Chapter 3

I flinched but didn't back down. "I'm saying I don't want to marry Raymond."

His laugh was cruel and dismissive. "What you want doesn't matter, Aurora. This is about duty, about position, about our family's future."

He circled around the desk, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. "If Raymond calls off the engagement, your life will be ruined. Do you understand that? No one will want the Alpha's rejected mate."

His words cut deep, slicing through me with surgical precision. I dug my nails into my palms, using the sharp pain to stay focused.

"Raymond is the best possible match for you," he continued. "The Alpha's son. The future of this pack. If he's pulling away, it's your fault. You're clearly too incompetent to keep your own man in check."

My wolf bristled at the insult, and I fought to keep her contained. Showing aggression toward my father would only make things worse.

He stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Has he fallen for someone else? Is that it?"

My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't betray Raymond's secret, no matter how much he'd hurt me.

"No," I said quickly, perhaps too quickly. "There's no one else."

I gathered my courage and raised my voice. "I'm the one who doesn't like Raymond anymore. I don't want to marry him!"

The slap came without warning. The force of it sent me stumbling, and I barely caught myself against the wall. My cheek burned, and the taste of blood filled my mouth.

"You ungrateful child," my father hissed, towering over me. "After everything I've sacrificed for you."

I touched my cheek, feeling it swell beneath my fingertips. My wolf snarled, demanding retribution, but I pushed her down.

"If you refuse to marry Raymond," my father said, his voice dangerously quiet, "I will cut off your mother's treatment. Is that what you want?"

The threat froze my blood. My mother had been bedridden for years, her condition requiring expensive medications that only my father's position as Beta could afford.

"You wouldn't," I whispered, but the cold certainty in his eyes told me otherwise.

"Try me," he challenged. "Now get out of my sight. And fix whatever mess you've created with Raymond. I expect to hear wedding plans by the end of the week."

I stumbled from the room, my legs barely supporting me. My mother's treatment. He knew exactly where to aim to ensure my compliance.

The next day, a knock came at my door. I ignored it, hoping whoever it was would leave me alone.

But the knocking persisted, followed by a familiar voice.

"Aurora? It's me. Open up."

Raymond.

I remained silent, hoping he would leave. Instead, I heard the scrape of the window opening, and moments later, Raymond climbed through, just as he'd done countless times when we were children.

"You could have used the door," I said flatly, not bothering to get up from where I sat on the edge of my bed.

"You weren't answering." His eyes widened slightly when he saw my face. "What happened to you?"

I turned away. "Nothing. What do you want?"

He hesitated, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "A peace offering," he said, placing it on my nightstand. "And to thank you for keeping my secret."

I didn't touch it. "You didn't need to bring me a gift."

"I wanted to." He sat beside me, the bed dipping under his weight. "Aurora, I... I'm sorry about yesterday. I was harsh."

I stared at my hands folded in my lap. "It doesn't matter."

"It does." He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Look, I know this is a mess. But I need your help."

Of course. He hadn't come to genuinely apologize. He needed something from me.

"My parents are insisting on our engagement," Raymond continued. "They won't listen to reason. But I can't give up Giana. She's my fated mate."

I remained silent, letting him talk.

"What if... what if we go through with it, but just as a contract? A temporary arrangement until I secure my position as Alpha." His voice grew more animated as he warmed to the idea. "You'd be my shield, helping me protect Giana until I'm powerful enough that no one can challenge my choice."

I finally looked at him. "You want me to marry you, knowing you love someone else?"

"It wouldn't be real," he insisted. "Just for show. And it would benefit you too. Once I'm settled as Alpha, I'll set you free. You can go find someone who truly loves you."

The irony was almost enough to make me laugh. I had found someone who I truly loved. He just didn't love me back.

"And if I say no?" I asked quietly.

Raymond's expression grew serious. "Your father came to mine last night. He threatened to step down as Beta if you refused. That would mean your whole family losing status, your mother's treatment..." He trailed off, but the implication was clear.

My father had already moved to corner me. I had no choice.

"Fine," I said coldly. "I agree to your contract."

* * *

With swift efficiency, the Alpha and Beta finalized the details of our engagement ceremony—just three days away. Three days to prepare myself for a lifetime of pretending.

The engagement ceremony was lavish, held in the pack's grand hall. Distinguished guests filled the room, their curious eyes following my every move. I wore my mask well—the perfect, blushing bride-to-be, honored to be chosen as their future Luna.

During the banquet, a commotion at the entrance drew everyone's attention. A sleek black sports car had pulled up, its engine purring before falling silent. The door opened to reveal a tall, dark-haired man who moved with the dangerous grace of a predator.

Kane, the heir to another powerful pack and Raymond's best friend.

His reputation preceded him—the notorious playboy who left broken hearts in his wake. I had always found him arrogant and insufferable during his occasional visits.

He strode directly to where Raymond and I sat, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Well, well," he drawled, his eyes sweeping over me with amusement. "Congratulations, Aurora. You finally got what you wanted, didn't you? Marrying Raymond after all those years of chasing him."

The teasing tone made my cheeks burn. Something in his eyes made me feel as if he had already seen through our charade, as if he were mocking not just me but the entire farce we were presenting.

I forced a smile. "Thank you for coming, Kane. It's been a while."

Raymond stepped forward, clapping Kane on the shoulder with a warmth he hadn't shown me in years. "Kane's here for a vacation and some business negotiations," he explained to me and the curious onlookers. "He'll be staying for three months."

I nodded politely, but my attention was already drifting away from the conversation. A strange sensation was building inside me—a warmth that started in my core and slowly spread outward. My skin felt suddenly too tight, too sensitive.

I shifted uncomfortably, trying to focus on the guests around me, but the heat only intensified. My breath came shorter, and I felt a drop of sweat trickle down my spine despite the cool evening air.

What was happening to me?