The Lycan Heir's Wife: Reign of the Unexpected Alpha

Chapter 1: Because I Am Your Husband, Mrs. Lorenzo! Night draped Metropolis. In the exclusive Oak Manor Estates of the West District, the grandest castle-like villa remained illuminated as if it were midday. Tonight marked the wedding day of the eldest grandson of the Lycan Group's founding family, the powerful Lorenzo of Metropolis. Logically, marrying Leo Lorenzo – heir to the Lorenzo dynasty and current Executive Director of the Lycan Group, whose wealth rivaled nations – should have been the envy of countless hopefuls. Yet, the glances cast by the surrounding wedding guests towards the woman in white standing in the center aisle were laced with either pity or derision. Sofia Solano stood alone. She knew the groom was reputedly ill; it was precisely why her worthless father, Robert Solano, had coerced her into this proxy marriage. But for the groom to be absent from his own wedding? This was unexpected. Sofia pressed her lips together. True, the ailing groom was rumored to be older and this was his eighth marriage, but the Solano family was marrying off a daughter for the first time. The groom's blatant disregard spoke volumes about Sofia's future status within these opulent walls. This union was undeniably a social climb for the Solano. "Ah, such fortune for this girl, marrying Mr. Leo!" "Indeed. She looks utterly provincial, completely unworthy of the Lorenzo heir!" Don't be too harsh. Remember the previous brides? "She might not even see dawn!" The whispers slithered around Sofia, sending shivers down her spine. Finally，enduring the elaborate ceremony, Sofia was blindfolded and escorted to the bridal suite. "Why are you tying me?" she demanded, frowning. No one answered. The servants pushed her inside and fled instantly, as if lingering a second longer would invite devouring by some unseen beast. Fear coiled in Sofia's chest. This marriage was an unwarranted disaster! No, it was a calamity – she was cursed with the worst luck imaginable. Why have you bound me?she demanded, her brow furrowed. No answer came. The servants shoved her inside and scurried away in an instant, as if lingering a second longer might summon some unseen beast to devour them. Fear coiled tight in Sophia's chest. This marriage was a catastrophe, utterly unfounded! No—it was a curse. She was damned, her fortune the blackest imaginable. She, the daughter long cast out by the Solano, had been dragged back solely because the Lorenzo demanded an alliance. Her father, Robert, forced her to take the place of his precious Isabella. Sofia had resisted. She was poor, not stupid. If this were truly a desirable match, Isabella and her mother would never have yielded this "golden opportunity." Her father, Robert, had forced her to take the place of his precious Isabella. Sophia had resisted. She was poor, not a fool. Had this truly been an advantageous match, Isabella and her mother would never have relinquished this "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." But Grandma needed life-saving medical treatment. Trapped by desperation, Sofia had reluctantly agreed to be the sacrificial bride. Whispers claimed no Lorenzo bride survived the night. Would her life end before dawn? Trapped by desperation, Sophia had reluctantly agreed to be the sacrificial bride. Whispers claimed no Lorenzo bride had ever survived the night. Would her life end before dawn? The sharp click of approaching footsteps shattered her spiraling thoughts. She straightened instantly, every sense straining. A man strode towards her with brutal efficiency, ripped the blindfold from her eyes. Sofia gasped, her breath catching as she instinctively looked up. Leo Lorenzo was infamous: grotesquely old and ugly, twisted by chronic illness, a sadist who delighted in tormenting the vulnerable. Prepared, Sofia had concealed silver needles in her sleeve cuff – a desperate defense if needed. The man before her, however, was startlingly handsome. Sharp, hooded eyes radiated danger above a blade-straight nose and a sensual, yet cruel mouth. He looked like a fallen angel sculpted for the screen. Had he sent a proxy groom? "Finished staring?" His voice was arctic, each word dipped in frost, plunging the room's temperature and sending a chill down Sofia's spine. "You... are Leo Lorenzo?" Sofia scrutinized him, brow furrowed. This man bore no resemblance to the deformed, geriatric psychopath of legend. "You don't even know who you married?" Leo's tone was glacial. His eighth bride matched her file: hypocritical. The vows were exchanged, yet she feigned ignorance. "I know I married the Lorenzo heir. But you... differ from the rumors." His eighth bride matched her file: Falsity. The vows were exchanged, yet she feigned ignorance. "I know I married the heir to Lorenzo... but you differ from the rumors." Sofia spoke plainly. The man confronting her wasn't old. He wasn't remotely ugly. Though his pallor was unnaturally pronounced, the aura of cold menace radiating from him was palpable. Leo sniffed derisively. He knew well the grotesque caricatures painted by the outside world. Yet this insolent chatter dared voice itself to his face. "Are you... satisfied... to find me thus?" Sofia blinked. Satisfied? What did it matter? She wasn't the intended bride. While Leo defied the rumors physically, the Solano had procured his medical records. They knew the truth: erectile dysfunction. Her contract was simple: endure marriage for one year, then gain freedom. Leo's impotence was, in fact, deeply satisfying. She gave a cautious nod. "Are you certain?" Leo's lips curved in a dangerous, mocking smile, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. Confusion flickered across Sofia's face. Before she could react, Leo seized an antique vase beside him and hurled it violently in her direction. Instinct took over. Sofia threw her arms up, shielding her head. The vase exploded against the floor with a deafening CRASH, scattering razor-sharp ceramic shards across the crimson train of her gown. Are you insane? "Why destroy things?" Anger surged through Sofia. Thank heavens for the long skirt. That is my house. "I do as I please." Leo advanced again, closing the distance. Sensing an imminent threat, Sofia scrambled backwards onto the massive bed. Leo snatched a crystal table lamp and smashed it savagely against the wall. It shattered into a thousand glittering fragments. The sheer, wanton violence made Sofia's scalp prickle. So, the rumors held some truth. Leo Lorenzo was undeniably unhinged. So. There was truth in the rumors, then. Undeniably, Leo Lorenzo's mind harbored instability What do you want? "Can't we talk?" Sofia demanded, her voice tight with wary tension. Beneath her sleeve, her fingers closed around the cool metal of a needle tipped with a potent sedative.