Chapter 3

Edith arrived in a sleek black car right at noon.

I stood on the front steps of the pack house, waiting. Juan  stood beside me, his hands buried in his pockets. He looked completely bored, but I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.

The car door opened, and a woman stepped out. She was flawless. Long blonde hair, perfect posture, and a smile that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover. She wore a tailored white dress that made my simple black skirt look cheap.

"Juan !" She practically floated up the steps, throwing her arms around his neck.

Juan  caught her waist, his expression unchanging. He didn't pull her close, but he didn't push her away either. "Welcome to Silver Pine, Edith."

"It's so beautiful here," she sighed, pulling back to look at the huge stone house. Then, her eyes fell on me. Her smile tightened just a fraction. "And who is this?"

"This is Cora," Juan  said smoothly. "She is my new assistant. She will help you with whatever you need during your stay."

Edith looked me up and down. I could see the exact moment she dismissed me as a threat. "Oh, wonderful. Cora, dear, could you grab the grey bags from the trunk? The driver has the rest, but those have my fragile items."

"Of course," I said, keeping my voice polite.

I walked to the car and pulled out two heavy suitcases. My arms strained under the weight, but I refused to show it. When I turned back, Juan  was watching me. His jaw was clenched again.

"Let one of the guards take those, Cora," Juan  said sharply.

"It's fine," Edith interrupted, linking her arm through his. "She's your assistant, right? Let her do her job, darling. Come show me the gardens."

Juan  didn't argue. He turned and let Edith lead him away.

I carried the bags up the stairs, my chest aching with a dull, persistent pain. Darling. The word echoed in my mind.

I spent the next two hours unpacking Edith's things in the guest suite. She had brought enough clothes to last a year. Silk dresses, designer shoes, bottles of perfume that smelled like artificial roses. It gave me a headache.

When I finally finished, I walked down to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The pack house was bustling with activity. Cooks were preparing a feast for the welcoming dinner.

I stood in the corner, drinking my water, when I heard voices carrying from the hallway.

"I don't understand why you keep that girl around." It was Edith's voice.

I froze, pressing myself closer to the wall.

"She works for me," Juan  replied. His voice was lower, rougher.

"She smells like cheap diner food," Edith laughed lightly. "And her brother is a known thief. My father heard the rumors about him stealing from your funds. Why didn't you exile him?"

There was a long silence. I held my breath, waiting for Juan  to agree with her. Waiting for him to call my family trash.

"Liam made a mistake," Juan  finally said. His tone was cold, shutting the conversation down. "He is paying for it. Cora is working off the debt. It is pack business, Edith. It does not concern you."

"I am going to be your Luna," she pushed back, her sweet tone dropping. "Everything in this pack concerns me. I don't want a thief's sister handling my daily affairs. Fire her."

My heart pounded against my ribs. Would he do it? Would he fire me and exile Liam just to keep his new fiancée happy?

"No." Juan 's voice was absolute. "Cora stays."

"Why?" Edith demanded. "What is so special about her?"

"Because she owes me," Juan  said darkly. "And I always collect my debts. Now, drop the subject."

I heard their footsteps moving away down the hall.

I slowly let out my breath, my hands gripping the edge of the kitchen counter. He defended me, but only to claim me as his property. Only to remind Edith that he owned me.

That evening, the welcoming dinner was held in the main dining hall.

Long tables were set with white linen and silver plates. Pack members filled the room, laughing and talking. I stood near the wall behind Juan 's chair, holding a tablet with his schedule for the next day. I wasn't allowed to sit. Assistants didn't eat with the high-ranking members.

Juan  sat at the head of the table. Edith sat directly to his right, her hand resting over his on the table. Every time she leaned in to whisper in his ear, the bond inside me roared with jealousy. I dug my fingernails into my palms to keep my face perfectly blank.

"More wine, Alpha?" I asked quietly, stepping forward when his glass ran low.

Juan  didn't look at me. He just nodded.

As I reached over to pour the dark red liquid, my wrist brushed against his shoulder. A sharp jolt of electricity snapped between our skin.

Juan  flinched, his hand jerking on the table. The wine bottle slipped in my grip, spilling a few drops onto the white tablecloth.

"Watch it!" Edith snapped, pulling her dress away. "Are you blind?"

"I apologize," I said quickly, grabbing a napkin to dab at the stain.

Juan  suddenly stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. The entire dining hall fell silent. Everyone looked at the Alpha.

His eyes were locked on me. They were dark, entirely consumed by the wolf beneath his skin. The electricity from our brief touch was still crackling in the air. He was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling.

"Alpha?" Edith asked nervously, standing up beside him. "Juan , what is it?"

Juan  didn't answer her. He kept staring at me, a violent storm raging in his grey eyes. For a second, I thought he was going to pull me to him right in front of everyone. I thought the wolf was going to win.

Instead, he turned his back on me.

"I have work to finish," Juan  announced to the silent room. "Edith, enjoy the rest of your dinner."

He walked out of the room without another word.

Edith glared at me, her eyes narrowing with sudden suspicion. She didn't know about the mate bond, but she wasn't stupid. She saw the way he looked at me.

"Clean this mess up," she hissed, pointing at the spilled wine. "And then get out of my sight."

I wiped the table, my hands trembling.

The physical pull between us was getting stronger. Juan  could act as cold as he wanted, he could arrange as many marriages as he needed, but he couldn't stop the bond.

And as I walked out of the dining hall, a terrifying realization washed over me.

He was going to break my heart, and I wasn't going to be able to stop him.