The lawyer kept talking, but I couldnāt focus, my heartbeat was too loud in my ears.Ten million dollars.Thatās what they were offering me to marry a total stranger. For just one year. No love, no emotions, and no say in the matter.I looked at the thick envelope on the table, my fingers shaking as I reached for it. Fear and desperation twisted in my chest. I didnāt know anything about Carlos Clark, except that he was rich, powerful, and cold enough to solve problems with money.Now, it seemed I was one of those problems."Miss Dominic," the lawyer said, fixing his tie neatly, "Mr. Clark wants your answer within an hour. If you say no, the offer is gone for good."Say no? I wished I could.But the debt collectors had already shown up at our door twice. My fatherās bad choices had left us drowning, and those men didnāt accept late payments. They wanted their money or someone to pay in blood.I didnāt even get to say goodbye to the old me, because she disappeared the moment I signed tha
The mansion was too quiet.Every room was spotless, cold, and way too big. After breakfast the next morning, I walked through the halls not sure if I was exploring or just trying to feel normal again. Anything to remind myself I was still human, not just a kept pet in a strangerās house.Lily had told me not to wander too far and Carlos said not to leave the house.But no one said I couldnāt walk around inside.Sunlight poured through the tall windows, casting long shadows on the marble floor. I passed rows of bookshelves filled with thick, old books I couldnāt understand, paintings of serious-looking people, and a bunch of closed, some locked doors.One door at the end of a narrow hallway caught my attention. It was made of dark wood, covered in strange carvings I didnāt recognize. Unlike the others, it felt⦠different. Though It was locked, still, I tried the handle but it didnāt move.Then a voice behind me made me jump.āYou shouldnāt be here.āI quickly turned around. Carlos was s
The next morning, Lily came into my room carrying a dress that shimmered so beautifully. It was silver, thin, and sleeveless, with threads that glowed faintly under the sun. When I touched the fabric, it felt cold against my skin.āYouāll wear this tonight,ā she said, placing it on the bed. āFor the full moon ceremony.āI frowned. āWhat exactly is the ceremony?āLily hesitated. āItās the night your bond is shown to the pack. The Alpha introduces his mate under the moon. They must accept you⦠or not.āāOr not?ā I repeated, alarmed.She looked away. āThe pack is loyal to Carlos, but theyāre wolves. If they sense weakness or if they think you donāt belong here, it wonāt be easy.āI didnāt ask what ānot easyā meant. I already had a bad feeling in my chest.***Carlos didnāt say a word to me all day. He was busy getting ready with his Beta, someone I hadnāt seen yet. Still, I could feel when he was nearby. It was strange, but the collar on my neck would get warm whenever he was close, almos
I couldnāt sleep after what Carlos said.āWhat scares me is what youāll become⦠once the bond is complete.āWhat did he mean by that? I didnāt feel powerful or scary. I just felt confused, unsure of who I was and who I was turning into.The night was cool, but it didnāt calm the heat burning inside me. I stepped out onto the balcony outside my room. The sky was clear, stars twinkling softly. The moon was nearly full, and its light felt like a gentle touch on my skin.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, then I sensed Carlos' presence.His scent reached me like pine trees and smoke, deep and familiar. My body tensed right before he spoke from behind me.āYou shouldnāt be out here.āI turned around and saw him at the door. He was wearing dark clothes, and his hair was messy like heād just come from a run or a fight.āI couldnāt sleep,ā I said. āItās like youāre always with me, even when youāre not here.āHe came closer, his eyes meeting mine. āThatās the bond. Itās starting to awaken
The fire in the sitting room crackled quietly, casting soft light on the walls. I sat curled up in a big leather chair with a blanket around me, but I still felt cold inside.Everything felt different after the gathering in the forest.Carlos didnāt say much on the way back. He seemed distant again, like he was holding something in.Like a storm waiting to happen.I kept hearing the elderās words in my head.āYou carry old blood. The moon recognizes you.āWhat did that mean?I didnāt feel powerful. I still felt like me, human, scared, and confused by this world I never asked to be part of.I got up and walked to the window. The moon was lower now, its light shining through the trees, while my chest felt tight again like something inside me was reaching for it.The door opened behind me. I didnāt need to turn around. I knew it was Carlos.His steps were slow and steady. When he stopped next to me, I could feel his warmth even through the blanket.āāI heard you didnāt eat dinner,ā Carlos
The sun was starting to go down, shining a soft golden light over the open space. I sat on the stone bench where Carlos had left me. His silver ring still felt cold on my finger. Everything around me was quiet, too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you feel like someoneās watching you.I told myself not to panic.Carlos hadnāt been gone long, but it already felt like forever.I stared at the trees, hoping heād come back any second. Every little sound made my heart beat faster.Then I heard a stick break somewhere nearby.So I jumped to my feet. āCarlos?āNo reply.I slowly turned around, my body tense. That warm, electric feeling I had earlier was gone. I was completely alone and vulnerable.Then I saw a tall man standing at the edge of the woods, wearing dark clothes. His eyes had a faint amber glow in the fading light.He wasnāt Carlos.And he definitely wasnāt human.āWho are you?ā I asked, stepping back.The man tilted his head and gave a small smile.āSo itās true. The Alpha has
I couldnāt sleep that night.I just lay in bed, staring at the note on my table.āThey will come when the moon is full. Do not trust the council. Watch your back, Luna.āLuna?Someone out there knew who I really was. They knew I wasnāt just Carlosās wife through a contract. They believed I had a real purpose⦠a title perhaps. But who were they? And why warn me about the council?As the moonlight shone through the window, the air around me started to feel different. I felt a strange energy, like tiny sparks running over my skin. The full moon was rising, and I could feel something waking up inside me.I put on a robe and walked quietly down the hall to Carlosās study. I needed answers. I was done with secrets.The door was slightly open, and I found Carlos near the fireplace, his shirt partly unbuttoned. When he saw me, he turned quickly.āYou should be resting.āI stepped inside and held out the note. āThis was on my bedside table.āHe took it, read it, and his jaw tightened. āWho gave
The moon hung high above the mansion, covering everything in a soft silver light. Every shadow looked like it was moving. Every small breeze felt like a warning.Carlos and I moved quietly through the hallways. My heart was pounding like a drum. I held the small blade he gave me tightly, even though my hands were shaking.We walked past two of his guards, they were in wolf form, tense, pacing near the back door.āNo signs of anyone yet,ā one of them said.Carlos nodded but didnāt stop. āTheyāre not coming for the guards. Theyāre coming for her.āI felt a chill. āWhy me? What do they want?āCarlos didnāt answer.He walked to a tall bookshelf, pushed it aside, and revealed a hidden door. Behind it was a narrow staircase I hadnāt seen before. As we walked down, the air got colder. It smelled like earth, ashes, and old herbs.At the bottom, there was a big metal door. Carlos took a key from a chain around his neck and unlocked it.āThis room used to belong to the Moon Priestess,ā he said,
The tension in the room was heavy as Carlos stared at the dagger in the guardās hand. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were full of anger. I didnāt fully understand what was happening, but I could tell this wasnāt just a simple threat and it was something much more serious.Carlos spoke in a cold voice. āWhere did you find this?āThe guard hesitated, looking nervous. āIn the woods, near the border of our land. Someone left it for us to find.āCarlosās eyes narrowed, filled with both anger and thought. The Bloodmoon Clan wasnāt just any pack; they were old, ruthless, and tied to the darkest parts of werewolf history. If they were involved, it meant big trouble.āGet rid of it right away,ā Carlos ordered sharply. āI donāt want it near me or anyone here.āThe guard nodded and left quickly.Carlos didnāt move. He stood still, staring at the door, deep in thought. I could feel his unease. He was worried and already thinking about how to protect us. He wasnāt going to let whatever was coming
The next morning, the air was thick with tension. Everything that happened last night felt like a storm had passed, leaving only a strange silence behind. I still felt the power inside me, like it was now a part of me that I couldnāt ignore.Carlos hadnāt said much to me since our moment on the balcony. He seemed distant, lost in his own thoughts. I couldnāt tell if it was fear, worry, or something else, but I could see it in his eyes.The morning was cool, with a pale gray sky as I stood by the window. I couldnāt shake the feeling that something was coming. It wasnāt just the rogue wolves from last night, but there was something bigger at play.I sighed, trying to push away the nerves. The room was silent, too silent, until I heard the soft click of the door behind me.Carlos.I turned and saw him standing in the doorway, his posture stiff, almost like he was waiting for me to let him in.āYouāre awake,ā he said, his voice flat.āI didnāt sleep much,ā I admitted. āIām still⦠not used
Carlos had just left the room when I suddenly felt something shift inside me. Not the floor but me. Like something was waking up under my skin. My body tingles and my senses become sharper.I wasnāt just feeling things. I was sensing them.I turned to the window with the feeling that someone was watching me. I could feel it.Carlos said the mansion was safe and guarded, but my instincts told me otherwise.I rushed to the door and found a young guard standing there. His eyes looked tired and unfocused.āDid you feel that?ā I asked.He looked confused. āFeel what, maāam?āāSomeoneās out there. Watching.āHe shook his head. He didnāt feel it like I did.I didnāt wait. I grabbed a coat and ran down the stairs, my heart racing. I rushed through the hallway and out the back door into the garden.I scanned the trees and a tall figure in a hood stood at the edge of the forest, just outside the mansionās protected area.They didnāt move, they just watched me.I stepped forward, hands clenched.
The moon hung high above the mansion, covering everything in a soft silver light. Every shadow looked like it was moving. Every small breeze felt like a warning.Carlos and I moved quietly through the hallways. My heart was pounding like a drum. I held the small blade he gave me tightly, even though my hands were shaking.We walked past two of his guards, they were in wolf form, tense, pacing near the back door.āNo signs of anyone yet,ā one of them said.Carlos nodded but didnāt stop. āTheyāre not coming for the guards. Theyāre coming for her.āI felt a chill. āWhy me? What do they want?āCarlos didnāt answer.He walked to a tall bookshelf, pushed it aside, and revealed a hidden door. Behind it was a narrow staircase I hadnāt seen before. As we walked down, the air got colder. It smelled like earth, ashes, and old herbs.At the bottom, there was a big metal door. Carlos took a key from a chain around his neck and unlocked it.āThis room used to belong to the Moon Priestess,ā he said,
I couldnāt sleep that night.I just lay in bed, staring at the note on my table.āThey will come when the moon is full. Do not trust the council. Watch your back, Luna.āLuna?Someone out there knew who I really was. They knew I wasnāt just Carlosās wife through a contract. They believed I had a real purpose⦠a title perhaps. But who were they? And why warn me about the council?As the moonlight shone through the window, the air around me started to feel different. I felt a strange energy, like tiny sparks running over my skin. The full moon was rising, and I could feel something waking up inside me.I put on a robe and walked quietly down the hall to Carlosās study. I needed answers. I was done with secrets.The door was slightly open, and I found Carlos near the fireplace, his shirt partly unbuttoned. When he saw me, he turned quickly.āYou should be resting.āI stepped inside and held out the note. āThis was on my bedside table.āHe took it, read it, and his jaw tightened. āWho gave
The sun was starting to go down, shining a soft golden light over the open space. I sat on the stone bench where Carlos had left me. His silver ring still felt cold on my finger. Everything around me was quiet, too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you feel like someoneās watching you.I told myself not to panic.Carlos hadnāt been gone long, but it already felt like forever.I stared at the trees, hoping heād come back any second. Every little sound made my heart beat faster.Then I heard a stick break somewhere nearby.So I jumped to my feet. āCarlos?āNo reply.I slowly turned around, my body tense. That warm, electric feeling I had earlier was gone. I was completely alone and vulnerable.Then I saw a tall man standing at the edge of the woods, wearing dark clothes. His eyes had a faint amber glow in the fading light.He wasnāt Carlos.And he definitely wasnāt human.āWho are you?ā I asked, stepping back.The man tilted his head and gave a small smile.āSo itās true. The Alpha has
The fire in the sitting room crackled quietly, casting soft light on the walls. I sat curled up in a big leather chair with a blanket around me, but I still felt cold inside.Everything felt different after the gathering in the forest.Carlos didnāt say much on the way back. He seemed distant again, like he was holding something in.Like a storm waiting to happen.I kept hearing the elderās words in my head.āYou carry old blood. The moon recognizes you.āWhat did that mean?I didnāt feel powerful. I still felt like me, human, scared, and confused by this world I never asked to be part of.I got up and walked to the window. The moon was lower now, its light shining through the trees, while my chest felt tight again like something inside me was reaching for it.The door opened behind me. I didnāt need to turn around. I knew it was Carlos.His steps were slow and steady. When he stopped next to me, I could feel his warmth even through the blanket.āāI heard you didnāt eat dinner,ā Carlos
I couldnāt sleep after what Carlos said.āWhat scares me is what youāll become⦠once the bond is complete.āWhat did he mean by that? I didnāt feel powerful or scary. I just felt confused, unsure of who I was and who I was turning into.The night was cool, but it didnāt calm the heat burning inside me. I stepped out onto the balcony outside my room. The sky was clear, stars twinkling softly. The moon was nearly full, and its light felt like a gentle touch on my skin.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, then I sensed Carlos' presence.His scent reached me like pine trees and smoke, deep and familiar. My body tensed right before he spoke from behind me.āYou shouldnāt be out here.āI turned around and saw him at the door. He was wearing dark clothes, and his hair was messy like heād just come from a run or a fight.āI couldnāt sleep,ā I said. āItās like youāre always with me, even when youāre not here.āHe came closer, his eyes meeting mine. āThatās the bond. Itās starting to awaken
The next morning, Lily came into my room carrying a dress that shimmered so beautifully. It was silver, thin, and sleeveless, with threads that glowed faintly under the sun. When I touched the fabric, it felt cold against my skin.āYouāll wear this tonight,ā she said, placing it on the bed. āFor the full moon ceremony.āI frowned. āWhat exactly is the ceremony?āLily hesitated. āItās the night your bond is shown to the pack. The Alpha introduces his mate under the moon. They must accept you⦠or not.āāOr not?ā I repeated, alarmed.She looked away. āThe pack is loyal to Carlos, but theyāre wolves. If they sense weakness or if they think you donāt belong here, it wonāt be easy.āI didnāt ask what ānot easyā meant. I already had a bad feeling in my chest.***Carlos didnāt say a word to me all day. He was busy getting ready with his Beta, someone I hadnāt seen yet. Still, I could feel when he was nearby. It was strange, but the collar on my neck would get warm whenever he was close, almos