Chapter 6

AMY'S POV

The black sedan pulled up to the gates of Richard's mansion, and my breath caught in my throat.

I had expected something impressive. Richard Wellington was one of the richest Alphas in New York, after all. I thought I had seen it all with Derek's family but this was beyond anything I could have imagined.

It was a massive estate of dark stone and floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminated from within like a beacon in the night. Multiple levels stretched across the property, with balconies and terraces that overlooked meticulously manicured gardens. Fountains dotted the landscape, their water catching the light and sparkling like liquid diamonds.

It wasn't just a house. It was a fortress. A kingdom.

The driver pulled up to the grand entrance, where a massive oak door stood waiting. He stepped out and opened my door, offering a respectful nod.

"Welcome to Darkwood Manor, Miss Hart. The Alpha is expecting you inside."

I nodded, my throat too dry to speak. I stepped out of the car, smoothing down my dress, still the same black funeral dress I'd been wearing all day. I felt underdressed, out of place, like a peasant wandering into a palace.

Get it together, Amy, I told myself. You agreed to this. You chose this. Now walk in there like you belong.

I approached the door, and it swung open before I could knock. A butler, tall, silver-haired wolf, greeted me with a warm smile.

"Miss Hart. Please, come in. The Alpha is in the living room."

I stepped inside, and my jaw nearly dropped.

The interior was even more stunning than the exterior. A grand chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting warm golden light across a marble foyer. A sweeping staircase curved upward, lined with paintings that I could only assume were worth more than my entire family's net worth.

I stepped into the living room and met Richard was lounging on a leather couch, one arm draped across the back, the other holding a glass of amber liquid. He was wearing a simple white button-down shirt, untucked, with the top three buttons undone. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing toned forearms dusted with dark hair.

His feet were bare.

I had never seen Richard Wellington so relaxed and normal.

His dark hair was slightly disheveled, as if he'd been running his fingers through it. The open collar of his shirt revealed a hint of his chest, the muscles defined and sculpted. His jaw was sharp, shadowed with a hint of stubble, and his captivating green eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my knees weak.

I swallowed hard, trying to remember how to breathe.

He was gorgeous. Absolutely, infuriatingly, unfairly gorgeous.

Amy, what the hell are you doing? I scolded myself.

He's thirty-eight. I shouldn't be finding a man almost twice my age attractive.

But I did. And I hated it.

Richard rose from the couch, his movements fluid and graceful, like a predator rising from its perch. He set his glass down on the coffee table and walked toward me, his bare feet silent on the polished floor.

“Thank you for today, Alpha,” I bowed my head in respect.

"Richard," he corrected, stopping just a foot away. "You're about to become my wife. I think we can drop the formalities."

I nodded stiffly. "Richard,” I tried.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Relax. I don't bite.” His eyes flashed with amusement as he continued, "Unless you ask nicely."

My face heated, and I quickly looked away.

He gestured toward the couch. "Sit. We have a contract to discuss."

I sat down on the edge of the couch, perching like a bird ready to take flight at any moment. Richard sat beside me, close enough that I could smell his cologne, woodsy and warm, but not quite touching.

On the coffee table in front of us was a thick folder. Richard picked it up and handed it to me.

"The marriage contract," he said. "Every clause is spelled out clearly. I want you to read it carefully before you sign."

I opened the folder and began to read.

The terms were straightforward, the marriage would last exactly one year, beginning from the date of the ceremony. During that time, I would act as Richard's Luna, attending pack events, hosting gatherings, and performing all the duties expected of the Luna of Darkwood Pack.

In return, Richard would pay for my mother's medical expenses in full, provide me with a monthly allowance of fifty thousand dollars, and fund my education at any university I chose.

There were also clauses about discretion, no public scandals, no airing of personal grievances, no behavior that could damage Richard's reputation.

And then there were the terms of our... intimate arrangement.

I read the words carefully, my face heating with each line. Richard expected me to share his bed. To provide him with "wifely duties" whenever he requested. To be available to him physically, without question or protest.

But there was also a clause that surprised me: "Either party may request a temporary suspension of physical intimacy, provided they give reasonable notice and justification."

I blinked at the page. He actually put in a clause for consent? For my comfort?

I looked up at him, confused. "You're giving me a chance to say no?"

Richard's expression was unreadable. "I told you. I'm not a monster. If you're genuinely not in the mood, I won't force you. But if you're just being stubborn or playing games.." his eyes darkened "...I won't tolerate that either."

I nodded slowly, processing his words. He was giving me boundaries and being respectful.

Derek never cared about my boundaries.

‘You shouldn't be thinking about him right now,’ Lexie scolded me and I quickly shook the thoughts of him away.

I continued reading. The final clause stated that the contract would be automatically void if either party was unfaithful to the other.

"Interesting," I murmured. "You're promising to be faithful to me?"

Richard leaned back, his arm draping across the back of the couch behind me. "I'm not Derek. I don't sleep around. When I make a commitment, I keep it."

"And if I'm not faithful to you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

His eyes flashed dangerously. "Then you'll find out exactly how ruthless I can be. Understood?"

I shivered, but I nodded. "Understood."

We went over the contract in detail, clause by clause. Richard explained the finer points, the financial arrangements, the expectations for pack appearances, the timeline for public announcements.

Then he showed the last clause. “You'll have to move in with me after signing the contract.”

I blinked. "What?"

“I don't think that should come as a surprise.” He raised his eyebrows at me. “We are getting married, of course you need to live with me. What kind of husband and wife live separately?”

"I understand you but my mother is still recovering," he said. "She needs me right now more than ever. Besides, I haven't told her what's going on yet.”

He gave me a bored look and I started to shift uncomfortable from his intense stare.

“We can figure that out later after your mother recovers, so you can also tell her about us.”

I knew my mom was going to flip when she found out that I was married to a man almost twice my age just to save her life. The fact that it wasn't a random stranger but my mate's Uncle would make her even more.

‘She's going to forgive me eventually, won't she?’ I asked Lexie.

‘I can't answer that. We just have to wait and see,’ she responded. ‘We can't go back from this anymore.’

“The wedding ceremony will happen a month from now and your mom needs to be present…” Richard started but I cut him off.

I sighed and stared at the contract. “How long do I have to tell my mother about this?’

“A week after she wakes up,” he answered quickly. “We don't want to waste anymore time. I'll get to planning immediately and I'll let you see the wedding planner to make some decisions on what you want. Even if it's a contract, it's still your wedding. You should enjoy it.”

“Okay.” I nodded.

He leaned back into his chair with his phone in his hands. “Just to be clear, the wedding is going to be something extravagant. All Pack elders in and outside New York will be present including the entire Wellington family. So be prepared.”

My stomach dropped. "Derek will be there."

Richard's smile was cold and sharp. "That's the point."

I swallowed hard, imagining the look on Derek's face when he saw me walking down the aisle toward his uncle.

The humiliation. The fury. The absolute devastation.

It was petty and vengeful, but I wanted it more than anything.

"Fine," I said, picking up the pen Richard had placed on the coffee table. "Let's do this."

I signed my name on the dotted line. Amy Hart.

Richard signed beneath it, his handwriting bold and assertive. Richard Wellington.

The contract was sealed.

I set the pen down and looked at him, my heart pounding. "It's done."

He took the contract from me and set it aside, then turned to face me fully. His eyes roamed over my face, my neck, my shoulders, as if he was memorizing every detail.

"You look exhausted," he observed. "It's been a long day."

"An understatement," I muttered.

He reached out, and before I could react, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was featherlight, but it sent electricity shooting through my veins.

"You should go in and get some rest," he said softly. "The hospital will take care of your mother, don't worry."

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

He stood and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him pull me to my feet. We stood there, inches apart, his hand still wrapped around mine.

"Amy," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're making the right choice. I'll make sure you never regret this."

I met his eyes, searching for the lie. But all I saw was conviction, determination and something else, I couldn't quite name.

"I hope so," I whispered back.

I had just signed away a year of my life to a man I barely knew. A man who was my ex-fiancé's uncle. A man who was powerful, dangerous, and devastatingly attractive.

I had no idea what the future held. But one thing was certain: I had just made the most reckless decision of my life.

And I prayed I wouldn't regret it.