The Alpha's Contract Bride

After returning to the villa from the banquet, I called my friend from the Lunaria pack to explain my plans to leave the Lycus pack in three days.

Once the call ended, I looked at the wedding photo on the wall.

In the picture, I was wearing a beautiful wedding dress, smiling sweetly and happily. Standing next to me, Nick Grange wore a well-tailored suit, his features sharp and handsome. He looked nervous, clearly unsure how to handle such intimacy.

My fingertips gently brushed across his face in the photo as a suffocating ache settled in my chest.

"Zora is back, and the agreement is about to end. You must be really happy, huh?" I murmured.

The sound of the front door unlocking came from the entryway. I quickly withdrew my hand and walked toward the door.

"You're back," I greeted.

I took out Nick's slippers from the cabinet and was about to help him put them on.

But he grabbed my hand and said with a frown, "Didn't you come home early because you weren't feeling well? Why aren't you resting in the room? What are you doing out here?"

He took the slippers from my hand and put them on himself.

Then, he wrapped a rabbit-fur scarf around my neck before grumbling impatiently, "It's been snowing the past few days. Why aren't you dressed warmer? You'll get sick, and then you'll start whining again. You're such a pain."

I lowered my head as tears formed, stinging my eyes.

"My birthday banquet is in three days. Ask Wayne to get you a few warmer dresses. If you get sick again, my parents will scold me for not taking care of you," Nick ranted.

He took out his phone and texted his assistant, Wayne Garcia. Once that was done, he casually tossed his phone on the table and walked into the kitchen.

My mouth opened and closed a few times. I really wanted to ask about Zora, but I didn't have the courage to do so.

Just then, Nick's phone lit up on the table.

My eyes flitted to the screen, and I unintentionally glanced at it. I froze.

It was a message from Zora.

The text read, "Nick, thank you for the apartment. I wouldn't even know where to go tonight if not for you. I'm treating you to dinner tomorrow, and you're not allowed to say no!"

Even though I had prepared myself, my heart still throbbed with pain.

Three years ago, Zora had suddenly left the Lycus pack to chase her dreams. Nick, who had been her lover back then, was disappointed and heartbroken. Thus, he accepted the alliance marriage between the Lycus and Lunaria packs.

That marriage was something I had begged my parents to arrange for me.

When I was 18, I got lost in the misty forest during a playful excursion. It was Nick who led the patrol team to rescue me. He finally found me after searching all day and night.

The moment I saw him, my wolf danced with joy inside me. My heart skipped a beat. I knew then that Nick was my fated mate.

But he already had a lover. So I kept my feelings to myself until she left. Only then did I dare to stand by his side, under the guise of marriage.

The last three years had felt like a beautiful dream. But a dream built on lies was still a lie. Stolen happiness always came with a price.

As I was lost in my own sorrowful thoughts, a cup of warm water suddenly appeared in front of me.

Nick handed me the water, along with a fresh deer heart. When he saw me staring, he immediately put on a serious expression.

"I figured you're not feeling well because you're hungry," he said. "You never eat on time, and you're ridiculously picky. I honestly don't know how you even managed to grow."

I stared blankly at the deer heart, only then remembering how I'd casually mentioned this morning that I hadn't had one in a long time. I never expected him to actually find someone to hunt one down for me.

It was very hard not to fall for Nick when he did thoughtful little things like this.

He didn't love me, but he remembered all my preferences. He tended to think I was a hassle, but he still fulfilled all my needs.

Nick was perfect in every way. But the terrible truth was that no matter how good he was, he didn't belong to me.