Chapter 2

“Tell me this is a joke.”

My voice trembled as the words left my mouth. Tears blurred my vision while I stared at my parents.

My mother shook her head slowly, tears already streaming down her face.

“I wish it was, Nyla,” she whispered.

My chest tightened painfully.

“Dominic Varek?” I repeated, my voice rising. “The Dominic Varek?”

The room felt like it was closing in around me.

Everyone in the Silvermoon territory knew who Dominic was.

He was the Alpha’s most feared warrior.

Cold. Ruthless. Violent.

Stories about him traveled through every pack like dark legends.

People said he had killed rogues with his bare hands.

People said he felt nothing.

And now the Alpha wanted me to marry him?

“This can’t be happening,” I said, standing up suddenly. “You can’t just let them do this!”

My father rubbed his face tiredly.

“You know how things work here, Nyla.”

“No,” I snapped. “I refuse to accept that.”

My wolf stirred angrily inside me.

“I’m not marrying Dominic Varek. I don’t even know him!”

My mother began crying harder.

“It wasn’t our decision,” she said softly. “The Alpha made it clear that this union is important for the pack.”

“Important?” I laughed bitterly.

“Yes,” my father replied quietly. “Dominic is strong… but difficult to control. The Alpha believes you can balance him.”

My anger exploded.

“You can’t tame someone like him!” I shouted. “Dominic is dangerous. Everyone knows that.”

Silence filled the room.

“Enough,” I said finally. “I’m leaving.”

Both of my parents froze.

“I’m serious,” I continued. “I’ll pack my things and go to the western territories. The Alpha can find someone else to marry his monster.”

My father stood up immediately.

“You can’t leave, Nyla.”

I turned to him sharply.

“Why not?”

His expression was filled with fear.

“If you refuse the Alpha’s order, he will cast our family out of the pack.”

My heart skipped.

“You know what happens to wolves without a pack,” he continued.

I did know.

Rogues.

Once a wolf lost their pack bond, their mind slowly broke apart.

Loneliness turned into madness.

Eventually they became feral.

My father’s voice shook.

“We wouldn’t survive it, Nyla. Please… you have to think about this.”

I looked at my mother helplessly.

“Do you know what you’re asking me to do?”

She nodded through her tears.

“Yes.”

My voice cracked.

“You’re asking me to marry the most dangerous man in the territory.”

Neither of them answered.

Because we all knew it was true.

Dominic Varek wasn’t just a warrior.

He was a weapon.

And now the Alpha had decided I belonged to him.

The next two weeks passed like a nightmare.

I avoided everyone.

I skipped training.

I ignored the pack gatherings.

Even Eric stopped trying to contact me after a few days.

Maybe he thought I needed space.

Maybe he simply didn’t care.

Either way, I was too exhausted to think about it.

One afternoon I sat alone on the front porch of our house, staring blankly at the road.

A black car suddenly pulled into our driveway.

I frowned.

Visitors were rare in our quiet area of the pack.

The car door opened, and a young woman stepped out.

She was beautiful.

Tall, elegant, with long dark hair and porcelain skin.

But the anger burning in her eyes ruined the beauty.

She walked straight toward me.

“Are you Nyla?”

Her voice was sharp.

I nodded slowly.

“Yes…”

Her expression twisted with fury.

“You gold-digging bitch.”

I blinked in shock.

“What?”

“What do you and your family have on the Alpha?” she demanded. “Do you have any idea how long Dominic and I have been together?”

My stomach dropped.

Oh.

So this was his girlfriend.

“We’ve been together for years,” she continued, tears forming in her eyes. “And suddenly the Alpha decides he’s marrying you?”

I was completely speechless.

I hadn’t even processed my own situation yet.

“How dare you try to take him from me?” she yelled.

That was when something inside me snapped.

“Watch it,” I warned coldly.

My wolf stirred beneath my skin.

“I don’t want Dominic,” I said bluntly.

Her shouting stopped instantly.

“I didn’t ask for this marriage,” I continued. “And if you want someone to blame, go talk to the Alpha.”

I crossed my arms.

“Better yet, tell Dominic to reject the union himself. Trust me, you’d be doing me a huge favor.”

She looked stunned for a moment.

Then her anger returned.

“You think this is funny?”

She stepped closer.

“I swear if you ruin our relationship—”

A low growl escaped my throat.

Her body froze.

“You should leave,” I said quietly.

“Right now.”

My eyes burned with warning.

“Because if you keep insulting me today… I might actually hurt you.”

For a moment we just stared at each other.

Then she scoffed and turned away.

“You’ll regret this,” she muttered before storming back to her car.

The vehicle sped out of the driveway.

I sank back into the chair with a tired sigh.

“Great.”

Now I had to deal with Dominic’s girlfriend too.

And the worst part?

Dominic himself hadn’t even bothered to come see me.

Which probably meant one thing.

He didn’t want this marriage either.

And somehow…

That made everything even worse.