CHAPTER ONE Even before the sun climbed fully over St. Louis, Vivienne Cross felt the day leaning toward something dangerous. A faint tremble lived in her hands as she fastened the small silver clasp of her necklace. She stared at her reflection steady brown eyes, soft features, a quiet beauty no one in her family ever remembered to notice and wondered if Maddox Lane would finally see her today. The celebration felt too large for a simple birthday gathering. Too decorated. Too formal. Too sharpened at the edges. Yet she kept replaying the moment in her mind the one she had imagined since she was nineteen. Maddox kneeling, his voice shaking just enough to prove he meant every word, telling her she was his future. His wife. His choice. She whispered the line she had rehearsed a hundred times, "Yes, of course I will." But the words felt strange on her tongue today, almost foreign, almost frightened. Something cold pressed between her ribs. Maddox's recent messages had lost their warmth. He no longer called her "Vee." He no longer asked about her day. He no longer spoke like a man in love. And each time she asked if everything was all right, he offered the same answer: "Busy. Don't worry." But Vivienne worried. She smoothed her dress a soft champagne color that flattered her shape then carefully arranged her hair behind her shoulder. She wanted to look like someone worth choosing. Someone he could look at and remember why he loved her in the first place. Someone he wouldn't replace. A small, humorless breath escaped her. "It's supposed to be a happy day," she told her reflection, but the mirror didn't agree. A knock sounded on her door. Vivienne startled, her heart tightening as if it expected Maddox himself. She stepped forward, trying to gather the courage to face whatever waited on the other side. She opened the door. And the cold feeling dropped deeper. Tessa Holloway breezed in as if she owned the air in the room. Her smile was wide enough to strain her perfectly glossed lips. She wore an emerald gown that hugged her figure, its shimmer catching every bit of morning light. Tessa always sparkled she made sure of it. "You look... lovely, Vivienne," she said, the compliment sounding sweet for the first time in her life, and therefore completely wrong. Vivienne blinked. Tessa had never complimented anyone without an agenda. "Thank you. You look " "Stunning? I know," Tessa finished for her, twirling lightly so her dress whispered against the carpet. Vivienne stepped aside as Tessa walked in, trailing expensive perfume and the unmistakable energy of someone hiding excitement behind a mask of politeness. Tessa glanced around the room before settling her gaze on Vivienne again. "You're nervous," she said, as if she could read Vivienne's pulse. "Relax. Today is important, and you don't want to look tense." The words were simple, but they clung to Vivienne like thorns. Tessa never cared how she looked, never cared if Vivienne embarrassed herself. Why the sudden interest? "I'm fine," Vivienne said softly. Tessa continued smiling, but her eyes sharpened. "Good. Because this event is big for the family. Very big. You need to be ready for anything." Vivienne frowned. "What does that mean?" "Oh, nothing. Just... surprises." Tessa shrugged, her voice airy, her posture proud. "There's something exciting planned today. You'll see." Vivienne's stomach twisted. Tessa's voice was too filled, too glittery, too pleased. Tessa behaved like someone holding a delicious secret one she couldn't wait to watch explode. Vivienne studied her stepsister's face. The perfect lashes, the flawless skin, the smile that never reached her eyes. Something was wrong. Very wrong. "Tessa," Vivienne started, trying to catch her breath, "did Maddox tell you something? Did someone say something about today?" Tessa's smile stretched just a little wider. "You'll find out soon enough. But don't worry. Whatever happens, try to look surprised. It suits you." Vivienne froze, her pulse stumbling. There was a sharpness in Tessa's tone, hidden behind silk but sharp enough to cut. Tessa reached out and adjusted a curl of Vivienne's hair, a gesture too gentle to be real. "There," she whispered. "Perfect. Wouldn't want you to look unprepared." Vivienne swallowed hard. She still couldn't place it, but Tessa's mood didn't feel like kindness. It felt like a curtain about to drop. Tessa walked to the door. "See you downstairs," she said, and then she left with a small, satisfied click of her heels leaving Vivienne alone with a cold that had nothing to do with the room. Vivienne descended the staircase slowly, trying to steady her breathing. Voices drifted from the grand sitting room guests laughing, glasses clinking, the hum of wealthy conversation filling every corner of the Cross estate. Her family always hosted events that felt more like performances than gatherings. Her parents stood near the entrance of the sitting room, greeting guests with practiced smiles. Her mother, elegant in a navy dress, lifted her brows when she saw Vivienne approaching. "You took your time," her mother said, smoothing the edge of her shawl as though Vivienne's lateness might wrinkle the air. "We don't want you drawing attention." Vivienne managed a small nod. "I'm here now." Her father stepped closer, offering a rare smile. "Good. Stay near the front today. People will be watching." Vivienne blinked. "Watching for what?" Her parents exchanged a quick look. It lasted half a second but said more than any sentence they could have spoken. Something was planned. Something involving her. And none of it felt good. Her mother placed a hand on her arm, a gesture so out of character that Vivienne stiffened. "Just follow our lead. Today is important for the family." Important. The word echoed. Important in a way that had nothing to do with Vivienne's happiness. ienne looked between them. "Did Maddox tell you something? Is that why everyone is acting strange?" Her father adjusted his cufflink. "This is a day of opportunity. That's all you need to know for now." Again, he avoided the question. Vivienne's pulse hammered. Maddox avoiding her. Tessa glowing with a secret. Her parents unusually polite. She felt as if she were standing on a frozen lake, listening for the first crack beneath her feet. "Tessa said something big is happening today," Vivienne whispered, searching their faces. "What does she mean?" Her parents didn't answer. Her father simply gestured toward the sitting room. "Go inside. The guests are waiting." Vivienne looked into the room filled with expensive laughter, crystal chandeliers, polished floors, and people who valued her family's status more than they valued truth. A faint dizziness swept through her, the heavy sense that she was stepping into something she could not undo. As she crossed the threshold, a hush fell over part of the room soft, but undeniable. Vivienne followed the shifting eyes, the sudden hush in conversation, the way people stood a little straighter. Something was happening. Something meant for her. And she had no idea what waited at the center of it.

CHAPTER TWO Vivienne pushed through the nearest doorway, desperate for air. The noise of the celebration pressed in from every side, every voice pointed like a blade against her skin. She headed for the back corridor, the one place in the house that rarely saw guests, but she barely made it three steps before her father appeared at the end of the hall. "Vivienne," he said, as if her name were a command. She froze. Her mother stepped out from behind him, blocking the other end of the corridor. They had cornered her with the precision of people who had rehearsed it. "I need to leave," Vivienne breathed. "Just for a moment." "No," her mother said. "You need to listen." Vivienne tried to move around them, but her father shifted, stopping her with a firm hand wrapped around her arm. His grip was not cruel, but it left no room for refusal. "This is not the time for dramatics," he said. His voice held its usual trimmed politeness, but underneath it was something colder. She tried to pull free. "You saw what happened. You think I'm just going to stand there after " "You will," he cut in. "Because this day was never about Maddox." Her breath stalled. "What does that mean?" Her father hesitated only long enough for her mother to step forward, her expression smoothing into an emptiness Vivienne recognized too well. "You've been chosen," her mother said. "Your future has already been arranged." Vivienne felt the floor tilt. "Arranged how?" Her father released her arm and exhaled as though the explanation bored him. "Your marriage. It's settled. Signed and secured." Vivienne shook her head. "To who? Why? What are you talking about?" Her mother looked at her as if the answer should have been obvious. "Grayson Holt." The name hit like a strike across her chest. Vivienne stared at them, unable to form words. "Grayson Holt? The Alpha? The one people say " "Yes," her father said, cutting her off again. "He requested a bride. We provided one." "We?" Vivienne whispered. Her mother's eyes hardened. "You should be grateful. He is powerful. Wealthy. Influential."And dangerous," Vivienne said. "He is what this family needs," her father replied. "We have obligations you know nothing about. Agreements. Debts. Expectations. Your marriage settles all of them." Vivienne stepped back, feeling the wall behind her like a cold spine. "You chose me. Not Tessa." Her mother didn't blink. "Tessa has a future. A promising one. She is not suited for a man like Holt." But I am? Vivienne wanted to scream, but the words stuck in her throat. Her father tapped his watch. "His men will arrive soon. Do not embarrass us. We expect you to be prepared." Vivienne felt her pulse in her ears, in her throat, everywhere. "I'm not going anywhere with him." "You don't have a choice," her mother said. "We all sacrifice for family." Her father stepped aside, opening the hallway as if she were expected to walk willingly. Vivienne stood frozen, trembling, her breath shallow as distant footsteps began echoing through the house steady, heavy, approaching. The footsteps weren't from guests. They belonged to someone else. Someone coming for her. The lights in the sitting room flickered as a rumble passed through the walls, low and distant, like thunder rolling beneath the earth. Conversations died mid-sentence. Glasses stilled in hands. Even the music faltered as if startled. Vivienne walked back toward the main hall, pulled by a mix of fear and instinct she couldn't name. Guests had turned toward the entrance in a tide of whispers. A gust of cold air swept in. Two warriors stepped into the room first tall, silent, dressed in dark tactical black. Their presence shifted the atmosphere instantly. People stepped back without being told. These weren't men accustomed to sharing space with humans. They moved with a certainty that came from power, not permission. Vivienne inhaled sharply when she saw their eyes flash amber under the chandelier. Wolves. Real ones. The Cross estate had never hosted such creatures before. The air practically vibrated around them, charged with something ancient and territorial. Their boots thudded against the marble floor like deliberate marks of ownership. Guests scrambled away. Someone dropped a wine glass that shattered across the floor. No one dared to pick it up. Vivienne's heart kicked violently against her ribs. Her mother hurried forward, plastering on a stiff smile. "Welcome," she said, voice too thin. "We have been expecting you." The warriors didn't acknowledge her. They scanned the room with slow, assessing stares, as if they were counting threats. Vivienne stepped backward without meaning to. A hand brushed hers Maddox. He had moved beside her silently, his face drained of color. "What is going on?" he whispered, voice cracking. Vivienne shook her head. "I don't know." But she did. Her parents' words echoed inside her like a warning bell. He's coming. He's here. One of the warriors turned sharply, nostrils flaring, his gaze slicing through the crowd until it landed on her. Vivienne sucked in a breath. He nodded to someone behind him. And the room fell silent as the air changed thickened, tightened, almost hummed. Footsteps followed. Slow. Heavy. Unhurried. Each one carrying more authority than the last. Vivienne's eyes locked on the doorway just as he stepped through it. Grayson Holt. He didn't match the rumors. There were no scars, no twisted limbs, no sign of a broken Alpha forced back into the world. He walked with a predator's calm confidence, shoulders broad beneath a dark suit that fit him like armor. His presence filled the estate in a way no human ever had. People stepped aside instinctively, as if their bodies moved before their minds processed why. Grayson lifted his head slightly, scanning the room. His eyes were the first shock grey with a faint ring of silver that reflected the lights like a whisper of moonlight. They swept over Tessa. Paused. Dismissed her. Then landed on Vivienne. The breath left her lungs in a silent gasp. He had found her. Grayson didn't speak at first. He didn't need to. The estate was already under his control, silence spreading outward from him like a command carried through the air. The two warriors flanked him without breaking formation. Vivienne felt Maddox stiffen beside her, but she couldn't move. Grayson's gaze was too direct, too consuming. It was as if he studied not just her face but something deeper her breath, her heartbeat, the place beneath her skin she didn't know how to guard. Her mother stepped forward with a shaky smile. "Alpha Holt, welcome. We " His gaze cut to her briefly. "Where is she?" The question slid through the room like a blade. Her breath caught. "Why me?" His eyes held hers, steady and unreadable. "Because you were promised," he said softly. "And because I accept only what is mine." Vivienne stepped back on instinct. Grayson didn't reach for her. But the warrior beside her did firm, controlled guiding her closer to the Alpha with a grip that offered no argument. Maddox lunged forward. "Let her go!" Grayson finally acknowledged him. A slow turn of his head. A calm stare. A quiet threat lingering at the edges of his voice. "One more step," Grayson said, "and I teach you why you should fear wolves." No one moved. Not Maddox. Not Tessa. Not even Vivienne. And the last thing she saw before her world shifted was the faint, unmistakable glow rising in

CHAPTER THREE Vivienne stood at the edge of the celebration, her fingers tightening around the stem of her glass as she tried to breathe past the weight growing in her chest. Every corner of the room felt too bright, too loud, too sharp. She kept telling herself Maddox loved her, whispering the promises he'd made into the back of her mind like a shield. He said he wanted a future with her. He said she was the only one who understood him. He said she made him feel human. So why did she feel like she was drowning? Tessa's laughter drifted across the room, light and practiced. It was the kind of laugh that turned heads, drawn from a throat used to attention. The sound alone rattled Vivienne's nerves. Her stepsister glowed tonight hair swept into a stylish twist, emerald dress hugging every curve, her smile carved with something almost predatory Vivienne tried to ignore her. She tried to look anywhere else at the golden chandeliers, the polished marble floors, the guests draped in expensive fabrics and painted confidence. But everywhere she looked, she found her parents' eyes cutting toward her, sharp, assessing, calculating. She felt catalogued. Measured. Weighed. Vivienne forced herself to take in a slow breath. Maddox had promised her this was their night. He told her they'd take the next step soon, that he wanted to build something real. She held on to that his warmth, his whispered words, the memory of his hand brushing her cheek when no one was watching. She clung to it because everything around her felt wrong. Her mother stood a few steps away, her gaze flicking between Vivienne and the entrance as if waiting for something. Her father whispered to a business associate, but his tone carried impatience, as though the evening were already behind schedule. Tessa caught Vivienne staring and flashed her a smile that didn't reach her eyes. It was smug quietly triumphant. As if she already knew the shape of the night, and Vivienne did not. Vivienne turned away before her stomach twisted further. She tried to focus on the music swelling through the room, on the familiar faces milling around in curated politeness. But her thoughts spiraled, slippery and fast: maybe Maddox had grown distant because he was hiding the proposal plans. Maybe Tessa was acting strangely because she knew the surprise. Maybe her parents were simply nervous about hosting so many important guests. Maybe everything was fine. A hand brushed her elbow. She jumped. "Relax," one of her cousins teased gently as he passed. "You look like you're waiting for the world to end." Vivienne forced a laugh. It sounded thin, but it was the best she could manage. If only he knew how close his words felt to the truth. A sudden clang of glass against silver cut through the chatter. Maddox Lane stood near the center of the room, tapping his champagne flute with the back of a spoon. The sound echoed beautifully, drawing every head toward him. Vivienne's heart leapt before she could stop it. Maddox looked devastating tonight tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair swept back with casual elegance, his suit tailored perfectly across his athletic frame. His eyes, deep and familiar, scanned the crowd with a calm she had always loved. He looked like someone who belonged in every room he walked into. Someone people naturally admired. Someone she thought would choose her. The murmurs died. The music softened. People shifted to face him fully. Vivienne felt her pulse climb into her throat. He was going to do it. He was finally going to do it. This was the moment she had imagined for years the moment she thought would become the first page of the life they'd build together. She caught his eye for half a second. He looked away. Vivienne's stomach dipped, but she forced herself to stay still. Maddox always grew shy in crowds. Maybe he needed courage. Maybe the weight of so many eyes made him nervous. Then Tessa stepped forward. Her movements were deliberate, smooth, calculated. She crossed the space between them as if drawn by an invisible thread. Guests whispered as she reached Maddox's side, her smile bright and knowing. She placed a hand on his arm and leaned in slightly, positioning herself for the spotlight. Vivienne blinked, confusion slicing through her breath. Why is she next to him? Why is she smiling like that? Why is he letting her? The room buzzed with expectation, but it wasn't directed at Vivienne anymore. It shifted toward Tessa toward the shimmering emerald dress, the hair perfectly pinned, the radiance that looked suspiciously like victory. Vivienne's hands trembled. She pressed them against her skirt to hide it. Maddox cleared his throat. "Thank you all for joining us tonight." Vivienne's world went hollow. Her breath vanished. Sound muted into a dull hum. The room swayed not gently, but like the ground had lurched beneath her. She reached for something to hold, anything to steady herself, but her fingers grasped nothing but air. Tessa sobbed, dramatic and perfect, placing her hand over her heart. She whispered his name as if tasting something sweet. Vivienne watched Maddox open the ring box. She saw the diamond catch the chandelier light. She saw people turn toward Tessa with applause already forming. She did not blink. She couldn't. "Will you marry me?" Maddox asked. And Tessa said yes before he even finished the question. Vivienne didn't hear the cheers. She saw lips moving, saw hands clapping, saw flashes of cameras. But she couldn't hear any of it. Her chest ached, burning from the inside out. Her throat tightened until breathing felt like swallowing glass. She looked at Maddox, searching for a sign that this was a mistake, a cruel joke, anything that meant this wasn't happening. But he didn't look ashamed. He didn't look conflicted. He didn't look at her at all. He only looked at Tessa. Vivienne's legs wobbled. She stepped backward, bumping into a table. The tremor in her hands spread through her body, a quiet panic rising and rising. The world she built around Maddox every memory, every secret, every whisper of a future shattered in one breath. She turned away before the tears reached her eyes.