Chapter four : My poor Husband

Elara's pov

Kai said it as though the matter required no further discussion, then continued toward the end of the street with my bag in his hand.

I followed him because arguing from twenty feet away would have made me look even more ridiculous.

“You cannot say things like that and walk off.”

“I’m walking to the car.”

“That isn’t the part I objected to.”

“I know.”

“You met me less than two hours ago.”

“And somehow we’ve already survived a wedding and your mother.”

I almost told him that surviving Mother once was different from surviving her for twenty-two years, but the words stayed behind my teeth.

“Kai, whatever you think happened in there, you don’t need to rescue me.”

“I didn’t offer a rescue.”

“You offered to keep a wife you married by mistake.”

“That is an accurate description.”

“Then explain it.”

He stopped beside a black car parked around the corner.

It was long, polished, and expensive enough that I checked the house number behind it to make sure we had not wandered onto someone else’s property.

A man in a dark suit stepped from the driver’s side. “Good morning, sir.” He opened the rear door.

I looked at Kai. “Whose car is this?”

“Mine.”

Mother’s voice returned in my head, calling him a penniless fool.

“You have a driver?”

“I dislike driving in the city.”

“People who dislike driving usually take taxis.”

“Some do.”

I climbed into the car because the driver was pretending not to listen and failing badly and Kai sat beside me.

The leather beneath my hand was softer than any furniture in Mother’s house. I kept my fingers in my lap. "Where are we going?”

“Home.”

“Your home?”

“Ours, according to the government.”

I looked out the window so he would not see the reluctant amusement on my face.

We drove beyond the city, then beyond the roads I knew. Buildings thinned into long stretches of forest.

My phone buzzed. Nora had sent six messages: *WHERE ARE YOU?*

*Your mother says you married somebody random.*

*Please tell me you did not marry somebody random.*

*Elara.?

*I swear I will find you.*

*CALL ME.*

I typed back before she recruited half the neighborhood: *I’m safe. I’ll explain later.*

Another message appeared immediately: *That sentence has never made anybody sound safe.*

I put the phone away.

“Friend?” Kai asked.

“My best friend. She thinks I’ve lost my mind.”

“She may have evidence.”

“You’re enjoying this more than you should.”

“I haven’t decided whether I’m enjoying it.”

There was the faintest warmth in his voice, and I found myself studying his profile.

He was too composed for a man whose wedding had gone catastrophically wrong. I had expected anger at the courthouse, or at least panic. Instead he behaved as though accidental wives appeared on his schedule every week.

“What did you mean when you said you were expecting a bride you hadn’t met?”

“A contract marriage.”

“You were going to marry someone for business.”

“For reasons connected to my position.”

“What position?”

“You’ll understand when we arrive.”

“That sounds suspicious.”

“It probably is.”

The road curved toward a set of iron gates built between stone pillars. Two guards stepped forward.

I recognized the insignia on their black uniforms before I understood why I recognized it. A crescent moon crossed by three claw marks.

Blackmoon.

I sat straighter. Everyone knew about the Blackmoon Pack. Mother complained about their wealth whenever one of their businesses bought property near Voss territory.

Derek once spent an entire evening talking about their warriors after Blackmoon defeated three rogue groups in a single month.

The gates opened and the guards bowed their heads as our car passed.

“Kai?”

He turned toward me.

“Why did they bow?”

“Courtesy.”

“To you?”

“Yes.”

My palms became damp. We continued through the estate. Wolves in training clothes crossed a field in the distance. Another security post waved us through without checking the car.

“Are you important here?”

“That depends who you ask.”

“I’m asking you.”

“I’m the Alpha.”

I stared at him, he had to be joking, but his face gave me no help.

“You’re the Alpha of Blackmoon Pack?”

“I am.”

“Kai Draven?”

“Yes.”

I reached for my phone and typed his name into the search bar. The first result showed a photograph of the man sitting beside me in a black suit, leaving a financial conference.

The headline beneath it included the words BLACKMOON BILLIONAIRE ALPHA.

I opened another result, Draven Holdings. Then another, Youngest Alpha to control Blackmoon assets. The numbers beside his estimated wealth made my eyes hurt.

“Oh my God.”

“That reaction is common.”

“My mother called you poor.”

“She did.”

“She called you a stray dog.”

“I remember.”

“She is going to die when she finds out.”

“That would be inconvenient. I assume you have questions for her.”

A laugh broke out of me before I could contain it. I covered my face with both hands.

“This isn’t funny.”

“You appear to disagree.”

“I accidentally married a billionaire Alpha because my mother cannot copy an address correctly?”

“That summary leaves out several details.”

“The details make it worse.”

The car slowed in front of a sprawling residence set beyond the trees.

I looked down at my worn shoes. “I can’t do this.”

“What are you referring to?”

“Be your wife.”

“You already are.”

“You don’t understand. Mother wasn’t only insulting me. I don’t have a wolf.”

Kai’s attention stayed on me.

“I’ve never transformed. I’ve never heard her. Nothing. Your pack will expect a Luna, and I cannot even do the most basic thing every wolf is supposed to do.”

“Your ability to transform had no place on the marriage certificate.”

“You’re making a joke out of something that could damage you.”

“I don’t joke about damage.”

The car stopped and a tall man with close-cropped hair approached from the entrance. His attention went from Kai to me, then to our driver carrying my battered duffel bag.

Kai opened his door, I climbed out on my side, trying to understand how my life had travelled from Derek’s bedroom to this place in less than twelve hours.

The man reached us and lowered his head. “Welcome home, Alpha.”

My last hope that the internet had somehow lied disappeared.

Then his gaze moved to me. “Kai, where is Selene Ashford?”

Kai handed him the marriage certificate. The man read it once, then again. “What did you do?”

Kai looked at me. “I got married.”

The man’s eyes widened. “To her?”

Kai’s answer came with calm certainty. “To my wife.”