THE DEVIL'S ALPHA BRIDE

THE WINDOW

I stared at the old building for another few seconds.

Nothing moved.

The window where I thought I had seen someone was completely dark now.

I blinked and looked again.

Still nothing.

Maybe Amara was right.

Maybe I was imagining things.

I stepped away from the balcony and closed the curtains.

I wasn't going to spend my second night in the Draven estate convincing myself that every shadow was hiding a secret.

At least, that was what I told myself.

I changed into my night clothes and climbed into bed.

Sleep didn't come easily.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that window.

And the curtain moving.

Eventually, exhaustion won.

---

Morning came quietly.

I woke to a soft knock on my door.

“Mrs. Draven?”

I opened my eyes.

For a moment, I forgot where I was.

Then I saw the ring on my finger.

Right.

The wedding.

The Draven estate.

Kael.

“Come in.”

Amara entered carrying a tray.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.”

She placed the tray on the table.

I watched her for a moment.

Then I remembered the previous night.

“Amara.”

She turned.

“Yes?”

“That building outside.”

Her hands stopped.

Again.

Just for a second.

“You mean the old one?”

“So you know which one I mean.”

She looked at me.

“I've lived here for years.”

“What's inside?”

“Nothing.”

“You said that yesterday.”

“Because it's true.”

I got out of bed.

“Then why does everyone act strange whenever I mention it?”

Amara looked uncomfortable.

“I don't know what you mean.”

“You do.”

She shook her head.

“Mrs. Draven, there are parts of this estate that aren't my business.”

That answer caught me off guard.

“Whose business are they?”

She didn't answer.

Instead, she picked up the empty tray.

“I should let you get ready.”

“Amara.”

She stopped at the door.

“Be careful where you wander.”

Then she left.

I stared at the closed door.

That was not an answer.

It was a warning.

---

At breakfast, Kael was already there.

He sat at the head of the table, reading through several documents.

I took the seat across from him.

For a few minutes, neither of us spoke.

Then I said, “Your servants are scared of you.”

His eyes remained on the papers.

“I know.”

“They're also scared of that building.”

This time, he looked up.

His expression changed so slightly that I almost missed it.

“Lena.”

“What?”

“Leave it alone.”

I leaned back.

“Why?”

“Because there are things in this house you don't need to involve yourself in.”

“That's not an explanation.”

“It wasn't meant to be.”

I stared at him.

“You know, for someone who barely talks, you somehow manage to say a lot without answering anything.”

Kael's eyes stayed on mine.

“You ask too many questions.”

“And you give too few answers.”

Silence.

Then he looked back at his papers.

“Stay away from the building.”

I frowned.

“You're serious.”

“Yes.”

“Is it dangerous?”

He didn't answer immediately.

Then—

“Yes.”

That single word made my stomach tighten.

Before I could ask anything else, Kael stood.

“I have work.”

He walked away.

I watched him disappear through the doorway.

For some reason, his answer bothered me more than if he had simply told me it was abandoned.

---

By afternoon, I had almost convinced myself to forget about it.

Almost.

Then a visitor arrived.

I happened to be walking through the entrance hall when the front doors opened.

A tall man in an expensive dark suit entered with two other men behind him.

He looked confident.

He spoke to the guards without hesitation.

Then Kael appeared at the top of the staircase.

Everything changed.

The visitor stopped talking.

His shoulders stiffened.

Even the men behind him lowered their eyes.

Kael slowly walked down the stairs.

“Victor.”

“Kael.”

They shook hands.

Victor's smile looked forced.

His eyes moved toward me.

“And you must be Lena.”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

He smiled politely.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thank you.”

His eyes briefly moved to Kael.

Something passed between them.

I couldn't understand it.

Kael simply said, “My office.”

Victor nodded.

“Of course.”

They walked away together.

I remained where I was.

I'd seen fear before.

But this was different.

Victor didn't look like a frightened servant.

He looked like a powerful man who knew exactly what Kael was capable of.

And that made me wonder what kind of reputation my husband had built before I ever met him.

---

That night, I couldn't sleep.

I kept thinking about the old building.

Eventually, I got out of bed and walked toward the balcony.

I pulled the curtains aside.

The estate was almost completely dark.

I looked toward the trees.

There it was.

The old building.

Dark.

Silent.

Exactly as it had been.

I almost smiled at myself.

See?

Nothing.

I turned away.

Then something caught my eye.

I looked back.

One window was glowing.

A faint yellow light.

My smile disappeared.

I stepped closer to the glass.

The light flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then stopped.

I stared.

A shadow moved across the window.

My heart began beating faster.

Someone was inside.

I couldn't see their face.

They stood completely still.

Then slowly...

the figure raised one hand.

My breath caught.

Their arm lifted higher.

And pointed directly toward my bedroom.

I froze.

The light suddenly went out.

The room went completely dark.

I stood there, unable to move.

Then—

three slow knocks came from behind me.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

I turned around.

The balcony doors were still locked.

And I was alone in the room.