C1

“Rapha, remember what I told you before my spirit joined the ancestors. Until your twentieth winter, never reveal your true form, your power, or your scent.”

Rapha Okoye repeated his mother’s dying words like a prayer as he stood in the Hidden Chamber. For fifteen years, he had lived as a broken, scentless omega—hiding in the shadows of the Mensah pack house just to survive. Today, the twin moons marked his twentieth winter. The curse of his hidden years ended now.

He was ready to let the Okoye bloodline roar.

Hot water filled the stone basin as he reached for the special ash mixture to scrub away the foul grease masking his silver fur. He unbuttoned his torn shirt—then a heavy fist slammed against the door.

Rapha threw on a coarse dark robe and yanked the door open.

Nia Bello, the pack maid, stood there with her snout wrinkled in disgust. “Rapha, what are you sneaking around for? This is Beta Vivian’s binding ceremony. If you don’t show your face, the visiting packs will think the Mensah Clan breeds disobedient omegas. Move your useless paws to the Alpha Hall. Now!”

Rapha’s jaw clenched. This beta had treated him like filth since his mother’s death. His stepbrother Vivian, the scheming Luna Kiara, and her illegitimate son Amara had stolen his birthright. Even his own father, Alpha Tade Mensah, treated him worse than a rogue.

“I’ll change my garments,” Rapha said calmly, masking the fire in his chest.

Nia scoffed. “Why bother? Your sickly frame ruins even the finest silk. Hurry! The Adebayo Dominion arrived at dawn. The elders are binding Seth Adebayo to Amara. Luna Kiara wants every wolf there to witness our new glory.”

Rapha’s lips curved into a razor-sharp smile.

The Adebayo Dominion ruled Valoria Ridge’s underworld with blood and iron—shipping docks, black markets, hidden valleys. Seth Adebayo, the ruthless heir, was a tactical genius. This alliance was everything for the crumbling Mensah Clan.

Luna Kiara wanted him there to gloat. But the real game had just begun.

Rapha entered the opulent Alpha Hall in a plain tunic and frayed jeans, ash covering his face like a dying rogue. He shattered the elegant mafia gathering like a crack in flawless marble.

Luna Kiara’s fake smile faltered when she saw him. “Rapha, I sent a custom suit to your quarters. Why are you dressed like a scavenger?”

He ignored her completely, nodding respectfully to the old warlord. “Greetings, Elder Jabari.”

Elder Jabari boomed with laughter. “Bold spirit, young Okoye, dressing like a rogue at a formal binding.”

Rapha’s gaze shifted to the massive shadow beside Jabari. Crushing alpha aura hit him like a storm. Tall, broad-shouldered, molten amber eyes—Seth Adebayo looked like a god of war carved from darkness.

A violent jolt ran through Rapha’s veins.

“Look at this creature,” Nia sneered loudly. “An ugly, talentless omega daring to lay eyes on Amara’s future mate. What a joke.”

Amara wrapped himself possessively around Seth’s shoulder. “Let it go, Nia. It’s natural for lower wolves to stare at what they can never have.”

Alpha Tade snarled. “You’re an embarrassment to my bloodline. Get out before I throw you to the border patrols!”

Instead of fleeing, Rapha dragged a heavy iron chair across the floor and sat directly opposite Seth with pure defiance.

Seth remained motionless, expression cold as tundra.

Elder Jabari cleared his throat. “Let us finalize the documents.”

The officials opened their encrypted laptops. The lead official suddenly froze, face draining of color. “Elder Jabari… Mr. Adebayo… the system blocks the binding. Seth is already legally and spiritually married. His listed mate is… Rapha Okoye.”

Shocked growls erupted across the hall.

Married?

Rapha’s heart slammed against his ribs. Heat flooded his body. He had no memory of this.

Luna Kiara shot to her feet, claws extended. “Explain this madness!”

“This is a glitch!” Tade roared.

Amara’s perfect mask cracked. Blood dripped from his palms as he dug his nails in. “Someone sabotaged our sacred union!”

The official turned the laptop. There it was in glowing text: Seth Adebayo and Rapha Okoye, legally bound. Dated two years ago in Podgend territory.

The room descended into chaos.

Kiara screamed, “This is fraud! Dissolve the fake bond so Seth can claim Amara!”

“A pack bond cannot be discarded so easily,” Elder Jabari rumbled with ancient authority. “The Adebayo Dominion follows the old laws. An alpha takes a new mate only if the first has crossed into the veil of death. Today, Rapha stands beside Seth.”

“No!” Amara lunged across the table, fangs bared. “He belongs to me! I’ll rip your throat out, you gutter rat!”

Rapha slid smoothly behind Seth’s massive frame, using the alpha like an unbreakable shield. He peeked out with a teasing smile. “Control your beast, Amara. Where did those refined manners go?”

Amara froze mid-strike, reputation crumbling.

The entire council turned to Seth.

Seth slowly glanced over his shoulder at Rapha—who was still lightly gripping his tailored jacket—then faced the room. His deep, terrifyingly calm voice sliced through the noise:

“As future leader of the Adebayo Dominion, I honor the ancient traditions. I will not break the laws that built our empire.”

The declaration landed like a bomb.

Kiara and Amara went deathly pale. Tade looked ready to collapse.

Elder Jabari exhaled heavily. “Our original treaty never specified which of Tade’s bloodline would bind to my heir. The registry has spoken. The contract is fulfilled.”

Tade swallowed his rage and gave a stiff nod. Challenging the Adebayo Dominion meant annihilation.

Rapha stepped out from behind his new alpha, ash-covered face gleaming under the torchlight. He walked forward without fear, ready to claim the place that was always meant to be his.

But as Seth’s molten amber eyes locked onto him with unreadable intensity, Rapha felt the real storm beginning.

This bond—fake or not—had just become his deadliest weapon… and his greatest danger.