"Behind Golden Bars"

POV: Juliana Capulet

The leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre felt like contraband in Juliana's hands as she curled deeper into the window seat of her tower bedroom. Outside, the manicured gardens of the Capulet compound stretched toward the Pacific coastline, beautiful and pristine as a postcard. Inside, the walls of her gilded cage pressed closer every day.

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will." Charlotte Brontë's words burned across the page like a challenge.

If only it were that simple.

The soft knock at her door made her slip the book behind a decorative pillow. Romance novels were "filling her head with impossible dreams," according to her father. Classic literature was barely tolerated, and only because it made her seem more cultured at pack social events.

"Mija?" Her mother's voice carried the careful neutrality that meant they had an audience. "Your father would like to see you in his study."

Juliana's stomach dropped. Vincent Capulet only summoned her to his study for two reasons: lectures about proper Luna behavior or announcements about her future that she'd have no say in. Neither option boded well.

"Coming, Mama."

She smoothed her silk dress—the pale blue one that made her look innocent and demure—and checked her reflection in the antique mirror. Dark waves perfectly styled, minimal makeup that enhanced her natural beauty without looking "desperate for attention," posture straight but not challenging. The perfect Capulet princess, ready to be displayed like a prize at auction.

The walk through the compound's marble corridors felt like a death march. Staff members bowed respectfully as she passed, their eyes carefully averted. She was precious cargo to be protected, not a person to be acknowledged.

Her father's study occupied the compound's most secure wing, all dark wood and leather-bound law books that spoke of centuries of Capulet power. Vincent sat behind his massive desk like a king holding court, his presence commanding even in casual clothes. At forty-five, he still looked every inch the Alpha who had expanded Capulet territory and influence beyond anything previous generations had achieved.

"Ah, princess." His face lit up with genuine warmth as she entered. "Come, sit. We have wonderful news to share."

Juliana's wolf whimpered, sensing the trap hidden beneath his affection. She took the chair across from his desk, hands folded in her lap like the perfect lady she'd been trained to be.

"What kind of news, Papa?"

"The kind that secures our family's future for generations." Vincent's eyes sparkled with pride and ambition. "I've been in negotiations with Alpha Escalus of the Eastern Alliance. His son Lorenzo is looking for a mate, and you, my dear, are exactly what their bloodline needs."

The words hit like ice water in her veins. "A mate?"

"An engagement, to start. The formal ceremony will happen after your eighteenth birthday, of course." He spoke as if he were announcing a vacation, not the end of her freedom. "Lorenzo is everything we could want—strong bloodline, good politics, excellent prospects. You'll be Luna of one of the most powerful packs on the continent."

Juliana's hands tightened in her lap until her knuckles went white. "Have I... have I met him?"

"At the summer gathering, remember? Tall, dark hair, very handsome. He was quite taken with you."

She vaguely remembered a young man who had stared at her like she was a particularly interesting piece of art he was considering purchasing. The memory made her skin crawl.

"Papa, I—"

"I know it's a lot to process," Vincent continued, his voice gentle but firm. "But this is how our world works, princess. Duty first, personal desires second. Your mother and I had an arranged mating, and look how happy we are."

Juliana glanced at her mother, who stood silent by the window. Maria's face was carefully neutral, but her hands were clasped so tightly her wedding ring cut into her finger.

Happy? Was that what this was? Her mother's distant smiles and romance novel obsession? Her father's complete control over every aspect of their lives disguised as protection?

"What if I said no?"

The question slipped out before she could stop it. Vincent's expression shifted from loving father to Alpha in an instant.

"No?" He leaned back in his chair, studying her with new interest. "Why would you say no to one of the most advantageous matches in our world?"

"Because I don't love him. Because I don't even know him."

"Love comes with time and respect, princess. Passion fades, but shared goals and mutual benefit last forever." His voice carried the weight of absolute certainty. "You'll learn to care for him. More importantly, you'll learn to appreciate the security and status this union provides."

"But what if I want to choose for myself? What if I want to go to college, or travel, or—"

"Juliana." Her name was a warning. "You are the future of our bloodline. Your safety is everything. College is for wolves who need careers. Travel is for those who have no responsibilities to their pack. You have a higher purpose."

The higher purpose of being a beautiful, well-bred accessory to someone else's life.

"The announcement will be made at next week's pack gathering," Vincent continued, his tone suggesting the discussion was over. "I've already had the jewelers design your engagement ring. Sapphires to match your eyes."

Juliana stared at her father, this man who loved her so much he was willing to sacrifice her happiness for her "own good." Who genuinely believed that keeping her safe and secure was more important than keeping her free.

"May I be excused, Papa? I need to... process this news."

"Of course, princess." His smile returned, warm and indulgent. "Take all the time you need. Your mother can help you start planning the engagement party."

Juliana stood on shaking legs and walked calmly from the room. Only when she reached the safety of her tower did she allow herself to collapse against the door, her carefully constructed composure cracking like ice.

Ten days. She had ten days before her future was announced to the world and became unchangeable.

Ten days to figure out how to escape a cage built from love and lined with gold.