Chapter 2: His Contract Bride

I woke up the next morning with one thought repeating inside my head.

I am getting married.

Not to someone I loved.

Not to someone I had chosen.

But to Kael Draven.

The Alpha who hated my family.

The man who had looked me directly in the eyes and told me he didn't want me.

And somehow, I had still signed the contract.

I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom.

“Congratulations, Elara.”

I covered my face with a pillow.

“You're officially insane.”

By breakfast, my father had already made the announcement.

The entire Valen household was buzzing.

Servants moved around the mansion carrying fabrics, flowers, invitations, and boxes.

Apparently, my wedding wasn't just a wedding.

It was an event.

A political statement.

A union between two powerful bloodlines that had spent generations trying to destroy each other.

And I was the bride.

The unfortunate bride.

I walked into the dining room and found my father sitting at the head of the table.

“You signed.”

It wasn't a question.

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“Good.”

That was it.

No congratulations.

No concern.

No Are you sure?

Just good.

I stared at him.

“You're not even going to ask if I'm okay?”

He looked up from his coffee.

“Why wouldn't you be?”

I almost laughed.

Because I'm marrying a man who wants revenge against our family?

Because I'm basically being traded to him?

Because I have no idea what happens after those three years?

Instead, I simply stood.

“I have an appointment.”

“With the wedding planner?”

“With my funeral director.”

My father frowned.

I walked away before he could answer.

The wedding was scheduled for two weeks later.

Two weeks.

That's how long I had to prepare myself to become Mrs. Draven.

And Kael?

He barely appeared.

He didn't call.

He didn't visit.

He didn't even bother pretending to be excited.

Apparently, the Alpha had better things to do.

Which was perfectly fine with me.

I didn't want him around either.

At least that's what I told myself.

Until I saw him again.

It happened three days before the wedding.

I was standing in front of a mirror while a seamstress adjusted my dress.

It wasn't a wedding gown.

Not yet.

It was simply one of the dresses I'd been asked to wear for the engagement dinner.

The door opened.

I turned.

And there he was.

Kael.

Black suit.

No tie.

Sleeves slightly rolled up.

He looked annoyingly good.

I immediately looked away.

“You're late.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“Am I?”

“Yes.”

“I wasn't aware you were waiting for me.”

“I wasn't.”

“Then why are you complaining?”

I glared at him through the mirror.

“Because you're annoying.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“You've known me for three days.”

“And you've managed to annoy me every single one.”

“Impressive.”

I rolled my eyes.

The seamstress quietly excused herself.

The moment the door closed, silence filled the room.

Kael's eyes met mine through the mirror.

“You look beautiful.”

I froze.

I turned around.

“What?”

He seemed almost surprised by his own words.

“I said you look beautiful.”

My heart skipped.

Then I reminded myself.

Contract.

“Don't start.”

His brows furrowed.

“Start what?”

“Pretending.”

“I'm not pretending.”

“Then don't say things like that.”

He stepped closer.

“Why?”

“Because we're not actually in love.”

His expression changed.

For a moment, something unreadable crossed his face.

Then he said:

“I know.”

I nodded.

“Good.”

“Good.”

Neither of us moved.

The silence became uncomfortable.

So I turned back toward the mirror.

But then I saw him behind me.

Too close.

His gaze moved from my reflection to my face.

“You're nervous.”

“No.”

“You are.”

“I'm not.”

“You keep biting your lip.”

I immediately stopped.

He smirked.

I hated him.

“I do not.”

“You just did it again.”

I turned around.

“Can you stop analyzing everything I do?”

“No.”

“Why?”

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips.

Then returned to my eyes.

“Because you're interesting.”

My heart stuttered.

Before I could respond, he stepped away.

“Get some sleep.”

And then he left.

I stood there, staring at the closed door.

“Interesting?”

I touched my lips.

Then immediately shook my head.

“No.”

Absolutely not.

I was not going to start liking him.

The engagement dinner came.

And with it came the first time Kael and I had to pretend.

We stood together beneath the chandelier while dozens of powerful werewolves watched us.

His hand rested on my waist.

My body stiffened.

“Relax.”

His voice was barely audible.

“Everyone's watching.”

“That's why I'm nervous.”

“You don't have to be.”

I glanced at him.

“You're not nervous?”

“No.”

“Of course you're not.”

His fingers tightened slightly against my waist.

“Look at me.”

I did.

“Smile.”

“I don't feel like smiling.”

“You don't have to feel like it.”

He leaned closer.

“Just pretend.”

I smiled.

The guests immediately began whispering.

Apparently, we looked perfect together.

A beautiful bride.

A powerful Alpha.

A forbidden union.

Nobody knew it was fake.

Nobody knew there was a contract between us.

Nobody knew Kael's hand was only there because people were watching.

Or at least, that's what I thought.

Because when another Alpha approached me and asked me to dance, Kael's expression changed.

“She's with me.”

The Alpha looked surprised.

“So?”

Kael's eyes turned cold.

“She said she's with me.”

I stared at him.

The other Alpha immediately stepped away.

When he was gone, I looked at Kael.

“What was that?”

“What?”

“You were jealous.”

He scoffed.

“I don't get jealous.”

“Sure.”

“I was protecting the agreement.”

“The agreement doesn't say you can't let me dance with someone.”

His jaw tightened.

“It's unnecessary.”

I smiled.

“Jealous.”

“Elara.”

“Jealous.”

He leaned down until his face was dangerously close to mine.

“You enjoy provoking me.”

My smile faded.

His eyes were intense.

“I don't.”

“You're lying.”

My heart began pounding.

He was too close.

Way too close.

“Kael…”

He didn't move.

Neither did I.

For a second, the entire room seemed to disappear.

His gaze dropped to my lips.

Mine followed his.

And then—

“Alpha Draven!”

Someone called from across the room.

Kael immediately stepped back.

The spell broke.

I took a breath.

He turned away.

And I pretended my heart hadn't just tried to escape my chest.

Later that night, I found him standing alone on the balcony.

The moonlight illuminated his face.

I almost walked away.

Instead, I stepped outside.

“You really hate me, don't you?”

He didn't look at me.

“That's a strange question.”

“Because you're marrying me.”

“It's a contract.”

“I know.”

Silence.

Then I asked:

“What happened between our families?”

His expression hardened.

“You don't need to know.”

“Why?”

“Because knowing won't change anything.”

“Maybe it would.”

He finally looked at me.

“You're too curious.”

“And you're too secretive.”

His eyes softened slightly.

“Stay away from the past, Elara.”

“Why?”

“Because some things are better left buried.”

I studied him.

There was pain behind his anger.

For the first time, I wondered what kind of tragedy could turn someone into a man like Kael Draven.

Before I could ask, he stepped closer.

“You're shaking.”

“I'm cold.”

He removed his coat.

I blinked.

“What are you doing?”

He placed it around my shoulders.

“Don't get sick.”

I looked up at him.

“Why do you care?”

He froze.

For a moment, he didn't answer.

Then he said quietly:

“I don't.”

He walked away.

But he forgot one thing.

His scent remained on the coat.

And somehow, I couldn't stop myself from pulling it closer around me.

Two weeks later, I would walk down the aisle.

I would say his name.

He would say mine.

We would exchange rings.

And the entire world would believe we had chosen each other.

But they wouldn't know the truth.

We weren't getting married because we loved each other.

We were getting married because of revenge.

Because of power.

Because of a contract.

At least... that's what I believed.

Because somewhere between his cold stares and stolen glances, something had already begun to change.

Something neither of us was ready to name.

And soon, I would become more than just his contract bride.