A Means to an End

Ethan's POV

I storm away from the crowd, the laughter and music of my coronation party fading behind me. But I couldn’t care less about the celebration. It should have been a moment of triumph—becoming Alpha—but the only thing I can think about is the sight of Lucas’s arms wrapped around her. Around Amelia. My Amelia.

My fists clench at my sides, and Magnus is pacing in my mind, his growl rumbling louder with each passing second.

“I told you,” Magnus snaps, his voice thick with frustration. “You should have never rejected her. She’s our mate. You can feel it, can’t you? You went against the mate bond, and now, she’s with Lucas.”

I grit my teeth, pushing open the doors of the packhouse and stalking through the halls. “I know,” I mutter under my breath, trying to silence Magnus, but his rage mirrors my own. The memory of Lucas holding her, the way her body fit against his... it’s like a thorn in my side that I can’t pull out.

“You made the wrong choice,” Magnus growls again, his voice louder, his anger scorching. “I warned you not to reject her, but you didn’t listen. And now, look at where we are!”

I slam my fist against the nearest wall causing a hole in it, the sharp pain shooting up my arm doing nothing to quell the storm raging inside me. “I had no choice!” I snap, breathing heavily. “Being with her would’ve complicated everything. My plans... becoming Alpha. I couldn’t—”

Magnus cuts me off, his growl filled with fury. “Plans? You’re Alpha now, but what good is that without our true mate by our side? She’s slipping away, and you let her go. For what? Lucas? You’d rather she be with him?”

The thought makes my blood boil. Fuck no. There’s no way I’ll let Lucas have her. But I can’t focus on that right now. I’ve worked too long for this title, and my position as Alpha sets the wheels in motion for the future, for bigger plans. I can’t afford to have a mate right now. Not with everything that’s at stake.

But no matter how much I try to convince myself, the image of Amelia and Lucas together is burned into my mind. The look in her eyes when I called her my mate—like she didn’t believe me, like she was already his. It makes me sick. She could only be mine and no one else.

“You’re making excuses,” Magnus snarls, his voice cold. “But none of that will matter when she’s gone for good. And believe me, Lucas will take her if you don’t fight for her.”

I want to scream. I know Magnus is right, but I can’t think about that now. I’m Alpha. My responsibilities come first, and I can’t afford to be distracted. But deep down, even as I repeat those words to myself, a part of me knows... I’ve already lost her.

---

Amelia's POV

The night air feels heavier as I step back into the party, leaving the balcony and Lucas behind. It’s as though the celebration has lost its energy, its spark dimming the moment I walked away from Lucas. My mind is still spinning, stuck on everything that happened.

I find Ivy near the bar, her smile warm as she waves me over. “You okay? When Ethan drag you away I panic and told Lucas” she explains, handing me a drink.

No wonder Lucas showed up.

 “Yeah,” I lie, taking a sip. “Just needed some air.”

Ivy gives me a knowing look but doesn’t push. I appreciate that. But inside, I’m a mess. The confrontation with Ethan keeps replaying in my head—his eyes burning with that same possessiveness I thought I’d never see again.

“She’s my mate.”

The words echo in my mind, and Snow, my wolf, growls low. “Why did he say that?” she mutters, her frustration mirroring my own. “He rejected us, and now he’s claiming we’re still his mate? What kind of game is he playing?”

I shake my head, not sure how to answer. “I don’t know, Snow. But it doesn’t matter. He made his choice.” Even as I say it, the ache in my chest lingers, and I hate it. Why does part of me still want him, after everything he’s done?

Snow’s growl deepens. “You shouldn’t want him. He’s a fool for rejecting us, and now we’re bound to Lucas.”

I swallow hard, thinking about Lucas and the warmth I felt when he was holding me. It’s different with him, complicated in a way I can’t explain.

“Don’t say that…. This with Lucas is just in contract only. It’s just a means to an end. Don’t forget all of this is to get Ethan jealous.”

Snow is quiet now, simmering with her own conflicted emotions, but I know she feels it too. The tension between Lucas and Ethan... it’s pulling at us from both sides, and I’m caught in the middle.

Ivy leans in closer, giving me a small nudge. “You sure you’re okay? You look like you’re a million miles away.”

I manage a smile. “Yeah, just... it’s been a lot. You know, with everything that happened.”

She nods, her expression softening. “I get it. You’ve been through hell, but you’re strong, Amelia. Don’t let anyone make you forget that.”

I give her a grateful look, but before I can say anything, my phone buzzes in my hand. I glance down to see a message from Lucas.

We need to leave tomorrow to return to my kingdom. Be ready by morning.

I stare at the text, my heart skipping a beat. Lucas’s kingdom. My thoughts race as I try to process how fast everything is moving. Snow stirs within me, her confusion mixing with my own. “So soon?” she murmurs. “I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly.”

Neither did I. I wasn’t ready for this—to leave behind everything, to fully commit to this contract marriage, to face whatever awaits us at Lucas’s kingdom. But it’s happening. I glance at Ivy, who’s chatting with another guest, unaware of the storm brewing inside me.

I type a quick response to Lucas. Okay.

It feels surreal. Tomorrow, I’ll be leaving with him, stepping into an unknown future. And part of me is terrified.

But another part... another part of me is ready to face whatever comes next.

---

The next morning arrives far too quickly. As I pack my things, Snow is unusually quiet, her presence steady but contemplative.

“We’re really doing this,” I whisper to myself, as I glance at the few belongings I’m bringing with me.

Snow finally speaks up, her voice low. “We don’t have a choice, Amelia. But... Lucas is not Ethan. He’s offering us protection, and maybe something more. But it’s still not easy.”

I know she’s right, but as I head downstairs to meet Lucas, a heavy weight settles in my chest. This is the beginning of something new, and I don’t know where it’s going to lead.

Lucas is waiting for me outside by his car, looking every bit the Crown Prince he is, his expression unreadable. As I walk toward him, I can’t help but wonder... am I making the right choice?