Chapter 1: Family Collapse

“You don’t understand, if we don’t do this, our family is done.” Father’s voice echoed through the halls. “They are taking everything from us.”

My mother’s voice shook. “The only condition is to meet with Lyrien?”

Me?

I stepped into the room. “What meeting?”

They both paled. “The Romanovs. Your brother’s deal went south. They want compensation… and they specifically asked for you to be there.”

My stomach plummeted. The golden boy was missing, so of course, the unwanted hybrid daughter had to clean up the mess.

"You can let us handle it, Lyrien, everything will be fine," My father said with a smile, but I saw how it wavered.

Unwanted or not, they gave me a home.

“I’ll go,” I said quietly, already heading for the door. “Just tell Stephan to come now that his mess has been cleaned up.”

I didn’t wait for thanks. I hurried through the dark streets toward the warehouse district, but I should have noticed the footsteps behind me.

A van idled in the shadows. They grabbed me before I reached the door, and soon I felt the prick of a needle in my neck. Whatever drug they used, it hit fast.

Chains clicked around my wrists as the world blurred.

“Easy, hybrid,” one grunted as I tried to fight back. “Boss said no permanent damage. She’s worth too much.”

The other laughed crudely. “Twenty million. Romanov dropped twenty fucking million for this virgin cunt. Bet she’s tight as hell. He’s gonna ruin her.”

Bile burned my throat. Tears stung my eyes. I told them they didn't need to worry, but it seems like my dear family had sold me on a silver platter.

The van rumbled forward, their rough hands keeping me pinned. Every bump jolted the chains deeper into my skin. They covered my face when we arrived, dragging me through hallways until a door opened. They shoved me inside and removed the hood, but my eyes stung from the sudden light.

The room reeked of expensive whiskey and cedarwood. Dark luxury everywhere.

“Hm. I expected screaming and thrashing.” The deep voice commanded the entire space.

I lifted my head.

Alexi Romanov stood by the fireplace, whiskey in hand. Tall, broad, radiating raw power and danger. He was the same age as my father, but there was no comparison.

The man everyone feared had a different aura.

“Would that get me my freedom?” I asked.

His smirk was cold. “No. But I’m glad you understand your position.”

He poured a second glass and offered it. The guards left instantly.

I drank it in one go. “Thought you’d prefer vodka.”

A faint smile tugged his lips. “You’ll fit the role perfectly… Lyrien.”

Hearing my name on his tongue made my skin crawl.

“I’m Alexi Romanov. I brought you here to make you an offer. I need a grandson.”

I blinked. A grandson?

“If that’s what you want, talk to your son.”

He snorted in both amusement and frustration. “If it were that simple, I wouldn’t have paid twenty million for you.”

My mind spun. Arranged mating? Breeding? My weak hybrid bloodline?

“Do I have a say?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

His smirk said everything. “What do you think?”

I handed back the empty glass. He refilled it without breaking eye contact. I drank again.

“Let’s go.”

Every instinct screamed to run, but there was nowhere to go.

“Time to meet your husband.”

My heart slammed against my ribs as I followed him down the corridors.

He stopped at large double doors and pushed them open.

I stepped inside and froze.

A man lay in the bed, hooked up to machines—still, pale, barely alive.

For the first time in my life, my wolf surged forward, voice clear and desperate in my head:

“MATE.”

I stood frozen, mind reeling. One second, I was trying to save my worthless family, the next I was staring at my mate—unconscious, hooked to machines, bought for twenty million by his own father.

My mate.

Hybrids like me weren’t supposed to get one. We were mistakes. Mutations. Yet my wolf had spoken for the first time because of him.

I glanced at Alexi, and I knew I couldn’t tell Alexi. Not yet.

“This is Dimitri,” he said flatly, like he was pointing out furniture.

“What happened to him?” I asked before I could stop myself.

His eyes hardened. “None of your business.”

Message received.

Alexi laid out the deal: marry his son, give him a grandson, then take a million and disappear. I’d be an incubator, nothing more. The words stung, but a spark of hope flickered. If Dimitri were my mate, maybe he’d want me when he woke up.

“Fine,” I said, lifting my chin. “Let’s do this.”

Less than twenty-four hours later, I was Mrs. Lyrien Romanov, staring at a marriage certificate signed by a terrified judge and my mate's fingerprint since he couldn't sign at the moment.

Alexi looked at me like I was diseased before leaving me alone in the massive, sterile apartment.

I chose the bedroom right next to Dimitri’s. Every morning, I checked on him. Every afternoon, I read to him. Every evening, I talked, filling the silence with one-sided conversations because he was the closest thing I had to company.

“I bought chocolate cake today,” I told him one afternoon, brushing my fingers through his dark blond hair. “First one in three years. When you wake up, we can share it.”

“He doesn’t like sweets.”

I screamed, knocking my chair over and grabbing the nearest lamp like a weapon.

A sharply dressed man stood in the doorway, looking mildly exasperated. “I’m Sasha, Mr. Romanov’s secretary.”

“That’s exactly what a murderer would say,” I hissed, lamp still raised.

He sighed. “I’m not a murderer.”

“Also, what a murderer would say.”

He shook his head. "You can call Mr. Romanov's father if that puts you at ease," he gave me a phone, one I wouldn't touch because I didn't want that man to return to the apartment.

I finally lowered the lamp.

"You can ask me for anything you need, Lyrien, that's why I'm here."

I snorted. It didn't go unnoticed that he didn't call me Mrs. Romanov, although I'm married to the man on the bed. "Can you wake him up?" I asked sarcastically.

“No.” He answered flatly.

“Figures.”

He left his card and disappeared, leaving the apartment in silence again.

I turned back to Dimitri. “Your family is weird as hell.” I leaned closer, studying his strong jaw and broad shoulders. Even unconscious, he radiated power. His scent reminded me of snow and the frozen forests I missed from my childhood. It made my wolf purr.

I kissed the top of his head softly. “You’re already making this complicated.”

Days turned into weeks.

I was mid-rant one evening, pacing beside his bed. “Your father is actually insane, you know that? Demanding a grandson like it’s a business transaction—”

Two icy blue eyes snapped open, locking onto mine.

My brain short-circuited.

“AAAAH!”

I stumbled backward, tripping over my feet. “You stay there!”

“MATE!” my wolf howled with pure joy.

I pointed accusingly at Dimitri. “You stay there!”

His eyebrow twitched. Which somehow made everything worse. I yelped again, spun around, and ran straight to my bedroom, where I slammed the door shut behind me and pressed my back against it.

My heart felt ready to explode.