Get Out. Do Not Touch Me!

Corinne POV

A deadly silence spread through one corner of the hall, broken only by the pounding music. Mason Carter wrapped an arm around Corinne’s waist and, with shameless confidence, bent down and claimed her lips in a public kiss, right in front of everyone.

Corinne froze. Her eyes went wide in shock. Her body, already weakened by her heat cycle, failed to fight back at once.

Her breaths came fast and sharp until her chest began to ache. Mason’s kiss was nothing but a violation. Loud. Ugly. A bold scream thrown in front of the entire pack.

Across the room, Lumi let out a low, poisoned laugh behind her hand, whispering to those around her, “Look at the hybrid. She really thinks the Alpha’s son will marry her. Poor thing does not know she is just one night of fun. He will throw her away like trash.”

The laugh never finished.

A dull explosion echoed. The sound of Glacier’s fist smashing into the edge of the table beside him. He turned, his massive body tense.

His aura turned pitch black. Terrifying. His gray eyes burned with sparks that could set the place on fire. Without a single word, he cut through the crowd. The crash of the hall door behind him shook the walls.

“Glacier! Wait!” Lumi screamed as she ran after him, stumbling in her tight dress.

She caught up with him at the car. Glacier was already in the driver’s seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard the veins in his tattooed arms bulged like snakes. Lumi climbed in beside him and, with practiced acting, placed her hand on his shoulder, leaning in to kiss him and calm him down.

“My love, do not waste your anger on that filth. She is not worth it.”

In one fast, violent move, Glacier shoved her away. She slammed into the car door.

“Get out of my way, Lumi! Do not touch me!” he roared, his voice shaking the windows.

Lumi stared at him in terror. In that moment, she remembered the truth she hid from everyone. She remembered the day Glacier told her she was his mate.

It was only three months ago, when his wolf was restless and unstable. She knew for a fact her own wolf felt no bond with him, but she used the moment to claim the Luna title. Glacier lost all intimate interest in her just days later, as if he sensed something was wrong, yet he stayed out of duty.

“I am your mate! How can you treat me like this?” she screamed, trying to hold onto her pride.

“Get out.” His order was final. Cold. Like it came from hell itself.

Lumi stepped out, shaking. Minutes later, she realized she had left her purse inside the palace. Glacier had already driven back, fast and furious.

Corinne ran from the party. She did not look back at the pity or mockery chasing her. She ran toward the palace, tears burning her pale cheeks. She needed to explain. To tell him she did not want that. To tell him she was not a whore like Lumi said.

When she reached his suite, the door was half open. She stepped inside, trembling, and found him standing there, his back to her, the muscles of his broad shoulders tight.

“Glacier…” she whispered his name, weak, as if the sound might break before it reached him.

He turned so fast she stumbled back a step. His eyes were dark. No trace of his usual cold control. They burned with something wild. Primitive. Terrifying. Before she could speak, he was on her, trapping her between his solid body and the wall.

He did not speak.

He crashed his mouth against hers in a kiss that held no softness. It was a battle. A clash between his Alpha pride and his desperate need for her. A kiss tasting of jealousy and possession. His hands buried in her hair, forcing her head back.

Her heart slammed into her throat. She no longer knew if she wanted to push him away or cling to him forever.

“You are mine.”

He growled, rough, burying his face in her neck, breathing her in like a madman.

“I do not care who Mason is. I do not care about pack laws. Your scent is destroying my mind, Corinne.”

“Your scent. Your blood. It was always you.”

At that moment, Lumi returned to Glacier’s suite to get her things. She froze at the doorway, which was still open.

She gasped.

A memory struck her like lightning. Months ago, when she was bullying Corinne at school, Corinne had snapped and bitten Lumi’s arm in despair. That night, when Glacier dressed Lumi’s wound, Corinne’s blood, still on the injury, mixed with Lumi’s scent.

Because of Corinne’s Alpha aura, Glacier’s wolf was fooled into believing Lumi was the mate.

Corinne was lost. Dazed in a storm of emotions. Then she heard a faint sound at the door.

Her body went rigid.

Glacier noticed the shadow behind it. He pulled away at once. The cold mask snapped back into place, leaving her panting, trying to steady herself. He left the room to chase whoever was there.

Corinne stayed behind, alone, touching her trembling lips.

What just happened?

Did he admit there was a bond?

And how was she supposed to leave in two months when he tied her to him with this madness?

Lumi lifted her phone with shaking hands, trying to take a picture of them to destroy Corinne’s reputation for good. Before she could press the button, a massive shadow fell over her.

The phone shattered in her hand like a cookie.

Glacier stood in front of her. His eyes held no mercy.

“You thought you could play games with an Alpha?” Glacier said calmly.

“I will tell everyone! I will say you are cheating on your mate with your friend’s daughter!” Lumi screamed in panic.

Glacier dragged her to his office, focused on one thing only.

He sat behind his desk, cold and composed, and motioned for Lumi to sit across from him. A long silence followed. She could hear her own heartbeat.

Finally, Glacier spoke. “You will tell no one about Corinne. You will do exactly as I say. You will continue playing the mate in front of the pack, and you will stay completely away from Corinne.”

He continued in the same steady tone. “In return, I will give you the life of comfort you dream of. But if you touch a single hair on her head, I will make sure history forgets there was ever a wolf named Lumi.”

Lumi swallowed hard. She realized she was trapped by a ruthless Alpha.

Glacier turned toward the door and ordered, “Now go. Bring Corinne to my office. Immediately.”

A few minutes later, there was a knock.

Corinne expected Glacier. Instead, Lumi stood there.

Her face was different. No mocking smile. No victorious look. She was pale. Her eyes carried a kind of brokenness Corinne had never seen.

“What do you want, Lumi?” Corinne asked sharply, wiping the traces of the kiss from her face.

Lumi studied her for a long moment, as if seeing her for the first time, then said in a flat voice, “The Alpha is waiting for you in his office. Now.”

“Why?”

“Do not ask me questions.”

Her voice was stiff, but her hands shook on the door handle.

“Just go. He has something to tell you.”

Corinne followed her down the long corridor. The silence between them was suffocating. Something had shifted. The rules of the game were no longer the same. Lumi, who always pushed her away and guarded him, was now leading her straight to him.

They stopped at the office door. Lumi stepped aside and opened it without lifting her eyes.

Corinne entered.

Glacier sat behind his desk. He motioned for her to sit. Lumi stood in the corner like an obedient guard, which sent a chill through Corinne.

“Corinne.”

He said her name calmly, sending shivers down her spine.

“We need to talk about your coming of age ceremony. And about your future in this pack.”

She lifted her chin in defiance despite the fear.

“I told you before. I am leaving after rotation.”

He did not blink. He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, gray eyes sharp.

“That decision is no longer yours alone. Lumi will oversee your private training from now on. You will be under my direct watch every minute.”

Corinne turned to Lumi in shock, then back to him.

“Training? Surveillance? Glacier, I am not a prisoner!”

“You are my moon chosen mate.”

He said it suddenly. Out loud. In front of Lumi, who did not move.

The words hit Corinne like a strike of thunder.

“What did you say?”

“You are my true mate.”

He repeated it, even colder.

“There are reasons I cannot announce it now. Reasons tied to your safety and your father. Lumi will play the cover until the right time. If you want to stay alive, you will do as I say.”

The room spun.

Lumi. Her sworn enemy. Her shield?

And Glacier, the man she thought hated her, claimed her as his mate while refusing to acknowledge her openly.

“You are asking me to live a lie,” she whispered bitterly.