirius stood there, stunned into silence, throat tight, chest aching. His mouth opened, but no words came. He couldn’t even ask the name.
In two days, they would take him to meet his future husband.
In two days, he would be married.
And all Sirius could think was: I need to get out of this.