Chapter 2

The woman pressed an elegant lace handkerchief to her nose, her eyebrows pinched in disgust.

I stared at her for exactly two seconds, then shifted my gaze to the tall man beside her.

“Kael Dain?” I didn’t wait for him to nod, then went on. “I’m Elara David. The marriage contract’s here. Confirm it and show me where I can sleep.”

I slung my heavy bag off my shoulder and threw it at him. The strap whipped out with the momentum, slapping the whimpering woman right on the arm.

She let out a sharp gasp and stumbled back a step.

Kael caught the bag with one hand, effortless. He glanced down at the crumpled piece of paper I’d slapped on his chest, his face still completely devoid of expression.

“Did I say something wrong?” The woman—Vivian, obviously—rubbed her arm, her eyes welling up with tears in an instant. “She seems… to really dislike me.”

“Who are you? Do I know you?” I said, then kept walking deeper into the territory.

After a few steps, I realized the heavy thud of boots wasn’t following me. I stopped and turned around. Kael was still standing there, holding my bag in his hand.

“What are you standing there for?” I snapped. “You coming or not?”

Kael said nothing. He just took a step forward, my bag in hand. Vivian was left by the cabin, her lower lip trembling just so.

I caught a glimpse of Kael’s profile out of the corner of my eye. His jaw was tight, his gaze fixed straight ahead, no emotion at all—like cold, hard iron. Now I understood exactly why Liana had lived like she was in hell in my past life. Sticking this suffocating man of few words with a professional victim like Vivian? A gentle soul like my cousin never stood a chance. They would’ve chewed her up and spat her out.

But I wasn’t Liana.

Past the security checkpoint, the true Wolf Clan territory of the Shadowwood Forest spread out before me.

It was rugged and unpolished. Massive stone huts were built straight into the hillsides, thick animal hides draped over the balconies, drying in the faint sunlight. In a mud pit below, a group of young wolves were training in hand-to-hand combat, the dull thud of fists against flesh and bone echoing through the trees.

A few female wolves walked past, slowing down the second they caught my scent. Their eyes raked over my tattered jeans, the grease on my elbows, the faded scar on my neck.

I could hear their snickers, quiet but unashamed, the unmistakable air of contempt hanging thick in the air. Let them stare.

Kael led me straight to the council hall at the heart of the territory and pushed open the heavy wooden door.

Inside, a group of elders took the crumpled contract and squinted at Grandpa’s wobbly signature. I collapsed onto a wooden bench in the corner, my whole body aching faintly, the scar on my back throbbing and itching from the sweat of riding two days straight.

I noticed Kael standing at the exact opposite end of the room. He’d kept a distance of at least three meters from me the entire time, his eyes fixed on the window.

Finally, the oldest man at the table cleared his throat. “Bloodline confirmed. The betrothal is valid.”

Kael turned from the window. He strode over and stopped just short of my personal space, his tall frame casting a shadow over me in an instant. “The wedding is in three days,” he announced. His voice was deep and hoarse, vibrating the wooden floor beneath our feet.

Then, without a second glance at me, he turned and walked out of the hall.

Fine. Play the tough guy, then.

Three days later, the territory was a flurry of activity for the wedding.

I didn’t bother looking for a wedding dress. I showed up in the hall wearing the same faded leather jacket and old boots I’d ridden in on, sticking out like a sore thumb among the elaborately dressed wolves.

“Look at her,” a woman by the door whispered to her friend, not even bothering to lower her voice. “She gets to marry the Alpha just because of a crumpled piece of paper. She’s so lucky she hit the jackpot.”

“Vivian’s the only one who deserves Kael,” another woman muttered, glaring at me fiercely.

I ignored them and pushed my way to the back of the hall. A rough wooden table was heaped with platters of roasted meat, the rich smell of meat mixing with the sharp tang of strong liquor.

Kael sat at the head of the main table, his expression as cold as ice, just like the first day I met him. Vivian sat across from him at an angle. She wore a brand-new pale chiffon dress, wildly out of place in a boisterous hall full of meat-eating werewolves—but that was exactly the effect she was going for. It made her look impossibly fragile.

After a few rounds of drinking, Vivian stood up. She picked up a wine glass and walked slowly toward Kael.

“Kael… tomorrow’s the anniversary of my parents’ death. Do you remember?” She lowered her eyes, a single perfect tear clinging to her eyelashes. “You said you’d go to the Fallen Lands with me.”

She looked so fragile, like she might shatter on the wooden floor at any moment.

Then came her second attack. Vivian turned her tear-filled eyes to me.

“Kael, Elara… I wish you both happiness with all my heart,” her voice cracked. “If Elara dislikes me this much, I can leave the territory. I can pack my bags tonight. But…” She let out a sob, turning back to Kael.

“Kael, please don’t forget to pick me up tomorrow morning. That day… I really need you by my side.”

Kael stared at her for a long time. Slowly, he nodded his head firmly. “I’ll be there.”

I watched Vivian bury her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking. I laughed.

I pushed my chair back so hard it scraped the floor, took two long strides forward, and stood right in front of Kael.

I tiptoed, looped one arm aggressively around his thick neck, and yanked him forcefully toward me.

Before anyone could gasp, I tilted my head and sank my teeth hard into the spot where his neck met his shoulder.

I bit down hard. In front of the entire wolf pack, I marked their Alpha right then and there.

Kael’s massive body tensed in an instant. I could feel the muscles beneath his skin stretch tight like a drawn bowstring, but he didn’t pull away. He didn’t even flinch.

I slowly released my jaw, swiped my thumb across my lower lip, then turned and stared straight at Vivian’s pale, shocked face, raising one eyebrow.

“Sorry about that,” I drawled, “but from now on, he checks with me first before making any plans.”