Chapter 30: A Dangerous Proposal
(Elara's POV)
"Ask Lucian to be your fake mate," Willow suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief through the video call. "He already wants to eat you alive. May as well put that hunger to use!"
I nearly choked on my water. "Are you insane?"
"What? It's perfect! You need a mate for the family dinner, he's clearly obsessed with you—"
"He is not obsessed with me," I interrupted, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. "We had... encounters. That's all."
Willow rolled her eyes dramatically. "Sure, and I'm just a casual stylist who doesn't gossip. Come on, Elara! The Alpha King of the Midnight Howlers doesn't just randomly sleep with hospital researchers."
I paced my mother's guest bedroom, the soft carpet muffling my agitated steps. "Even if that were
