LIANDREN’S POV

"Do you remember me now?" His tone came out husky as I locked eyes with the man in front of me.

He had stepped out from the shadows, and he turned out to be the man I was staring at downstairs.

How did he move so fast? Was he perhaps stalking me?

"Is there a reason why I should?" I arched a brow, letting my claws slowly sink back into my fingertips.

He chuckled—it was calm, not too loud, but it made my pores tighten as he moved. His footsteps dragged against the floor as he made his way towards me.

He was tall, his frame was broad and could easily squash someone my size.

Most people would feel intimidated by his body, but I was not most people.

I inched closer, tilting towards him as I met his eyes. "Are you stalking me?"

He grinned, tucking his hands inside his pocket as he leaned over.

His warm breath splattered over my lips, and I instinctively pressed them together.

"Says the woman who was shamelessly staring at me a few minutes ago." The edge of his lips curled up. "You couldn’t take your eyes off me because deep down, even if you don’t remember me, your wolf does..."

I narrowed my eyes at him, searching his face for anything that could jog my memory, but there was nothing.

Only the incredibly thick, musky scent that tugged at my stomach, making it lurch. It was sweet and almost like cinnamon...

"Liandren!" I snapped my attention towards the sound and spotted my father just a few paces from where I was.

Relief nudged through my lungs as I let out a smile. It was nice to see him after a while.

"Who were you talking to?" he said softly, his neck tilting towards my side.

I let my gaze trail back to the man that was in front of me, but he wasn’t there.

My shoulders slumped slightly. "Was it possible that I might have imagined it?" I asked myself and heaved a sigh.

I moved over to my father and pulled him into a hug. Six years ago, if it wasn’t for him, I might have still been in Blood Howl Pack or probably dead.

But my father saved me and has been taking care of me since then.

"It’s so wonderful to see you, my dear." He nodded with satisfaction as he stared at me, running his hands through my hair gently.

We never really spoke much about my mother. I figured that part of his memory was too painful to relive, so I never bothered him with questions.

The only thing I knew was that his grandparents didn’t want him being mated to my mother, so they broke them apart, and my mother left, conceived me in pain, and died of a broken heart.

I let go of his shoulder gently. "Dad, are you okay? You seem a little bit pale."

My father stiffened, his eyes narrowing away from mine, and I knew that something was definitely up.

"Dad, what is it? Is it the elders of the family?" He sighed with exhaustion, confirming my suspicion, and I pressed on further. "They still don’t approve of me being the successor to carry on the legacy, right?"

He let out a ragged sigh and my shoulders slumped. "You are correct. They feel that you are not capable to lead, but there is a solution, though I don’t think you would like it."

The color drained from his face even more as he sighed again.

I had a feeling that I was not going to like this at all. My heart thumped steadily with anticipation. "What is it?"

"You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, but the elders want you to honor your betrothal—one that was set by your grandmother and her best friend even before you were born."

My chest tightened.

After what happened with... well, you know who, I swore never to fall in love or take a mate because it was only going to end in pain—so why bother?

"Is there no other option..." I started, holding onto my dad’s hand tighter. "There must be a way for me to prove my worth apart from honoring this betrothal."

My dad shook his head, and I knew that there was no other way.

Once again, I was going to be shackled by another man all in the name of a mate bond. I rolled my eyes and then crossed my arms over my chest.

"I can’t do it," I mumbled to myself sharply.

"My dear, I totally understand if you don’t want to go through with it. But for five years, you have been training to become queen of the Eastern Wolf Faction and leader of the Greymond household. Are you sure you want to sacrifice all that?"

His words rang deep inside my head. I knew he was right, even though I wanted to be stubborn. I knew that the only way for me to get my revenge was to be powerful, and to do that, I needed to be Queen and have infinite power.

Then I’ll take them out slowly... Rowan, Melody, even the elders. They were all in on it.

I’ll raze their world to the ground and lift it up in flame.

I was going to crush them, just like the way they did to me.

"You are right. I didn't come this far to give up," I said with a straight face, eyes brimming with determination as my fists clenched.

If I’m queen, I’ll fulfill my father’s lifelong desire, because the seat of successor has been in our family for generations.

I was not going to let him down.

"I am so glad to hear that." My father beamed, his face flushed with relief as he held his hand over his chest.

No doubt that was the reason why he was ill.

"Since you have agreed to the marriage, you should go inside. Your chosen mate wants to see you. He's been waiting since morning for your arrival."

I rolled my eyes with annoyance, a guttural grunt erupting from my throat. "Why? He couldn’t wait until tomorrow?" I hissed. "Who does he think he is?"

My father let out a shrug as he gave me a pat on the shoulders. "I’m sure you can handle it."

With those words, he left. Now it was just me and the towering door in front of me, and on the other side was my chosen mate... Just great.

I lowered my hand towards the knob and felt a sharp pull over my chest.

Slowly, I fastened my hand over the knob and then turned it open.

My senses went dull for a moment, my nose flaring to catch a whiff of the scent dancing around my nostrils.

I stepped inside the room, and the scent hit my nostrils even more. My wolf lifted her head, howling with excitement like she had seen something she craved for a long time.

I locked eyes on the figure that stood over the desk, leaning against it.

From the way he stood, he didn’t seem like much. Whoever this man was, I hoped he was kind, at least, and wasn’t another Rowan—or I’d have to rip his throat out myself.

My lips parted, but the words from the man made me stiffen.

"Were you informed that I was waiting for you since daybreak?"

My eyes bulged in their sockets as that voice clicked a sense of recognition within me.

No. That voice.

It wasn’t possible.

There was no way.

Whoever he was, I had to see for myself.

I cleared my throat. "Yes, I was, but I find it rude for you to visit me the first day of my arrival to discuss business."

He chuckled, and I felt my pulse quicken.

Why did it feel like I was with someone I knew?

"Since you brought business first, don’t blame me for being too forward," I said, extending my hand toward him.

"I’m Liandren Draven, your future wife."

He straightened his back as he spun, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

It was like my lungs had collapsed.

What the fuck was he doing there?

My chest heaved as he gave me a warm smile. My blood ran cold.

"Hi, I’m Rowan Lightwood. Your chosen mate and husband.”