Chapter 3

“Nyla!” my mother called from downstairs.

I stared at the ceiling for a moment before answering.

Ever since my parents told me about the Alpha’s decision, I had barely stepped outside my room. News traveled fast in a pack, and by now everyone probably knew I had been chosen to marry Dominic Varek.

The thought alone made my stomach twist.

My phone had also been buzzing nonstop with messages from an unknown number. Most of them were threats, some insults. I didn’t need to guess who was behind them.

Dominic’s girlfriend.

The same woman who had stormed into our driveway days ago.

Honestly, her messages meant nothing to me. If she really wanted to stop the marriage, she should be arguing with Dominic or the Alpha—not me.

I slowly pushed myself out of bed. I was still wearing the same loose sleep shirt and pants I had slept in.

It was already afternoon.

My eyes burned from days of crying, but strangely, I felt almost empty now.

Maybe I had simply run out of tears.

Caleb had been calling every night, trying to encourage me. He meant well, but hearing his voice only reminded me of what I could never have.

I had liked him for years.

And now fate had tied me to his brother instead.

I walked downstairs slowly.

The moment I reached the living room, I froze.

Two men were sitting on our couch.

My parents stood nearby looking nervous.

The first man was Alpha Aesop himself.

The second was Dominic.

My heart skipped.

Dominic Varek looked exactly like the rumors described—and somehow even worse.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and intimidating without even trying. His dark hair was slightly messy, and his sharp blue eyes were cold enough to freeze a room.

The fitted shirt he wore showed the powerful build beneath it. Tattoos disappeared beneath the sleeve on one arm.

Everything about him screamed danger.

For a brief second, I hated how attractive he looked.

“Good afternoon, Alpha,” I said, forcing myself to bow respectfully.

Then I glanced at Dominic.

“Mr. Varek.”

The Alpha smiled warmly.

“Nyla, it’s good to see you.”

I straightened and waited.

“Congratulations,” he continued. “Soon you’ll take on the role of Gamma. Your dedication during training has not gone unnoticed.”

I nodded politely.

“Thank you, Alpha.”

He then turned toward Dominic.

“Why don’t the two of you step outside and talk? The families still need to discuss the ceremony.”

Dominic stood immediately without saying anything.

He walked toward the front door as if he expected me to follow.

So I did.

We stepped onto the patio outside my house. Dominic sat on the wooden bench, staring down the quiet street.

I stayed standing.

After a few seconds, he spoke.

“Let’s make something clear from the start.”

His voice was deep and steady.

“This marriage means nothing to me.”

I crossed my arms.

“That makes two of us.”

His eyes flicked toward me.

“I’m only going along with this because my father insisted,” he continued. “But don’t misunderstand the situation.”

He leaned forward slightly.

“You will never be my real mate.”

The words should have hurt.

But strangely, they didn’t.

“Relax,” I replied calmly. “I’m not dreaming about a love story either.”

That seemed to surprise him.

“I didn’t ask for this arrangement,” I continued. “Your father made it very clear that refusing wasn’t an option.”

Dominic studied my face for a moment.

Then he laughed quietly.

“You expect me to believe that? My father doesn’t do charity work. Your family is benefiting from this somehow.”

Anger flared inside me.

“You think my parents sold me?”

“If the shoe fits.”

For a moment I almost slapped him.

Instead, I forced myself to stay calm.

“You’re wrong,” I said quietly.

He smirked.

“Everyone wants something from the Varek family.”

His arrogance was unbelievable.

“Well,” I said coldly, “at least I’ve earned my place in this pack.”

His eyes narrowed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I became a warrior because I worked for it,” I replied. “Not because I was born into the Alpha’s bloodline.”

The air between us turned tense.

Dominic’s expression hardened.

For a second I thought he might actually lose his temper.

Instead he exhaled slowly and leaned back again.

“You’ve got a sharp tongue.”

“You started it.”

Silence followed.

Finally Dominic spoke again.

“Since we’re stuck with this situation, we should set a few boundaries.”

I nodded slightly.

“Fair enough.”

“Publicly,” he said, “we’ll act like a proper couple. That’s what my father expects.”

“And privately?”

“Privately we stay out of each other’s business.”

That sounded perfect to me.

“I can live with that.”

He watched me carefully.

“There’s someone else in my life,” he added.

“I know,” I said flatly.

That caught him off guard.

“She already introduced herself.”

Dominic cursed quietly under his breath.

“I’ll handle that.”

“As long as she stops threatening me,” I replied.

He nodded once.

“That won’t happen again.”

Then he added something unexpected.

“And if you decide to see someone else… I don’t care.”

I blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“This marriage is political,” he said bluntly. “I’m not interested in controlling your personal life.”

I almost laughed.

“That’s generous of you.”

He shrugged.

“Just don’t cause problems for me.”

I shook my head.

“I’m not the one with a girlfriend.”

For the first time, Dominic looked slightly amused.

“Good point.”

After a moment he stood.

“Come on. If we stay out here too long, my father will think we’re actually getting along.”

We returned inside the house.

Alpha Aesop stood up when he saw us.

“Ah, there you are,” he said with a satisfied smile.

“I assume the two of you had a productive conversation.”

Dominic said nothing.

My father shook the Alpha’s hand respectfully.

“You’ve raised a remarkable daughter,” the Alpha said to him. “She has the strength and character this family needs.”

I forced a polite smile.

Then Dominic spoke suddenly.

“That’s not the real reason for this marriage, Father.”

The room went silent.

The Alpha’s expression darkened.

“Dominic—”

“Let’s not pretend,” he continued calmly.

His eyes moved toward my parents.

“This arrangement isn’t about pack strength.”

The tension in the room thickened.

“It’s about keeping certain people happy.”

The Alpha’s jaw tightened.

Dominic gave a small, humorless smile.

“My stepmother didn’t want Caleb choosing Nyla.”

My breath caught.

“So instead,” he finished quietly, “I was ordered to marry her.”

Silence fell across the room.

In that moment, everything finally made sense.

I had never truly been part of the plan.

I was simply the solution to someone else’s problem.