Chapter 3

LUCIUS’ POV

The disapproving whispers in the hall are nothing compared to the roar of my wolf in my head the moment Violet chooses me. My wolf is ecstatic and beyond thrilled.

Foolish.

What the hell does Violet think she’s doing? Has she lost her mind?

As our eyes meet, her expression is tight, controlled, and confident. What is going on in her head? What game is she playing?

Two years ago, she made it clear that night she hates me and declared her undying love for Adrian. Worse… she said that once she’s crowned Luna, she’ll do everything to get back at me and even threatened to banish me like my mother.

My fingers curl in my lap. Why would she choose me as Alpha now? I steal a glance at Adrian and he looks furious, clearly not expecting this.

I rise to my feet. “I have no interest in being Alpha.”

Instantly, the hall erupts with murmurs and gasps. I catch the shock on most faces but mostly disgust and anger. They still hate me. They still see me as the son of a traitor.

But I don’t care what they think. I don’t care about their opinions. The only thing that matters is that I won’t lead this pack without burning it to the ground and in a way… they should be grateful.

Violet steps closer, her eyes glossy, and almost pleading. “Lucius, this is my decision, and the law of the pack—”

“The law of the pack doesn’t say I have to agree with you,” I cut in, fixing her with a hard glare. “I refuse to be your Alpha.”

“Is he rejecting her?” someone whispers.

“This has never happened.”

“Why wouldn’t she choose Adrian?”

That’s the question I’m dying to know myself. She’s been in love with him for as long as anyone can remember. So why… why the sudden change?

Mathias clears his throat. “A decision has to be made so the coronation can begin.” He turns to Violet. “You need to resolve this.”

Adrian rises, casting a glance at me first. “As the first son, I believe it is my right to become Alpha.” He adjusts his suit. “If my brother doesn’t respect the title, I will take it from him.”

My jaw tightens. Despite my earlier resolve to reject the title, anger flares through me.

Is he really trying to demand he should be made Alpha? On what grounds does he think it’s his right?

“Very well,” Elder Mathias begins. “In that case—”

“I accept the title.” My voice cuts through the hall as I shove my hands into my pockets.

Adrian whirls to me, his jaw ticking, and eyes flashing with barely contained rage. I ignore him and fix my attention on Violet, who looks just as shocked as the rest of the hall.

“She wants me to be Alpha, doesn’t she?” I say, lifting an eyebrow. “I accept.”

Despite the rising disagreement in the hall, Violet exhales, relief softening her features and happiness blooms across her face.

I chuckle quietly to myself. Let her not mistake this for forgiveness because I have no intention of being the Alpha she wants or the mate she now desires. Our marriage will be her punishment.

********************

What I despise most about coronation day is what comes after. The first night.

As a couple, I’m expected to mark Violet, claim her and spend our first night together. It’s absurd and impossible. In this arrangement, none of it will happen.

I’m sitting, and nursing a glass of wine, when the door opens and Violet walks in. She’s draped in a red robe, lingerie underneath, and her skin is flawless, her gray eyes holding me in place as if they’ve claimed me.

Those eyes, the same ones that almost made it impossible to reject her when I first learned we were mates, flash through my mind. I remember my feelings wavering, even just for a moment, until the disappointment I saw in her face, her unspoken hatred for my family, drowned every trace of desire.

Now, she stares back at me with appreciation, and maybe longing.

“She smells… so good,” my wolf growls in my head, pouring all his disgusting desire into me.

“Shut up,” I snap, forcing my gaze away from her to the glass in front of me.

Violet steps closer, but I don’t look at her.

“Lucius,” she says.

I finally turn, then gesture toward the wide room. “You can sleep on the bed. I’ll stay here.”

For a moment, I think she’ll turn and go to bed. She knows I won’t touch her tonight and I won’t mark her either. And frankly… I’m not in the mood to ask why she picked me or provide answers to why I accepted.

She stays where she is, her fingers clenched at her sides.

“Lucius, give me one year,” she says.

I arch a brow. “What?”

She draws in a breath. “I know you hate me and I know you have reasons. In the past, I was foolish and I made choices I’m not proud of.” She nods once, like she’s bracing herself. “But I know better now. I want to be your mate. I want your affection.”

Her words echo in my ears, and my eyes widen slightly.

Is this a joke? I almost laugh because it’s absurd. The woman who swore she’d never be my mate is now asking for my affection?

I study her face, searching for a hint of a scheme, a hidden agenda because Violet is smart. She’s never made a decision without a reason and I know that better than anyone. So what is her reason for this… ridiculous demand?

“What do you hope to achieve with this request?” I ask.

“We are mates,” she says, and the word tightens something in my chest. “Two years ago, we may have disagreed on that, but—”

“You’ve changed your mind,” I finish, and she nods.

“Give me one year to win your heart, Lucius,” she pleads. “Just one year. And if at the end I fail… I’ll step down as Luna and let you take another woman in my place.”

Now, this is interesting. Very interesting.

“And what exactly happens in this one year?” I ask.

“We do everything as mates,” she answers. “You treat me properly, we set our differences aside and act like a real couple.”

I rise to my feet, closing the distance between us and she tilts her head up to meet my gaze.

“Act like a real couple?” I scoff. “Is this your way of luring me into fathering a child?”

Her eyes widen. “No, that’s not my—”

“Let’s assume it isn’t,” I cut in. “We both know you don’t do anything without a reason, Violet.” My voice hardens. “So tell me. What is it?”

Her lips part, then press together before she finally speaks. “I’m in love with you.”

The words hit me like a slap and I take an unsteady step back, more startled than I care to admit. I never imagined hearing that from her, least of all like this, under these circumstances.

My heart slams against my ribs. My wolf howls loudly while I struggle to keep my expression neutral.

Violet steps closer as her eyes search mine.

“I want to win your heart,” she says. “Because I’m in love with you.”

“Stop,” I say, lifting a hand to put space between us. My pulse races. What the hell is this? Of all reasons… love?

Her expression falters, fragile in a way that makes me question a lot of things. I search her face, waiting to find the lie because a part of me insists this has to be a scheme.

But there’s nothing false in her eyes. They’re glossy, open, and filled with truth.

I clear my throat, forcing my composure back into place. If she’s truly doing this for love, then it makes everything worse. I cannot love her and I never will. This reckless attempt will only cost her title, her standing, and everything her family claims to cherish. The same family that once disgraced my mother. This is in my favor.

"One year goes by fast." I remind her.

"I know."

"After that, you'll step down as Luna."

"I understand." She says.

I step closer, close enough that she has no choice but to look up at me. “Those are your words, not mine. If you forget them, if you try to take them back after one year, you will regret it.”

Her breath catches.

“I’ll burn everything you stand on to the ground.”