Forced Marriage

An unyielding authority anchored Alpha Gideon’s words. It wasn’t a question; it was an absolute decree from the city’s highest-ranking noble. Killian let out a sharp, tense sigh. His gaze locked onto Eve for a fraction of a second before he turned back to his father.

“Just do it,” he replied curtly.

Instantly, a strange warmth flared beneath Eve's skin, radiating from the fresh mate mark. Her knees trembled as Killian’s deep, resonant voice suddenly echoed directly inside her mind—a private telepathic link she wasn't prepared for.

“Don't make a sound.”

“All right, get yourselves ready,” Gideon’s commanding voice broke the heavy silence, followed by the sharp thud of his cane against the marble floor.

The study door swung open, revealing a middle-aged butler in a flawless uniform who seemed to have been waiting for the cue all along.

“Arthur,” Gideon called out. “Arrange the legal marriage registration tonight. Tomorrow morning, bring the priest to the private family chapel. No decorations, no invitations, and ensure not a single media outlet catches wind of this.”

“Understood, Alpha,” Arthur replied, bowing low before retreating with silent, practiced steps.

The moment the door closed, a suffocating tension settled back into the room. Gideon stood up to leave, but his steps halted as Helena clamped a frantic hand onto his arm.

“Wait, Gideon. You can't be serious,” Helena hissed, stepping into his path.

“What do you mean?” Gideon asked, his brows drawing together.

Bitter disappointment twisted Helena’s features, her voice trembling under the weight of her rising fury. “Are you out of your mind?! I have already secured a perfect match for Killian! A strategic alliance!”

Gideon didn’t argue. He simply fixed her with a cold, piercing glare. That single look was enough to drain the air from the room, instantly silencing Helena before she could vent the rest of her venom.

***

The next morning, the ancient chapel at the secluded edge of the estate held only a handful of silent witnesses. Eve stood trembling at the center of the dimly lit altar. Beside her, Killian stood tall and imposing in a tailored black suit, staring straight ahead with a completely blank, unreadable expression.

Before them stood an elderly priest in faded liturgical robes, his weary eyes shifting between the mismatched pair as he held a worn Bible.

“Killian,” the priest’s hoarse voice broke the silence, echoing softly against the cold stone pillars. “Do you take this woman standing beside you to be your lawful wife, promising to be faithful to her, to honor and protect her, in good times and bad?”

Eve held her breath, her clasped fingers turning white. She didn’t dare look up, but she could feel the crushing weight of Killian’s dominant Alpha presence right beside her.

“I do,” Killian replied, his voice dropping like a block of ice.

The priest let out a quiet sigh, then turned his gentle, pitying gaze toward Eve. “And you, Eve… do you take this man as your husband, promising to honor him, to stand by his side, and to walk with him through every season of life?”

Eve swallowed hard, trying to summon the voice that had caught in the back of her throat. “Yes… I do,” she whispered. It was soft, yet clear enough to ripple through the quiet sanctuary.

“Then, in the presence of witnesses and God, I declare you husband and wife.” The priest closed the text with a soft thud. “Please sign the registry.”

The moment the pen lifted from the parchment, Killian turned on his heel and walked out of the chapel without spare a single glance or word. The priest offered Eve a faint, reassuring smile before excusing himself, followed immediately by Gideon.

But Helena remained.

The sharp, rhythmic click of Helena’s heels echoed against the stone floor as she closed the distance between them. She stopped so close that Eve could smell her heavy perfume. Suddenly, Helena’s fingers clamped violently around Eve’s jaw, forcing her head back to meet eyes that burned with pure vengeance.

“You think you can live in peace after shattering the future I spent years building for my son?” Helena hissed, her face contorting. “Listen to me, you little stray… you will never be a part of this family.”

With a cruel shove, Helena threw Eve off balance, nearly sending her crashing into the altar, before turning her back and sweeping out of the room.

***

As night fell, Eve sat curled in the corner of the master bed. The air in the room was thick, heavily saturated with Killian’s distinctive masculine scent—a potent, intoxicating blend of crisp peppermint, cedarwood, and dominant Alpha pheromones.

Exhausted, Eve lay her rigid body down, pulling the heavy duvet over her face to hide her burning cheeks. But beneath the covers, the concentration of his scent only grew stronger, sending her pulse into a frantic rhythm.

Suddenly, a violent wave of heat radiated from the bite mark on her neck. Unconsciously, her own Omega pheromones began to bleed into the air, seeking the Alpha’s presence and filling the room with a sweet, frantic fragrance.

Within minutes, her body temperature spiked drastically. Her breathing turned rapid and shallow, her skin flushing hot as a desperate, unquenchable thirst gripped her chest.

The Heat had taken hold.

Utterly defenseless against the biological tide, Eve buried her face deeper into the pillows, her human consciousness rapidly losing ground to her raw wolf instincts.

Click.

The bedroom door swung open with a heavy thud. Killian stood on the threshold, his eyes burning gold in the shadows. He froze for a second, inhaling the sweet, overwhelming scent of her submission that now flooded the entire suite.

“Damn it,” Killian growled under his breath. The sheer potency of her aura clouded his vision, triggering a primal hunger he couldn't suppress. With heavy, deliberate steps, he marched toward the bed. “Did you do this on purpose, Eve? Did you deliberately trigger your heat to trap me here?”

Eve yanked the blanket down, shaking her head weakly. Her hazy eyes focused on the massive silhouette looming over her, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. “N-no, Killian… stay back… please…” she whispered hoarsely, her hands coming up in a weak attempt to push against his solid chest as he leaned down.

But her words meant nothing against the violent pull of the bond. The mark on her neck throbbed with a scorching heat that wiped out all rationality. The Alpha beast within Killian refused to be denied. Overriding his pride and his deep-seated resentment, he seized both of her wrists, pinning them above her head in a single, unyielding grip.

“You started this fire, Eve,” Killian hissed against her trembling lips, his hot breath catching. “So don’t you dare beg me to put it out.”

In the darkness, the last traces of human restraint vanished from his eyes, replaced entirely by a brilliant, predatory golden glow that mirrored the full moon outside. His dominant Alpha aura exploded through the room.

Bending down, Killian captured her lips in a fierce, possessive kiss, devouring her gasp and leaving her completely breathless.

“Ki—Killian,” Eve gasped during a fractured second of air. Yet, as the ancient bond took total control, her arms freed themselves to wrap tightly around his neck, her own instincts rising to meet the Alpha’s ferocious embrace.