Chapter five

His cold words echoed in my head, but shit, I refused to let go of his hand. He moved his gaze to my fingers, and a frown settled on his face.

I swallowed hard before continuing.

“Did you not hear me?” I asked. “I said marry me.”

“I heard you the first time,” he replied coldly.

“Then why are you asking if I’ve lost my mind?” I questioned him.

He pulled his hand away from mine roughly and stared at the mark on my wrist.

“Yesterday, you rejected me. Today, you’re standing in my house asking me to marry you. Do you expect me to take you seriously?”

I stared at him, but for a second, I forgot what to say. I immediately recovered myself.

“I have my reasons,” I said.

“I’m sure you do,” he replied flatly.

I folded my arms across my chest. “Look, I know you probably hate me, but I need your help.”

“What makes you think I’d help you?”

“Because it would benefit you too,” I explained.

He raised an eyebrow. “And how exactly would marrying you benefit me?”

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“My father wants me to marry the Brickwell family’s son. If I marry someone else before the next Lunar Moon, I won’t have to go through with it.”

“And you think I’m interested in helping you escape your father’s arrangement?”

“No. I think you might agree because Nathan would hate it.”

His expression remained unchanged, but his eyes stayed on my face.

“Is that why you came here? To make your former boyfriend jealous?”

“He’s not my boyfriend anymore.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you always have to question everything? I already told you I don’t want to marry the Brickwells. Besides, I doubt you’d enjoy watching Nathan get married to my sister while you do nothing.”

He stared at me for a moment before speaking.

“Fine. I’ll marry you.”

I blinked. That was easier than I expected.

“Really?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

I quickly closed my mouth. I wasn’t about to annoy him when he had just agreed to help me.

“But I have conditions,” he continued.

Of course. There had to be a catch.

“What conditions?”

“This will be a public marriage, and it will last for one year. During that period, you’ll tell me everything Nathan has ever said about his father’s death.”

I frowned. “Why do you want to know about his father?”

“That’s not your concern.”

“Well, excuse me for asking. I’m supposed to marry you, not become your personal information provider.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Do you want this marriage or not?”

I pressed my lips together. I really hated how easily he could make me feel like I was the one asking for too much.

“Fine. What’s the other condition?”

“You won’t ask me about what happened to his father until I’m ready to tell you.”

I stared at him. His words only made me more curious. Why was he so interested in what Nathan had said about his father? And why didn’t he want me asking about what happened?

I had a feeling there was more to the story than what Nathan had told me, but I wasn’t going to start questioning him now.

“Fine. But I have a condition too.”

He looked at me.

“I won’t be treated like a prisoner in your house. I want to make my own decisions, and you won’t order me around as if I’m one of your warriors.”

For a moment, he said nothing.

“Agreed.”

I nodded. At least we could agree on something.

“Is that all?” I asked.

“For now.”

I frowned. “What do you mean for now?”

“It means I may have other conditions later.”

I scoffed. “You should have mentioned that before I agreed. Who knows what other ridiculous rules you’ll come up with?”

He didn’t respond. Instead, his gaze suddenly dropped to my hands. I followed his eyes and noticed him studying my fingers.

“Who taught you how to fight?”

I frowned. “What?”

“Your hands.” He looked at them again. “You have calluses. Who taught a wolfless girl to fight?”

I immediately pulled my hands behind my back.

“Why? Are you planning to arrest my teacher?”

His expression didn’t change.

“I’m asking a question.”

“And I don’t remember agreeing to answer every question you ask.”

“You’re quite defensive about it.”

“Well, you’re quite nosy for someone who barely knows me.”

He stared at me for a few seconds before looking away.

“Get ready. We’ll make the announcement tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I repeated. “You don’t waste time, do you?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“No. I just hope you don’t expect me to wear a wedding dress tomorrow morning.”

He ignored my comment and turned away.

I watched him for a moment before letting out a breath. I had actually done it. I had just convinced the man I rejected yesterday to marry me.

I wasn’t sure what had made him agree so quickly, but I wasn’t going to complain. I had what I wanted, and that was what mattered.

Now I only had to face my family and tell them about it.

I wasn’t sure which part was going to be worse.