KAEL'S POV
She looked at me like I was her hero, and it made me want to break something.
Sera stood at the altar in her white dress, eyes shining with hope I didn't deserve. The mate bond hummed between us, warm and insistent, begging me to close the distance and claim her properly.
I kept my face cold as stone.
"Do you, Kael Stormridge, take this woman as your mate and Luna?" the elder asked.
"I do." The words tasted like ash. This was business. A contract. Nothing more.
Liar, Shadow snarled in my head. She's our MATE. Stop this.
I blocked him out. Four weeks had passed since the engagement, and my wolf still hadn't accepted what we had to do. He didn't understand that love was weakness. That caring made you vulnerable.
That the Nightshade Pack's threat had forced my hand.
After that text, I'd tripled security. Put guards on Sera without telling her why. The contract wedding had become necessary—as my wife, she'd have pack protection. As my rejected mate, she'd be easy prey.
I was protecting her. That was all.
"I now pronounce you mates and Luna," the elder declared.
Sera smiled up at me, hopeful and terrified. Waiting for the kiss that would seal the bond.
I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers—quick, cold, nothing like the claiming kiss a real mate would give. Her smile faltered. Good. Better she learned now not to expect romance.
The small crowd clapped politely. I'd kept the wedding tiny despite the Blackwoods' protests—just pack leadership and immediate family. No spectacle. No vulnerability.
"Congratulations, Alpha," Marcus said quietly as we moved to the reception. His tone held judgment. "You got what you wanted."
"What the pack needs," I corrected. "There's a difference."
"Is there?" He glanced at Sera, who stood alone while pack members whispered and avoided her. "She looks miserable."
"She'll adjust." I grabbed champagne from a passing server. "It's only three years."
"You keep saying that like it makes this right."
Before I could respond, Lyanna Whitefang appeared at my elbow. My childhood friend wore a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Congratulations on your... arrangement," she said, voice dripping false sweetness. "I'm sure you'll be very happy."
"Lyanna." I kept my tone neutral. She'd been furious when I announced the engagement, had expected me to choose her instead. "Thank you for coming."
"Of course." Her blue eyes tracked to Sera with undisguised hatred. "Though I have to wonder what the Moon Goddess was thinking, pairing you with such an obvious mistake. A wolfless Luna? The other packs must be laughing."
"The other packs will respect my choice or face consequences," I said coldly.
"Will they?" She leaned closer, her voice dropping. "Or will they see weakness and attack? You know as well as I do that she can't defend herself. Can't defend the pack. She's a liability, Kael."
She's OUR MATE, Shadow roared. Tell this female to back off!
"My marriage isn't your concern," I said instead.
Lyanna's smile sharpened. "Everything about you concerns me. We grew up together. I know what you need—what the pack needs. And it's not some defective girl playing dress-up as Luna."
She walked away before I could respond, leaving poison in her wake.
Across the room, Sera stood near the windows, looking small and lost. Pack members gave her a wide berth, whispering behind their hands. I caught fragments:
"—can't believe he actually married her—"
"—no wolf at all, how is she supposed to—"
"—three years at most, then he'll find a real mate—"
Her shoulders hunched like each word was a physical blow. The bond pulled at me, demanding I go to her, defend her, make the whispers stop.
I stayed where I was.
This was necessary. She needed to understand her place. Needed to stop looking at me with hope and start accepting reality.
But then Derek Blackwood, Sera's cousin, approached her with a cruel smile. I couldn't hear what he said, but Sera's face went white. Her hands trembled.
"Having regrets already, cousin?" Derek's voice carried now. "Don't worry. When the Alpha gets tired of his charity project, maybe you can come crawling back home. We'll find some use for you."
Something in Sera's expression shattered.
Go to her, Shadow demanded. NOW.
My feet moved before I could stop them. I appeared at Sera's side, and Derek's smug expression faltered.
"Is there a problem?" My voice was deadly quiet.
"No, Alpha." Derek backed up immediately. "Just congratulating my cousin on her... good fortune."
"Then you're dismissed." I let Alpha power roll off me in waves. "Permanently. You're banned from Silvercrest territory."
Derek's face went red, but he didn't dare argue. He fled like the coward he was.
Sera stared up at me, shocked. "You didn't have to—"
"You're my wife now. No one disrespects you without consequences." The words came out harder than intended. "That's part of the contract. Public respect."
Her hopeful expression dimmed. Right. She'd thought I defended her because I cared. Better to crush that delusion now.
"The reception is ending," I said flatly. "We should go."
"Go where?" Her voice was so small.
"Home. To complete the contract terms."
Understanding and fear flooded her face. The wedding night. The clinical consummation that would make this legal in pack law.
Don't do this, Shadow begged. Not like this. She deserves better.
But I couldn't afford to give her better. Couldn't afford to let emotion in. My parents had loved each other, and look where that got them—dead in an ambush because Dad had been too distracted protecting Mom.
I wouldn't make that mistake.
"Marcus will drive us," I said, already walking away.
The ride to my penthouse was silent. Sera sat pressed against the car door like she wanted to disappear. The bond ached with her fear, but I forced myself to ignore it.
We reached my building. Took the elevator to the top floor. The doors opened on my cold, modern penthouse—all steel and glass and no warmth.
Like me.
Sera stepped inside, looking terrified and heartbreakingly young.
"Your room is down the hall," I said. "You have an hour to prepare."
"Prepare?" She turned to me, eyes wide. "For what?"
"To consummate the marriage. It's in the contract—within twenty-four hours of the ceremony. We need to make this legally binding."
Her face went white. "But I thought... maybe tonight we could just talk? Get to know each other?"
"We have three years to talk. Tonight, we fulfill contract terms."
"Kael, please—" She reached for my hand, and the bond sang at the contact.
I jerked away like she'd burned me.
"One hour, Sera. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
I walked to my room and shut the door, leaving her standing alone in the cold penthouse.
Monster, Shadow whispered.
My phone buzzed. Another text from the unknown number:
Pretty wedding. Shame about what happens next. Sleep well, Alpha. We're closer than you think.
They were inside my building.
And Sera was defenseless.