LOGINHe rejected me in front of everyone, called my bloodline poison then destroyed me. Five years ago, Cassian Vandenberg, billionaire Alpha of the Obsidian Pack publicly shredded our mating bond during the ceremony, condemning me as the daughter of the rogue wolf who massacred his family. What he didn't know: I was already carrying his child from a night neither of us remembers. Now he's back with a contract: pretend to be his mate for one year to break the curse destroying his empire, and he'll fund my failing sanctuary. I agree, not for the money, but for access to the pack that destroyed my father's name. Finally, I can get my revenge. Simple, professional and purely business. Except someone is hunting in the shadows. Wolves circle my sanctuary at night. His ex-fiancée watches me with calculating eyes, his uncle offers sympathies that taste like poison and Cassian's brother keeps leaving cryptic warnings: Trust no one especially family. Cassian thinks I'm hiding something, he's right. Because our daughter isn't just powerful she's impossible and the curse is killing his empire? It's not about business, it's about blood. His blood, my blood and the monster who's been pulling the strings since before we were born. Some secrets are buried for protection while others are buried because when they surface, they don't just burn they consume everything. He wanted a fake mate to save his legacy, I needed access to destroy mine. Neither of us expected the past to have claws or for the real monster to be someone we love. The rejection was just the beginning. About the truth? It's so much worse than either of us imagined.
View MoreElena POV "Do you have a child, Elena?" The question hung in the air between us like a blade about to fall, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, feel it in my throat, taste it on my tongue. He was staring at me with those dark eyes, waiting, watching every breath I took. I should tell him the truth, I knew I should, the words were right there on my tongue, yes, I have a daughter, yes, she's yours, yes, I've been raising her alone for five years. But then I remembered that night, the altar, the white dress I'd worn, the way he'd looked at me with such hatred. Your father murdered my family; your bloodline is poison. The words he'd said in front of everyone, the way the pack had watched me bleed and done nothing, the way he'd walked away without looking back. That man didn't deserve to know about Maya, didn't deserve to touch her, be near her, breathe the same air as her. "Why would you think that?" My voice came out steady, carefully controlled
ELENA POV"Miss Hartwood, Mr. Vandenberg is ready for you now."The assistant's voice was too cheerful for what I was about to do, signing my life away for a year to the man who destroyed me this morning.I followed her down a hallway that smelled like expensive cologne and power, my heels clicking against marble that probably cost more than my entire sanctuary.Cassian was already in the conference room when I walked in.He looked awful, with dark circles under his eyes, stubble on his jaw, his shirt wrinkled as he'd slept in it."Elena," he said."Cassian,"I sat across from him, the table between us felt miles wide, two lawyers in expensive suits flanked us like referees at a boxing match."Shall we begin?" the older lawyer asked, sliding a thick contract toward me.I picked it up, started reading it, even though my hands wanted to shake.One year pretending to be his mate, public appearances at pack functions, living in his mansion, playing the devoted partner.Six million dollars
CASSIAN POV "What really happened the night my parents died?"Uncle Marcus's smile froze, his hand stopped mid-reach for his coffee cup."Why are you asking this now?"The question came out too smooth, too practiced, like he'd been waiting for me to ask it someday.I pulled the hospital bracelet from my pocket and dropped it on my desk between us.Marcus stared at the plastic band like I'd thrown a live grenade."What is this?""You tell me."He picked it up, his fingers trembling slightly as he read the words printed on the label.Patient name, Elena Hartwood, date, five years ago, reason for visit, prenatal care, first trimester."This could be anyone's," he said finally, setting it down carefully, "where did you find it?"I stayed silent, watched the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes darted to the door and back to me."Cassian, you look exhausted." Marcus moved closer, his voice shifting into that concerned uncle tone, "When was the last time you slept properly?""Don't.""I
CASSIAN POV My head felt like it was splitting by the time my driver pulled over two miles down the mountain road.I gripped the head rest of the seat in front of me until my knuckles turned white, trying to breathe through the pain."Sir, are you alright?" my driver asked from the front seat.Marcus Jr, my uncle's nephew, has been driving me for three years now. "I'm fine," I said, even though I wasn't, "just give me a minute." "Did you get what you came for?" he asked. "Yes," I said, "Elena agreed to the contract." "Did she seem different to you?" he asked. I thought about Elena standing at that gate, hatred burning in her eyes. "She's hiding something," I said. "What makes you say that?" "Just a feeling," I rubbed my temples, Marcus Jr was quiet for a moment."You know, you really should look at that photo again," he said, "the one you took last week when you drove up here." My blood went cold. "I wasn't here last week," I said. "Yes, you were," Marcus Jr insisted, "Th
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