The Proposal

Amelia P.O.V

I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at Lucas's text. My thumb hovers over the screen, heart pounding in my chest. Can we meet and talk? The words seem so innocent, but I know there’s more behind them. There has to be, especially after that night.

I take a deep breath and type out a quick reply: Sure, where? His response is almost immediate—meet me at the oak tree in the forest. My breath catches as memories of that place flood my mind. The last time I was there… it was right after Ethan rejected me. I ran to that tree, seeking solace, and it was Lucas who found me, offering comfort when I thought I didn’t have any left. I don’t know why he chose that place, but something about it feels significant.

As I make my way to the oak tree, the cool forest air bites at my skin, sending shivers down my spine. My mind races with a thousand different thoughts, but one stands out above the rest—what does he want to say? My steps slow as I approach the tree, and I see him standing there, just as he said he would be. He looks calm, but there’s something in his eyes, a sense of urgency that wasn’t there before.

“Amelia,” Lucas greets me, his voice steady. But I can see the slight tension in his jaw, the way his hands clench and unclench at his sides. My heart beats a little faster, and I swallow hard, trying to calm the nerves that threaten to overwhelm me.

“Lucas,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

He steps closer, and for a moment, I wonder if he’s going to bring up the night we spent together. The thought makes my cheeks burn with embarrassment. But instead, he takes a deep breath and begins to speak. “My father is pressuring me to find a Luna, Amelia. I need to solidify my position as the crown prince, and I need to do it quickly.”

I blink, taken aback by the suddenness of his confession. I didn’t expect this. “What does that have to do with me?”

He hesitates, and I can see the conflict in his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Given what had happen between us, I purpose a marriage contract. It would benefit both of us—you can get back at Ethan, and I can keep my title. It’s a business arrangement, nothing more.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. A contract marriage? My mind reels, trying to process everything he’s saying. Snow, my wolf, stirs inside me, her presence a comforting weight, but also a reminder of the gravity of this situation. “Ohhh a contract marriage, there’s an opportunity here, I can feel it, but there’s also a risk. A huge risk.”

 “You want me to marry you… just to help you keep your title?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

Lucas nods, his expression serious. “Yes. It would be strictly business—no emotional strings attached. I promise to respect your boundaries, Amelia. We can even include clauses in the contract to ensure your comfort and safety.”

My head is spinning. This is all happening so fast, and I’m not sure how to react. Part of me is screaming to say no, to walk away from this insane idea, but another part of me—maybe the part that’s still hurting from Ethan’s rejection—wants to say yes. Snow growls softly, reminding me to protect my heart, but at the same time, I can sense her curiosity, her desire to see where this could lead. “I… I need some time to think about this,” I finally say, my voice barely audible.

Lucas nods again, understanding in his eyes. “Take all the time you need. I don’t want to pressure you, Amelia. But I think this could be a way for you to regain control after everything that’s happened.”

I don’t respond, just give him a small nod before turning and walking away. My mind is a jumbled mess as I make my way back home, trying to sort through my thoughts and emotions. By the time I get there, I feel more confused than ever.

Ivy is waiting for me when I walk through the door, and the moment she sees my face, she knows something is up. “What happened?” she asks, concern lacing her voice. I love that about her, she can always read me like a book.

I don’t even know where to start. I tell her everything—about Lucas’s proposal, about the contract marriage, about my confusion and fear. Ivy listens carefully, her eyes wide with shock as she processes everything I’m telling her. “That’s… intense,” she finally says, shaking her head. “But, Amelia, this could be your chance. To get back at Ethan that fucking bastard, he needs to feel the pain and regret of rejecting you.” As she said this her hands balls into fist. “You can move on… maybe even to explore whatever it is you have with Lucas.”

Her words hit me hard, and I realize she’s right. This could be my chance to take back some control, to finally move on from Ethan’s rejection. But is it worth the risk? I spend the rest of the day going back and forth, arguing with myself, debating with Snow. I can feel her leaning towards the idea, but there’s still a part of me that’s hesitant.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity of deliberation, I make my decision. I pick up my phone and text Lucas: I’ll do it. Let’s meet to discuss the terms.

We meet again, this time at a neutral location—a small café near the edge of town. Lucas is thorough, going over every detail of the contract, making sure I’m comfortable with everything. He’s serious, but there’s a softness in his eyes, a hint of something more that he doesn’t say. We agree on the terms, and with a final nod, we sign the contract.

The weight of the agreement settles over us, and I can feel the tension between us, the unspoken words hanging in the air. Snow and Titan, his wolf, are both quiet, but I can sense their presence, their awareness of the gravity of what we’ve just done.

---

The day of Ethan’s coronation arrives. Lucas and I attend the event together, making sure everyone sees us as a couple. I purposely dressed in a long, elegant black dress that leaves my back bare, my hair in natural curls, and my lips painted a bold red that contrasts with my honey-toned skin. I can feel the eyes of the crowd on me, some of them filled with admiration, others with lust, especially from te unmated wolves. But the only gaze that matters to me is Ethan’s, and when he finally sees me, I can see the surprise in his eyes.

Lucas looks impeccable in his black tuxedo, his frame defined, his piercing blue eyes intense. His normally messy hair is neatly styled. A slow music began to play and Lucas lead me onto the dance floor and as we share a dance, I can feel the heat of his gaze on me, the tension between us almost palpable.

As the dance ends, Ethan mind-links me, his voice laced with anger and confusion. “Why are you dressed like that? How could you come with my cousin as your date?”

I cut off the link with a simple reply: “It’s none of your business, Ethan.” I can feel his frustration, but I shut him out, refusing to let him ruin this moment.

Everyone stood in mingling, Ivy walks over to me, a champagne glass is her hand. Her long pale blue dress made her look cute and innocent. She smiles wide at me. “Omg Ethan’s face is priceless.” She snickered. “You look gorgeous and to die for.”

I was about to respond when Ethan’s father Alpha Mark, an old guy about his late 40s, commands the attention of his guess. “Thank you all for attending my son coronation and special thanks goes out to my nephew crown prince Lucas. We are honor to have you with us.” He nod at Lucas. Focusing back on the audience “Now as you all may know what this is about, Today I’m announcing my retirement as Alpha and naming Ethan as my successor. He will now be your Alpha.”

The crowd applauds, congratulating Ethan. But just as the applause begins to die down, Lucas takes the microphone. The crowd silence, waiting to hear what he has to say.  

“Firstly the royal family and I would like to congratulate my cousin on becoming Alpha.”, his voice steady and calm, but there’s a glint in his eyes as he continues. “Such happy news deserves to be shared with more happy news,” he says, his voice carrying over the crowd. Pausing for effect. He look at the crowd until his blues eyes focus on me, he grins “Amelia and I are engaged.”

The room falls silent, and I can feel the shock rippling through the crowd. But the only reaction I care about is Ethan’s. His face is a mask of stunned disbelief, and I can see the anger building in his eyes. Lucas glances at me, and I can see the satisfaction in his gaze, but there’s also something else—something deeper.