Chapter five
1044 Words
Lucian’s POV
I don’t know why I brought up marriage.
It was reckless. Impulsive And completely out of character for me.
And yet, it felt right.
I felt strangely drawn to her.
She wasn’t human. That much was obvious. She had a scent: it was faint and barely there, but it was unmistakably wolf.
I remember looking into her whiskey colored eyes last night and I felt something. I could feel my wolf stirring.
Aria Hale.
My soon-to-be wife.
I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of my penthouse, my hands clasped behind my back as I stared down at the city lights below. Sylberia never truly slept. Something is always happening.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
A message from my driver.
She’s here.
I exhaled slowly, grounding myself.
“Prepare the guest wing,” I said into the intercom, my voice calm and controlled. “And cancel my morning meetings.”
There was a brief pause on the other end.
“All of them, Your Highness?” my personal assistant asked carefully.
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation. “All of them.”
Another pause, longer this time, before she answered. “Understood.”
I slipped my phone into my pocket just as the elevator chimed softly behind me.
Aria stepped out hesitantly, her movements cautious, and Theo, my driver, followed behind her, carrying a medium-sized suitcase.
She looked stiff.
And her eyes met mine.
“Lucian,” she said softly.
“Aria,” I replied.
“Thank you for… um… letting me stay,” she added quickly, her fingers curling into the fabric of her coat. “I promise I won’t be any trouble. I’ll stay out of your way.”
That was when I noticed it.
A faint mark on her cheek.
My jaw tightened slightly, but I didn’t comment on it.
I turned to face her fully.
“Aria,” I said evenly, “I don’t think that will be necessary.”
She frowned. “Why? I don’t understand.”
“You’re not a guest,” I said softly. “You’re my future wife. You’ll live here. You’ll eat whatever you want. You’ll go wherever you want. And no one will lay a hand on you without my permission.”
Her breath hitched.
Something flickered in her eyes. But, it was gone as soon as it came.
“I’ll have my lawyer bring the contract in an hour,” I continued. “You’ll read it thoroughly. Anything you don’t agree with, just let me know and we'll amend it. Then, we’ll get married tomorrow, and then we’ll go to the palace.”
Her eyes widened. “The palace?”
“Yes.”
“Why do we need to go to the palace?” she asked hesitantly.
I studied her face carefully.
Wait.
She doesn’t know who I am?
“My father needs to meet my wife.”
She shook her head slightly. “Your father?”
“Yes. King Aldric Thorne.”
Her lips parted. “Your father is the King? That makes you—”
“Wait,” I interrupted gently. “Aria… do you not know who I am?”
She shook her head again, her expression innocent and curious.
So she’s not a gold digger.
Good.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I really didn’t know. I didn’t mean to disrespect you or anything.
“It’s fine,” I said with a small laugh. “Really.”
I gestured down the hall. “Your room is being prepared. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“Alright. What would you like?”
“Anything is fine.” she said with a smile.
While we ate, the housekeeper finished preparing her room. Aria didn’t ask any questions. I thought she'd ask about me being a prince and all, but she didn't. She seemed quieter than she had been the night before. She wasn't as bold or forward.
I knew taking her to my father would put an end to his constant political matchmaking.
After dinner, I showed her to her room.
“Rest,” I said. “You look exhausted. I’ll come get you when the lawyer arrives.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Minutes after she disappeared down the hall, the file I’d requested was delivered to my tablet.
“Good. Let's know who my wife is.” I muttered.
An hour later, my lawyer, Davis Cross, arrived.
I sent for Aria.
When she entered the study, she hesitated briefly before sitting across from me.
“Aria,” I said, “this is Mr. Davis Cross. My lawyer.”
“Oh,” she said faintly, eyeing him with uncertainty.
“He’s signed an NDA,” I added.
She nodded. “Alright.”
I slid the contract across the desk toward her.
“Read it carefully. Anything you don’t agree with, tell me.”
She scanned the pages slowly.
I noticed the exact moment she reached that clause.
Her cheeks flushed.
She looked up. “We’re… exclusive?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
I frowned slightly. “Is that a problem?”
“Well,” she said hesitantly, “I just thought since some Alphas take more than one wife… and since you’re the prince…”
I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped from my throat.
“No, Aria. I won’t take another wife. I’ll be married to you. Only you.”
Her smile was small but genuine.
“Okay.”
She signed.
Davis stood. “I’ll have copies made.”
“Good,” I said. “You’re dismissed.”
He bowed slightly. “Goodnight, Your Highness. Miss Aria.”
I had the urge to correct him—to him that it's Mrs. Thorne, but I didn’t.
The next morning, we stood in front of the marriage registry.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
She inhaled shakily. “Yes. Let’s go.”
Moments later, it was done.
Aria stared at the marriage certificate in her hands like she couldn't believe it.
I smiled.
The car pulled up in front of us, and I pulled her towards it.
“It's time to meet my father.” I said to her softly.
She took a deep breath and replied. “Let's go.”
- Writer
