CHAPTER 5

"Ava, be straight with me," Lisa’s voice crackled through the link. "Is another Great House backing us? This path cleared too easily."

"I have an ally in the shadows," I replied, glancing at the silent, powerful man steering the car. "I can't reveal his mark just yet. But the thought of Blake’s face as his empire cracks is enough to keep my wolf fed for a month."

Lisa assumed my birth pack had finally stepped in. She had no inkling that I was now the Luna of the Vale Hills Estate, bound to the most feared wolf in the territories.

"Are you planning to use this momentum to break your blood-oath with Turner Studios?" Connor asked later that evening. We were seated in a secluded alcove of a high-altitude lodge, the city lights twinkling below like distant embers.

"No," I said, tearing a piece of rustic bread with a sharp smile. "That would be too merciful. I’m going to dismantle them from the inside. I’m reclaiming my place on the Pacific Crown runways, and I’ll use Blake’s own resources to fuel my ascent."

"You speak from a place of cold fury," Connor noted, his dark eyes tracking my every move. "What if the fire fades? What if you stop hating him?"

"I don't turn back, Connor. When I commit my heart, it’s absolute. When I’m betrayed, I don't just leave—I eradicate."

I was still reeling from the fact that Blake hadn't even reached out to check if I was safe. Instead, he had tried to feed me to the vultures to protect his own skin. He would never get that chance again. Connor remained quiet, his interest in me clearly deepening. He knew I was sharp enough to be dangerous, and I knew I couldn't hide my scent from him, so I offered him total transparency.

"Between us, there is only the truth," Connor murmured. "I’ve secured the Celestial Suite at this lodge for the night. My estate is too cold for a wedding night."

My skin flushed a deep crimson, but I gave a firm nod. "Lead the way."

While Blake was busy howling into phones, trying to bribe the elders and manage Riley’s pregnancy scandal, I was being led into a chamber that took my breath away. It wasn't just a room; it was a sanctuary draped in white furs and scented with moon-lilies. Connor had arranged a wedding suite for a marriage of convenience. I felt a surge of genuine warmth for this "stranger."

"I’ll wash away the scent of the day first," Connor said, shedding his jacket. His frame was broader than I had imagined, all corded muscle and raw power. "Take this time to breathe. There is no pressure, Ava. If your wolf isn't ready for the bonding tonight, we wait. I won't claim a mate who isn't certain."

I watched him disappear into the steaming ensuite. He was a King, yet he was offering me a choice. The attraction I felt wasn't just physical; it was a pull of the soul. I made my decision. I shed my doubts, pushed open the door, and joined him in the heat of the water.

He turned, eyes widening in surprise as I embraced him, my clothes soaking through instantly. "I have no regrets about this bond," I whispered.

"Are you certain, Ava?" His voice was a low, seductive growl that vibrated in my chest.

"Beyond a doubt."

His restraint snapped. He pulled me flush against his chest, his lips crashing onto mine with a hunger that made my knees weak. As he skillfully unfastened my sodden dress, my senses ignited. I had never felt a fire like this. I traced the contours of his face, noting a small, dark mark on his earlobe and eyes so deep they felt like they could swallow my very spirit.

He carried me, wrapped in a heavy towel, to the bed of rose petals. But as our bodies finally sought to become one, a sharp, unexpected barrier stopped him. I gasped, a small cry of pain escaping me. Connor recoiled instantly, pulling the furs over us.

He had assumed, given my years in the industry and my history with Blake, that I was experienced. The truth was written in my scent now—a purity he hadn't expected.

"Why didn't you tell me you were unblemished?" he asked, his voice thick with a mix of guilt and wonder.

"I didn't know how to bring it up to a High Alpha," I breathed, huddled against the heat of his shoulder.

He rose, lifting me gently to carry me back to the warm water of the tub. He looked genuinely worried, which made me let out a soft laugh. "You're nothing like the cold tyrant the pack-tales describe."

"To the world, I am a beast with no mercy," he said, turning on the taps. "But you are my Luna. You are under my skin now. But heed this, Ava: a lie is a poison to me. If you ever betray our pack-bond, there is no path back."

I sat up, my nose brushing his. "What a coincidence. I hold my enemies to the same standard."

We didn't complete the physical act that night, but our spirits were irrevocably knotted.

The next morning, the sun was high over the mountains when I woke. The bed beside me was cool, but I found Connor in the living area, prowling through reports with a predatory focus.

"New garments are being delivered," he said without looking up. "We leave when you’ve found your feet."

Just then, my phone shrieked on the nightstand. The caller ID flashed: Blake Turner.

I looked at Connor, who arched a dark brow, a challenge in his eyes. "Do you want your Alpha to answer that, or shall you?"