3: Rumors of a Scheme

Chapter 3: Rumors of a Scheme

“Wait... you want me to marry the Alpha?” I asked, my legs trembling beneath me.

They told me I had a mate, but avoided giving details. I assumed it was something mystical, something where we’d recognize each other by fate or instinct. But how could they decide something so personal for me? I didn’t even know him. I never judged Lana for being obsessed with the Alpha, but… what did that have to do with me? Wasn’t he supposed to be hundreds of years old?

“Don’t worry. Samuel Kan is a smart, handsome man,” my mother said, her voice wavering, her eyes drifting away from mine. That only made me more suspicious. If he really was those things, why couldn’t she say it without flinching?

“Mom… did you offer me to him?”

“We’d never do such a thing!” she snapped quickly, too quickly.

“But somehow, out of nowhere, Samuel Kan just happened to be interested in one of us?”

“Are you sure it’s not Lana he wants?” I asked hopefully.

“He was clear—it’s not your sister.” My mother’s voice trembled. “And it all started during that—”

“Enough,” my father cut her off.

What were they hiding? Who was Samuel Kan? If he was truly a centuries-old wolf, as the whispers said, then he must be ancient—a relic in a powerful suit.

“Just think of it as your way of helping end a century-old war,” my mother said, her voice tinged with bitterness. “The Kan family might finally understand why we’ve protected witches and warlocks all these years. They accuse us, yet he harbors the goddesses of fate themselves. Those women only bring chaos.”

“But what does that have to do with me? Just let Lana marry him—she’s always wanted the Alpha!” I pleaded, panic rising in my throat.

Sixteen years old, and the weight of a kingdom was already strapped to my back. At least he’d agreed to wait two more years before claiming me. Two years to prepare. Two years to live. Because honestly, it felt like a death sentence.

I left the study in a daze. In the days that followed, I couldn’t stop thinking about the man by the lake... The one whose face I never fully saw. Maybe he was the only man I’d ever be able to touch. A ghost in the mist. Someone others had glimpsed too, but whose memory faded like a painting submerged in water.

And then the day came.

The day I’d be claimed by Samuel Kan.

I still didn’t understand how or when he ever saw me. Aren’t Alphas supposed to be with their fated mates? Why was he so interested in me?

I’d never even left the estate. I was confined to the gardens, the high walls always keeping the world out.

Yet for two years, gift boxes flooded my room—lavish packages sent from Samuel Kan himself, like a dutiful Alpha courting his bride. I never opened a single one. I stacked them against the walls like bricks of silence. In my mind, he became those boxes—unknown, untouched, unwanted.

“Maya, get dressed. We’re heading to the Kan estate. Your wedding will be magnificent,” my mother chirped cheerfully.

I looked around for Lana, wondering if—just maybe—we could switch places. But she barely even looked at me anymore.

I dressed in a long, simple gown and flats. At sixteen, I hadn’t changed much—thin, pale, frail, with long hair falling over my shoulders. I pinned a small gold flower to one side, trying to look... less breakable.

The dress I wore had been crafted by an important tailor, apparently. But how did he know my measurements?

Of course—my parents.

It didn’t matter how elegant it was. Fear gnawed at me. I was walking into the arms of an ancient Alpha.

We traveled together to his grand estate—a palace in its own right. A delegation of leaders awaited our arrival, eager for the union.

The mansion loomed, silent and magnificent. Only the staff and guards moved within its sprawling halls. Strangely, I was relieved I wouldn’t be locked in a single room—this place made my father’s estate look like a dollhouse. I had no idea the world was so big.

I wandered through the corridors while waiting for the makeup artists. The Kan mansion was a labyrinth of luxury—ancient tapestries, carved statues, and gold-drenched sunlight seeping through crystal windows. The air was rich with secrets.

That’s when I saw it—a massive door, carved with spirals and secrets.

It was ajar. I stepped closer. Inside, a stunning office bloomed before my eyes. And there—laughing, drinking wine—stood three men.

Triplets. Identical, Unreal.

Each was more beautiful than the last—flawless faces, dark suits hugging muscled frames, eyes full of knowing. They looked like gods in disguise.

The one nearest the door, with raven-black hair and deep brown eyes, swirled wine in his glass, completely at ease. The other two leaned close, chuckling, whispering something that sent a chill through me.

Three times the temptation. Three times the danger.

The office matched their presence—Victorian furniture, crimson velvet, rich woods, Persian rugs, and shelves overflowing with old, powerful books.

Their laughter echoed, threaded with secrets I didn’t understand. But one line, whispered with a smirk, burned into my mind:

“It’s all set. When he comes here, we’ll give him this... and finally ruin his precious image. He’s kept himself untouchable for too long. One drop of this, and he’s finished.”

He raised his hand, revealing a small vial filled with a glowing lavender liquid that shimmered under the dim office light.

"Would be better if he just dropped dead already," one of the triplets spat, his tone sharp and merciless.

"Let’s not forget—he has divine blood," the third brother said calmly. "Wolves from his lineage don’t die that easily. Odds are he’ll survive. That’s why ruining his image is the smarter move. If we play it right, we’ll end up leading."

I silently backed away from the slightly open door, my heart pounding in my chest. Nothing truly surprising was happening. Among powerful families, conspiracies and betrayals were routine. If I got involved, I’d only end up destroyed.

My mission was simple: follow through with the plan and marry the man I had never met—Samuel Kan, eldest son of Gael Kan.

Back in my room, I found a small army waiting for me—makeup artists, hair stylists, and seamstresses adjusting a gown I hadn’t even bothered to look at.

It was breathtaking. Lavish. A dress fit for a wedding straight out of a fantasy—one soaked in wealth and excess.

After nearly two hours of preparation, I was finally ready. Outside, a crowd had gathered, and I peeked through the window to watch them, hidden in the shadows.

Rumors were spreading: Samuel Kan hadn’t arrived yet. It was already night, minutes away from the ceremony—and no sign of him.

With every passing second, my anxiety grew sharper.

"He broke the deal! I want out! I’m not going to be the bride left standing at the altar!" I screamed the moment my parents entered the room. This was my moment to turn it into a scene, to escape this madness. I knew that the moment he laid a hand on me, I’d end up in a coma.

"Sweetheart, calm down," my mother said, trying to soothe me. But both my parents exchanged worried glances. I could feel it—he had backed out.

"I’m not getting married!" I shouted with all the strength in me, but my voice echoed into a void. My parents weren’t listening—they were blinded by their own ambitions.

I bolted for the door, but my father caught me with brute strength, dragging me back to the bed. The weight of the dress made it impossible to fight back. I was completely at his mercy.

"You’re not going anywhere! Even if he shows up tomorrow, you will wait!" he roared, his voice crackling with fury.

"I’m not a toy! Tell him I’m not going through with this!" I cried, hot tears streaking down my face. But then, for the first time, I felt the sting of my father’s hand against my cheek.

In that moment, reality hit me like lightning—I was just a bargaining chip. A tool in a deal that had nothing to do with me. They were handing me over without a second thought, despite the risks.

I pretended to give in. The moment they left the room, I took my only shot.

I ran to the window. It was my one chance at freedom. I scanned the vast garden—dark, quiet. All the guests must’ve gone inside, waiting for the almighty Kan.

But how would I get down? The mansion was tall, and I had no skills in climbing.

I climbed up onto the window ledge, eyes searching desperately for a solution. Then I saw it—a massive pine tree, towering beside my window. Its thick branches reached out like a lifeline.

With a deep breath, I jumped, praying I’d catch one of the branches. It was either that—or die.

I caught it. Somehow. My fingers clenched the bark, and I started to climb.

From high in the pine tree, I looked down at the sleeping mansion. No one would see me escape, hidden by the night and the lush leaves.

With one final push, I leapt from the lowest branch, landing softly on the damp grass.

I ran as fast as I could, bare feet pressing into the wet ground. A line of trees and bushes ahead would keep me hidden.

The mansion shrank behind me, every step pulling me farther from that golden prison, closer to the iron gates—and freedom.

But something stopped me.

Near a thick patch of trees and tangled bushes, I spotted something—someone. A man was lying on the ground.

The darkness hid his face, but his breathing was ragged, one hand clutching his chest.