SERA'S POV
I stared at the contract until the words blurred together.
Three years. Five million dollars. Produce an heir. Divorce.
My hands wouldn't stop shaking. This was supposed to be the moment everything changed—where my mate swept me into his arms and promised forever. Instead, Kael had left me alone in his office with a legal document that reduced our bond to a business transaction.
"Give me an heir." Like I was cattle. Like the mate bond meant nothing.
The door burst open and I jumped, papers scattering across the desk.
"Sera." My mother's voice was sharp as broken glass. She swept into the office like she owned it, her eyes gleaming with something that made my stomach turn. "I heard about the bond."
"Mother, I—"
"Where's the contract?" She spotted it on the desk and snatched it up, reading quickly. A slow, vicious smile spread across her face. "Perfect."
"Perfect?" My voice cracked. "He wants to divorce me in three years. He doesn't want—"
"What he wants doesn't matter." She thrust the contract at me. "Sign it."
"But he's my mate. The Moon Goddess—"
"The Moon Goddess gave you one valuable thing in your worthless life, and you're going to USE it." Her fingers dug into my shoulder hard enough to bruise. "Do you understand what this means for our family? An alliance with the Stormridge Pack? Your father's debts could be forgiven. Derek could get a real position instead of scraping by. We could matter again."
My chest tightened. "So I'm just supposed to—"
"You're supposed to do your DUTY for once." She leaned close, and I could smell wine on her breath. "You've been nothing but a burden since the day you were born without a wolf. This is the only valuable thing you'll ever do. Sign the contract, marry the Alpha, give him his heir. And maybe—just maybe—we'll finally be able to hold our heads up in this pack."
Tears burned my eyes. "What about what I want?"
"What you want?" She laughed, cold and cruel. "You want to be loved? To matter? Then EARN it. Be useful for once in your pathetic life."
The words hit like physical blows. All my life, I'd tried to be good enough. Tried to make them proud. But nothing was ever enough.
"He doesn't love me," I whispered.
"Love?" Mother's expression twisted with disgust. "Love is for wolves with options. You have none. You're wolfless, Sera. No other male would ever want you. Alpha Kael is offering you three years of luxury, five million dollars, and the chance to produce a child with the strongest bloodline in the region. That's more than you deserve."
She shoved a pen into my hand.
"Sign it. Now. Before he changes his mind."
My hand trembled as I picked up the pen. The mate bond pulled at my chest, begging me to wait, to fight, to demand better.
But what choice did I have?
Mother was right about one thing—no one else would want a defective mate. And if I refused, Kael would reject the bond publicly. The rejection would hurt so badly I might not survive it.
At least with the contract, I had three years. Three years to prove myself. To show him I was worth more than a transaction.
Three years to make him love me.
"That's my girl," Mother purred as I signed my name at the bottom. "The wedding will be in one month. I'll handle the arrangements."
"One month?" My head snapped up. "But—"
"Strike while the iron is hot. Before anyone can question whether you're worthy of an Alpha." She took the contract, her smile satisfied. "Oh, and Sera? When you're Luna, remember who made this possible. The Blackwood family expects... compensation for our generosity in allowing this union."
Compensation. They were going to use me to extract money and favors from Kael.
Before I could respond, the office door opened again. Kael stood there, his golden eyes cold and assessing. He looked at the signed contract in Mother's hands.
"It's done then." His voice held no emotion. "The wedding is in four weeks. My people will contact you about arrangements."
"Excellent!" Mother beamed like this was a fairy tale coming true. "We'll make it a spectacle. The entire supernatural community will attend. After all, a Stormridge Alpha's wedding—"
"Will be simple and private," Kael interrupted. "I won't parade my... arrangement in front of rival packs."
Arrangement. Not mate. Not wife. Arrangement.
Something inside me cracked a little more.
"Of course, Alpha." Mother's smile never wavered. "Whatever you prefer. Come, Sera. We have much to discuss."
She grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door. I looked back at Kael, desperate for some sign—any sign—that he felt the bond like I did. That this hurt him too.
His face was stone.
The ride home was silent. Mother practically glowed with satisfaction while I fought back tears. When we pulled up to the Blackwood house, she finally spoke.
"One more thing, Sera." Her voice dropped low and threatening. "Don't embarrass us. Don't make him regret choosing you. And whatever you do, don't fall in love with him."
"Why not?" The question escaped before I could stop it.
"Because he'll never love you back. And when he breaks your heart in three years, I don't want to hear you crying about it." She opened her door. "You're a transaction. Remember that."
She left me sitting in the car, alone with a contract that had just sold my future.
I touched my chest where the mate bond burned. Even now, it pulled me toward Kael, insisting we belonged together. That the Moon Goddess had chosen us for a reason.
But maybe the Moon Goddess had made a mistake.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:
Congratulations on your engagement, little wolf. Too bad you won't live long enough to see the wedding. Some debts must be paid in blood. Your mate's father took something from us. Now we'll take something from him.
The phone slipped from my shaking hands.
Someone wanted me dead.
And I had no wolf to protect myself.