BLOOD AND DEBT

The doors slammed open behind me, and two guards pushed me forward. “Don’t make this difficult, Aria,” one muttered. Too late. My entire life was already difficult. At the end of the hall, Kaelen Draven—the Alpha I was being forced to marry—stood waiting like he had better things to do than marry the daughter of a debtor. He didn’t smile. He didn’t blink. He barely even breathed. Good. I didn’t want warmth from him. The officiant cleared his throat. “Aria Hale, you are here as repayment for your father’s debt. Do you accept this union?” I hated the word “union.” There was nothing united about this. “Yes,” I said, because my family’s lives were tied to that one word. Kaelen’s eyes flicked to me. No emotion. Just a cold, assessing stare that made it clear he didn’t want a wife—he wanted control. “Alpha Kaelen?” the officiant asked. “Yes,” he answered. Quick. Sharp. Final. The officiant sliced Kaelen’s palm, then handed me the blade. I cut mine without hesitation. Our blood dripped into the bowl, the ritual ended, and that was it. I was his. “Your family will be released,” the officiant announced. Good. Because if he didn’t keep that promise, I would destroy him. Kaelen walked toward me. He didn’t offer congratulations. He didn’t say a single polite word. Instead, he stopped inches in front of me. “You won’t run,” he said quietly. “Don’t embarrass yourself.” I met his stare. “Watch me.” His jaw ticked once. Irritation. Maybe surprise. Then he turned and walked away like I wasn’t worth finishing the argument. Perfect. Let him think I was harmless. LATER THAT NIGHT The celebration barely lasted an hour. Wolves drank and talked. Kaelen didn’t stay. He walked out without even looking at me. Which was fine. Because I wasn’t planning to stay either. The moment I slipped away from the crowd, I headed straight for the east gate. No hesitation. My heart was racing, but my mind was clear. My family was locked in Kaelen’s debt cells. They needed me. I wasn’t going to live in his house while they suffered. I reached the gate. One guard. Distracted. Easy. I took a breath, stepped forward— And a hand clamped over my mouth. I didn’t even get a chance to scream. Someone dragged me back against a hard chest. Powerful. Warm. Familiar. Kaelen. Of course. “You really thought you’d make it past the gate?” he murmured. I struggled against him. He didn’t even flinch. “Let go,” I hissed when he finally removed his hand. He turned me around, pinning me with a stare that was now very much alive—and very annoyed. “You’re my wife,” he said. “Your place is with me.” “My place is with my family.” “Who are alive because of me.” “No,” I snapped. “They’re alive because I agreed to this.” His jaw tensed. A muscle in his cheek flickered. For the first time, I saw something that wasn’t ice—frustration. “You’re not a prisoner,” he said. “Then why are you stopping me from leaving?” He stepped closer. Too close. I held his stare anyway. “Because you’ll get yourself killed,” he said flatly. “And I’m not losing another thing today.” Another thing? I didn’t know what that meant, but I didn’t care. I didn’t trust him. “You will sleep in my quarters tonight,” he said. I scoffed. “Absolutely not.” He leaned in until our noses nearly touched. His voice dropped. “Then I’ll carry you.” My stomach twisted—part anger, part adrenaline, part something I didn’t want to name. “You can’t control me forever,” I whispered. Kaelen’s eyes didn’t soften. They burned. “I don’t need forever,” he said. “Just long enough for you to realize I’m not your enemy.” I stared at him, stunned for half a second. Then he stepped back and said, “Walk.” I didn’t have a choice. I followed. But I didn’t go quietly. Every step I took, I planned how to get closer to him—not because I wanted him, but because knowing him was the only way to beat him. This wasn’t over. Not even close.