Alpha Adrian’s POVThe moment I stepped into the council hall, I knew something was wrong.The air was thick with tension.The entire council was present, plus some noblemen were seated in their usual spots, their faces grim and unreadable. But the person who made my stomach tighten in unease was the man positioned in the entrance of the room—Alpha Brandon, my father-in-law to be that showed up without notice.He smiled at me and said it was time we spoke but I brushed him off. I had bigger issues waiting inside the council hall.Because this obviously wasn’t a normal council meeting.This was an ambush.“Alpha Adrian,” one of the elder councilmen, Augustine, spoke first. “We’ve called you here because a concerning matter has come to our attention.”I stiffened. “What matter?”Augustine folded his hands on the table. “We’ve been informed that you intentionally do not wish to marry and continue the succession, thereby forfeiting your rights as Alpha. Is that true?I blinked, momentaril
Kayla's POV I could barely keep up with the guards as they led me down a long, dimly lit corridor. My hands were clammy, my stomach a tangled mess of knots, and my heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat.I had no idea why I was being brought to the council hall, but the way the guards flanked me on either side, their expressions blank and unreadable, made my nerves skyrocket.Something was wrong.Terribly wrong.When the large double doors at the end of the hall finally loomed ahead, my steps faltered. The guards didn’t stop, and before I knew it, they pushed open the doors, revealing the council hall in all its intimidating glory.I froze.The room was huge—far bigger than I could have ever imagined a pack would have. Grand marble pillars stretched high up to the domed ceiling, the intricate golden chandeliers casting a regal glow over the long, crescent-shaped table where more than a few dozen councilmen were seated.And every single one of them was staring directly at
Kayla’s POV I sat stiffly in the grand council hall, my hands gripping the edges of my chair so tightly that my knuckles turned white. My head was still spinning, my heart racing so fast that I could barely think straight.This couldn’t be real.It had to be some twisted form of a joke.But the murmurs around the room, the weight of the councilmen’s gazes, and the thick tension in the air told me otherwise.I was truly trapped.Marry Alpha Adrian. Share him with Candice. Bear his child or get sent back to the abusive husband and his mistress who killed your child, rejected you, turned you into a maid and sold you off after trying to rape you.The choice was easy but not at all fair or humane.It sounded like something out of a cruel joke, except no one was laughing. Least of all me.I wasn’t afraid of the part about being forced to have children for a man I had just recently met. Because I knew something none of them did and that was that I couldn’t have them.The real problem? If I
Kayla’s POV I must have misheard him. There was no way Adrian just said what I thought he did. I blinked at him, trying to process the words that had just left his mouth. “I’m sorry—what?” Adrian stood in front of me, his face annoyingly unreadable as he repeated himself. “You’ll be staying in my room tonight.” I choked. “Are you serious?”Adrian let out a low chuckle. “Oh, I'm very serious.”"Is this really necessary?” I pulled away and crossed my arms, feeling a little too exposed under his sharp gaze. “I mean, come on, do they really expect us to actually start so soon—” “Yes,” Adrian interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “They do.” I frowned, my heart pounding. “But why? It’s not like the council is going to stand outside the door and—” “They don’t need to but-" He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “They already suspect that our marriage isn’t real. If they think I’m just using you to avoid a political match or avoid your banishment, they’ll find a way to force
Kayla’s POVCandice’s eyes narrowed the moment she saw me.She stood in the doorway, her expression twisting from shock to rage in a matter of seconds.“What the hell is this?” she spat, her voice sharp and accusing.I blinked at her, still standing on the edge of Adrian’s bed—a fact I suddenly became very aware of. I refused to back down but the towel wrapped around me felt dangerously flimsy under Adrian's burning gaze.I lifted my chin. “I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing here?”Candice scoffed, storming further into the room. “I don’t need an invitation to enter my husband’s room!”I arched a brow. “Only Your husband?”“Yes!” she snapped. “And you—” she pointed a perfectly manicured finger at me, her eyes blazing with fury—“have no business being here!”I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to remain calm. “Actually, Adrian invited me.”Candice froze. “What?”I shrugged. “I didn’t break in, Candice. I was invited ofcourse.”Her face turned an alarming shade of red. “Yo
Adrian’s POVThe moment Candice stormed out, I exhaled through my nose, rubbing my temples.She was a damn headache, always had been, but this? Fighting with Kayla? That was crossing a line.A part of me wanted to drag her back and remind her—no, make her understand—that Kayla was mine now.But then my gaze flickered to Kayla.Half-naked in my room.Her towel barely clung to her curves, exposing smooth skin that made my fingers itch to touch her. My wolf stirred, watching her just as intensely as I was.She was stunning, standing there, defiant despite what had just happened. My future wife.Arranged marriage or not, I never wanted her to leave.I wasn’t supposed to feel like this. This whole thing was just a deal—a political arrangement—but looking at her now?I was excited.Hell, more than excited.I was desperate for this marriage to be permanent.I wondered if fate was playing with me—either pushing us together or laughing as it tried to pull us apart.Kayla turned toward Ingrid,
Alpha Xavier’s POVI gripped the edge of my desk so hard my knuckles turned white. My wolf snarled in my head, barely contained beneath my skin.That fucking bastard.That smug, conniving slimy bastard!I just got news that Alpha Adrian had refused my request to come claim the resources.A muscle ticked in my jaw as I read his Gamma Logan’s message again, as if the words would change:"Alpha Adrian regrets to inform you that he is unable to accommodate your request at this time due to internal matters. A new arrangement will be discussed soon."Bullshit.This wasn’t about internal matters.This was about Kayla.I had planned everything perfectly. I had intended to use the trip as an excuse—to get into Adrian’s territory, to see her again.Now Adrian was blocking me from going.Why?Was he trying to keep her from me?A growl rumbled low in my throat. My fingers dug into the wood of my desk, the edges beginning to splinter beneath the pressure.Kayla was mine.She had always been mine.
Alpha Xavier's POV The second I slammed the car door shut, my hands gripped the wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.I could still hear Mia’s voice in my head."She doesn’t belong to you, Xavier. She never will."I clenched my jaw, my chest heaving with barely contained rage.She was wrong. Kayla was mine.She had always been mine, and I wasn’t going to let Adrian keep her from me.If I couldn’t enter the South as an Alpha, I’d do it another way.No one was going to stop me from seeing her.I took a deep breath, started the car, and sped out of the pack grounds.I wasn’t thinking—I was acting.The drive to the Southern border was long, but I barely noticed. My mind was racing with plans, scenarios, excuses.By the time I neared the heavily guarded entrance to Adrian’s territory, I had already decided on my approach.I would lie.I wasn’t Alpha Xavier tonight. I wasn’t a man trying to take back what was his.I was just someone passing through on business.I pulled up to the chec
Adrian’s POVFor a long moment, I just stared at the door, my whole body tensing with frustration.I clenched my fists so tightly my nails bit into my palms.For the second damn time—The second time—We had almost kissed.And again—again—someone had interrupted.I had never felt so fucking frustrated over something so simple.I wanted to punch the damn wall.Instead, I forced myself to take a slow, controlled breath before snapping, “I’m not in the mood for dinner!”I was in the mood for something else I realized as my gaze flickered to Kayla's lips again.There was a long pause outside the door before the maid mumbled a quick, nervous, “Understood, Alpha,” and scurried away.I exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to my temple.Then my gaze flickered back to Kayla.She was still right there, her wide eyes darting away shyly, her cheeks flushed.But what had my focus was her lips. The way they were still parted slightly, soft and inviting.I wanted to taste them. Hell, I wanted to do more
Kayla’s POV As soon as the door shut behind Ingrid, I let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding. My fingers gripped my dress tightly, and I sank onto the edge of the bed, my heart still racing.What had just happened?A while ago, I had been standing half-naked in front of Alpha Adrian.I swallowed hard, feeling the heat rush back to my face at the memory.I had become painfully aware of the fact that I was wearing nothing but a towel. The realization had made me stiffen, my body locking up in embarrassment.I had refused to look at him. But that hadn’t stopped me from feeling his gaze on me.It had been intense. Heavy. Almost scorching.Even when I had looked away, I had felt it. Felt the way his dark eyes had slowly taken me in, as if he was seeing far more than just my damp skin.A shiver ran down my spine.And now I was alone—but the heat from his stare still lingered.I needed to clear my head. And I needed to get out of this room that smelt like him.When I stepped
Alpha Xavier's POV The second I slammed the car door shut, my hands gripped the wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.I could still hear Mia’s voice in my head."She doesn’t belong to you, Xavier. She never will."I clenched my jaw, my chest heaving with barely contained rage.She was wrong. Kayla was mine.She had always been mine, and I wasn’t going to let Adrian keep her from me.If I couldn’t enter the South as an Alpha, I’d do it another way.No one was going to stop me from seeing her.I took a deep breath, started the car, and sped out of the pack grounds.I wasn’t thinking—I was acting.The drive to the Southern border was long, but I barely noticed. My mind was racing with plans, scenarios, excuses.By the time I neared the heavily guarded entrance to Adrian’s territory, I had already decided on my approach.I would lie.I wasn’t Alpha Xavier tonight. I wasn’t a man trying to take back what was his.I was just someone passing through on business.I pulled up to the chec
Alpha Xavier’s POVI gripped the edge of my desk so hard my knuckles turned white. My wolf snarled in my head, barely contained beneath my skin.That fucking bastard.That smug, conniving slimy bastard!I just got news that Alpha Adrian had refused my request to come claim the resources.A muscle ticked in my jaw as I read his Gamma Logan’s message again, as if the words would change:"Alpha Adrian regrets to inform you that he is unable to accommodate your request at this time due to internal matters. A new arrangement will be discussed soon."Bullshit.This wasn’t about internal matters.This was about Kayla.I had planned everything perfectly. I had intended to use the trip as an excuse—to get into Adrian’s territory, to see her again.Now Adrian was blocking me from going.Why?Was he trying to keep her from me?A growl rumbled low in my throat. My fingers dug into the wood of my desk, the edges beginning to splinter beneath the pressure.Kayla was mine.She had always been mine.
Adrian’s POVThe moment Candice stormed out, I exhaled through my nose, rubbing my temples.She was a damn headache, always had been, but this? Fighting with Kayla? That was crossing a line.A part of me wanted to drag her back and remind her—no, make her understand—that Kayla was mine now.But then my gaze flickered to Kayla.Half-naked in my room.Her towel barely clung to her curves, exposing smooth skin that made my fingers itch to touch her. My wolf stirred, watching her just as intensely as I was.She was stunning, standing there, defiant despite what had just happened. My future wife.Arranged marriage or not, I never wanted her to leave.I wasn’t supposed to feel like this. This whole thing was just a deal—a political arrangement—but looking at her now?I was excited.Hell, more than excited.I was desperate for this marriage to be permanent.I wondered if fate was playing with me—either pushing us together or laughing as it tried to pull us apart.Kayla turned toward Ingrid,
Kayla’s POVCandice’s eyes narrowed the moment she saw me.She stood in the doorway, her expression twisting from shock to rage in a matter of seconds.“What the hell is this?” she spat, her voice sharp and accusing.I blinked at her, still standing on the edge of Adrian’s bed—a fact I suddenly became very aware of. I refused to back down but the towel wrapped around me felt dangerously flimsy under Adrian's burning gaze.I lifted my chin. “I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing here?”Candice scoffed, storming further into the room. “I don’t need an invitation to enter my husband’s room!”I arched a brow. “Only Your husband?”“Yes!” she snapped. “And you—” she pointed a perfectly manicured finger at me, her eyes blazing with fury—“have no business being here!”I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to remain calm. “Actually, Adrian invited me.”Candice froze. “What?”I shrugged. “I didn’t break in, Candice. I was invited ofcourse.”Her face turned an alarming shade of red. “Yo
Kayla’s POV I must have misheard him. There was no way Adrian just said what I thought he did. I blinked at him, trying to process the words that had just left his mouth. “I’m sorry—what?” Adrian stood in front of me, his face annoyingly unreadable as he repeated himself. “You’ll be staying in my room tonight.” I choked. “Are you serious?”Adrian let out a low chuckle. “Oh, I'm very serious.”"Is this really necessary?” I pulled away and crossed my arms, feeling a little too exposed under his sharp gaze. “I mean, come on, do they really expect us to actually start so soon—” “Yes,” Adrian interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “They do.” I frowned, my heart pounding. “But why? It’s not like the council is going to stand outside the door and—” “They don’t need to but-" He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “They already suspect that our marriage isn’t real. If they think I’m just using you to avoid a political match or avoid your banishment, they’ll find a way to force
Kayla’s POV I sat stiffly in the grand council hall, my hands gripping the edges of my chair so tightly that my knuckles turned white. My head was still spinning, my heart racing so fast that I could barely think straight.This couldn’t be real.It had to be some twisted form of a joke.But the murmurs around the room, the weight of the councilmen’s gazes, and the thick tension in the air told me otherwise.I was truly trapped.Marry Alpha Adrian. Share him with Candice. Bear his child or get sent back to the abusive husband and his mistress who killed your child, rejected you, turned you into a maid and sold you off after trying to rape you.The choice was easy but not at all fair or humane.It sounded like something out of a cruel joke, except no one was laughing. Least of all me.I wasn’t afraid of the part about being forced to have children for a man I had just recently met. Because I knew something none of them did and that was that I couldn’t have them.The real problem? If I
Kayla's POV I could barely keep up with the guards as they led me down a long, dimly lit corridor. My hands were clammy, my stomach a tangled mess of knots, and my heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat.I had no idea why I was being brought to the council hall, but the way the guards flanked me on either side, their expressions blank and unreadable, made my nerves skyrocket.Something was wrong.Terribly wrong.When the large double doors at the end of the hall finally loomed ahead, my steps faltered. The guards didn’t stop, and before I knew it, they pushed open the doors, revealing the council hall in all its intimidating glory.I froze.The room was huge—far bigger than I could have ever imagined a pack would have. Grand marble pillars stretched high up to the domed ceiling, the intricate golden chandeliers casting a regal glow over the long, crescent-shaped table where more than a few dozen councilmen were seated.And every single one of them was staring directly at