Chapter 3

ISABELLA'S POV

When Ryan's phone rang, I was relieved to some extend. This was too crazy. I became the mate with a strange man I just met. I pretended to be calm and wrote down my phone number and address to him, then watched Ryan slip away.

The next day, I did everything I could to keep my mind off Ryan.

But try as I might, my brain kept going back to last night. "Shit, I'm a mess," I muttered, pacing around my store and tugging at my hair. "I need to get a grip." I furiously yanked open the windows, letting the cool breeze whip through the room.

"Hey!" a voice called out, and I jumped. Lily was standing in the doorway, eyebrows raised.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern as she approached me.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, trying to sound convincing.

But Lily wasn't buying it. She scrutinized my face for a moment, and then her gaze drifted lower.

Her eyes widened and she gasped, taking a step backwards.

My heart skipped a beat. What had she seen?

My pulse raced as Lily's voice rose in shock. "Isabella, please tell me this isn't real! This can't be true," she insisted, pointing at my neck.

I avoided her gaze and feigned a cough, suddenly feeling the weight of her gaze on my neck.

She moved closer, inspecting the mark closely, her hands shaking.

"Isabella, you've never dated anyone," she whispered, her voice filled with confusion. “How come you're marked?"

I nodded, my throat tightening. "Look, I need to tell you something. I'm not lying, Lily. I chose the most handsome man at the moonlight party to marry in order to fulfill my mom's wish," I explained, a sparkle in my eye.

Lily's brow furrowed. "Okay...so you're just lucky?" she asked, skepticism lacing her words. "Tell me more about this mystery man. What's his name?"

I shifted uneasily from one foot to the other, before replying to Lily’s probing, my stomach churning with unease. “Ryan’s a Beta who runs some trades between packs,” I said quietly, letting out a small sigh.

“That’s it?” she asked, her tone disapproving. “Do you know that your ex, Noah, is the son of the Alpha of Dark Pack? He was a big shot in school, much more comfortable financially than this Ryan.”

I could feel my chest tightening as I opened my mouth to respond. But before I could get a word out, I froze. Standing at the door was Ryan, his eyes fixed on us.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I forced a smile and a quiet, "Hey," but Ryan didn't return my smile.

"This is Lily, my friend. Lily, meet Ryan," I managed, my voice shaky. Lily waved awkwardly, muttered an excuse, and hurried off.

Alone with Ryan, my hands slightly trembled and my words got caught in my throat. But before I could explain, he asked the question that knocked the wind out of me.

"Is this Noah really better off than me?"

My heart sank. I wanted to explain to him but no words came out of my mouth.

RYAN'S POV

I felt a rising sense of anticipation as I made my way to Isabella’s store. I missed her—my wolf missed her—and I couldn’t wait to feel her body against mine, to breathe in her scent and feel it settle inside of me. It was shocking how much she could affect me, not just me but my stubborn wolf in such a short time, and it only made me want her more.

The feeling of anticipation shifted into something darker as I approached the store and caught the scent of another woman. My steps slowed as I heard her voice, speaking to Isabella about finances, about being with someone like Ryan.

I turned to look at Isabella, wanting to read her expression, to see if she was considering this woman’s words. But her face was blank, unreadable, and my blood began to simmer with frustration. How could she keep her emotions from me? How could she be anything less than open and honest, after the connection we’d shared? I felt possessive, my wolf stirring inside me, and I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied until I knew what she was thinking.

As her friend disappeared from the store, I could see Isabella avoiding my gaze, pretending to be busy with rearranging things on the shelves. My displeasure was growing by the second, my wolf bristling at her attempts to distance herself from me.

I leaned against the wall, crossing one leg over the other, and watched her as she moved around the store. Her slender form was a contrast to the tension radiating from her shoulders, and I could feel my temper rising with each passing moment.

"You came so early? How was work?" she asked, still refusing to meet my gaze.

I remained silent for a moment, watching her shoulders tense even further as she waited for my response. Her friend’s words were echoing in my mind, and I couldn’t help but scoff internally at the thought of someone like Noah being able to offer Isabella more than I could.

I was the son of the Lycan King, for god's sake, and every Alpha that had ever crossed my path had shown me the utmost respect. No one dared to challenge me, knowing full well the consequences that would follow.

My father had tasked me with traveling to each of the packs, pretending to be a Beta who was running businesses within their territory. This had allowed me to observe the interactions and daily activities of each pack, gathering valuable information for the kingdom.

The rage inside of me was growing stronger with each passing moment, and I knew that I needed to assert my dominance really soon. They needed to understand who Isabella belonged to now.

She turned to face me, her gaze meeting mine with hesitancy. Her fingers brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, and she mustered a timid smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Is everything alright?” she asked, her voice barely audible above the sound of her own thudding heart.

I remained silent, my eyes unwavering from hers, and I saw her shoulders slump slightly in defeat.

She rubbed her temple, a sigh escaping her lips. “Is this about what Lily said?” she asked, her voice tight with tension.

“I know my ex, Noah, is wealthy and powerful—the son of an Alpha. But he’s also an asshole, a cheat, a manwhore. I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole. All I want is a loyal mate,” she said, her eyes locked with mine.

“I hate him,” she spat, her eyes flashing with venom. “I hate his money, his power, his privilege. He thinks he can buy whatever he wants, whoever he wants, like we’re nothing more than objects for his amusement. But I’m not an object. I’m not a thing to be owned, to be bought and sold.”

She turned to me, her gaze burning with hate and fury. “I hate the wealthy, the aristocracy. They think they’re better than us. They look down on us like we’re dirt beneath their feet. But we’re not. We’re humans, with our own thoughts and feelings. And we won’t be their toys anymore.”

Her voice turned even more cold. "And if you were a wealthy Alpha's son, I'd have nothing to do with you. I don't want anything with it. That's my decision.”

Her words felt like a punch to the gut, and my heart skipped a beat. My chest tightened, as if someone were squeezing it from the inside, and sweat began to pool at the back of my neck. I felt a wave of anger surge through me, and I fought the urge to speak or scratch at the itch that had appeared on my neck. My wolf almost bore out his fangs at the mention of another man but I remained silent, my expression hard, as I let her words sink in.

Trouble. Big, big trouble. That’s what I was in now. The thought of telling Isabella my true identity, of her finding out that I’d been deceiving her this whole time, made my blood run cold, made my wolf whined in worry. The thought of seeing those warm eyes, the ones that had gazed at me with such affection and trust, turn cold and distant… It was like a knife to the chest. My wolf whimpered inside me, mirroring the pain and fear I felt.

“What’s wrong?” Her voice was soft, echoing through my head, and I shook myself out of my daze. I leaned off the wall, clearing my throat, and strode toward her.

She inhaled sharply as I ran my fingers along her cheek, trailing down the side of her neck, to where my mark lay. Fuck, the electricity between us was palpable. Braxton growled in my head, wanting to bury his nose in her hair, to breathe in her scent and let it soothe him.

My eyes drifted to her lips, red and full, and I had to fight the urge to pull her close and taste her. Her warmth radiated through me, and I felt a rush of possessiveness, a desire to claim her as mine. Again. But I pulled my hand away, forcing myself to keep my distance.

Her expression hardened, her brow furrowing into a deep scowl. And though I knew she was angry, I couldn’t help but smirk. It pleased me to know that she couldn’t hide her emotions.

 My gaze bore into hers, unflinching, and I could see her struggling to maintain her composure.

“You’re not going to tell me what’s wrong?” she finally asked, a challenge in her voice.

“Nothing.” I took a step closer, letting my body heat envelop her. “I was just worried that you might change your mind.”

Her scowl deepened, and she cocked her head to the side. “Why would I change my mind?” she asked, her voice a little sharper.

I struggled to keep my expression composed, my throat dry as I searched for the right words.

“I mean, I thought… maybe you’d think that we’re not a perfect match. After all, your ex was richer.” The words tasted bitter in my mouth, but I forced myself to swallow them down.

She stared at me, her expression still hard, and I found myself swallowing again, nervously.

Her face softened, and she let out a long, slow breath. Then, she reached out and took my hand in hers, guiding me towards a chair in the store.

The moment our hands touched, a strange sensation swept over me. It was like being dipped in a warm bath—a soothing, calming feeling that eased the tension in my muscles.

“I made some toast and coffee,” she said, her voice gentle and soft. “But I couldn’t eat it at home. I had to bring it here. Do you want some? Have you eaten?” Her gaze was filled with concern, her eyes searching mine for answers.

A strange feeling tightened in my chest, something I couldn’t quite identify. It made me want to tell her everything the more, to spill out all my secrets, but I couldn’t.

“Have you thought about our wedding?” Ignoring the question, I asked instead while I kept my gaze fixed on hers.

“Well…” she began, shifting in her seat, her eyes dropping to her lap. “I don’t think we need a wedding. Neither of us have any family…”

My jaw tightened, my teeth clenching together.

“How about I bring my mother to your house?” she continued, a small smile forming on her lips. “We could all have dinner together tonight.”

I stiffened in my chair, my mind racing, searching for a way out of this situation.

“That sounds…great,” I managed to croak out, my voice strained.”

Shit. My heart was pounding in my chest, my pulse racing like a cheetah. She wanted to come to my place? She couldn’t. Not now.

I had to think fast. I had to make up some excuse, some reason why she couldn’t come to my place. If she found out I was living in a five-star hotel, she’d lose her shit. She’d go nuclear.

Now I knew what she thought of the rich, of the aristocrats. She hated them, with a white-hot passion.

My mind raced, desperately searching for an out. What could I tell her? That the hotel was under construction? That I had an emergency to take care of? No, she’d see right through that.

Heavens! What sort of trouble was this?

My mind snapped into focus, a plan forming like a bolt of lightning. “I’d love to have you over. But I’m in the middle of a renovation. My apartment’s a disaster. I'd invite you tomorrow when it should have been fixed.”

“Of course, of course,” Isabella said, her smile bright and cheerful, but my heart raced on, different thoughts swirling through my head like a storm.

“Have some toast before you leave,” she urged, pushing the plate of toast towards me. “My poor heart won’t be able to take it if I don't serve you anything.”

I forced a smile, my lips pulling back over my teeth like a wolf’s.

I forced myself to eat, to make small talk, to pretend that everything was fine. But with every bite, my stomach twisted tighter and tighter, and my heart beat faster and faster.

Finally, I stood, helping Isabella clear the table as she disposed of the disposable bags she had brought the toast in.

She returned, a smile on her face, her eyes shining. “You’re leaving now?”

I nodded, my own smile slipping as I fought to keep it in place. “Take care. I’ll call you.” I forced the words out, my voice rough and strained.

Isabella nodded, her smile turning shy and sweet.

The moment I turned and walked out the door, the smile slid from my face, replaced with a snarl.

“Fuck! Fuck!!” I hissed, my wolf growling as well, my phone already in my hand, dialing for my Beta.

Alan picked up on the first ring, and I pounced. “Why the fuck aren’t you answering my calls?”

“Sorry Alpha,” Alan stammered, “I was just checking on some things—”

I cut him off, my voice hard and biting. “There’s an emergency. I need you to get me a cheap car and a house. Now!”

Alan’s breath caught, and I could almost hear the shock in his eyes. “H-how soon?”

I glanced back at the store, my jaw set. “Do it now.”

The line went silent, and I knew Alan was scrambling to follow my orders.

I took one last look at the store, and then turned into the dark alley, my heart beating like a drum, my mind racing. And then the line went dead, and I was alone, the shadows closing in around me like a cage.