Louis awoke with a pounding headache, a stiff neck, and aches all over his body. He groaned, curling up tighter under his bedsheets.

He immediately noticed Harry's absence and sighed in resignation. Of course.

As he shifted his legs, the sensation of dried slick and semen on him caused him to freeze. He felt repulsed. Why hadn't Harry cleaned him up?

Ignoring the discomfort in his rear, he immediately rose from the bed and limped towards the bathroom.

His eyes widened slightly as he took in the vastness of the bathroom. It was as large as his entire room back at his parents' house-a bit too extravagant for his liking. The décor, all in black, added to the sense of luxury.

He stepped directly into the shower, taking a few seconds to figure out how to operate it.

The shower was overly fancy, with too many buttons for his liking. Louis would have preferred a simpler setup, just a tap.

After finally deciphering the controls, he set the water to a hot temperature. The scalding streams cascaded over him, enveloping him in warmth.

Vapor filled the space, almost concealing him, and he sighed. He longed to be hidden, to escape from sight.

Memories of the previous night flooded his mind, and tears welled up in his eyes, a few escaping down his cheeks.

After everything that had happened, Harry hadn't even had the decency to clean him.

He gingerly moved his hand towards the throbbing pain in his neck, grazing it with his fingertips.

He winced as the light contact intensified the ache, the pain still feeling raw and fresh.

Pain throbbed in his rear, and as he glanced down at his body, he noticed bruises on his waist and hickeys scattered across his neck. Shaking his head, he attempted to clear his thoughts.

He surveyed the shelf, which was stocked with an array of organic and upscale soaps and shampoos.

While he typically preferred his simple, cheap drugstore cocoa-scented shampoo, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to use a random shampoo from the shelf.

He washed himself slowly, savoring the warmth of the water and reluctant to leave the safety of the shower.

Here, he could briefly escape the haunting reality of his current life and pretend that things were normal.

As he lathered the shampoo, he winced when it touched his neck, accidentally brushing against his bondmark. He diligently cleaned his stomach and waist, removing the remnants of the previous night.

With a sigh, he reflected on how ungentlemanly it was of Harry not to clean him up. Louis had hoped that Harry would at least show some kindness on their wedding night, but he was mistaken.

Now that the consummation and marking were done, he reassured himself that he wouldn't have to endure it again, thankfully.

It wasn't that Louis didn't enjoy it-truth be told, he had found pleasure in it-but what bothered him was the lack of aftercare. He sighed, feeling disappointed.

He also resented how Harry seemed to view him as a gold digger, as if he were only interested in the marriage for financial gain.

It aggravated him, but he felt unable to voice his frustration, considering the marriage was technically a result of his family's financial difficulties. But he hadn't done it for money, he had done it for family.

But he had to do this. He had to cope. He'd promised himself he'd at least try to earn a place in Harry's heart. If Harry agreed to this marriage, there must be some sort of attraction toward him, right?

So, he resolved to try. He'd go out of his way to impress Harry, aiming to carve out a spot in his heart. Hopefully, this would melt Harry's defenses, and just maybe, they could build something genuine together.

Louis understood that the odds of that happening were slim, but he clung to them nonetheless.

He stepped out of the shower and headed to the wardrobe, having unpacked his suitcase the day before.

Opting for comfort, he chose a simple hoodie paired with tights. Unsure of any plans for the day, he decided to stay relaxed, though he'd change if necessary.

Returning to the room, his stomach churned with hunger. After a brief moment of contemplation, he shrugged off his concerns and headed to the kitchen. After all, what was the worst that could happen?

He made his way slowly into the living room, the open kitchen visible ahead. His demeanor was timid, almost resembling that of a scared kitten.

He silently hoped that Harry wouldn't be there, but as luck would have it, he was.

He froze in his tracks upon spotting Harry, who stood with his back to him, dressed in a black business casual suit.

Louis turned to retreat back to the room, hoping to avoid the inevitable awkward interaction. However, as soon as he turned, Harry also turned, spotting him in the process.

"You're up," Harry said casually.

Louis sighed and turned to face him. "Hi," Louis replied, noticing how Harry stood with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Just wanted to tell you to move your stuff out of my room and into the guest room. Other than that, do whatever you want," Harry said, moving away from the kitchen counter.

Louis felt a pang of hurt. He had hoped Harry would at least ask how he was feeling or if he was in any pain.

Louis couldn't help but wonder how weird it was that Harry was going to the office the day after their wedding.

The thought of having to pack his belongings again and arrange them in the guest room made him feel overwhelmed, especially considering the discomfort and tiredness omegas experience for the next week after their mating.

It seemed unfair that Harry didn't consider his well-being, especially since he hadn't received any aftercare and was honestly on the verge of tears.

"I- I'll move my stuff tomorrow. I'm too tired today." Louis said.

Then, as he saw how Harry glared at him at the comment, his heartbeat quickened.

"I'll sleep in the other room! Just give me a day to move my stuff." Louis bargained.

Harry set the cup of coffee on the table and strode toward Louis, forcefully seizing his arm, causing Louis to yelp in surprise.

"I'll throw out any shit from my room that isn't mine. The guest room is yours. I don't want you setting foot in my room after today nor do I want to see your stuff in it. Be thankful, I didn't kick you out of my room last night." Harry spoke sternly.

"Okay," Louis nodded in resignation. He lacked the energy to resist.

As he observed Harry walking out of the apartment without a second glance, Louis couldn't help but marvel at the fucked up situation he had stumbled into.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Louis was sitting on the couch in his new home, pouting. Harry had been gone for two hours already, and Louis still hadn't moved a single thing.

His ass was still sore, though significantly less than it had been this morning since he had taken a painkiller. He sighed, knowing he needed to start moving his things; he didn't want to upset Harry.

It was frustrating how inconsiderate Harry was being, making him do this despite knowing he was sore and needed aftercare. It was almost cruel of him. He wasn't making a good impression on Louis. Louis felt justified in disliking him even before the wedding.

But Louis found himself thinking about the night again. How good the sex had been. How amazing Harry's tongue had felt. How it had been overwhelming yet so pleasurable at the same time.

Louis squeezed his legs together and shook his head. He couldn't think about that. It probably wouldn't happen again, and that was for the best. Though, those thoughts lingered.

While he was pondering this, his phone rang. He picked it up from the coffee table and looked at the caller ID. He smiled when he saw it was his mum and quickly answered.

"Good morning, boo," Johanna's voice rang out.

"Good morning, Mum. How are you?" Louis asked.

"Oh, I'm good but missing you terribly. I'm quite used to having breakfast with you. But I'm sure I'll get used to having it without you soon. What? Oh, alright, darling. Your father wants me to tell you that he misses you as well," Johanna continued.

Louis smiled, his heart warming at the sound of his mother's voice. He could also hear the familiar hustle and bustle of home in the background-his father talking, his sisters arguing, someone washing dishes. It made him feel better.

"I miss you both too. I missed you at breakfast as well, Mom," Louis said, though he was lying about the breakfast part. He hadn't eaten breakfast; he had just been sitting on the couch, staring at the walls.

During those two hours, Louis had come to one clear conclusion: he despised the penthouse. Despite its opulence and extravagant price tag, it felt empty, eerily silent, and devoid of warmth.

His old home, though modest and sometimes overcrowded, had always provided him with a deep sense of comfort. Now, as he listened to the bustling sounds of his family home and visualized its familiar surroundings, he felt an overwhelming sense of longing for it.

"How are you, Lou? Are you doing okay? How's Harry? Was he kind to you?" his mother asked next, her tone tinged with concern.

Louis knew he couldn't tell her the truth. If he did-if he revealed how Harry had asked him to move his belongings despite him being sore, how Harry had gone to work the day after their wedding and how Louis felt on the verge of tears-his mother would worry herself sick. He didn't want that; she already had too much on her plate.

"I'm great, Mum! Don't worry about me. Harry-he's surprisingly nice," Louis lied.

He heard his mother sigh. She knew the truth about Harry, as did everyone, especially them.

"Are you sure, Lou?" she asked again.

"Yes, Mom! Why would I lie to you? Anyways, enough about me. Tell me, what's going on there? Is that Daisy and Phoebe I hear arguing in the background?" he asked, successfully changing the topic.

Louis talked to his mom for about an hour, with his sisters chiming in occasionally.

His mother eventually said her goodbyes as she needed to start lunch, ending the call. He found himself smiling now, planning to visit them this weekend.

However, as the realization sank in that he still needed to move his belongings, his smile faded, replaced by an annoyed expression on his face.

He sighed heavily and stood up, determined to get it over with. He haphazardly tossed his shoes, books, jewelry bag, and cosmetic bag into his empty suitcase and carried it all to the guest room-his new room now.

Gathering his hanging clothes from the wardrobe, he draped them over his arm. As he did so, his gaze fell on Harry's neatly hung clothes.

He ran his fingers over the fabric, feeling its expensive texture. His eyes caught the tags, each bearing the name of a luxury brand. Louis couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort.

He knew Harry was wealthy, but seeing so much money spent on clothes felt excessive and out of touch with reality-especially when so many people were struggling to make ends meet.

Louis shook his head, rolling his eyes at the extravagance. He knew he would never understand the mindset of the wealthy.

He swiftly removed all his clothes and transferred them to his new room. Giving Harry's room a final scan to ensure nothing of his was left behind, he took one last deep breath, inhaling the combined scent of him and Harry. Then, he walked out of Harry's room and entered his, closing the door of the room.

Looking at the mess of items he had scattered on the bed, he chose to ignore it for the time being, deciding he lacked the energy to tidy up right away.

He took a good look around the room. It closely resembled Harry's, though slightly smaller.

A lovely long window framed a picturesque view of the London skyline. The room boasted a queen-sized bed. There was a walk-in closet with an attached dressing table featuring shelves for cosmetics and a large mirror. The attached bathroom was equally attractive.

But what Louis liked most about this room was the study table with three bookshelves next to it. He had a deep love for reading books, and being in his last year of university, having a study table was essential. Louis found great satisfaction in studying; it made him feel productive. His high GPA was a source of pride for him.

That was part of the reason he had agreed to this marriage. Louis knew that after him, his siblings wouldn't have had the opportunity to attend university.

It had taken him and his father a tremendous amount of effort to gather enough funds for his own education, making it unlikely for his siblings to follow suit. He deeply desired for them to attain good degrees and lead fulfilling lives.

Despite any reservations, he had no regrets. His own prospects looked promising, he would get to finish his degree and get a job in his field.

However, the only downside was being bonded to an alpha who didn't show care or concern for him. But he could bear that. Right? Right.

He closed his eyes for a few seconds, unwilling to dwell on anything further. The reality of being married to Harry Styles had been weighing on his mind all morning, causing a persistent headache.

Turning off the lights, he climbed into bed, cocooned himself in the warmth of the bedsheets, and shut his eyes, surrendering to sleep as it enveloped him.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Louis woke up and immediately groaned. His bondmark was aching again, much to his dismay.

He had read that bondmarks could ache at irregular intervals during the first six months before settling, but he had secretly hoped his wouldn't bother him so much. Clearly, that wish hadn't been granted.

Soft orange light poured in through his window, casting a warm glow on his face. Louis glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table and realized it was 6 PM. He had slept for a long time.

His stomach churned with hunger; he hadn't eaten anything all day. Louis got out of bed and quietly left his room. He gently closed his door and glanced at Harry's closed door; the lights were off inside. As he approached, he strained his ears but heard no sound, confirming Harry wasn't there.

He silently prayed that Harry wouldn't be in the living room or kitchen either. Slowly, Louis made his way to the kitchen, letting out a sigh of relief when he found it empty. So Harry was still out-good. Louis silently wished that he would never return.

He opened the fridge, unsure of what to make with its assortment of random ingredients. Louis hadn't anticipated so much food being stocked, considering it was just him and Harry. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant surprise. He settled on making a spicy pasta recipe.

After rummaging through the pantry for a bit, he located the pasta and began cooking. It took him just thirty minutes to prepare the dish, and he felt a sense of satisfaction in having done it by himself.

However, as he was about to plate the pasta, he heard the door open, and his eyes widened in dismay. Why now, of all times?

He tried to move as quickly as possible, but it was futile. Louis heard the door close and footsteps as Harry entered the living room just as he picked up his plate and was leaving the kitchen.

Harry glanced at Louis with a raised eyebrow, then at the plate of pasta in his hands, setting his laptop bag on the coffee table. Louis stood frozen, unsure of what to do next.

"Did you move your stuff out of my room?" Harry asked in his deep, smooth voice.

"Yeah," Louis affirmed.

"Good," Harry replied tersely before walking away without another glance at Louis.

Louis rolled his eyes and sat down at the dining table. Surely, Harry could have at least asked if he was feeling okay, just as a matter of politeness.

He was halfway through his pasta when he heard Harry re-enter the living room.

"Oh, and listen," Harry said as he walked in.

Louis looked up, diverting his attention from his food. "Hm?" Louis said, still chewing.

"We have to go to dinner at my parents' tomorrow," Harry informed, then walked out once again.

Louis could only roll his eyes in response.

After finishing dinner, Louis went to his room and decided to check out the television there. It had access to all the major entertainment subscription services.

Louis wondered how he would ever get any work done now that he could watch any movie he wanted, especially since university was starting again in a week. He had taken a week and a half off, and now he had this distraction to contend with.

After indulging in movies for a few hours, Louis yawned and started to feel sleepy. He switched off the TV and closed his eyes.

His bondmark was still itching. As he lay alone, his wolf counterpart whined, yearning for aftercare from their alpha. Louis sighed, knowing it was impossible. Harry didn't seem inclined to offer it, and Louis wasn't about to beg for it.

A strange feeling overtook Louis-the awareness that Harry was close, in the room right in front of him, yet so far away and out of his grasp.

The thought made Louis's stomach churn. Determined to ignore it, he decided to just try and sleep.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

The next day, when Louis woke up, he found himself alone in the penthouse with no sign of Harry. Louis was more than okay with that. His day unfolded much the same as the one before.

But when the clock struck 5 PM, Louis started to get nervous. Harry had mentioned they were supposed to have dinner at his house, so he should have been back by now.

Was Louis supposed to get ready? When did the Styles family have dinner anyway? Who would be there? Just Harry's parents, or more people? Louis was honestly extremely confused.

He was also angry at Harry for giving him no instructions. Seriously, Harry was beyond infuriating. He should have at least told Louis when they were supposed to leave.

He couldn't even text Harry to ask because he didn't have his number. As this thought crossed his mind, the same crippling and agonizing feeling surged through Louis, a feeling that had been settled in his stomach ever since he agreed to marry Harry.

The realization that, despite Harry being his husband and bondmate, Louis didn't even have his phone number was a harsh realization. It left him reeling and slightly dazed.

Louis sighed, deciding that a shower would not only be the first step in preparing for dinner but also a way to alleviate the strange feeling in his stomach. The warm water would help him calm down.

And so, he stepped into the shower.

As Louis was finishing his shower, he heard the main door open and close, followed by footsteps in the hallway leading to his and Harry's room. Finally, he thought, Harry was home.

After drying himself off, he walked into his bedroom wearing a bathrobe that was quite small, still unsure of what to wear.

As he stood in his room, deep in thought, there was a knock at the door. Before Louis could tell Harry to wait, Harry walked in.

Both Louis and Harry looked equally surprised, Louis's mouth agape at Harry's sheer audacity.

Harry's surprise settled in milliseconds, his usual cool expression reappearing. His eyes instinctively locked onto Louis, darkening as they took in the purplish bruise on his collarbone-the bondmark.

Harry's gaze raked up and down Louis's body, memories flooding back, reminding him just how beautiful Louis was, reminding him how Louis's legs wrapped around his