His to break.

XENA’S POV

Chloe hummed like she was dressing up a doll, not a bullied girl being marched off to marry a stranger.

She twisted my hair into soft waves, pinned a silver clip behind my ear, and adjusted the choker on my neck. “You’re lucky,” she said sweetly. “Most impure wolves don’t even get a wedding.”

I didn’t say a word. What could I say? That I felt like screaming? That I wanted to rip her smug face apart?

“You know what would happen if you said no again, right?” Her fingers paused at the back of my neck, pressing just a little too hard. “Your mother’s name would be dragged through the dirt, everything she built would be thrown away into ashes, they would dig her bones and scatter her remains, write her name among the people of the damned where she would be tortured in the afterlife, You want that?”

My jaw tightened, smoldering at her with resentment. She was her mother too but I guess her father's genes were what was passed to her. 

She leaned closer, her breath warm and cruel against my ear. “The sentinels wouldn’t just kill you this time. They’d rip the baby out of your womb and feed it to the dogs. It's best if you listen to father's words or they would be more than a threat.

She pulled back and smiled at my reflection in the mirror. “You look good, much better, a little too much for an impure wolf but good, I hope you can please the ‘slave’ the same way you pleased Mr Lincoln,” she winked. 

I swallowed hard, keeping my anger in check. 

Behind her, Jason walked in. He came up behind her and kissed her passionately like I wasn’t even in the room. I stared at them through the mirror. His hands roamed freely over her body, and she giggled, moaning his name.

Just for a little while, you’ll survive this, you'll grow stronger, then I’ll make them pay. All of them.

A horn blared outside. I flinched a little. 

It was time to face my cruel fate. 

Chloe clapped her hands. “Your ride’s here! You’re going to love it, he even went all out to show off for a lowly mutt like you.”

I walked stiffly toward the door. Jason called out behind me, “Send pictures!”

I glanced over at him, clutching my belly. How cruel is this man? I was even carrying his child but he didn't care. 

I promise you, Jason, you would regret this. 

Chloe followed me down, heels clicking with confidence. Parked outside was the longest, sleekest black limousine I’d ever seen. Even the door handles looked expensive.

She leaned in close. “Don’t forget your place, sister. If you even think about running, I'll find you myself.”

I got in immediately, taking a quick glance at my mother's house, her grave just at the corner of the house. 

“I will come back mother, I promise, hang in there.”

Jason waved goodbye with a smirk.

The driver didn’t say a word for most of the ride. We drove for hours, we passed through many towns and it didn't look like we were going to stop any time soon. 

 “Check the purse beside you,” he said finally. “Your father gave it to me.”

I looked down, I hadn’t noticed it before. I picked it up, opened the flap and froze.

Inside was a vial of my scent-hiding potion. My hands shook as I pulled out the folded paper tucked beside it. 

It was my father’s handwriting.

He listed out the ingredients of the potion, every one. At the bottom, in bold, scrawled letters:

“You’re on your own now, consider this my farewell gift.” 

I didn’t know if I wanted to cry or scream. That bastard, that cold, traitorous bastard. He didn’t give a damn about me, not really. But he gave me just enough to survive, at least just enough to come back for revenge. 

“Thanks Dad,” I muttered, a slow wicked smirk appearing at the corner of my lips. 

“You okay?” the driver asked.

I raised my head up. “Yeah. Never been better.”

The driver started talking about what the slave looked like but I knew most of them were lies… or just over exaggerated but I didn’t care. All I could think about was surviving long enough to protect my child… and destroy everyone who ever touched me.

Finally, after what felt like hours, we finally arrived. 

The mansion was enormous. It was well guarded with a big gate, it was a fucking multiple billionaire dollars estate…it had to be.  It had stone towers, statues of wolves along the drive. 

This slave must work for a powerful Alpha.

They pulled me out of the car and into a dressing chamber. I was quickly stripped, cleaned, and shoved into a gown of pure white satin. A veil covered my face. Pearls were sewn into the sleeves.

They brought me down the aisle alone. I walked barefoot across marble floors, my heartbeat loud in my ears. I recited my vows alone…seriously, the groom wasn't even there and no one seemed to care. 

Just when the vows were over, the door burst open. Every head turned to the direction. 

A man walked in like the world owed him something.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, hair dark like night, eyes glowing silver under his lashes. He wore a long black coat lined with red, and on his chest…

My breath caught.

Pinned right over his heart… was a crest. My brows furrowed in curiosity, wondering where I had seen the crest before. 

The priestess smiled nervously. “Alpha Kael… nice of you to join us. We just finished your wedding.”

My knees nearly buckled. Alpha Kael? My lips parted in shock.

That was the Blood howl pack family's crest, he was Alpha Kael Noirfang. The legendary ruthless Lycan Lord. The monster that even Alphas feared.

My husband… was him.

I stood frozen in place, my blood cold, my child kicking softly beneath my ribs.

He walked up to me slowly, one brow arched, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Well,” he said, his voice like steel wrapped in silk, “aren’t you going to say hello to your husband?”

My mouth fell open but no words came out. 

“I'm sorry, I should introduce myself properly, ” he smiled, placing a hand on his left breast. “I'm Alpha Kael Noirfang, of the blood howl pack, welcome home, wife.”