Chapter 2

BRAUN

"So you're absolutely certain about this?" Ezekiel asked again. He'd been my father's lawyer before mine and sometimes he still treated me like I was fifteen.

His eyes scanned me as if I wasn't the braun he knew. The 30 minutes drive to get here just for this bemused him as he even had to take a seat and scoff unbelievably.

Here I was, in his office, sitting down and staring at the contract across his desk. There were thoughts lingering in head but her face...her smile and those eyes that were the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen, I want to keep her, own her and my heart, I don't know, it beats more than expected.

Maybe I'm sick.

"Yes." I leaned back in my chair. "I want the contract dissolved. I want to marry her for real, she's more than a contract wife to me now." I looked up at him, my eyes twinkling. "I like her."

"Like?" He questioned raising a brow at me as I can tell he was stifling a laughter. I nodded as my gaze lingers around his face.

"Why?"

"She's an interesting puzzle that I want to keep" I reported, more to myself than to this man opposite me.

He scoffed again and this time around, I could see him making a note on his legal pad.

"And you've thought about how you're going to explain this to Solana?"

My face lights up when he calls her name, a tingle rushes inside me and my wolf lets out a low growl like he was fed up with the interview from Ezekiel.

"I've already planned a surprise engagement party. Then I would tell her everything" I announced as my stomach twitches and I slowly began to drum my fingers on the desk, nervous.

"She might not take it well. Women can be unpredictable about these things." He mutters in a serious tone but that didn't change my look or mind.

I want her.

I knew how much Solana loved me. She didn't have to tell me. Her actions towards me was always one borne out of pure love.

"Just draw up the papers," I told Ezekiel to round up. "I'll handle Solana." I concluded with no doubts that I could finally have someone dear to my heart.

He nods and gave me a slight bow before leaving but when he got to the door, he suddenly said;

"Think over it, you don't own people just because you find them interesting, it has to be intentional and mutual"

His words sounded like a wake up call to me as I turned to look at him.

My heart suddenly sank as I froze where I sat. It felt as though he still doesn't believe me, possibly because relationships weren't my thing.

I don't just find her interesting, I think I've been denying it by pushing her away but now, I realized that it's what they call...

The door slammed at my face jerking me back to reality as he didn't even wait for my response. My eyes stared at the door as the thought of my father lurks in my head.

He was dying in a hospital bed when he made me promise to look after the Brace family, especially Solana, after her parents died. Somehow, he knew that Victor Brace was an evil man.

I kept my promise. When Victor came to me with the contract marriage proposal, I saw it for what it was. A way for Victor to secure money while making himself look generous. But I also saw the desperation in Solana's eyes when she agreed to marry me and the weight of responsibility crushing her.

I didn't expect to hate her.

She moved into the estate and I avoided her. I knew that she looked at me with longing but I didn't just want anything to do with her.

Until the Harvest Moon ceremony. A feeling that I'd want to deny.

The truth was I looked across the fire and saw Solana standing alone and something in my chest cracked open.

I thought about how lonely she must be, living in my house and married to a man who couldn't stand to be in the same room as her. 

Pushing her away to bury the gripping sensation was all I could think of but then, not when my wolf wants her. I still have the scars he left on me for pushing her away and now I'm granting his desire.

Now I've bought a ring and I was ready to marry her for real.

After a few hours spent here with no purpose but to summon Ezekiel, I decided to drive home.

I pulled through the gates and parked in front of the house and once I got out, I purposely stood outside, facing the balcony.

Her beautiful face was the first thing I always see when I arrive, like she's waiting for me all day to return. However, I wasn't seeing that. Perhaps, work.

I kissed my teeth, somehow disappointed as took the stairs, three a time that I didn't even mind if i'd fall just to see her. To be sincere, I'm nervous and stupid to meet her and propose.

Perhaps, I should just write the proposal in a paper and drop it on her door. Or I could just send a servant to deliver the lines while she comes to meet me.

But no, my legs were already betraying me as I was heading to her room at the end of the hall.

I'd put her there deliberately when she first moved in so that she'll be as far from my own room as possible. Another mistake on a long list of mistakes I needed to fix.

Will she accept? That's another doubt not with the awkward life we've lived for two years. Well If she rejects me, the least I could do is threaten her until she says yes.

I knocked on her door. "Solana? Are you in there?"

No answer.

I blew out air from my lips, my fingers shook like I was in some kind of difficult challenge. Even the suit on me felt tight and I was sweating.

I knocked again. "We're both going out tonight. I got a dress for you. You would look really beautiful in it." I pressed on as I pressed my palms on my chest, trying to steady my heart beat.

"It's just a proposal, not a war" my wolf grumbles, his voice echoing in my head as his tone sounded like one humiliated by my action.

"It's the first time trying it" I complained, wiping off the sweat on my forehead.

The quiet silence at the other end scared me.

"See this as another business proposal" he fussed, suddenly licking his pawn and pulling a frown.

Ignoring him, I tried the door handle and it was unlocked.

Really? Raka my wolf shot his head as we both looked startled like we were breaking in. I had intended to lock the door back, just so I don't get her annoyed.

"Isn't this infringement on someone's privacy..."

"Fucking get inside!" My wolf roared, causing an electrifying pull and I stumbled inside.

The room was empty. It was not just empty like she'd stepped out for a moment, it was bare like she'd left. Her closet door hung open and I could see gaps where clothes used to hang. The dresser drawers were pulled out and bare. The bathroom counter had none of her toiletries.

My heart stopped beating, and the blood on my face dried up.

"Solana?" I called out louder this time. I walked through the room checking everywhere; under the bed, in the bathroom and behind the curtains like she might be hiding somewhere playing some kind of game.

But I knew she wasn't there yet. I don't want to trust it. It's not true right?

Raka looked depressed already as he was howling inside of me, wanting to take control, wanting to start a race, to find her, to trace her through her scent.

I pulled out my phone from my coat and called my mother. She answered on the second ring.

"Braun? Is everything alright?" Her anxious voice muffled through the phone.

"Where's Solana?" I yelled at her, without a second thought, because it felt good to redirect this frustration building up in my chest.

"What do you mean? She should be in her room. I saw her about a few hours ago."

"She's not here. Her things are gone." I countered pacing to and fro, restless and trying to breath.

There was a pause. "Gone? What do you mean gone?" Her voice deepens now and I bet it's worrying.

"I mean her clothes are missing. Everything. When did you last see her?"

"Around three this afternoon. I saw her outside your room door. I thought she went in to speak to you." My mother's voice got quieter. "Braun, what's happening?"

I hung up without answering and dialed the house phone. One of the staff picked up immediately.

"This is Alpha Julie. I need everyone in the main hall right now."