Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Love Or Power

Magnus’s POV

Ashen's bride scent of honey and warm spices filled my nostrils, intoxicating me the moment I stepped into the room. My wolf stirred, leaping in joy as it recognized her. Mate, it growled, urging me to claim her. l balled my fists, summoning every ounce of self-control to keep my composure.

From across the room, she crumpled on the floor, her trembling and fragile frame radiating intense fear. Yet, despite her vulnerability, sparks of defiance radiated from her eyes, making it hard to look away from the she-wolf in front of me. My jaw clenched as I paced the dark room, conflicted. This wasn’t part of my plan. I didn’t believe in mate bonds, nor did I care about them. I had always envisioned being with a woman I chose to love—not bound by some strange mystical connection.

This complicates everything.

I stopped abruptly, scoffing, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all. This mate bond wouldn’t change my plans. I’d use her to bargain for the throne, reclaim my rightful place, and marry the woman I truly loved—Nerissa. No one could know about this bond. Not her, not Viktor, not anyone.

I turned to her, crouching down to her level. Her emerald-green eyes snapped up to meet mine, fierce despite the fear lingering behind them. “Hey,” I murmured softly, trying to put her at ease. “Calm down. I’m not going to hurt you.” My voice was steady, measured.

She blinked at me, her lips trembling before she asked in a shaky whisper, “Did Selene send you?”

Before I could respond, the door creaked open. Nerissa stepped into the room, her cologne filling the room and her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

“Hey, love,” she greeted, planting a gentle kiss across my lips. She glanced over my shoulder and narrowed her eyes at the she-wolf. Disgust twisted her features.

“Hm. So, this is Ashen’s little bride,” she sneered, folding her arms. “How pathetic.”

“Nerissa,” I warned softly, sensing her temper. “Don’t be harsh.”

“She’s our captive, Magnus. I can speak to her however I want.” Nerissa stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over the woman curled on the floor. Her lips curled into a cruel smirk. “So innocent. So beautiful. We could break her if we wanted.”

The woman visibly shrank under Nerissa’s sharp words, curling into herself as if to disappear.

Nerissa ignored me, turning her attention back to me. “So, what’s next? You need to focus on taking the throne already,” she snapped, her tone demanding.

“Nerissa,” I said more firmly, stepping closer to her. “Enough.”

Her eyes flickered with surprise before narrowing. Without another word, she stormed out of the room, her heels echoing through the hall. I sighed, glancing once more at the she-wolf before following Nerissa.

“Nerissa,” I called as I caught up with her in the corridor. She stood with her arms crossed, shaking in anger and glaring at nothing in particular. Gently, I placed my hands on her waist. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, resting my forehead against hers. “We’ll take things slow. She’s an important asset in this bargain, and we can’t risk ruining it.”

Her expression softened slightly, though the fire in her eyes remained. “I know, Magnus. But the only way we’ll get the throne is by applying pressure. Ashen needs to see how serious we are. You know how much the throne is important to us, and I don't think I need to remind of that."

I nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Tomorrow, we’ll get started,” I promised, squeezing her hands gently.

A sly smile spread across her lips as she pressed herself closer to me. “Good. It’s our ticket to marriage.”

Her words pricked at something deep inside me, but I pushed the feeling aside, pulling her into a kiss. It was passionate, intense, and led us stumbling back into the bedroom. Clothes fell to the floor in a rush, and soon we were on the bed, her skin warm beneath my touch.

Then, without warning, Nerissa pulled away abruptly, shoving me off her.

“What is it?” I asked, confused.

She huffed, walking to the drawer and rifling through it before turning to me with a frown.

“My contraceptive herbs are finished,” she announced flatly. “I forgot to get more from the infirmary.”

I blinked at her. “So... what does that mean?”

she pulled a robe over herself, and then said resolutely. “It means we won’t be having sex tonight, Magnus. I don’t want to risk getting pregnant.”

Her tone and the finality of her words pierced my heart. “What’s so wrong with getting pregnant?” I asked sharply.

Her head snapped up, surprise flickering in her gaze before she scoffed. “What would I tell my child? That their father was a rogue? I won’t make that mistake, Magnus.”

“Are you serious right now?" I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling in my chest. "Do you even love me, Nerissa? Beyond the good sex and your obsession with the throne, do you feel anything real for me?”

“Of course I do,” she replied coolly, her tone indifferent as she climbed into bed and pulled the duvet over herself.

Her words did nothing to quench my anger. Without another word, I grabbed my clothes, dressing quickly and heading towards the door.

“And where do you think you’re going, Magnus?” she called after me.

“Don’t wait up,” I shot back over my shoulder, slamming the door shut behind me.

I found myself at a bar at the outskirts of town—Bite & Brew, throwing back glass after glass of strong liquor. It burned going down, but not enough to drown the spiraling thoughts in my mind. Nerissa’s words echoed over and over.

Viktor had once told me she doesn't love me. What if Viktor was right all along? What if she doesn’t truly love me?

I groaned, pushing the thoughts away, but they clawed back. My mind flashed to the she-wolf—Ashen’s bride. Her fiery eyes, her quiet strength. Focus, Magnus. You need to deal with her and Ashen.

Paying my tab, I left the bar and drove back to the house.

Finally, I climbed into bed quietly beside Nerissa, careful not to wake her. My arms circled her waist instinctively, seeking comfort or any form of familiarity, but the warmth I used to feel was absent. Instead, a strange emptiness settled in its place, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts.

When it was dawn, Viktor and I entered the room where Ashen’s bride was being held. She lay on the tiny bed, her chest rising and falling softly as she slept. For a moment, I acknowledged her beauty. How can one person be so effortlessly beautiful? Ashen really had good taste in women.

I tapped the bedframe gently, jolting her awake.

She stretched, then snapped her eyes open, locking her gaze with mine. Her defiance hadn’t faded. Not yet.

"Hey," I said softly, bending to her level. "You should have something to eat," I said gesturing towards the untouched meal by her side. "We can't risk you getting malnourished."

“You won’t get anything from Ashen,” she said suddenly, her voice strong and unwavering. “If you think you can use me to bargain for the throne, you’re mistaken. We’re not even married. It was an arranged match.”

Her words made me pause, but before I could respond, she spat, “Just kill me already!”

The door burst open, and Nerissa strode in. “What are you waiting for, Viktor? Kill her already,” she commanded.

“No!” the she-wolf shouted again, but her voice faltered as Nerissa slapped her hard across the face.

“You don’t tell us what to do,” Nerissa hissed, grabbing the girl by her hair and yanking it back. “We make the rules here.”

I moved before I could think. My fingers closed around Nerissa’s wrist as I made her release her hair. She looked up at me in shock. Victor tensed between us. Even the girl seemed stunned, her breath hitching as she clutched her cheeks.

Nerissa’s lips parted, then curled into a slow, knowing smile. She leaned in, her voice low. “Careful, Magnus,” she whispered, just for me. “You wouldn’t want me thinking you’re getting attached.”

Without any word, I forced my grip to loosen, dropping her wrist.

“Take her picture,” Nerissa ordered Viktor, her tone icy. “Send it to Ashen. Let him see what his bride is enduring.”

Viktor hesitated but complied, snapping pictures and typing a message.

“The game has just begun,” Nerissa declared, an evil smirk on her face.

I forced a smile in return, but unease churned in my gut. The woman I had loved for years suddenly felt like a stranger.