Chapter 3: Married to My Enemy

The morning of my wedding, I woke up wishing it was a dream.

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

The dress hanging beside my bed was proof.

White.

Elegant.

Expensive.

Beautiful enough to belong to a woman who was marrying the love of her life.

Not the enemy of her family.

I stared at it for a long moment.

Then whispered,

“Three years.”

That's all I had to survive.

Three years as Kael Draven's wife.

Three years of pretending.

Three years of remembering that this marriage had an expiration date.

After that, I'd be free.

At least, that's what I told myself.

The wedding ceremony was held at the Draven estate.

Of course it was.

Everything about Kael seemed to happen on his territory.

The moment I stepped out of the car, I felt hundreds of eyes on me.

Werewolves from different territories had gathered for the ceremony.

Alphas.

Betas.

Lunas.

Council members.

Everyone wanted to witness the impossible.

A Valen marrying a Draven.

The daughter of Kael's enemy becoming his Luna.

I slowly walked toward the entrance.

My hands were cold.

My heart was racing.

And then I saw him.

Kael stood at the end of the aisle.

Black suit.

Silver tie.

Expression unreadable.

He looked exactly like the man I'd met three weeks ago.

Cold.

Powerful.

Untouchable.

But when his eyes met mine...

Something changed.

His expression softened.

Just slightly.

So slightly that I almost convinced myself I imagined it.

I continued walking.

One step.

Then another.

Until I finally stood in front of him.

My father placed my hand in Kael's.

His fingers closed around mine.

Warm.

Strong.

Possessive.

I looked up.

He was already staring at me.

“You're late.”

I blinked.

“I'm three minutes early.”

His lips curved slightly.

“Still late.”

I whispered,

“Annoying.”

His thumb brushed over the back of my hand.

“Beautiful.”

My heart stopped.

I looked at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

The ceremony began.

I barely heard the words.

All I could feel was his hand holding mine.

And the strange warmth spreading through my chest.

When it was time for the vows, Kael spoke first.

“I, Kael Draven, take Elara Valen as my wife.”

His voice was steady.

“I promise to protect the bond between our territories and honor the agreement we've made.”

Agreement.

Of course.

I almost smiled bitterly.

Then it was my turn.

“I, Elara Valen, take Kael Draven as my husband.”

I looked directly into his eyes.

“I promise to honor the agreement we've made.”

The priest smiled.

Neither of us did.

Then came the rings.

Kael took mine.

His fingers brushed mine as he slid the ring onto my finger.

His gaze never left my face.

When it was my turn, I did the same.

And suddenly...

we were married.

The priest looked between us.

“You may kiss the bride.”

My eyes widened.

Kael's eyebrow lifted.

Neither of us moved.

The entire room went silent.

I whispered through my smile,

“We don't have to.”

He leaned closer.

“We do.”

“Why?”

“Because everyone's watching.”

His hand settled on my waist.

My breath caught.

He leaned down.

I closed my eyes.

His lips touched mine.

Soft.

Brief.

Barely a kiss.

But my entire body reacted.

When he pulled away, his eyes remained on mine.

Neither of us spoke.

The crowd erupted in applause.

But all I could hear was my heartbeat.

The reception was worse.

Everyone wanted to congratulate us.

Everyone wanted pictures.

Everyone wanted to speak to the new Luna.

I smiled until my cheeks hurt.

Kael stayed beside me the entire time.

His hand occasionally rested against my lower back.

Every time it did, my body betrayed me with another shiver.

“You're doing it again.”

I looked at him.

“Doing what?”

“Shivering.”

“I'm cold.”

“You're lying.”

“Maybe your hands are cold.”

He looked down at his hand on my back.

Then back at me.

“My hands are warm.”

I immediately looked away.

“Whatever.”

His lips twitched.

He was enjoying this.

Of course he was.

Later that night, we were finally alone.

Our bedroom was enormous.

A king-sized bed stood in the center.

I stopped walking.

Kael entered behind me.

The door closed.

Silence.

I turned around.

“Where are you sleeping?”

He pointed toward the bed.

“You're joking.”

“No.”

“We're not sharing a bed.”

His expression remained calm.

“We're married.”

“Contractually.”

“Still married.”

I crossed my arms.

“I'm sleeping on the couch.”

“There isn't one.”

I looked around.

He was right.

Of course.

I sighed.

“Then I'll sleep on the floor.”

Kael frowned.

“You're not sleeping on the floor.”

“Why not?”

“Because you're my wife.”

I stared at him.

“And?”

“And I won't have my wife sleeping on the floor.”

Something about the way he said **my wife** made my heart flutter.

I ignored it.

“Fine.”

I grabbed a pillow.

“I'll sleep on the bed.”

He nodded.

“Good.”

“But you stay on your side.”

“I know.”

“And don't touch me.”

“I won't.”

“And—”

“Elara.”

“What?”

“You're making too many rules.”

I glared.

“You started this marriage with rules.”

He smiled.

“Fair.”

I changed into a nightdress and returned to the bedroom.

Kael was already lying on his side of the bed.

His back was facing me.

I climbed onto the opposite side.

There was a ridiculous amount of space between us.

Good.

That's how it should be.

I pulled the blanket over myself.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, wife.”

My eyes widened.

“Don't call me that.”

“Why?”

“Because it sounds weird.”

“It's accurate.”

I turned away.

“Goodnight, Kael.”

“Goodnight, Elara.”

I closed my eyes.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke.

Then—

“Are you asleep?”

“No.”

“Good.”

I turned around.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

I frowned.

“Why did you ask?”

“I wanted to know if you were awake.”

“That makes no sense.”

“I know.”

I stared at him.

He was looking at me.

His silver eyes were softer than usual.

“What?”

He didn't answer.

Instead, he asked,

“Are you afraid of me?”

The question surprised me.

I thought about it.

“Sometimes.”

His expression changed.

“Why?”

“Because you're powerful.”

“That isn't an answer.”

“Because I don't know what you're capable of.”

He looked away.

“I won't hurt you.”

I swallowed.

“Promise?”

He looked back at me.

“I promise.”

Something in his voice made me believe him.

And that scared me more than anything.

Because I was beginning to trust him.

The next morning, I woke up feeling warm.

Too warm.

I opened my eyes.

And froze.

Kael's arm was around my waist.

His chest was pressed against my back.

His breathing was slow.

His face was buried near my neck.

I stared at the ceiling.

Oh my God.

I carefully tried to move.

His arm tightened.

I stopped.

“Kael.”

Nothing.

“Kael.”

He mumbled something.

“What?”

His voice was rough from sleep.

“You're holding me.”

Silence.

Then his eyes opened.

He looked at his arm.

Then at me.

For a few seconds, neither of us moved.

His gaze traveled to my face.

Then my lips.

My heartbeat became embarrassingly loud.

“I told you not to touch me.”

“You're the one who moved closer.”

“I did not.”

“You did.”

“I would remember.”

He smirked.

“You were asleep.”

I stared at him.

“Are you seriously blaming me because you hugged me?”

“I didn't say hug.”

“What would you call this?”

He looked down at his arm around my waist.

“Instinct.”

My heart skipped.

“Instinct?”

“You're my wife.”

I rolled my eyes.

“That's not an excuse.”

His gaze darkened.

“Maybe not.”

For one dangerous second, neither of us moved.

His face was inches from mine.

I could feel his breath.

My wolf stirred beneath my skin.

His eyes changed.

The silver became darker.

“Elara.”

My heart pounded.

“Kael.”

His forehead almost touched mine.

Then—

A knock sounded on the door.

We immediately separated.

“Alpha! Luna!”

I covered my face.

“Oh, thank God.”

Kael looked annoyed.

“What?”

I laughed.

“Nothing.”

He stared at me.

“You're enjoying this.”

“Maybe.”

He shook his head.

But there was a smile on his lips.

A real one.

And for the first time since I married him...

I wondered if the man I was supposed to hate was actually the man I was beginning to fall for.

I pushed the thought away.

It was too early.

Far too early.

This was only a contract.

A marriage with an expiration date.

Nothing more.

At least... that's what I kept telling myself.

Because if I had known what was waiting for us beyond those three years—

I would've realized that the most dangerous part of marrying Kael Draven wasn't becoming his wife.

It was falling in love with him.