My Wolf Chose Him

VESPERA

Kael Draven stood in the courtyard, staring up at me, something wild clawed at the inside of my chest, desperate to break free, while the strange scent wrapped around me like an invisible chain.

The man I was supposed to marry was the man my wolf had apparently decided was worth losing her mind over.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I whispered to myself.

“Miss?” Liora gripped my elbow. “You're frightening me.”

“I'm fine.” The lie came out too quickly.

My eyes still burned, below us, Kael said something to the guard beside him. The guard nodded and hurried towards the main entrance.

Then Kael looked up again, my wolf slammed against my ribs. Mine. I nearly stumbled backwards, absolutely not!

I was an assassin, not some lovesick Omega whose instincts had decided to make a billionaire Alpha her entire world. I had survived knives, bullets, interrogations, and men who smiled while ordering other people to die.

I was not about to lose a fight against my own wolf because a handsome man had walked into a courtyard. Especially not when I was supposed to marry him under a stolen identity.

“Liora,” I said through clenched teeth, “get me inside.”

She tugged at my arm. “Of course, miss, come on.”

I tried to follow her but my legs refused to cooperate. “Move,” I hissed at my body.

My wolf pushed forward again, and the railing groaned beneath my grip.

Liora stared at my hands. “Miss, you're going to break it!”

“Then stop staring and help me!”

She jumped, grabbed my other arm, and practically dragged me away from the balcony. The moment we crossed the doorway, the scent weakened, my knees buckled but Liora caught me before I hit the floor.

“Good heavens!” She lowered me onto a nearby chair. “Should I call the doctor?”

“No.”

“But your eyes were glowing, and you could barely stand.”

“I said no!” She recoiled, regret pricked me immediately. Liora had done nothing wrong. She was only trying to help. I forced myself to take a slow breath. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout.”

“Are you ill?” She was worried.

“No.” I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to calm the frantic beating beneath it. “I think the journey exhausted me.”

“That doesn't explain your eyes.”

“Liora, listen to me carefully, you must not tell anyone what happened outside.”

She blinked. “Not Madam Corvelle?”

“Especially not Madam Corvelle.” I had no idea how I would keep this secret. I barely understood what had happened.

But I knew that if anyone discovered the truth about my wolf, the questions would begin.

I had spent years hiding what I was capable of. My family had made certain that the world would never associate Vespera Vikin with the assassin known as Wraith.

Now I had a new identity to protect. Seraphine Bryt, the missing bride. I could not afford another secret to escape my control.

A knock sounded. “Miss Bryt?” a man's voice called from outside. “Master Draven requests your presence in the study.”

My palms went cold. “Tell him I'm resting.”

“He said now, miss.” The guard replied.

I stared at the door. “Did he say why?”

“No, miss.”

I rose carefully, if Kael had noticed anything, I needed to discover how much. “Stay here,” I told Liora.

She looked horrified. “But he asked for you.”

“And I'm going.” I opened the door and found a tall guard waiting in the corridor.

“This way, miss.”

I followed him through the mansion, keeping my expression neutral while my thoughts raced. We stopped before a pair of dark wooden doors.

The guard knocked once. “Enter,” Kael called.

I stepped inside. Kael stood behind a broad desk, his black shirt was still rolled to his elbows. A glass of water sat beside a stack of documents. He dismissed the guard with a glance, then turned his full attention towards me.

“Sit.”

“I prefer standing.”

“Then stand.” His eyes moved over my face.

I kept my hands relaxed at my sides, although every instinct screamed at me to get away from him, the scent was weaker in here, but it had not disappeared.

Kael tilted his head. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“No.”

“You looked rather pale on the balcony.” He pressed.

“You were watching me? It was one of my little fainting episodes.”

“You appeared unsteady. I wanted to make sure you weren't about to fall.” He replied quietly.

How thoughtful, and convenient. “I'm perfectly fine, Liora administered my drugs.”

“You were nervous,” he deduced.

“I'm about to marry a man I've known for less than a day. Forgive me for failing to look delighted.”

He leaned back against the desk. “You're not the only one entering an unfamiliar arrangement.”

“Somehow, I find that difficult to believe.” I looked away from him.

“Why?”

“Because you seem very comfortable telling everyone what to do.”

A faint smile touched his mouth. “Would you prefer a husband who couldn't make decisions?”

“I would prefer a husband who didn't treat me like an item on a shopping list.”

The smile disappeared and for a moment, neither of us spoke, then Kael pushed away from the desk. “Come here.”

Every muscle in my body tensed up. “Why?”

“Because I want to ask you something, and I'd rather not shout across the room.”

I took one cautious step forward and the scent strengthened. My wolf surged so violently that my vision blurred, so I stopped abruptly.

Kael noticed. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Why did you stop when I clearly asked you to come forward.”

I forced a tiny laugh. “Perhaps you're more intimidating than you think.”

“Perhaps you're hiding something.” The words struck me like a blade sliding between my ribs.

I raised my chin. “Everyone has something to hide, Mr. Draven.”

He squinted his eyes at me. “Kael, call me Kael.”

I stared at him, it was such a small request, but hearing his name in that low voice made the strange warmth spread through me again. My wolf whimpered and I wanted to slap myself.

“Kael,” I repeated, making the name sound as ordinary as possible.

He watched me closely. “Better.”

He moved around the desk and stopped several feet away.

“Tomorrow, there will be hundreds of people at the wedding. Reporters, business associates, politicians, and members of both families. Some will be looking for a reason to criticize this marriage.”

“I understand.”

“Do you? Because if you make a scene, they won't blame me. They'll blame you.”

Anger flared hot enough to push my fear aside. “Then perhaps you should stop speaking to me as though I'm an incompetent child.”

His brows rose. “You really don't know when to stop.”

“And you seem to enjoy telling me when to start.”

His gaze dropped to my mouth, my wolf went utterly still then he looked away.

“Tomorrow, stay close to me. If anyone asks a question you don't want to answer, let me handle it.”

“Are you planning to rescue me from ordinary conversation?”

“I'm planning to prevent you from saying something reckless.” He stared at me.

“Then we should both pray for a miracle.”

Kael returned to his desk and picked up a document. “You may go.”

I didn't need to be told twice, I turned towards the door.

“Seraphine.”

I froze. “Yes?”

He studied me for another long moment. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow changes everything.”

The irony nearly made me laugh, everything had already changed.

I left the study and hurried back to my room, resisting the urge to run. Liora was waiting exactly where I'd left her. The moment the door closed, she rushed towards me.

“What happened? Did he ask about your eyes?” She asked.

“No.”

“Did he ask why you looked ill?” She rubbed my back.

“Yes.” I nodded slightly.

Her face fell. “What did you tell him?”

“That I was cold.”

Liora stared at me. “You were glowing like a pair of lanterns, miss.”

“Thank you for reminding me.” I sighed deeply.

She pressed both hands to her mouth, then lowered them. “I'm sorry. I'm just frightened for you.”

“So am I.” The confession slipped out before I could stop it.

Then I sat on the edge of the bed and reached for the velvet pouch containing Seraphine's ring. I needed something ordinary to focus on, something that belonged to the woman I was pretending to be.

I drew the ring out and slipped it onto my finger. It fit perfectly. I stared at the silver band, then slowly curled my hand into a fist.

Tomorrow, I will walk down the aisle as Seraphine Bryt, I will marry Kael Draven, smile for the cameras, and keep every secret buried beneath the white wedding dress.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror one last time. Seraphine's face, Vespera's secrets and a wolf that had chosen the worst possible man to react to.

Tomorrow would be a performance. I could handle that, I had survived far worse than a wedding. But as I climbed into bed, one terrifying thought followed me into the darkness.

What if my wolf refused to let me pretend when I stood beside Kael at the altar?