Chapter 4 This Is My Fiancée

The black wolf landed with a crash, its massive body landing solidly in front of Delia.

Nova was sent flying hard, slamming down onto the office desk and scattering papers everywhere. She struggled to her feet, fangs bared, furious.

But the moment she got a clear look at the black wolf, her red eyes shrank.

The wolf stood a full head taller than her, nearly ten feet long, with tight, powerful muscle lines and a coat of sleek black fur that radiated sheer dominance. Nova was no match for it at all.

The wolf tilted its head slightly, giving her a cold, indifferent glance.

Nova's whole body went rigid, and the fangs she'd been baring instinctively pulled back a little.

Beside her, Rupert's face went pale.

As a pack Alpha, his senses far exceeded those of ordinary pack members. The aura rolling off this black wolf was more dangerous than any Alpha he'd ever faced. It wasn't about size—it was sheer dominance of bloodline and rank.

Rupert's fists tightened at his sides, his heart filled with dread.

The wolf kept a watchful eye on Nova, and once it was clear she wouldn't attack again, it slowly began to shift.

The black fur receded rapidly, the massive beast form pulling inward and reshaping into a human figure.

The man had short dark brown hair, sharp and deep-set features, a straight nose, and a tall, lean build. Even in human form, the pressure he gave off didn't ease one bit.

Delia's eyes went wide.

It was Chris.

She'd never met him in person, but she'd seen his photos. There was no mistaking him.

Chris turned and scanned Delia from head to toe. Once he was sure she wasn't hurt, he gave a small nod.

"You okay?"

Delia shook her head blankly, too stunned to speak.

By now Nova had shifted back too, her clothes in disarray, a few bright red scratches from the desk corner still fresh on her neck. She clutched her arm, staring at Chris, shocked and wary.

Rupert said coldly, "Who are you? Who gave you permission to walk into my office?"

Chris just gave him a flat look and said nothing.

Being completely ignored made Rupert's expression darken.

He was the pack's Alpha, the leader of his people. Being dismissed on his own turf, and having someone knock aside the person he was guarding right in front of everyone—that was a provocation no Alpha could let slide.

"I'm talking to you." Rupert stepped forward. "Which pack do you belong to?"

Only then did Chris look up, his gaze meeting Rupert's.

Rupert stood six foot one, tall by any standard, but Chris towered over him by half a head. Even standing casually without any aggressive stance, his presence dropped the temperature in the room.

"Chris Levin," Chris said simply.

Rupert froze.

The Levin Pack was the largest in the empire's north, controlling the entire frozen tundra region and border trade, with holdings in real estate, energy, and defense.

Chris, the Levin Pack's Alpha, had killed three rival pack Alphas alone on the border battlefield at sixteen. His methods were brutal enough that even his own people feared him.

Every wolf knew what the Levin name meant. But why would he show up here out of nowhere—and go out of his way to protect Delia?

Rupert's eyes moved between the two of them, and then something seemed to click. A cold, mocking smile tugged at his lips.

"I get it now." He let out a short laugh. "She hired you?"

Delia looked confused. "What?"

"You hired him to put on a show." Rupert crossed his arms, his eyes full of contempt. "You've got no one backing you, so you found some outside wolf to play a big shot. What—trying to pressure me into going through with the mating ceremony on schedule? And this is the best you could come up with?"

He looked Chris up and down, his tone carrying a clear warning. "Impersonating someone from the Levin Pack is a serious offense. You have any idea what that gets you?"

Chris ignored him entirely and looked at Delia instead. "Let's go."

Delia had no desire to argue with Rupert anymore. He looked down on her to his core—nothing she said would change that.

"Wait!" Nova suddenly stepped forward to block them.

"Leave the ring!"

Delia held her hand close, firm and steady. "I already told you. I'm not giving it to you."

"So it's about the ring." Chris glanced at Delia.

Delia lowered her head, embarrassed. It was their engagement ring, and she couldn't even hold onto it herself. She'd had to drag Chris into this. She was sure he thought she was useless.

But Chris just stepped forward and stood squarely in front of her.

"You want to buy it? Fine."

He reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a note, and set it lightly on the desk.

"I gave her that ring. You want it, pay what's on that paper. If you can manage it, it's yours."

Rupert glanced at the number and his face went ashen.

Even if he drained his entire pack's finances for five straight years, it still wouldn't be enough.

His jaw twitched, rage and humiliation churning inside him. Delia had no business owning something like this. It had to be fake. It had to be forged.

"This is just a piece of paper," Rupert said coldly. "What does it prove? Delia, the actor you hired could've at least tried harder."

Chris picked the note back up without a word. "Sounds like the Churchill Group's finances aren't doing so well."

The comment hit exactly where it hurt. Rupert's face flushed with anger, but he had nothing to fire back with.

Chris was done with him. He turned to Delia and held out his hand.

"Car's outside. Let's go."

"Don't move!" Rupert snapped.

"I don't care who you are—she's my fiancée. Our engagement hasn't been called off. You have no business getting involved."

He stepped in front of Delia, looking down at her with a hard, commanding stare.

"The mating ceremony is one month away. When you're done throwing your little fit, go home and behave. I'll let today go."

Delia felt a pang in her chest. Let it go? To Rupert, every hurt she'd swallowed, every time she'd pushed back, was just her throwing a tantrum.

She was about to say something when the office door swung open.

"Mr. Churchill." The deputy director leaned in. "The Levin Pack is sending someone to inspect the joint project today—would you prefer the afternoon, or—"

He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes landed on Chris, and his face changed completely.

"You—you came yourself? The inspection wasn't scheduled until this afternoon. I'll get people ready to receive you right away!"

All the color drained from Rupert's face. He spun around and stared at Chris.

He was actually from the Levin Pack.

How on earth did Delia know the Alpha of the Levin Pack?