Chapter 1 i

The next morning, Lila stood at the edge of the training grounds, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. The pack’s stares bore into her, whispers swirling like an unrelenting storm. They all knew. Her union with Damon wasn’t born of love or choice but of necessity and arrangement. She’d been willing, holding onto a naive hope that time might soften the cold distance between them. Yet, doubt gnawed at her heart like a relentless tide, refusing to recede.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the pack gathered under the light of the full moon. The air was filled with the mingling sounds of laughter, clinking glasses, and rhythmic drumming. Lila moved silently through the crowd, avoiding the pitiful smiles and sidelong glances directed her way. The festivities, meant to strengthen pack bonds, only deepened the ache in her chest.

Unable to bear it, she slipped away into the woods. The forest beckoned her with its quiet embrace, a temporary refuge from the judgment and whispers.

At first, the woods were tranquil. The faint rustle of leaves and the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy eased her frayed nerves. She breathed deeply, letting the earthy scent of the forest fill her lungs. But the peace was short-lived.

A low, guttural growl broke the silence, freezing her in place.

Her heart pounded as she turned toward the sound. From the shadows, a pair of golden eyes emerged, sharp and menacing. A rogue wolf. It was enormous, its fur matted and scarred, its teeth bared in a snarl that sent a chill down her spine.

Lila’s breath hitched. She took a cautious step back, but the wolf prowled closer, muscles coiled with deadly intent. Her foot caught on a root, and she stumbled, landing hard on the ground.

The rogue lunged, jaws snapping, just as a black shadow collided with it mid-air. The force of the impact shook the ground beneath her.

Damon.

His wolf form was monstrous, his sleek black fur bristling as he faced the rogue with cold precision. The rogue recovered quickly, growling and snapping, but Damon didn’t falter. He moved like a predator born for battle—quick, calculated, merciless.

Lila watched, her body frozen in fear and awe. Damon’s fangs tore into the rogue’s shoulder, a brutal, efficient strike. The rogue twisted, claws raking at Damon’s side, but the Alpha didn’t flinch. He ducked and retaliated with savage force, his teeth sinking into the rogue’s throat.

A sickening crunch echoed through the trees as the rogue’s lifeless body collapsed in a heap.

Damon shifted back into his human form, his chest heaving. Blood smeared his hands and chest, his dark eyes sharp and unfeeling as they locked onto hers.

“What were you doing out here alone?” he demanded, his voice low and cutting, each word laced with disdain.

Lila scrambled to her feet, her voice trembling. “I—I needed some air.”

Damon’s lip curled, his irritation palpable. “Air? You think the forest is some place to wander freely? Do you have any idea how easily you could’ve been killed?”

“I didn’t know,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Exactly.” His tone was sharp, his gaze hard. “You don’t know anything. About this pack. About me. You agreed to this union, but don’t think for a second it means you’re safe.”

His words struck like a physical blow, and her stomach churned with a mixture of shame and anger. “I didn’t ask for your protection,” she said softly, her voice wavering.

Damon stepped closer, towering over her, his presence overwhelming. “Good. Don’t expect it. I’m not here to save you, Lila. Remember that.”

Her cheeks burned, the humiliation biting deeper than she expected. She looked away, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.

Satisfied with her silence, Damon turned and strode back toward the pack, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

Lila stood there for a long time, staring at the rogue’s lifeless body. The forest, once a place of solace, now felt cold and menacing. She clenched her fists, anger bubbling beneath the surface. She had spent years longing for Damon, only to be met with his unyielding coldness.

“Why did I think he’d change?” she whispered to herself.

As she began to walk back to the pack, her mind raced with thoughts of the man she would marry. Damon was formidable, his strength undeniable. But his heart… His heart was a fortress, impenetrable and unyielding.

Yet, despite his harsh words and disdain, Lila couldn’t stop the flutter in her chest when she thought of him. His presence ignited something within her—a pull she couldn’t explain. She hated herself for it, for feeling drawn to someone who seemed incapable of returning her affection.

The image of him standing over the rogue, bloodied and victorious, burned in her mind. His power, his ferocity, the way he had moved with such confidence—it was impossible to ignore.

But she wanted more than that. She wanted the man beneath the strength, the one she believed might still exist. She wanted him to see her, to want her, to feel for her the way she had felt for him for so long.

And yet, deep down, she feared it was a dream she would never reach.

Back at the pack’s gathering, Damon’s mood was no lighter. He wiped the blood from his hands, his jaw clenched as he replayed the encounter in his mind.

She shouldn’t have been out there, he thought bitterly. Reckless and naive.

But then, his mind drifted to the moment he saw her in the forest. The fear in her eyes had stirred something unexpected—a flicker of something he couldn’t name. And now, standing among his pack, he couldn’t shake the image of her, fragile yet determined.

Why does she affect me like this? She’s not even my mate.

The thought unsettled him. He had told himself he felt nothing for her, that their union was a necessity, not a bond. Yet, her presence lingered in his mind, uninvited and unwelcome.

Damon exhaled sharply, trying to push the thoughts away. There was no room for weakness. Not when rogues prowled the borders, not when danger threatened his pack.

And certainly not for a woman who wasn’t his mate