SOPHIE's POV. "Sophie, I reject you as my mate."  I sat frozen in bed, staring at Ethan, hoping I had misheard him. He stood beside the dresser, fastening the buttons of his suit jacket, looking far too composed for a man who had just shattered my heart. Then my eyes fell on the papers he left on the bedside table. Immediately I realized they were divorce papers, my stomach twisted.  "Ethan..." My voice cracked. "What is this? You told me you loved me last night." I said.  "I'm marrying Vanessa." He barely glanced at me.  Vanessa Cole. The woman who owned his heart long before I came along. The woman he'd always insisted was part of his past, even when I knew better. "She returned yesterday," He continued, adjusting his cufflinks. "We're leaving for a vacation next week. I need you to sign the papers before then." I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh, to tell me this was some cruel joke. Anything would have been better than the cold indifference in his eyes. "Last night was our fourth anniversary," I whispered. "You held me in your arms and told me you loved me." I said. "And I meant it at the time."  The words struck harder than a slap. Four years.  Four years of loving a man who was ashamed to call me his wife. Ethan had promised that one day, he would announce our marriage to the pack. One day, he would claim me publicly and introduce me as his Luna but there was always a reason to wait. I was wolfless, and even worse, I was an omega.  An orphaned one with no family to defend her while Ethan was the Alpha of the Crescent Pack. "What would the other Alphas think?" He reminded me often. "Give me time, Sophie. I'll make things right." I always believed him because I loved him. God, how I'd loved him. "Can't we talk about this?" I pushed the covers aside, my hands trembling. "We can work through whatever you're feeling. You don't have to throw away four years because Vanessa is back." "Don't make this more difficult than it needs to be." His expression hardened. "Difficult?" A bitter laugh escaped me.  "You're asking me to sign away our marriage as if it meant nothing!" "It was never going to work." He finally turned to face me. "I'm an Alpha, Sophie. You're a wolfless omega. Did you honestly think I could spend the rest of my life pretending that didn't matter?" I flinched. He'd said those words before, but never with such finality. "I gave you a home," He continued. "I protected you when nobody else would. You should be grateful for that instead of making demands I cannot fulfill." He said.  I looked away before he could see the tears spilling down my cheeks. Four years ago, Ethan was the only person who ever made me feel safe. I was eighteen then, a freshman constantly bullied by other students for being wolfless and orphaned.  His sister, Chloe West, was one of the cruel bullies, she and Vanessa swore to make my life unbearable. Until Ethan intervened. "I won't let anyone hurt you again," He'd promised, standing between me and the people who'd spent years making me feel worthless. I'd fallen in love with him that day. When he offered me a place in his house, I thought my life was finally changing. I started as someone who helped around his home, then became the woman he secretly married. But even after our wedding, he refused to acknowledge me in public. He had warned me not to fall in love with him and I should have listened. "Was any of it real?" I asked and for the briefest moment, something flickered across his face.  But then it disappeared. "I've made my decision. Sign the papers before I return." He picked up his briefcase and walked out. The door slammed shut behind him. I stared at it, unable to move. Then I reached for the papers, turning each page with quivering fingers, as though the words might change if I read them enough times. They didn't. I was being divorced and I had nowhere to go. Another knock sounded at the door and I barely had time to look up before Chloe walked in. Her lips curled into a satisfied smile when she spotted the papers in my hands. "Oh, good. You've seen them." She muttered. "Chloe, please. Not now." "Not now?" She laughed. "When exactly would be a good time? You've been occupying my brother's home for four years. Did you think you'd stay here forever?" I swallowed the lump in my throat. "He married me." "Behind closed doors." Her smile widened. "Let's not pretend you were ever his real wife. Vanessa is back, and my brother is finally going to be with the woman he was meant to have." She stepped closer, looking me up and down with disgust. "Look at you. No wolf, no family, no status. What could you possibly offer an Alpha?" I tried to hold her gaze, but my eyes burned. "Get out, Chloe." Before I could react, she grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head backward and I cried out. "Listen carefully, you pathetic little omega." She leaned close enough for me to smell her perfume. "Once Ethan leaves you, nobody will be protecting you. If you know what's good for you, you'll disappear quietly. Otherwise, I might arrange for some rogues to find you. I'm sure they'd enjoy having you all to themselves." She released my hair with a sharp shove. Then she walked out, laughing. For several minutes, I sat motionless, one hand pressed to my scalp, she was about one thing. I had no protection anymore. I looked down at the divorce papers and my tears blurred the words until they became nothing but black smudges on white paper. I'd spent my entire life being unwanted.  My parents were gone, and I'd grown up feeling like a burden in a pack that was never truly mine. Ethan was my one exception and now, he was gone too.  I reached for my phone. There was only one person I could call. One man whose offer I'd rejected years ago because I couldn't imagine marrying anyone other than Ethan. His name was Lucian Storm. The Lycan prince of Shadowridge Pack. He was also Ethan's best friend and a man so dangerous that even Alphas thought twice before crossing him. Years ago, he offered me a marriage contract in exchange for becoming his wife and bearing his heir, he'd promised me protection, wealth, and a place in his kingdom. At the time, I'd thought he was insane. Why would a man like Lucian Storm want a wolfless omega for a wife? But for some reason, he was serious.  I rejected him even before he could tell me why but now, he was my only chance at surviving. Without Ethan, I would be a long wolf and it won't take long until the rogues scent me from a distance.  I pressed his number and held the phone to my ear. "Sophie Bennett." He answered after the second ring and my breath caught immediately.  Even through the phone, his deep voice sent a shiver down my spine. "You remember me?" I whispered and a quiet chuckle came from the other end. "Of course, I remember you. The only woman brave enough to tell me no."  My cheeks warmed despite myself and I forced a hard lump down my throat.  "Well, is your offer still on the table?" I asked. The silence that followed made my heart pound. "That's an interesting question," He finally said.  "Last time we spoke, you made it very clear you weren't interested." "I know." I replied. "So what changed?"  I closed my eyes, remembering Ethan's cold expression, Chloe's threats, and the years I'd wasted waiting to be loved by someone who was ashamed of me. "Now, I want to marry you." "Are you certain, Sophie?" His voice lowered. "Because once you become my wife, there would be certain conditions." "Yes, Lucian. I'm certain." A tear slid down my cheek. "Good." His response was immediate. "Have your bags packed. My men will be there tomorrow morning." My whole life had really changed in the blink of an eye.

SOPHIE's POV.  The first thing I noticed about the Storm residence was the silence. It wasn't like the uncomfortable kind I'd grown accustomed to in Ethan's chambers where I spent most of my time trying not to be noticed. This place was peaceful, almost intimidatingly so, with polished marble floors, towering windows, and a chandelier that probably cost more than everything I owned combined. A woman hurried toward me from the hallway. "You must be Sophie Bennett!" I nodded, tightening my grip on my handbag. "I'm Lily." She smiled warmly, taking my coat before I could protest. "It's lovely to finally meet you. And goodness, you're even prettier than I expected." I blinked. People didn't usually compliment me. Most looked at me with pity or contempt, as if being wolfless were a contagious disease. "Thank you," I murmured. "Come along. Someone is waiting to speak with you." I followed her down the corridor, glancing at the framed photographs lining the walls. Lucian Storm had certainly done well for himself.  Then again, being the Lycan prince of Shadowridge probably came with a few perks. I stopped in front of a portrait hanging above a console table to see him.  Even in a photograph, the man had an unsettling presence.  He had dark hair, sharp features, and eyes that seemed to look straight through whoever stood before him. He was handsome, but not in the polished, pretty-boy way some Alphas were. There was something intimidating about him. I remembered the first time we'd met. Ethan had taken me to a formal gathering three years ago. It was one of the few occasions he'd allowed me to accompany him in public, and I'd spent most of the evening standing quietly beside him while he entertained his guests. But then Lucian had appeared. Ethan introduced him as his best friend, but Lucian's attention had barely lingered on him. His eyes settled on me instead. "Sophie Bennett," He'd said, taking my hand. I remembered the warmth of his lips against my knuckles and the way his gaze held mine a second longer than necessary. "You know who I am?" I asked. "Of course." He'd found me outside later that evening, away from the noise and crowds. I'd assumed he wanted to discuss Ethan, but his opening words had left me speechless. "I want you to have my child." I'd actually laughed because I thought he was joking but he wasn't.  "I'll give you anything you want in return," He had said. "Money, a home, protection. Whatever you need." I remember being offended because he was Ethan's best friend. What kind of man approached another man's wife with such an offer? Of course, Lucian didn't know we were married.  Nobody did. I'd refused him and spent the next few weeks trying to forget the encounter. Until yesterday. Until Ethan threw me away. "Miss Bennett?" Lily's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She led me into a sitting room where a man in a white coat waited beside a table. He introduced himself as one of the physicians here at Shadowridge and he asked me to sit down. "We'll need a blood sample," He explained. "It's a standard part of the preliminary assessment." "Assessment for what, exactly?" "Your suitability for the prince's proposed arrangement." I held out my arm, though the words made my stomach tighten. A few minutes later, he disappeared with the sample. When he returned, he carried a folder. His expression was unreadable until he opened it. "Everything looks good." "Good?" "Your results are consistent with what the prince requires." "And what does he require?" I stared at him.  "An heir." He said it as casually as if we'd been discussing the weather. The physician placed the folder on the table and opened it to the first page. "The prince is offering ten million dollars upfront, a residence of your own, and an unlimited black card for personal expenses. The proposed agreement lasts five years." My mouth fell open. "Ten million?" "Yes. However, all financial terms are negotiable." I looked down at the contract. The numbers were real. So were the clauses detailing my living arrangements, financial independence, and obligations as Lucian's wife. "Wait. Wife?" I echoed, the word still sounded strange from my lips.  "The Pack's royal traditions require a formal marriage before an heir can be conceived. The marriage will remain confidential, and the agreement provides for its dissolution after five years, should either party wish to end it." I flipped through the pages, struggling to absorb everything. "So I'd marry him, have his child, and receive all of this?" I asked. "Essentially, yes." He replied.  "And why me?" The physician paused. "That is a question you'll have to ask the prince."  "So where is he?" I glanced toward the windows.  "He isn't available at the moment." Of course he wasn't. Lucian Storm had summoned me to his home, ordered a medical examination, and presented me with a contract worth millions. Yet he couldn't be bothered to show his face. "Can I take this with me?" "Certainly. Take your time reviewing it. Nothing is binding until you've signed." He said.  I slipped the folder into my bag and thanked him before leaving. As Lily escorted me outside, I glanced up at the enormous windows overlooking the driveway. For a second, I thought I saw a figure standing behind one of them. Like someone was watching me. Then the curtains shifted, and the figure disappeared. Goodness, I was probably imagining things now.  My phone buzzed just as I settled into the car. Ethan West: Vanessa just came to visit. I need you to drive us both to the bank.  I stared at the message. He had divorced me yesterday because of her and now, he expected me to chauffeur them around. I should have refused but there was one thing I had forgotten, I was still his personal assistant. Four years ago, Ethan had employed me at his firm when he took me in.  And since then, I had been working under him.  So, I started the engine. When I arrived at the pack house, Ethan and Vanessa were already waiting. Vanessa Cole. I'd known her long before she became the woman Ethan intended to marry. Back in school, she'd been one of the girls who made my life miserable. I could never forget the day she and Chloe cornered me in front of half the student body.  They called me a defective omega and threw hot water over my arms, and laughed while I struggled to escape. I still had nightmares about it. Now Vanessa stood beside Ethan in an elegant dress, looking every bit the Luna she was about to become. She opened the back door and smiled at me. "Hello, Sophie. It's been a while." I forced myself to look away as Ethan climbed in beside her, barely acknowledging my presence. "Let's go. We're running late." He said.  I pulled out of the driveway and everyone was quiet for the first few minutes. I kept my eyes on the road, determined to get them to the bank and return home without making a scene. Then Ethan checked his watch. "Could you drive faster?" "I'm already going as fast as I can." "We need to get Vanessa's wedding ring before the bank closes." He sighed impatiently.  I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. A wedding ring. In four years, Ethan had never bought me one. We'd married in secret, with no ceremony, no celebration, and no promise beyond the paper he'd asked me to sign. "It's all right, darling. We have time." Vanessa leaned against him, smiling. He turned toward her, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek before kissing her. I looked away. My vision blurred with tears, and I blinked furiously, trying to clear it before the road disappeared beneath them. Then a horn blared and when I looked up, there was a truck swerving into our lane.  Everything happened so fast.  I slammed on the brakes and jerked the steering wheel to avoid it. The car veered off the road and crashed into a concrete barrier. The airbag exploded against my face, and the impact threw me forward. For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except a high-pitched ringing. My head throbbed and I felt blood trickle down my temple. I tried to unfasten my seat belt, but my fingers were numb. "Ethan..." The back door flew open. I watched through blurred vision as he scrambled out and rushed to Vanessa's side first. "Vanessa! Are you hurt?" He asked.  "Ethan, my arm!"  He pulled her out of the car, cradling her against his chest. She was shaken, but I couldn't see any serious injuries. I tried to open my mouth. "Ethan, please..." But he didn't look at me, not even to check if I was alive.  He flagged down another vehicle and helped Vanessa inside, his attention fixed entirely on her and then they drove away.  I was left slumped behind the steering wheel, blood running down my face, struggling to stay conscious. A sob escaped me. Four years of loving him, and this man didn't even care if I dropped dead. My eyelids grew heavy as the echos of sirens drew closer. I didn't want to die. My fingers slipped from the steering wheel and as darkness crept into the edges of my vision, one thought remained. 'Lucian Storm, please. I need you.'

SOPHIE's POV. I opened my eyes to the sunlight pouring through the hospital blinds. My head throbbed whenever I moved and my left arm was secured in a cast. According to the doctor, I'd been lucky.  A fractured arm and a mild concussion were the worst of my injuries. Lucky. I almost laughed. I had survived the crash, but the man I'd loved for four years left me bleeding in a wrecked car without so much as a backward glance. Still, some pathetic part of me had hoped Ethan would be there when I woke up. Perhaps he'd feel guilty. Perhaps he'd realize how close he'd come to losing me. But the room was empty. He didn't come. Of course he didn't. Vanessa was probably keeping him occupied, and as long as she was safe, nothing else mattered. Then the door opened. "Sophie Bennett." I sat up so quickly that pain shot through my arm. Lucian Storm stood in the doorway, dressed in a black suit that looked ridiculously expensive. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his expression was unreadable as he took in the sight of me. "Lucian?" I could barely utter his name. He crossed the room, his gaze moving from my bandaged arm to the bruising along my forehead. "What happened to you?" His voice was controlled, but there was something beneath it that I couldn't quite identify. "What are you doing here?" I swallowed. "You called me." He pulled out his phone and held it up. "Several times, actually. Your messages weren't exactly clear, but I understood enough to know you'd been in an accident." Heat crept up my neck. I'd called him? I barely remembered anything after the crash. "I didn't realize..." "That you'd need me?" He slipped his phone into his pocket. "Apparently, you did." There was no mockery in his voice, which somehow made the situation more embarrassing. "Are you in pain?" He pulled a chair closer to the bed. "Just a little." I replied.  "I spoke with your doctor. You should be discharged soon, provided you follow his instructions and take your medication." I nodded, unsure what else to say. Lucian had come all the way from his pack because I'd called him in a moment of desperation. Meanwhile, Ethan didn't even bother to check whether I was alive. The realization made my throat tighten. "How did the accident happen?" Lucian asked. I looked down at my lap. "I was driving Ethan and Vanessa to the bank." "Vanessa is back?" His jaw tightened. I could see him finally put the pieces together in his head. Four years had passed since we last met and I figured now, over those years, he knew there was something going on between Ethan and I. "Yes." I replied. "And they left you in the car?" I couldn't bring myself to answer, I didn't even need to but Lucian seemed to understand. He leaned back in his chair, watching me with an expression that made me feel strangely exposed. "I don't understand why you're still surprised by his behavior, Sophie. Ethan has shown you exactly who he is." "You don't know what happened between us." I defended him. "I know enough." "You're his best friend." "Was," He corrected. "And that doesn't mean I'm blind." "I know he doesn't love me. You don't have to keep reminding me." I looked away, blinking back tears. "Then stop looking for reasons to excuse him." His words stung because they were true. For four years, I'd found excuses for every insult, every broken promise, every time Ethan had made me feel like something he needed to hide. I'd convinced myself that patience would eventually make him love me enough to choose me. But yesterday had finally taught me otherwise. Lucian's eyes shifted toward the handbag resting on the chair beside him. The corner of the contract peeked out from its opening. "I'm sure you've met Nathan..." He paused. "He told about the proposal. Have you made a decision?" He asked.  I pushed a hard lump down my throat. "You don't need to make a decision today." He quickly added.  "But I have. I want to accept the offer..." I replied. "I need to leave Crescent Pack. I can't stay there anymore, and I have nowhere else to go. Your offer would give me a fresh start." "And the child?" Lucian looked at me cautiously.  "I understand what the contract requires." I said even though my stomach tightened but Lucian could see right through me.  "Understanding and being comfortable with it are two different things. I know the magnitude of what I'm asking of you." He said.  I studied him for a moment because there was one thing I needed to understand.  "Why me?" I asked. His expression didn't change. "Because I need an heir." "You could have any woman you wanted. Women with powerful families, women who actually have wolves. Why choose someone everyone considers defective?" "Don't call yourself that." The firmness in his voice startled me and I pressed my lips together. "That's what I've been called my entire life." "Worthless. Useless. A burden. I don't have a wolf, Lucian. I have no family, no status, nothing to offer a man like you." I continued. "You have no idea what you have to offer." He replied.  "How would you know? You barely know me." I said back to him and a smirk curled his lips.  "Perhaps I know more than you think." I stared at him. "Is this some kind of bet? Are you trying to prove that you can save the helpless omega nobody else wants?" Lucian stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Do you honestly believe I'd offer you millions of dollars, put my reputation on the line, and arrange an entire marriage because of a bet?" I recoiled at his raised voice. He noticed and then he took a breath before speaking again. "No. That's not what this is." "Then what is it?" I asked and for the first time, he seemed to struggle for an answer.  "It's complicated."  He returned to his chair, his gaze steady on mine. "My father is ill. He's been ill for a long time, and his greatest wish is to see an heir before he steps down. I intend to give him that." There was a quiet sadness in his voice when he mentioned his father. It was the first time I'd seen anything that made Lucian seem less like an untouchable prince and more like an ordinary man with something to lose. "But why me?" I asked again. "That's something you'll understand in time." He said coldly and even though I hated that answer, I knew it was all I'd be getting.  "Thank you for helping me." I whispered after a while. I'd tried to stretch my hand towards him but I could only move so much and he looked at my outstretched hand before gently taking it. "You don't owe me gratitude for making sure you survived." His fingers were warm around mine. "And Sophie?" I looked up. "Whatever happens between us, no one in Shadowridge will be allowed to treat you the way you've been treated here." There was a certainty in his voice that made my chest ache. Ethan had once promised me the same thing, to protect me.  I had to remind myself that should this happen, Lucian and I were only entering yet another arrangement, nothing more.  He needed an heir and I needed protection and a chance to rebuild my life. There would be no expectations beyond that. No falling in love. Because I had learned my lesson. Three days later, I was discharged. Lucian arranged for his driver to take me back to Crescent Pack, and throughout my recovery, I kept thinking about our conversation. I still didn't understand his reasons, but I'd made my decision. I was going to sign the contract.  The black SUV rolled into the pack house driveway, and I gathered my things before the driver could help me out. Then I saw Ethan. He stood near the entrance, his arms folded across his chest as his gaze moved from me to the car, lingering on the license plate. STORM45. His expression changed once he figured exactly whose car it was. His best friend, Lucian Storm.