My heart ached as I watched him walk away.

As foolish as it was, some part of me still wanted to run after him. 

But then I felt Alpha Lucian’s grip tighten around my waist, dragging me back to the present and making me realize just how close he was standing.

I quickly avoided his gaze. “Alpha Lucian… I’m just a lowly Omega. Please don’t make things harder for me.”

I bowed slightly and moved to step away, but he didn’t release me.

Instead, his hand slid from my waist to my shoulder, and I flinched at the contact.

He noticed.

His intense grey eyes locked on mine, unreadable yet sharp. “Ashley,” he murmured, his voice low as he leaned in, his breath brushing against the shell of my ear.

I froze.

His fingers traced lightly along the fabric near my collar, inching toward the edge of my shoulder.

Panic surged through me. I grabbed his wrist to stop him.

For a second, we just stood there, his eyes meeting mine with that same unreadable look, one brow slightly raised as if amused by my reaction.

I took a step back, breaking the contact, and quickly turned away.

What was he trying to do?

Did he know something?

I glanced over my shoulder and he was still watching me.

Arms folded. Legs casually crossed. His expression unreadable, but something in his gaze lingered.

No. This was just Lucian being Lucian.

Everyone knew how he flirted. He was probably just toying with me.

Wasn’t he?

I entered my room and froze.

Ronan was there, seated at the edge of my bed, his dark amber eyes burning into mine like wildfire refusing to die.

What was he doing here?

Since he’d made it painfully clear I meant nothing to him, I’d been keeping to the servant quarters. This was the first time he’d ever come here. Ever looked at me like this.

I stayed rooted to the floor, rubbing my shoulder instinctively under the weight of his stare. His gaze made my skin feel too tight.

My wolf stirred inside me.

He’s here. He came. Maybe he—

No.

I forced her down.

But Ronan’s next words sliced through my resolve.

“Why?” he said coldly. “Disappointed I’m not the one you were expecting in your bed tonight?”

I blinked, stunned into silence. My wolf whimpered at the accusation.

Then he tossed something at my feet.

I blinked in confusion, then bent down to pick it up. My eyes widened as I read the title: Marriage Contract.

I looked up at him, brows furrowed. “A contract marriage?”

He leaned back casually, crossing his legs, “Since you made such a bold declaration to the pack, parading around with my mark, it’s only right I make it official.”

Anger flared in my chest. “I never asked for this bond. I didn’t choose to be your mate. The Moon Goddess did.”

He stood then, walking toward me slowly. My breath hitched as he reached out and grabbed me, pulling me roughly against him and then, in one sudden movement, we were on the bed.

He hovered above me, pinning my wrists above my head. His breath ghosted across my cheek. His scent filled my lungs.

My wolf howled.

He’s touching us. He wants us. Let me take over. Let me—

“No,” I whispered under my breath, barely audible even to myself.

His lips hovered just above mine. My heart pounded. My wolf surged beneath my skin, caught in a storm of longing and pain.

He’s ours. He just doesn’t remember. Remind him—

Then his eyes dropped to my lips.

I closed my eyes.

For one stupid second, I thought, hoped he might kiss me.

But he didn’t.

When I opened my eyes, he was already pulling away, leaving me lying there with my pulse racing and my heart in shambles.

Did he enjoy this? Did he want me to break?

 The bed dipped as he stood and looked down at me with something close to disgust or indifference, which was worse. 

His voice cut through the silence like a blade.

I pushed myself up, my voice trembling. “You want me to pretend to be your Luna?”

He turned, eyes flashing. “Why? Isn’t that what you wanted all along? Don’t play innocent. I know your type. Power-hungry and manipulative.”

I flinched.

“If it’s power you want, I’ll give it to you,” he said coldly. “But don’t expect anything else.”

He stood up and headed towards the door.

My wolf growled inside me, furious and humiliated.

"Ro…nan!"

He stopped.

His body tensed as if the sound of his name spoken from my lips for the first time hit something raw inside him. 

I used to flinch like a coward whenever he looked at me. But tonight… something had changed. Even I didn’t understand what I was doing.

I closed the distance between us, stopping just inches away. His eyes never left mine.

And then I wrapped my arms around his waist, trembling. My tears fell freely, soaking into his shirt as the words I’d buried for years finally broke free.

“I don’t want to be your Luna,” I whispered hoarsely. “I just want you to love me.” My voice cracked. “I’ve always loved you… even before I knew we were fated.”

He stood there, tense and unreadable, but I could feel his wolf reacting to mine. Even if he didn’t know who I really was, our bond still burned beneath the surface.

“Please… don’t hate me,” I breathed.

No one in the pack knew the truth about me. To them, I was nothing but a weak, unshifted Omega. Even he didn’t recognize me… yet.

But if I used a little of my magic, just enough to stir the connection, he wouldn’t blame me, would he?

I rose on my toes, resting my forehead against his, arms sliding around his neck.

He stood there stiffly, fists clenched at his sides.

I leaned in, lips brushing his ear, then gently nibbled the tip.

That broke him.

His hands snapped to my waist, gripping tight. Then one hand slid down, gripping my hips, pulling me flush against him.