"This is where you live?" she asked, her voice wavering.
Kain didn't stop to answer. He walked ahead, pushing open the heavy wooden door. When he glanced back, his expression made it clear he wasn't interested in her hesitation.
"Get inside. You're safer here than out there," he said simply.
Lucia's legs felt like they might give out, but she forced herself to follow. The moment she stepped inside, the heat from the roaring fire hit her, chasing away the chill of the forest. The room was large and dimly lit, with shadows flickering on the walls from the flames.
Weapons hung on one side of the room, their blades gleaming faintly. Shelves filled with books and strange artifacts lined the walls. It was a mix of chaos and control, just like the man who brought her here.
Kain stood by the fireplace, leaning a hand on the mantle as if deep in thought.
"Sit," he said without looking at her.
Lucia's instinct was to argue, but her legs moved on their own. She dropped into one of the sturdy wooden chairs by the long table. The tension in the room was almost suffocating.
"Why did you bring me here?" she finally asked, her voice cutting through the silence.
Kain turned to face her, his piercing eyes meeting hers. "Because you're not safe. And until you're under my protection, they'll keep coming for you."
"They? Who are they?"
He crossed his arms, his presence as commanding as ever. "The ones hunting you. They won't stop until you're either dead or theirs."
Lucia's stomach twisted. "Why me? What did I do?"
"It's not about what you did. It's about who you are," he said, his voice calm but firm.
"I'm nobody," she snapped, her frustration spilling over. "I don't even know what's happening. You say I'm in danger, but you won't tell me why."
Kain stepped closer, and the intensity in his gaze made her shrink back slightly. "You're not nobody, Lucia. You just don't know your value yet. But they do."
Her mind raced, trying to piece together his cryptic words. "If I'm so valuable, then why are you helping me? What do you want?"
His lips twitched, almost like he was amused. "I don't do charity. If I'm going to risk my neck for you, there's going to be a price."
There it was. The catch. She braced herself. "What kind of price?"
He pulled out a chair across from her and sat down, his movements deliberate. "I'll keep you safe. But to do that, I need everyone to know you're off-limits. Untouchable."
Her brows furrowed. "How do you plan to do that?"
"You marry me," he said, his tone flat and matter-of-fact.
Lucia froze. "What?"
"It's a contract marriage," he continued as if he hadn't just dropped a bombshell. "No emotions, no romance. Just an agreement. My name carries weight. No one would dare come after you if you're mine."
"Yours?" she echoed, her voice sharp. "I don't even know you!"
"And yet I saved your life," he shot back, his tone clipped.
Lucia's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Her thoughts raced, bouncing between disbelief and anger.
"You can't be serious," she finally said.
"I don't joke about survival," Kain replied. "You have two choices. Accept my offer and live, or go out there and hope for the best. But we both know how that'll end."
Her chest tightened as memories of the creature flashed through her mind—its glowing eyes, its predatory grin. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
"There has to be another way," she said, her voice trembling.
Kain leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "There isn't. Not one that ends with you alive."
Silence stretched between them, broken only by the crackling fire.
Lucia shook her head, standing abruptly. "I can't do this. I can't just... marry someone I don't even trust."
Kain didn't try to stop her as she paced the room, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She felt caged, like the walls were closing in.
"You think I want this?" he said, his voice cutting through her panic. "You think I want to tie myself to someone I barely know? This isn't about me. It's about keeping you alive."
His words hit her like a slap. She stopped pacing, her back to him. "I need time to think."
"Time is a luxury you don't have," he said bluntly.
Lucia spun to face him, her frustration boiling over. "Why me? Why go through all this trouble for someone you don't even know?"
Kain stood, towering over her. His eyes burned with something she couldn't name—anger, maybe, or something deeper.
"Because I've seen what they do to people like you," he said quietly. "And I'm not going to let that happen again."
The weight of his words settled over her like a heavy blanket. She wanted to argue, to find a way out of this mess, but deep down, she knew he was right.
Lucia sank back into the chair, her shoulders slumping. "What does this... contract involve?"
Kain's expression softened just a fraction, as if he knew he'd won. "You stay here, under my protection. No one touches you. In return, you follow my rules. And when the threat is gone, we end the contract. Simple."
"Simple," she repeated bitterly. "Nothing about this is simple."
He didn't respond, just waited.
Lucia closed her eyes, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She thought of the creature in the forest, the way it had stalked her like prey. She thought of the fear, the helplessness.
When she opened her eyes, she met Kain's steady gaze. "Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it."
Kain nodded once, his expression as calm as ever. "Good. We start tomorrow."
Lucia didn't know whether to feel relieved or terrified. All she knew was that her life would never be the same.
Kain's nod ended the conversation, but Lucia's mind raced with doubts and fears. The words "contract marriage" echoed over and over in her head. Was this really the only way to survive?
The fire crackled softly as night settled over the lodge. Kain had left her alone, retreating somewhere deeper into the house, but his absence did nothing to calm her nerves. She stood by the window, looking out at the dark forest beyond. The shadows between the trees seemed to shift and move, making her stomach churn.
Her breath fogged up the glass. "How did my life come to this?" she murmured, her voice barely audible over the wind outside.
A door creaked behind her. She turned sharply to see Kain entering the room. His expression was calm, but his eyes carried the weight of something unspoken.
"Get some rest," he said simply. "Tomorrow's important."
Lucia wanted to snap back, to demand answers or even an ounce of reassurance, but she didn't have the energy. She nodded and followed him down the hall to a small, plain room.
The bed was clean but worn, the blankets rough against her fingers. As soon as she lay down, exhaustion pulled her into a restless sleep. Shadows haunted her dreams—dark figures with glowing eyes, their whispers filling her ears. She jolted awake before dawn, her heart pounding like a drum.
By the time the sun rose, the house was eerily quiet. Lucia barely had time to gather her thoughts before Kain reappeared, his presence filling the room.
"He's here," Kain said, his voice steady.
"Who's here?" she asked, her stomach twisting.
"The lawyer. It's time to sign."
Lucia swallowed hard as a tall, thin man stepped into the room. He carried a leather briefcase and had a sharp, calculating look in his eyes. He set the briefcase on the table, opened it, and pulled out a thick document.
"Alpha Draven," the lawyer said with a respectful nod, sliding the papers toward Kain.
Without hesitation, Kain picked up the pen and signed his name with quick, deliberate strokes. Then, he turned the document toward her, placing the pen in front of her hand.
"Your turn," he said, his voice calm but firm.
Lucia's hand trembled as she picked up the pen. The room felt stifling, the weight of her decision pressing down on her chest. The lawyer stood silently, his gaze fixed on her, while Kain waited, his eyes never leaving her.
Before she could bring the pen to the paper, a sharp knock broke the silence.
Kain stiffened, his entire body going rigid. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice low and dangerous.
Lucia froze as he moved toward the door with quiet, measured steps. The lawyer glanced uneasily toward the window, his usually calm demeanor slipping.
Kain opened the door, his large frame blocking the view. A low growl rumbled in his throat.
"What do you want?" Kain's voice was sharp, cold, and brimming with menace.
A shadowy figure stood on the doorstep, cloaked in the dim light of morning. His voice was smooth but carried a command that made Lucia's skin crawl.
"I've come for what's mine," the man said.
Lucia's blood ran cold, her grip tightening on the pen.