Chapter 109
The car ride to the packhouse felt like a funeral procession, slow and suffocating. My stepmother, Sarah, sat beside me, preening as if *she* were about to be named Luna. She’d spent the entire morning fussing over me, brushing out my wild hair until it gleamed and forcing me into a pale blue dress that clung too tightly to my figure.
“You look fine,” she said, not glancing up from her phone. “Just...try not to embarrass me when we get there.”
I bit back a retort, my hands clenching in my lap. It wasn’t worth arguing. Nothing ever was with her.
When we arrived, the packhouse loomed ahead, its stone facade both grand and imposing. There was something about it—something that made my pulse quicken. I couldn’t explain it, but as soon as I stepped out of the car, a strange sensation washed over me, like I belonged here.
Then, the voice came.
“Protect them.”
It was clear as day, ringing in my head like a bell. I froze, my breath hitching.
“What are you doing?” Sarah snapped, her heels clicking impatiently on the pavement. “Stop acting weird and walk with a smile.”
I forced my legs to move, my steps mechanical as I followed her up the steps. Each step felt heavier, my heart pounding in my chest.
When we entered the foyer, the smell of polished wood and lavender greeted me, but it wasn’t the decor or the scent that caught my attention. It was the soft giggles echoing from the far side of the room.
A woman stood there, cradling two babies—babies with the same bright green eyes I’d seen in my dreams. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
The woman, noticing my staring, smiled warmly. “Hi, you must be Ayla. I’m Sophie.”
The name barely registered. My focus was on the twins. They were gorgeous, with chubby cheeks and curious eyes that seemed to see right through me.
“Are you okay?” Sophie asked, tilting her head in concern.
I blinked, forcing myself to speak. “Yes, I’m fine. Sorry, I just...I love babies. They’re adorable.”
Sophie’s smile widened. “They are, aren’t they? These two are quite the handful, though.”
I nodded, but my mind raced. How could they be *the* babies? It didn’t make sense. They were just babies—weren’t they?
Before I could think any further, the sound of approaching footsteps drew our attention. Jonas and Lydia entered the room, followed by a man whose presence sucked all the air out of the space.
The Alpha.
He was tall, with dark hair and piercing gray eyes that seemed to carry the weight of the world. His expression was guarded, almost cold, and I immediately knew he didn’t want to be here any more than I did.
Jonas cleared his throat. “Shall we begin?”
Sarah nudged me forward, her nails digging into my arm. I stumbled slightly but regained my footing, walking toward the long table where the others had gathered.
“Welcome, Ayla,” Lydia said kindly, though her smile seemed tinged with sympathy.
The Alpha said nothing, his gaze fixed on a spot just past my shoulder. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or insulted.
Jonas gestured for us to sit. “We’ll keep this brief. The council has approved the arrangement, and all that remains is the signing of the documents.”
I glanced at the Alpha, hoping—praying—that he’d refuse. But he remained silent, his jaw tight.
Jonas continued, his voice calm but firm. “There will be no mating ceremony or celebration. This is purely an arrangement. Ayla will be introduced to the pack as Luna tomorrow, and that will be the extent of it.”
The Alpha finally spoke, his voice low and emotionless. “This is a duty, nothing more.”
His words stung more than I expected. I knew this wasn’t a real union, but hearing it stated so plainly made it feel like a rejection of *me* as a person.
Jonas nodded, unfazed. “Understood. Let’s proceed.”
A man entered the room carrying a stack of documents, which he placed on the table in front of us.
The Alpha didn’t look at me as he picked up the pen and signed his name with a swift, practiced motion.
When it was my turn, my hands trembled. The pen felt heavy, almost as if signing these papers would seal my fate forever. But what choice did I have?
I signed.
Sarah clapped her hands together, beaming. “Wonderful! This is such a happy day.”
I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of her words. Happy? For whom?
She turned to the Alpha, her smile saccharine. “Ayla can start staying here immediately. I’ll send over her bags this afternoon.”
The Alpha nodded curtly and stood. Without a word, he walked out of the room, leaving me sitting there with a knot in my stomach.
Sophie must have noticed my discomfort because she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Come on,” she said softly. “Let me show you to your room.”
I followed her down the hallway, the twins still in her arms. One of them, the little girl, reached out and grabbed a fistful of my hair, giggling as she played with the curls.
Sophie laughed. “Looks like she likes you. That’s rare—they usually fuss around new people.”
I couldn’t help but smile, a genuine one for the first time in what felt like forever. “She’s sweet.”
The little boy cooed, and Sophie shifted him to her other hip. “They both are. But a handful, like I said.”
“Are they...yours?” I asked hesitantly.
Sophie shook her head. “No, they’re my brother’s kids. His mate is...gone now, so I’ve been helping out.”
Her tone was light, but I caught the flicker of sadness in her eyes.
“They’re lucky to have you,” I said quietly.
Sophie smiled, her warmth returning. “And I think they’re going to be lucky to have you around, too.”
The nanny appeared then, taking the twins from Sophie with practiced ease. As they were carried away, I felt an inexplicable pang of loss, as though something precious had been taken from me.
Sophie led me to a spacious room at the end of the hall. The walls were painted a soft cream, and large windows offered a stunning view of the forest beyond.
“This is your room,” Sophie said, setting my suitcase by the bed. “I hope it’s comfortable enough.”
“It’s perfect,” I said honestly, taking in the cozy furnishings and warm lighting.
Sophie lingered for a moment, studying me. “You know, your hair reminds me of her.”
“Her?”
“The former Luna,” Sophie said softly. “She had dark hair like yours. Beautiful and wild.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, so I simply nodded, offering a faint smile.
“Well,” Sophie said, straightening. “I’ll let you get settled. If you need anything, just let me know.”
“Thank you, Sophie,” I said sincerely.
She smiled one last time before leaving, closing the door behind her.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The room was beautiful, the packhouse was grand, and yet I felt like an outsider in my own life.
The Alpha’s cold demeanor lingered in my mind, his indifference cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. I told myself it didn’t matter—that this arrangement was just a formality. But a small part of me couldn’t shake the feeling of rejection.
And then there were the twins.
The connection I felt to them was undeniable, as though some invisible thread bound us together. I didn’t understand it, but I couldn’t ignore it.
As I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, the voice from my dreams echoed in my mind once more.
“Protect them.”
I didn’t know what it meant,
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