Chapter 1: The Alpha's Offer

I should have known that nothing good ever came from being summoned to the Alpha's estate after midnight.

Especially when the Alpha was Kael Draven.

The most feared wolf in the North.

The man whose name was whispered rather than spoken.

And, unfortunately for me, the man my father had spent years teaching me to hate.

I stood outside the enormous black doors of the Draven estate, trying to calm my heartbeat.

It wasn't working.

“Miss Valen.”

The Beta standing beside me stepped forward.

“Alpha Draven is waiting.”

Of course he was.

I took a breath.

Then I entered.

The first thing I noticed was how cold the place was.

Not literally.

The fireplaces were burning.

The halls were warm.

But everything about the estate felt intimidating.

Dark marble floors.

Tall windows.

Silver wolf insignias carved into the walls.

Guards standing at every corner.

This wasn't a home.

It was a fortress.

And somewhere inside it was the man who had summoned me.

I followed the Beta through several corridors until we reached a pair of enormous wooden doors.

He opened them.

“Alpha.”

Kael stood by the window.

His back was facing me.

For a moment, he didn't move.

Then he turned.

And I forgot how to breathe.

I'd seen pictures of him before.

Everyone had.

But pictures didn't prepare me for the real thing.

He was tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Dressed entirely in black.

His dark hair was slightly messy, as if he'd been running his fingers through it.

But it was his eyes that caught me.

Silver.

Cold.

Predatory.

The eyes of an Alpha.

His gaze traveled over me slowly before settling on my face.

“Elara Valen.”

His voice was deep.

Controlled.

Almost dangerously calm.

“Alpha Draven.”

I forced myself not to look away.

He gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.

“Sit.”

I hated the way he said it.

Like it wasn't a request.

Still, I sat.

He remained standing.

“You know why you're here?”

“No.”

A pause.

“Your father didn't tell you?”

“My father doesn't exactly share information with me.”

Something almost resembling amusement flickered in his eyes.

Almost.

Then it disappeared.

“Smart answer.”

I frowned.

“What do you want?”

He walked toward the desk.

Slowly.

Every step seemed deliberate.

When he stopped in front of me, I had to tilt my head slightly to meet his eyes.

“I want a contract.”

“A contract?”

“A marriage contract.”

I stared at him.

For several seconds, I genuinely thought I had heard him wrong.

“You want what?”

“Marriage.”

I laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because it was absurd.

“With me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His expression didn't change.

“Because it benefits both of our families.”

That answer sounded rehearsed.

Too rehearsed.

I stood.

“No.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“You haven't heard the terms.”

“I don't need to.”

“Elara.”

My name sounded like a warning.

I crossed my arms.

“You're Kael Draven.”

“I am.”

“And I'm a Valen.”

His eyes darkened.

“Yes.”

There it was.

The reason.

The hatred between our families.

Everyone knew the story.

The Dravens and the Valens had been enemies for generations.

There had been blood.

Deaths.

Betrayals.

And secrets nobody wanted uncovered.

So why would he want to marry me?

I looked at him carefully.

“You don't want to marry me.”

“No.”

The bluntness of his answer caught me off guard.

He walked closer.

“I want to marry the daughter of Roderick Valen.”

My stomach tightened.

“So this is revenge.”

His jaw clenched.

“Call it whatever you want.”

I laughed bitterly.

“At least you're honest.”

“I've never needed to lie to my enemies.”

Enemies.

The word stung more than it should have.

I stepped closer.

“Then why would I agree?”

“Because your father will.”

I froze.

Kael's expression remained emotionless.

“He owes me.”

“That's between you and my father.”

“No.”

His eyes locked onto mine.

“It becomes your problem when your father offers you as payment.”

My heart sank.

I knew my father was capable of many things.

But this?

Apparently, I had underestimated him.

Kael returned to his desk and picked up a folder.

He placed it in front of me.

“Three years.”

I opened it.

“Three years?”

“Our marriage will last three years.”

I scanned the pages.

There were conditions.

Financial arrangements.

Living arrangements.

Public appearances.

Confidentiality clauses.

And one particular line that made my chest tighten.

No emotional attachment.

I looked up.

“You really wrote that?”

His face remained unreadable.

“Yes.”

I almost laughed.

“You're afraid I'll fall in love with you?”

His eyes sharpened.

“No.”

“Then why put it there?”

“Because I don't want complications.”

I stared at him.

Something about the answer bothered me.

Maybe because he said it too quickly.

Maybe because there was something hidden behind those silver eyes.

Or maybe because I had the sudden, ridiculous thought that a man like Kael Draven probably wasn't used to anyone telling him no.

And I had just done exactly that.

I closed the folder.

“No.”

He didn't react.

“I won't marry you.”

Silence.

Then—

“You will.”

I looked at him.

“Excuse me?”

“You will marry me because if you don't, your father loses everything.”

My heart dropped.

Kael continued.

“His company. His territory. His position on the council.”

“You can't do that.”

“I already can.”

I hated him.

I hated his calm voice.

His confidence.

The way he stood there as if the entire world belonged to him.

Most of all, I hated that he was right.

My father had spent years building the Valen empire.

And Kael could destroy it.

Just like that.

I looked down at the contract again.

“Why me?”

For the first time, something changed in his expression.

His gaze softened.

Only for a second.

Then it was gone.

“Because you're the one thing your father won't willingly sacrifice.”

I looked at him.

And suddenly, I understood.

This wasn't just a marriage.

It was punishment.

My father had hurt him.

And Kael intended to make my family pay.

Even if that meant marrying me.

I slowly stood.

“You don't love me.”

“No.”

“You don't even like me.”

“No.”

“Then what happens if I say yes?”

He stepped closer.

Close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body.

His scent surrounded me.

Something dark.

Something distinctly him.

My wolf stirred beneath my skin.

I froze.

So did he.

For one brief second, neither of us moved.

His eyes darkened.

“You felt that.”

It wasn't a question.

I swallowed.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

“Liar.”

My heart raced.

I hated that he noticed.

I hated even more that I couldn't look away.

Then he stepped back.

The moment disappeared.

“Sign the contract.”

I looked down at the papers.

Then back at him.

Three years.

That's all.

Three years of being the wife of a man who hated my family.

Three years of living beside an Alpha who had no intention of loving me.

Three years of pretending this marriage meant nothing.

I picked up the pen.

“What happens after three years?”

“We walk away.”

“And you promise you won't hurt my family?”

“I promise nothing.”

I glared at him.

He stared back.

Then, after a moment, he added quietly:

“Unless they give me a reason.”

I should have walked away.

I should have thrown the contract back at him.

I should have protected myself.

Instead, I signed.

My name appeared beneath his.

Elara Valen.

Kael Draven.

The moment my pen left the paper, something inside me shifted.

Kael took the contract.

He looked at my signature.

Then at me.

“You're officially my wife.”

I swallowed.

“Don't sound so pleased.”

He stepped closer.

His voice dropped.

“Believe me, Elara.”

His eyes held mine.

“I am anything but pleased.”

I should have been angry.

Instead, my heart betrayed me with one stupid thought.

Then why does it feel like something just started?

I didn't know it then.

But that signature would cost me everything.

My freedom.

My heart.

My trust.

And eventually... my ability to leave him behind.

Because I thought I was signing a contract.

I didn't know I was signing the beginning of the greatest love—and the greatest heartbreak—of my life.