One

Xavier Blackwood had never been fond of the idea of an arranged marriage. As one of the most powerful werewolf billionaires in the world, he had always believed he could have anyone he wanted. But the tradition of his pack dictated otherwise, and Xavier was left with no choice but to comply.

He stood at the altar, his eyes scanning the crowd for a sign of his new bride. He had never met Evangeline Turner, but he had already decided that he would despise her. She was too naive, too innocent for a man like him. She would be a liability, a burden he would have to carry for the rest of his life.

Xavier stood firmly at the altar amidst the lush green landscape surrounding them. As he gazed around, he couldn't help but feel claustrophobic. According to the pack traditions, he was expected to get married to someone who didn't even know him a few hours ago. As an incredibly wealthy werewolf, he had a lot of power and influence in the world, but when it came to his personal life, he was forced to comply with the rules. He wore a tuxedo that looks like a million bucks and looked more dapper than ever.

Suddenly, the trumpets blared, and Xavier turned to see the bride making her way down the aisle. He couldn't help but stare in awe at her beauty. She looked like an angel, her long hair cascading down her back, and her dress glimmered in the sunlight. As she walked towards him, her green eyes were locked onto his in a way that made his heart skip a beat. He knew at that moment he was in trouble.

As Evangeline Turner reached the altar, Xavier could not help but stare at how radiant she looked. A part of him wanted to resist her beauty and ignore her altogether, but he found himself drawn to her. He had never given a second thought to the concept of arranged marriage, let alone falling in love with someone he barely knew. However, there was a strange sort of attraction he felt towards her.

When the priest began to lead the exchange of vows, Xavier's heart pounded in his chest. He felt Evangeline's eyes looking at him, focusing on his every move. He didn't know what to say, but he needed to say something.

"I, Xavier Blackwood, take you, Evangeline Turner, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to love, cherish and protect you for the rest of my life."

As the words left his mouth, Xavier felt a curious warmth spreading through his body. He knew that it was the bond between them, but he suppressed the urge to react to it. He also saw the surprise in Evangeline's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

He smirked, if only she knew.

"I, Evangeline Turner, take you, Xavier Blackwood, to be my lawfully wedded husband," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I promise to love and honor you and to be there for you always."

As they exchanged their vows, Xavier was struck by the depth of Evangeline's character. She was braver and stronger than he had given her credit for, and he began to feel a newfound reverence for her. Despite his doubts, he knew that she was his mate, but never willing to make things work between them.

As the reception began, Xavier sat at the head table, a scowl etched onto his face. Evangeline sat across from him, chatting happily with his pack members. He couldn't help but feel annoyed with her innocence and ignorance. She had no idea what she was getting herself into, and he couldn't wait until the day he could be rid of her.

But little did Xavier know that fate had other plans in store for him and his new mate.

"May I join you?" she asked softly, and without waiting for an answer, she stepped outside, inching closer to him. Xavier tensed up, ready to rebuff her, but something about her quiet determination to break through his barrier of coldness gave him pause.

"What do you want?" he asked gruffly, glancing away from her piercing gaze.

"I want to know why you hate me so much," Evangeline said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know this wasn't your choice, but can't we at least try to make this work? For the sake of our pack?"

Xavier snorted. "You really don't get it, do you? Do you have any idea what being a mate to someone like me means?"

"No," she admitted, her eyes locked onto his. "But I want to learn. I want to be a good mate to you, Xavier."

His name on her lips sent a jolt through him making his dick harden. It was strange how even after resisting the pull of the bond, he still found himself irresistibly drawn to her. He shook his head, knowing there was no going back. "I can't do this, Evangeline. It's not you, it's me. I can't be what you want me to be."

Evangeline took a small step closer, and the warmth of her breath on his cheek sent shivers down his spine. "Please, Xavier," she whispered, her voice full of emotion. "Give me a chance. Let us try to make this work. I won't disappoint you."

"Listen, Evangeline," Xavier began, his voice rough and low. "I don't know who came up with this ridiculous idea of an arranged mating, but I'm not into it. I don't need anyone to complete me. I just need my pack and my empire, and you are not a part of that equation."

Evangeline felt her heart sink at the harshness in his voice. She couldn't believe that this was the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. "But Xavier," she began tentatively. "We can make this work. I will try my best to make you happy."

Xavier scoffed, his eyes glinting with annoyance. "Make me happy? You have no idea what you just signed up for, Evangeline. Do you know what I'm like? I am ruthless and cold. I don't care about anyone's feelings, let alone yours. You will be nothing but a trophy wife to me. I'll have you by my side when it's convenient for me, and then I'll go do whatever I want without even thinking about you."

Evangeline felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she heard his cruel words. She knew deep down that Xavier was a good man, but he was letting his fears and prejudices cloud his judgment. She needed to get through to him somehow.

"Xavier, please," she said, her voice shaking. "Give me a chance. I know we are meant to be together. Let's just try and make this work. We can learn to love each other. I promise I won't disappoint you."

Xavier stared at her for a long moment, his eyes taking in her earnest expression. He knew that he was being cruel to her and that he needed to find a way to fix it. He didn't want to hurt her, but he also didn't want to get too close to her.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice clipped. "We'll try and make this work. But don't expect anything from me, Evangeline. I won't be the loving husband you wish for. I'll be cold and heartless, and I'll make your life a living hell."

As the reception drew to a close, Xavier and Evangeline prepared to leave for their matrimonial home. The tension between them was palpable, and the ride was a silent one. Evangeline tried to make small talk, but Xavier simply ignored her, staring out the window with a cold, stony expression.

Evangeline couldn't help but feel hurt. She had always dreamed of finding her mate and being a part of a loving pack, but Xavier's cold demeanor made her doubt their future together. She stared out the window, watching as the city lights passed them by, wondering how she would ever be able to win her mate over.

Xavier's thoughts, on the other hand, were consumed with doubt and anger. He was a powerful werewolf, and he resented being forced into an arranged marriage with someone he saw as beneath him. But as he stole a glance at Evangeline, he couldn't help the strange pull he felt towards her. He was attracted to her, there was no denying it, but he refused to let himself be vulnerable to anyone, especially not the woman who had been forced upon him.

The ride came to an end, and Xavier stepped out of the car, leaving Evangeline to follow suit. As they entered the grand mansion that was their new home together, Xavier realized that this was real. He was now bonded to someone he hardly knew, and it made him feel vulnerable in a way that he had never felt before.

Evangeline timidly stepped into the house, her eyes darting around in awe at the grandeur of her new surroundings. She couldn't believe that this was going to be her home from now on, and she couldn't wait to make it a warm and welcoming place for her mate to come home to.

But her happiness was short-lived as Xavier coldly said, "Welcome to our home, Ms. Turner. I suggest you keep to yourself until I call for you". With those words, he disappeared into his study, leaving Evangeline feeling alone and rejected.

He made his way to his furnished home office. It was an elegant space with dark wood paneling covering the walls and a large mahogany desk positioned at the center of the room. As soon as he entered, he poured himself a stiff drink and savored the burn of the alcohol as it went down his throat.

He couldn't shake the feeling of lust that had been building inside him all night, and the thought of Evangeline only intensified it. He knew he had to quell his desires before they got the better of him. He had made it clear to her that this marriage was no more than a formality, and he had no intention of becoming a loving and devoted mate.

Xavier took another sip of his drink, feeling a sense of irritation. The thought of her being his mate was preposterous. She was young and naive, unaware of the harsh realities of the world he lived in. He couldn't have a mate that was such a liability, and he had to remind himself constantly of that fact.

But as he sat alone in his office, that nagging feeling of lust refused to go away. He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, trying to gather his thoughts and emotions. He couldn't afford to be distracted by his mate, no matter how tempting she may seem.

Xavier glanced at the empty glass in his hand and realized that he needed to make a decision. He could either keep fighting the pull he felt towards Evangeline or give in to his desires. He knew that neither option was ideal, but he couldn't ignore the undeniable attraction he had towards her.

With a deep breath, Xavier stood up from his desk and made his way to his bedroom. He needed to be alone with his thoughts, away from the chaos of the reception and the confining rules of his pack. He had to figure out how to deal with the new challenges that came along with being mated, and soon.

He ran a quick bath relaxing his tense muscles and burning desire chanting curses as he stepped out of the bathroom. 

He got dressed into something comfortable ready to retire for the night with the thought of his so-called burden of a mate he had to live with from now henceforth.

He needed to get rid of her, in a way that he wouldn't be to blame, he couldn't afford to risk his Image, not for a lowlife undeserving woman.

With dozens of thoughts running haywire on his mind, he drifted to sleep.