Chapter 2

Kane’s POV

Fuck.

If it weren’t for the Alpha King, I would never have been here. But the King values tradition just as much as he admires me.

It’s a blessing, or I always saw it as one. The Alpha King doesn’t hand out his favor to just any one.

Only, this whole arranged marriage is fucking stupid.

I’ve never had a Luna and I don’t need one. I’m fine on my own and I can rely on my own strength. But the Alpha King insists on this marriage.

He chose a bride for me who is supposedly the descendant of a Silver Wolf. He believes in tradition, that this union will provide a powerful offspring.

What a bunch of bullshit.

Those customs are outdated remnants of the werewolf world. Plus, my bride is nothing more than a trembling, weak disgrace - how could she possess Silver blood?

I’ve done my research. I know her pack is weak, just as she is weak. A Luna like her could only drag my own pack down.

Still, as much as I want to decline this marriage, I can’t. My open refusal would anger the Alpha King. I would be damned.

So fine. I’d go through with this fucking union. But I told myself I would never truly accept this woman - Evelyn - as my wife. She is nothing but a tool for bearing my child.

Or so that’s what I thought. Only, my wolf thrashing with excitement inside of me proves otherwise. As I stare into Evelyn’s big, hazel eyes, I know she has come to the same realization as I have.

Again, fuck.

She’s my fucking fated mate.

My heart violently races as my wolf’s eagerness grows. At this rate, I could lose control of him, causing me to clench my jaw tightly and tense my shoulders.

“Kane?”

I blink as I realize Evelyn has said my name. My wolf pathetically pants at the sound of her voice.

“It’s time for you to…mark me,” she whispers and I rush out a breath through my nose. Feeling everyone’s eyes on me, I’m the epitome of stiff as I lean toward her. I’m too busy trying to hold it together to possibly refuse her.

She’s so much smaller than me, so frail. My lips brush over her skin - right where her neck meets her shoulder. She shudders at my touch.

Not wasting another second, I sink my teeth into her skin and both hear and feel her gasp. I try to pay her no mind, though, as I finish sealing our union with my mark.

As I pull away from her, I can hear the whispers of the crowd, feel their eyes. However, I keep my eyes level with Evelyn’s.

“We may be married now,” I say, dangerously low. “But this is nothing more than an arranged marriage, so don't expect me to treat you like my true Luna. Not. Happening.”

Evelyn’s eyes go wide in response, but says nothing. She just keeps holding my gaze.

It’s unnerving - her stare and her silence. But I turn around anyways.

“How can you just leave her behind?” my wolf snaps angrily. “She’s our fated mate!”

“She’s weak,” I press. “Someone as weak as her can and will not ever be my fated mate.”

~

This day has been a fucking disaster. But thank fuck it’s almost over.

The union is done and we made it through the painful ceremony. Which means all I have to do is go the fuck to sleep.

However, it’s hard to even get myself into bed as I pace through my room, annoyed by the betraying images in my head. Somehow my mind keeps lingering back to Evelyn and this strange desire I have to go to her.

That’s not happening, though. I meant what I said - I’m keeping her at a distance.

I keep repeating that to myself as I move to sit on the edge of my bed, running my hands over my face as I let out a groan.

Only, a sudden knock on my door causes me to lift my head. The person on the other end doesn’t wait for me to respond as they push the door open, causing me to stand.

I watch as Bianca slips inside, giving me a sexy smile as she closes the door. I can’t help but let out a sigh in relief.

“Oh, it’s you,” I say, sitting back down.

Biance tilts her head to the side. “Were you suspecting someone else? Your wife?”

I roll my eyes. It’s strange to hear those words coming off of Bianca’s lips. She’s our Beta’s daughter and a long-time friend.

We’ve also been fucking for years. A casual sexual relationship, nothing more.

Bianca walks forward, pouting out her lower lip as she grows closer.

“It was hard just sitting by while you stood up there with her,” she comes to stand between my legs, fiddling with my collar. “Especially because you look so good in a suit.”

“Not as good as you look in this dress,” I reply, my fingertips beginning to brush the red fabric.

She hums, a hint of sadness still in her eyes. “You’re married now, and then there’s me. Do you even still want me now that you have the Silver Wolf’s daughter?”

In response, I grab her by the waist and pull her down to my lap. She gasps, melting into me as I brush a strand of blonde hair from her face.

“Of course I do,” I say. “I’m just using Evelyn - she’s nothing.”

And before she can say anything else, I crash my lips into hers.

Evelyn’s POV

Not to sound dramatic. But this - without a doubt - has to be one of the worst days of my life.

The ceremony was humiliating. Oh, and my mate absolutely loathes me. Not to mention that my reputation is now in ruins.

I’m so humiliated. How can Kane be so cold and treat me like this after discovering that we’re mates?

And even Kane’s parents had been so cold to me. The only thing they said was that I needed to get pregnant as soon as possible since that’s my only purpose. As if I need reminding.

I sigh as I let my head fall into my hands, still fighting back tears. However, I then hear a knock on the door. Looking toward it, I watch as a maid enters.

“The Alpha will not be joining you tonight…ma’am,” the maid informs me. I can tell that her calling me “ma’am” is practically painful for her.

“What?” I ask. “Why?”

Again, the maid seems to hold back her annoyance, but only slightly. She doesn’t allow herself to roll her eyes, but she does sigh impatiently. As if she’s saying, “Isn’t it obvious?”

“He has his own room at the end of the hall,” she explains. “And he doesn’t wish to share a bed with you.”

This last sentence pleases her and she tries to hide a smile from her lips before she scurries off – without me having dismissed her. Anger floods through me as my door slams shut, but I know it’s not her that I’m necessarily mad at.

I’m mad at Kane.

Goddess, he seems to enjoy humiliating me. I know that the anger I feel right now would only satisfy him. However, alongside my anger, I can’t help but be disappointed.

Had I really expected that we’d share a bed? I’m so delusional.

A sob shakes through my body, making me tremble. However, as another cry tries to escape me, a gasp suddenly jumps from my throat.

My whole body convulses, shaking as a sharp sensation runs through me. It originates from the mark at my shoulder, which is currently burning.

I pant as sweat collects on my forehead, my brows pulling together in confusion. The sensation strikes again, this time pinching tightly at the spot between my legs and making me moan.

I continue to whine as I struggle against a sudden need flooding through my body. That’s when I whisper a curse.

I’ve heard about this. How a female wolf will go into heat from their mating mark.

I have no idea what to do, how to satiate this desire. I’m still scrambling for a resolution when another sensation runs through me - but this one is different.

It's painful. A sharp stab hits me so intensely that I nearly dry heave. What is going on?

The pain rushes through me again, just before my wolf’s angry voice fills my head.

“Kane is with someone else.”