Chapter 1
632words
There were no vows exchanged, no tender kisses shared.
Only me, Aurora, standing in the castle's frigid hall wearing a borrowed, outdated wedding dress—like a piece of forgotten luggage someone had carelessly abandoned.
The werewolf nobles surrounding us exchanged glances both contemptuous and curious, their whispers hissing through the air like venomous snakes.
"An ordinary human... and merely the adopted daughter of some insignificant businessman..."
"I hear she's practically mute—pathologically reclusive."
"The Alpha is simply using her as a temporary solution—to stabilize the bloodline during these volatile times."
"Once the three-month contract expires, she'll be discarded."
"Lucian's merely employing her as a stopgap measure to stabilize the bloodline during this crisis. When the three-month contract ends, she'll be dismissed without ceremony."
I lowered my gaze, fingers secretly clutching the fire-patterned stone my mother had bequeathed me, safely hidden within my voluminous sleeve.
It radiated a subtle warmth that only I could perceive—a secret comfort in this den of wolves.
My "husband" Lucian hadn't even bothered with formal attire.
He wore merely a meticulously tailored black suit, as though he'd stepped away from a business negotiation rather than into his own wedding.
He approached me, silver-gray eyes devoid of warmth, revealing only the calculating scrutiny and stern authority of an Alpha accustomed to command.
"The lawyer has already explained the contract terms," he murmured flatly, his voice low enough for only me to hear. "Three months. Fulfill your obligations, and you'll receive sufficient funds to salvage your adoptive father's failing company."
"Beyond that, harbor no unrealistic expectations. And under no circumstances are you to enter my private domain—the West Wing."
I nodded meekly, deliberately avoiding his penetrating gaze.
He couldn't discern my true thoughts behind my downcast eyes.
He believed he'd married a frightened rabbit—a docile human sacrificed to save a failing family business.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
I could sense the souls slumbering within every stone of this ancient fortress, could almost hear the whispers of werewolf ancestors emanating from the portrait-lined walls.
My silence wasn't born of weakness but of caution—the world I perceived was far more vast and dangerous than any of them could imagine.
This marriage provided the perfect cover to infiltrate the werewolf clan's inner sanctum and uncover the truth behind my mother's mysterious disappearance.
That very night, an assassination attempt against Lucian erupted during the formal family dinner.
Traitors in league with rival vampire families fired a silver bullet toward Lucian's exposed back.
Everyone froze in shock. Lucian didn't even have time to complete his transformation.
Everyone except me.
In my perception, time seemed to decelerate.
I tracked the bullet's trajectory as it sliced through the air, sensing both the murderous intent and underlying fear emanating from the assassin's heart.
Almost instinctively, I gave the heavy oak tablecloth a subtle tug.
The expensive wine bottle toppled with precision, its contents cascading like a crimson waterfall, interrupting the bullet's path for the briefest moment—just enough to cause a one-inch deviation that sent it embedding into the wall behind Lucian instead of his heart.
Deathly silence descended upon the banquet hall.
Lucian whirled around, his predatory gaze instantly locking onto me—the only person still in motion.
I feigned terror, letting the glass in my hand slip and shatter against the floor, perfectly concealing my deliberate intervention.
The dramatic display perfectly masked my subtle manipulation of the tablecloth.
"I... I'm so sorry..." I stammered, my voice quavering like a frightened fawn's.
He studied me intently, his eyes filled with suspicion and the irritation of an Alpha interrupted mid-hunt.
"Take her to her quarters."
He coldly instructed the butler before turning to address the traitor, not deigning to spare me another glance.
