Claimed By The Enemy Alpha

Uninvited Guest

I sat on the left side of the car, my head pressed against the tinted window as I watched the city streets pass by.

On the right side, William’s focus was entirely on his phone, working, while his other hand lay on my lap.

I looked back out the window, tracking our progress. The driver bypassed the turn that led toward my penthouse. Steering the car toward the highway that headed into the northern suburbs.

"We are going the wrong way. This route does not lead back to my house."

William locked his phone and slid it into the inner pocket of his jacket. He squeezed my thigh once before turning to look at me, face perfectly calm.

"We are going to my residence, Astrid," he said. "That would be your new home."

I stared at him, my vision focusing entirely on his face, especially his lips. "No.” I said, slowly. “We never agreed to that. I like my own space. I am not living with you."

Living at his house would lead to a lot of setbacks on my end. The plan was for him to be in my space.

But William only pulled his hand back, resting it on his own knee. "We are married now. It is only reasonable for you to live under my roof as my wife."

Wife.

The word wife rang loud in my head. I was his wife, and I felt like the title stripped away every piece of authority I had spent years building.

I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off.

"Do not waste your energy," William added, looking toward the window. "Your things have already been moved, Kaelen handled all that."

I squeezed my hands into fists, my fingernails biting into my palms. I utterly hate when he does that. Making decisions for me like I was incapable of making my own.

I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying anything further. It was already done, and will just have to deal with it for now. Until I was able to get hold of the video he has of me, or equally find compromising evidence that would lead to his downfall. I was playing the long game after all, and that requires a lot of patience.

I glanced upward and caught Kaelen eyes on me through the rearview mirror. He has this look of satisfaction on his face, totally enjoying my lack of control.

I couldn't wait to finally hear from Yui. The moment we arrived, I would be able to speak with her as I was unable to after the ceremony. And the moment I got any information she might have on the three men from William’s pack, the power dynamic in this marriage would change.

The remainder of the car ride was long and spent in absolute silence. We drove deeper into a secluded part of London that was completely covered by thick forest.

The driver turned down a long dirt road and continued forward for about a mile. I mapped the entire route in my head.

So this is where he's been hiding all this time.

The car passed through a set of massive gates, and the moment we went through the threshold, a tingling sensation passed through my skin.

A barrier, I realized.

There was a magical barrier placed around the perimeter of this estate. Probably designed to hide and prevent people from locating this property. I shifted my gaze away from the window and looked up to find William’s green eyes already fixed on me. He had been watching my reaction.

"What?" I asked, folding my arms tightly over my dress.

He did not answer. He simply looked back toward the front windshield as the car pulled up a circular driveway.

The vehicle came to a slow stop, and the rear door was immediately pulled open from the outside by a waiting guard. I stepped out of the backseat, the heavy layers of my dress bunching around my ankles. William stepped out right behind me.

And I could immediately feel eyes on me from all directions. It made the hair at the back of my neck stand.

So, I squared my shoulder and raised my head high, refusing to show any sign of discomfort or weakness as I followed William up the stone steps and into the main building.

The walls were made of wood and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in light. A massive stone fireplace was placed to the side of the living area, where different people were lounging on the sofas.

The air was thick with the overwhelming musk of multiple werewolves.

As we crossed the threshold, the conversations in the room ceased. And a woman walked straight toward us from the adjoining corridor.

She was tall, had long, dark hair that was tied back in a tight ponytail. She wore a gray blazer over black trousers and stopped a few feet away from us, her brown eyes scanning me from my hair down to the hem of my gown.

"Well," the woman said, her voice carrying a mocking tone. "If it isn't the famous Astrid Lancetti."

I stared at her, keeping my expression entirely void of emotion. Just who the f**k does this woman think she is.