Lucas’s POVThe way Amelia’s eyes widened, clutching the towel tightly around her body, was almost too good to resist. I knew I probably shouldn’t be enjoying this, but something about her vulnerability made me want to tease her. It wasn’t just amusement though—there was a deep-rooted attraction pulling me closer to her.Titan stirred within me, sensing the same thing. She’s ours, Lucas, he rumbled, his voice a low growl. You need to claim her fully.Not yet, I reminded him. We’re not rushing this.Amelia was still staring at me, clearly mortified. “Lucas,” she stammered, her cheeks flushed. “You can’t just walk in like that!”I raised an eyebrow, suppressing the smirk that wanted to creep back onto my face. “This is my room too, Amelia. You’ll have to get used to it.”Her lips parted slightly in shock, and for a moment, she seemed unsure of how to respond. It wasn’t exactly a lie—we were bound by this contract, and sharing a space was part of that. But I knew what was really botherin
Amelia’s POVThe door clicked shut, and I immediately let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Relief washed over me like a cool breeze, though my heart still raced in my chest. The look in Lucas’s eyes before he left—the heat, the hunger—it sent shivers down my spine, and I wasn’t sure whether it was from fear or something else entirely.I wrapped the towel tighter around me, and I look at the bundle in my hand, I mentally cursed myself for forgetting to take them into the bathroom. Idiot, I scolded myself. Now, I’d basically paraded half-naked in front of him. I could still feel the weight of his gaze on me, the way his eyes had lingered just a little too long.Snow, my wolf, stirred lazily in my mind, clearly amused. “He couldn’t take his eyes off you. And you noticed it too.”“Shut up,” I muttered back, feeling the blush rise on my cheeks as I grabbed my underwear from the drawer. Snow’s teasing was the last thing I needed right now.” It’s a contract marriage, nothing
I let out a deep sigh as soon as I ended the call with Ivy. Talking to her always made me feel better, but I couldn’t shake the tension still clinging to me. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since I arrived. Maybe that's why I was feeling so off.Snow chimed in, her voice echoing in my mind. "You’ve been so wrapped up in everything—Lucas, Ivy, Ethan—that you forgot to feed us."I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile. “Yeah, thanks for the reminder.”I decided to venture out of my chambers and find something to eat. After a long shower, I had slipped into something comfortable—blue jeans, white sneakers, and a white t-shirt. Nothing fancy, but definitely better for wandering around unfamiliar territory.As I stepped into the hallway, the sheer size of the castle hit me again. The corridors seemed to stretch forever, and the ceilings were ridiculously high. I found myself walking past numerous doors and staircases, each leading somewhere unknown. It was hard
Amelia POVCassidy and I finished our late dinner and lingered a little longer in the kitchen, her chatter filling the warm space. She was kind, and despite the weight of everything happening around me, it was easy to relax in her company.After a while, she offered to show me more of the castle, which I gladly accepted. I needed to get familiar with this place, or I’d probably end up lost again.As we strolled through the castle halls, Cassidy pointed out rooms, making casual conversation. The enormity of the place still stunned me. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Back home, everything was smaller, simpler. This castle was like a maze—elegant and grand, every floor more impressive than the last. We made our way outside into the garden, and the view took my breath away.The garden stretched on forever, with manicured hedges, fountains, and bursts of colorful flowers. The air smelled sweet, and I found myself lost in it for a moment. But then… I saw her. Queen Larissa.She wa
Amelia POV I stood frozen, my back pressed against the bedroom door, my heart still racing. What just happened? I couldn’t help but replay his words and that stupid, smug grin of his in my head. It was hard enough dealing with Queen Larissa’s venomous words earlier, and now Lucas had to come in, teasing me like that, throwing my whole sense of balance off."You’re all flustered again," Snow’s voice echoed through my mind, her tone almost amused. "You really need to get it together.""I am together," I muttered, pacing back and forth in the room. The words came out harsher than I intended, but Snow only huffed, unconvinced. And honestly, I wasn’t together at all. My emotions were scattered, my thoughts spiraling out of control. Tomorrow, I would be getting married. Actually married. And it wasn’t for love.It wasn’t real. This was a contract, a deal. A way to protect Lucas and his kingdom. A way to make Ethan regret his decision, I reminded myself of that. Over and over."It’s just a
Amelia POVMy eyes fluttered open, but I was immediately aware that something was off. The familiar comfort of sleep had barely begun to release its hold on me when a soft, persistent knock echoed from the door. I groaned, rubbing my tired eyes as I tried to remember why I felt so exhausted. Then it hit me—Queen Larissa's words from the previous night.I had spent hours tossing and turning, haunted by her cold prediction that Lucas would one day find his true mate. It was impossible to silence the doubt creeping into my mind. Was I just a placeholder? A means to an end for Lucas?Another knock brought me back to the present. I shuffled to the door, still half-asleep, and pulled it open. A row of servants stood there, neatly lined up and waiting patiently. The one at the front, a woman with kind eyes, offered a polite smile.“Good morning, Lady Amelia. We’re here to help you get ready.”I blinked at them, still foggy from sleep. "Ready for what?" My voice came out a little hoarse, my b
My heart pounded so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. Each step toward Lucas felt like I was walking deeper into the unknown. The warmth of his gaze was the only thing anchoring me in place, his blue eyes never leaving mine. When I finally reached him, he took my hand, and a shiver ran up my spine at his touch. I couldn’t tell if it was the nerves or something more.The ceremony began, the council member's voice a distant hum as I tried to focus. I caught a glimpse of Queen Larissa and King Luther seated in the front, the queen’s expression unreadable, while the king gave a small nod of approval. I wanted to read their faces, to know what they were thinking, but it was hard to focus with everything happening so quickly.Then the council member asked me the question that made my blood run cold. “Amelia, do you take Lucas to be your husband?”The world seemed to stop. My mouth went dry, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. This was it. The moment I officially became tied to Luc
Lucas POVAs we stepped out from the hall, the weight of what just happened began to settle on my shoulders. My hand held tightly onto Amelia’s, and though she kept her composure, I could feel the tension in her grip. We had just walked away from the altar, surrounded by council members and the royal family, with all eyes on us as they offered their congratulations.“Congratulations, son, ” King Luther said, stepping forward to shake my hand. His smile was genuine, a rare show of warmth from him. I know he was probably more excited than anyone else for this marriage. Then he turned to Amelia, his eyes softening as he addressed her. “Congratulation Amelia.” His tone warm. “ Welcome to the family, my new daughter-in-law.”Amelia responded with a polite nod, but I noticed the flicker of something in her eyes—uncertainty, perhaps. My mother, Queen Larissa, stood nearby, her expression as unreadable as ever. She didn’t say a word, but the silence was more telling than any words could be.A