Chapter 7
ADELINE
fleeting kind, but the dense, lingering one that anchors itself in your chest and refuses to let go.
The air tasted like fear. Not the fleetin
Linhaled deeply, staring at my reflection in the mirror of the guest bathrooms. It was a lavish space, no doubt meant to impress, but all I could see was the growing shadow of dread behind my eyes. Nicholas had ordered one of his men to show me here because, apparently, my “belongings Iven’t been moved yet?
Because he would soon assign me a room. Living with him, as he put it, was “essential for appearances” A convenient excuse, though I suspected had more to do with keeping me in check than anything else. Now, staring at the pristine tiles, all I wanted to do was vomit.
I should’ve thought this through before storming out of my father’s study. Confrontation had blinded me–blinded me to the danger, to the reality of what Nicholas represented. I had charged out, furious, certain that he was responsible for the chain of events that had ultimately led to Devon’s death.
And where had that righteous anger gotten met
Strike two.
I didn’t even know counts were being kept until Nicholas mentioned it earlier, a smug undertone of warning in his voice.
Sighing. I leaned against the sink, gripping its edge until my knuckles turned white. I prayed–something I hadn’t done in years–silently calling out to the Moon Goddess. Just let me survive this. Don’t let me reach strike three.
A sharp knock cui through the suffocating silence.
“Miss Adeline,” a voice called from the other side. The Lycan King asked me to inform you that you have three minutes left. He says you should not be a second late to the car waiting outside.”
I closed my eyes, steeling myself, before yanking the door open. The guard standing there was tall and expressionless, his neutral tone matching the indifference in his posture.
“Thank you for informing me. I’m done.” I replied, brushing past him.
But as I moved, I caught the flicker in his gaze–subtle, but unmistakable Confusion
It wasn’t hard to guess what he was thinking. What is the Lycan King doing with a werewolf?
My father’s warnings echoed in my mind. Lycans saw us as lesser creatures, fit only to serve or stay out of their way. If Nicholas had his way, I’d be reduced to something even lower–a bargaining chip.
I pushed the thought aside, following the guard down the winding staircase to the entrance. A sleek black car waited, its engine purring softly predator waiting to surike.
I barely had a minute left. Sliding into the backseat, the weight of his presence hit me impediately.
Nicholas sat next to me, his aura oppressive, radiating power and authority. The raw energy of it made my wolf stir uneasily, though I forced myself to stay calm.
You are thirteen seconds late,” he said, his tone cutting through the air like a blade.
I blinked, turning my gaze toward him. Was he serious?
“I—It won’t happen again,” I stammered, lowering my gaze under the sinsering anger in his icy blue eyes,
He studied me for a moment, his intensity drilling into me before he looked away.
“Drive,” he commanded, and the car began to move.
I pressed myself against the door, trying to put as much distance as possible between us, though the confined space offered little relict
Nicholas broke the silence agam, his voice low and sharp. “Luther will be skeptical, given the circumstances surrounding how quickly this arrangement came to be. He’ll search for any excuse to decline this alliance, I will not tolerate being denied a second tinte, so you will do everything in your power to convince him”
The words were sharp, but it was his tone–biting and devoid of patience–that made my stomach chum
“Maybe my job would be easier if you weren’t such an asshole,” I mutiered under my breath.
Like
ן.
Chapter 7
so I thought.
The car went deathly silent, and I realized too late that I had said i
it out loud.
Nicholas turned his head slowly, his gaze fixed on me with a mix of disbelief and barely contained fury.
“What did you just say!”
“..I didn’t mean—”
“That what?” he snapped, cuting me off
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. If I backed down now, it would only make things worse
“This Lycan–Luther–values family, right? If we’re going to convince him, we need to work with that. He’ll want to see that your care about me, and frankly, Your Highness, your attitude isn’t exactly convincing
Nicholas narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t interrupt, so I continued..
“With all due respect, your hostility isn’t helping. If you want this alliance, you need to act like you care at least while we’re in front of him.”
For a moment, I thought he was going to explode. But instead, he leaned back, his gaze still sharp but contemplative. He said nothing, and I turned
way, staring out the window,
This was a mistake
By the time the car pulled to a stop in front of Luther’s estate, my nerves were frayed. Nicholas stepped d out first, his movements smooth and calculused. To my surprise, he opened my door, offering his hand with an air of practiced courtesy.
His touch was brief, almost impersonal, as he placed a hand on my lower back, guiding me toward the house. The gesture was meant to look protective, but the tension radiating from him made it feel more like a warning.
As we stepped inside, the warmth of the house took me by surprise. It was the kind of warmth that didn’t come from a thermostat but from life- real, messy, unrestrained life.
Two children ran past us, laughing as they chased each other down the hallway. Nicholas’s lips curled in thinly veiled disgust just as an older voice called out, “You came.”
Turning, I saw an older man approaching, wearing an apron dusted with flour. His kind eyes and earnest smile were so disarming that 1 momentarily forgot why I was here.
“You must be Adeline,” he said, extending his hand before pulling me into an unexpected hug. His embrace was warm, genuine, and completely at odds with the cold, calculating world Nicholas inhabited
“It’s so nice to meet the woman who’s finally put up with this one,” Luther said, laughing
I found myself smiling despite the tension knotting in my stomach. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
Luther stepped back, his simile widening, “Come, come! Everyone’s in the kitchen–they’re so excited to meet you”
Without hesitation, I followed hin, drawn to his easy demeanor. Nicholas trailed behind us, his presence like a dark cloud threatening to rain on this moment of reprieve
Were you baking?” I asked, noticing the flour on his apron.
Luther laughed. “Oh yes. Daniella–my second to last is participating in a baking competition at her academy. She’s very competitive, so the entire family has been roped into cookie–making duty. You don’t want to be around when she loses it’s chaos”
A laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. Linher’s warmth was infectious, a stark contrast to the cold, calculated energy of Nicholas
As we entered the kitchen, I froze.
Over a dozen pain of eyes turned to me—adults, teenagers, children—all radiating curiosity and warmth. Luther began introducing them one by one, but I quickly lost track, overwhelmed by the sheer number of names and faces
Finally, a young woman my age stepped forward, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Knock it off, Dail. You’re going to overwhelm her
She extended her lund. “I’m Nicole. Don’t worry–Cas the only one here that matters,”
I smiled, shaking her hand. “Adeline, I’m Nicholas’s”
I inuiled off, realizing Nicholas hadn’t followed us into the kitchen. Of course not. This warmth, this family—none of it fit his worldl
다
Chapter 7
And then it hit me.
Luther wasn’t just testing Nicholas. He was protecting his family, ensuring they had something worth fighting for. Something Nicholas could never understand
And I couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter how this ended, everyone here would pay the price for this arrangement.
Everyone eventually returned to their activities, the lively lnim of chatter and the clatter of dishes filling the warm, inviting kitchen. I glanced around, my gare landing on a girl who couldn’t have been more than fourteen, confidently giving orders to adults twice her size. It was a scene so familial and pure that a pang of guik stirred deep in my chest. What was I doing lying to these people?
Before I could swell further on my doubts, Lather called my name. His voice, calm yet commanding, cut through the noise effortlessly. My gaze snapped to him, and the warmth I’d seen earlier in his eyes was replaced by a piercing seriousness.
“You seem like a really nice young woman,” he began, his tone steady but pointed. “But this is all a bit… coincidental, don’t you think?”
My heart started to race as the weight of his words sank in. He knew. Or at least, he suspected. I nodded instinctively, a silent acknowledgment that I was listening, though my stomach churned with unease.
He leaned forward slightly, his kind demeanor softened but unwavering. “I might not look like it, but I hold a lot of power to my name. That’s why he came to me,” he said, his voice dropping an octave, adding gravity to his words. “I can help you get our of this. You don’t have to stay trapped in something you don’t want.”
1 froze, my breath catching in my throat.
“All you have to do,” he continued, his eyes locking onto mine, “is tell me the truth.” His words were slow and deliberate, as if giving me time to process them. “Is your
nship with the Lycan king fake?”
