1| Traces in Solaris Heights

LILIANA LENNOX

I slowly opened my eyes, though the morning felt far from welcoming. My body was heavy, but my mind refused to stay in the haze of sleep. I was still in shock, utterly drained after a long and tormenting night—a night that shattered my illusions of how foolish I’d been all along. The faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air, mixing with the masculine, overpowering aroma of Ethan’s cologne, making me shudder.

Fully awake, I slid out from under the blanket and grabbed my nightgown scattered on the floor. Careful not to make a sound, I walked to the ceiling-to-floor window, pulling back the curtains to reveal the glittering city lights below.

“Celestia,” I whispered to myself. “The city that never sleeps. Soon, the sun will rise. Maybe it’ll finally erase me in its light…”

Solaris Heights, the exclusive enclave of Celestia’s elite, had been my gilded cage for the past month. Hidden behind its towering iron gates, it held secrets the outside world could never penetrate.

“There’s nothing I can do, is there?” I muttered again, sighing heavily. “No point in hoping anymore. They’ve already decided to throw me away here.”

Though Celestia was the dazzling capital that fueled the world’s economy, I felt as if I’d been thrust into the deepest, coldest abyss.

A month ago, my parents—Alpha and Luna Lennox—offered me as collateral to the Darnell family, the leaders of the Blackland pack. It was all because of my brother Raymond, who, either deliberately or accidentally, had killed one of their betas—a crime that could never be forgiven.

I had hoped Raymond would own up to his mistake and take responsibility. I didn’t care if it meant a duel, his life, or even a war between packs. But that spineless, cursed brother of mine had run away, leaving me to pay for his sins. And now, here I was, condemned by my own parents.

“Damn you, Raymond!” I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white.

Somehow, my conniving stepmother, Alina Lennox, had managed to suppress the Blackland pack’s fury and strike a deal with the Darnells. But the deal they reached wasn’t justice—it was betrayal. Instead of Raymond, I was sent to the Darnells as restitution for the beta’s death.

Now, the Lennox family and Blackland pack were bound by marriage—an unholy alliance. I was forced to marry Ethan Darnell, their infamous Alpha. The man was rumored to be cruel, disfigured, crippled, and old—an angry, bitter relic of a man who had lost his wolf. Yet, despite his disabilities, he retained his grip on power with legendary ruthlessness and unimaginable wealth.

These horrifying whispers about Ethan had circulated everywhere, painting a vivid picture of a tyrant ruling with fear. But no one had actually seen him—not even me until last night.

My stepmother’s words echoed in my head: “Lili, you have to do this. It’s the only way to save us. One day, Raymond will repay your sacrifice.”

This marriage wasn’t my choice. It was a sacrifice forced upon me to save my family and my pack.

Behind me, the heavy rustle of blankets pulled me out of my thoughts. Ethan, my so-called husband, rose from the bed. Though we had been married for a month, I had only seen him for the first time last night. And I still trembled at the memory.

The image of an old, grumbling Alpha shattered the moment I met him. Instead, I was confronted with a man who exuded cold, brutal authority.

Cruel? Absolutely. My body bore the evidence of his cruelty after what he did to me last night.

Crippled? Yes, that part was true. He couldn’t walk unaided and relied on a wheelchair. His eyesight was nearly gone. But old and bitter? That was the biggest lie.

I knew there had been a grand celebration yesterday, but I didn’t expect Ethan to come to the villa—or worse, to find me trying to escape. I’d had enough of this unfair marriage and wanted to return home to demand my parents annul it. But just as I was about to leave, someone stood in the doorway.

Ethan entered the villa, pushed in his wheelchair by one of his betas. The dim lighting barely revealed his face. I took a step back, hoping to find another exit, but someone grabbed me from behind.

“You’re too late to run,” a gruff voice whispered, a blade pressed against my waist. I glanced back and realized it was a gamma from the Blackland pack.

“I-I just want to go home. Please…” I pleaded.

“Go back to your room and fulfill your duty!” the gamma snapped. “Your family sold you to our Alpha. There’s nowhere for you to return to. Do you understand?”

Helpless, I returned to the room. For an entire month, I had been locked in this villa with no way out.

“The Alpha is drunk enough. That should make things easier for you tonight. Give him what he wants—a heir!” the gamma barked before shoving me into the dimly lit bedroom.

“What am I supposed to do?” I whispered, trembling.

“Anything the Alpha wants!” he hissed before slamming the door behind me.

In the dimly lit room, I felt suffocated as I saw Ethan lying in the massive bed.

“Come here and take off my clothes,” he ordered in a voice that dripped with authority and intimidation.

I hesitated, my steps faltering in the darkness. I could barely make out his face, but the tension in the room was suffocating. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand, yanking me forward until I fell onto his chest.

“What’s wrong? Are you disgusted by a crippled man?” he sneered, his voice tinged with bitterness.

“N-no, Alpha. I’ll serve you!” I stammered, my words spilling out before I could stop them.

I was grateful for the dim lighting, shielding my face from revealing the turmoil within. With trembling hands, I stripped Ethan Darnell. He lay immobile on the bed, but his hands were anything but weak. He moved quickly, stripping me and pulling me onto his body. The sudden contact made my skin flush.

“Do it quickly,” he ordered.

Ethan’s heavy breaths filled the air as he gripped my small waist tightly, rendering me completely helpless. He pressed my body against his, and at that moment, I realized something terrifying—Ethan Darnell was nothing like the weak old man everyone had described.

My face flushed slightly as the madness of last night replayed in my mind. Oh, God… after a month of mystery, I finally knew. A body carved with muscle, raw masculinity that could make me faint, and an unbridled hunger. He was... rough, and at the same time, intoxicatingly addictive!