Chapter 3

Juliette's Point of View

Zoe grabbed my arm the second we stepped out of the main hall.

"What the hell was that?"

She dragged me down a corridor, away from the noise and the stares and the chaos I'd just created. Her grip was tight enough to bruise.

"Zoe, calm down—"

"Calm down?" She spun me around, eyes blazing. "You just married Caleb's father! In front of everyone! After Caleb humiliated you, your solution was to marry his dad?"

I pulled my arm free, rubbing the spot where her fingers had dug in. "It made sense at the time."

"Made sense?" She laughed, but it wasn't funny. "Juliette, I love you, but have you completely lost it? You were supposed to marry Caleb. The guy who was going to be Alpha. And instead you chose his father!"

"Stepfather." How many times do I need to repeat it.

"That's not the point!"

I leaned against the wall, suddenly exhausted. The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind something hollow and heavy.

"What was I supposed to do, Zoe?"

She opened her mouth. Closed it.

"Think about it." I kept my voice steady, even though everything inside me felt like shattered glass. "If I'd chosen anyone else from the Thornwood family, what do you think would happen? Diana's husband? One of the cousins? Caleb is the most likely candidate to become the next Alpha. The golden boy. The heir."

Zoe frowned. "So?"

"So when he comes back and takes power, what do you think he'd do to me?" I met her eyes. "He'd destroy me. Slowly. Publicly. He might even retaliate by bringing another woman to my wedding. Parade her around while I stood there like an idiot. Again."

Her face shifted. Still angry, but thinking now.

"And if I'd chosen to just wait for him? Endure this humiliation and still marry him when they dragged him back?" I laughed, bitter and raw. "He doesn't love me, Zoe. He never did. I'd spend the rest of my life watching him resent me. Watching him wish he was with someone else. That's not a marriage. That's a prison sentence."

Zoe was quiet for a long moment.

"So you chose Lucian."

"I chose the only option that protects me." I straightened, squaring my shoulders. "As Lucian's wife, I'm Luna. Caleb can't touch me. Can't retaliate. Can't humiliate me again." I smiled, and it felt sharp on my lips. "Because no matter what happens, I'll be his mother now. He can hate me all he wants. But he can't hurt me."

Zoe stared at me like she was seeing me for the first time.

"Damn," she whispered. "That's actually... brilliant. In a completely insane way."

"I prefer 'strategic.'"

She shook her head, but some of the anger had drained from her face. What replaced it was worse. Pity.

"Jules." Her voice softened. "I get the logic. I do. But Lucian is thirteen years older than you. You're twenty. He's... I mean, what do you even have in common? What are you going to talk about? His tax returns?"

I snorted despite myself. "Maybe he has interesting tax returns."

"I'm serious." She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "There are rumors about him, you know."

My stomach tightened. "What kind of rumors?"

Zoe hesitated. Bit her lip. That was never a good sign.

"Spit it out."

"You know how Caleb isn't his biological son, right? He adopted him years ago. And the reason..." She trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

"Zoe."

"They say he can't have kids." The words came out in a rush. "Something happened during a rogue attack, years ago. He was injured. Badly. And since then, he..." She winced. "He can't... you know. Get it up."

Heat flooded my cheeks.

"Are you serious right now?"

"I'm just telling you what I heard!" Zoe threw her hands up. "Look, I don't know if it's true. Maybe it's just gossip. But if it is true, then you just married a man who can't..." She made a vague gesture. "You know."

I thought about Lucian's face. That sharp jaw. Those gray eyes. The way he'd kissed me in front of everyone, like he was staking a claim.

Such a waste. Such a goddamn waste if it was true.

"Well." I cleared my throat, trying to fight down the flush. "I guess I'll find out."

Zoe groaned. "This is not how I thought today would go."

"That makes two of us."

She pulled me into a hug. Tight. Fierce.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled against my hair. "About Caleb. About all of it. You deserved better."

I hugged her back, letting myself have this one moment of weakness.

"I know."

She pulled away, wiping her eyes. "Okay. Go. Do your... wedding night thing. Or don't. Whatever. I'll be here if you need me."

"Thanks, Zoe."

"And Jules?" She grabbed my hand one last time. "Be careful."

I nodded. Then I turned and walked toward the bridal chamber.

The room was beautiful.

White roses. Silk sheets. Candles flickering on every surface. Someone had clearly spent hours preparing this space for a romantic wedding night.

For me and Caleb.

Now I sat on the edge of the bed, still in my wedding gown, waiting for his father instead.

The irony was so thick I could choke on it.

My wolf stirred inside me, restless and frustrated. She'd been anticipating this night for weeks. The mating. The claiming. The moment we'd finally belong to someone.

‘Wrong groom,’ I reminded her. ‘And apparently a groom who can't even—’

I cut the thought off, face burning again.

This was fine. Everything was fine. I'd made my choice. Now I just had to live with it.

The door opened.

I shot to my feet, heart slamming into my throat.

Lucian stepped inside.

He'd lost the jacket somewhere. His shirt was half unbuttoned, revealing a sliver of tanned chest. His tie hung loose around his neck, and his hair was slightly mussed. Like he'd been running his hands through it.

The smell of whiskey drifted toward me. Not drunk. Just... loosened. The sharp edges softened by alcohol.

He looked dangerous. Languid. Like a predator who'd already caught his prey and was in no hurry to devour it.

My mouth went dry.

"Juliette." His voice was low, slightly roughened. "Still here. I half expected you to climb out the window."

I swallowed hard. "I don't run. Remember?"