Chapter 1

Zara stared at her reflection, barely recognizing the woman in the mirror. Was that really her? It was her wedding day, yet her heart felt as if it might burst from her chest. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t plagued by fear or rejection. Instead, hope surged within her—a fragile hope that she had finally found someone who truly saw her. She was somebody's mate now.  

A scream escaped her lips, but it was muffled by the flurry of activity around her. Her makeup artist continued to apply the finishing touches, while behind the door, her twin sister Lyra’s voice rang out as she made frantic adjustments to the wedding arrangements.  

Suddenly, the door opened, and the makeup artist paused mid-brush. Zara turned to see him—Leon, her husband-to-be. Standing tall and confident, he exuded the kind of power and charm that made every she-wolf dream of being by his side.  

"Leon, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and nervousness.  

“I love your makeup,” he said with a teasing smile. “My baby looks sweet.”  

Zara frowned, though a blush crept onto her cheeks. “But why are you here? You’re not supposed to see me before the ceremony. That’s bad luck!”  

He stepped closer, his expression softening but tinged with something more serious. “I just needed to see you and tell you something,” he said.  

“What is it?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.  

Leon took her hand, his grip warm but firm, and led her into the adjoining restroom. The playful atmosphere between them shifted as his demeanor grew more intense. Zara’s heartbeat quickened.  

“Leon, what’s going on?” she asked with a nervous laugh, hoping it was just pre-wedding jitters.  

His gaze was steady, unyielding. “There’s something I need you to agree to before we get married,” he said.  

“Agree to?” she repeated, her voice uncertain. “Leon, we’ve planned everything. What else could there be?”  

He took a deep breath, his hesitation lasting only a moment before he dropped the bombshell. “I need this marriage to be... open,” he said firmly. “I need the freedom to see other people.”  

The ground beneath Zara seemed to vanish. She blinked, her mind racing to process his words. “An open marriage?” she whispered, her voice shaking. “You’re joking, right?”  

Leon shook his head, his expression cold and unapologetic. “I’m serious. Look, I’m doing you a favor by marrying you. My family, your family—they all think I’m settling for less. This is the only way it’s going to work, for both of us.”  

Zara stared at him in disbelief. Her dream of this day—of a life filled with love and partnership—was crumbling before her eyes. “You’re telling me this now?” she managed to say, her voice cracking.  

“It’s better you know now,” Leon replied, his tone as flat as his gaze. “If you can’t handle this, you can walk away. But this is my condition.”  

The words echoed in her mind, each one striking like a blow. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard her mother’s voice, reminding her that Leon was doing her a favor by marrying her. But this? This was more than she could bear.  

Anger surged within her, and she pushed Leon away before storming out of the restroom. Her makeup artist called after her, but Zara didn’t stop. She needed air, space to think. As she rushed through the hall, she ducked into another restroom to avoid the guests who were approaching to greet her.  

Inside, she stared at her reflection, her emotions breaking free. Tears streamed down her face as a bitter laugh escaped her lips. “An open marriage,” she muttered to herself, the words tasting like poison.  

Just as she was gathering herself, Lyra appeared, concern etched on her face. “Zara, Leon has delayed the ceremony by an hour,” she said cautiously.  

It hit Zara then—Leon wasn’t bluffing. He was serious.  

Determined to confront him, she rushed out, her heart heavy with resignation. Her sister’s worried gaze followed her, but Zara couldn’t stop. She found Leon at the end of the hall, calmly speaking with a family member, as if he hadn’t just shattered her dreams.  

He saw her coming and didn’t even flinch. His calmness only fueled her frustration.  

“I’ll sign the contract,” Zara said, her voice barely above a whisper. The words felt like knives cutting through her soul.  

Leon’s expression remained unreadable, though he gave a small nod of approval. “Right choice, Zara,” he said smoothly, his tone devoid of remorse. “This is what’s best for both of us.”  

She forced a bitter laugh, her heart breaking with every word. “Is it? Because it doesn’t feel like it.”  

Leon didn’t respond. He simply took her hand and led her back to the restroom, where he handed her the pen. Zara stared at the contract, her chest tightening with every breath. With each stroke of her pen, a part of her crumbled.  

When it was done, she looked up at him, a single tear slipping down her cheek. “There,” she whispered. “It’s done.”  

Leon gave her a curt nod before turning and walking away without a backward glance.  

Zara stood there, her hands trembling. In that moment, she knew she had signed away more than just her name. She had signed away her heart, her dreams, and any hope of a real marriage.