The night was at its peak, yet the Sliverthorn shone like a pearl. The night was alive with music and laughter, but I sat in silence. The war was over. My husband had returned. Peace had come for everyone—except me.

His words echoed in my mind: 'I will never let you get away from me, my doll.' Lucian made me his to love... and to break.

"Sister." My chain of thoughts broke, and as I turned I saw my sister. "Is the rumor true? Is Lucian really sending you to that barbarian? And tomorrow, you'll annul the marriage?" Her words stung like a slap.

Wiping down the tears from the corner of my eyes, I stood. I cannot even express my feelings to her. She was young and too innocent to know the dreadful things Lucian did to me in those past years. " You know you should not say any bad words for the Alpha. He has brought peace to our pack. We should be grateful to him," I tried to calm her down but Zoe shook her head, "No! He is not Alpha to me. He is selling you to that barbarian without your consent."

Closing the distance between us, I hugged her, " Zoe, don't speak in such a manner. If anyone heard you then..." She pushed me back and cried out, " Stop it, Selene. I know it all." My eyes widened at her words, "What are you talking about?"

"Stop being so calm and collected. I know you don't want this then why not fight against it?"

My eyes closed as her words fell into my ear. I was scared but relieved at the same time. Fisting my hands, I dug my nails into the palm. I can't let her see how much I've crumbled inside. I'm supposed to protect her and be the strong one for both her and Mom. But right now, I feel like I'm breaking into pieces. Still, I looked at her and gritted out, "Stop saying nonsense, Zoe. You don't know anything."

She scoffed, "Do you really think I am a child? I know what things Kara has done every time to shame you. You bore it all just for me and Mom!"

My breaths became uneven, I was failing to control my emotions when my wolf, Zara spoke, "Let me deal with her." I shook my head, "No, she cannot handle your harshness, Zara. Let me deal with her myself."

Taking a few deep breaths, I looked at her with an expressionless face, "Zoe, get out from here or else..." Before I could complete it, a knock interrupted. "Selene, I wanted to talk to you." It was Lucian. My heart skipped a beat, I stared at her urging her to leave.

"Zoe, leave. I promise we will talk about this later." I could see her determination to stay here, but not in any situation, I could let her stay near him. I almost pushed out of the room making her leave the room. While she walked out, she shot a glare at him but fortunately, Lucian did not notice it. As Lucian stepped into the room, he said, "I was searching for you."

I diverted my gaze to the ground, not having enough courage to make eye contact, " I was..just tired." Lucian sat back at the bed. He patted down the space beside him. I slowly paced towards him and sat beside him. His hand came near my face. In reflex, my eyes got closed, "Are you afraid of me, doll?" 

His fingers went beneath my chin, lifting my face. My gaze met with his silver orbs. It always reminded me of the cold winters, when my father died. "Were you crying?" He noticed. "Yes." He never liked me lying to him, so being honest was the last straw. "Why are you trembling, doll? You know I don't bite... unless you make me." His eyes were turning blue, his wolf was taking over him. It was becoming hard to stare at him. It was his power that he could catch any lie just by looking at a person's eyes. I tried to focus somewhere, " when he shouted, "Look at me!" A cold tremor ran through me, as the weight of memories crashed over me.

"Yes, I am afraid of being sent away." from my family. I told him the half-truth. He kept staring at me for a while when he left me and lay on the bed. "I can understand. If I was at your place, I would have felt the same."

I did not say anything when he gripped my arm and pulled towards him. I fell beside him. I knew where it was going. He hovered over me, his hand caressed my face. I closed my eyes, making myself ready for the upcoming thing. 

"It was Kara's father's idea. I tried to retaliate but he already put the offer in front of him." Of course, it was Kara's doing. She'd tried to ruin me every chance she got, but failed every time. When she couldn't get what she wanted, her father stepped in to take me out of Lucian's life. "I knew it was Kara's doing. If Kara had not been carrying my heir then I would have killed her."

My throat went dry. Lucian was a monster, who would kill anyone in a blink. I was somewhat thankful to Kara and her father but the thought of leaving mother and Zoe also terrified me. Only a few people knew Lucian's true nature. He was a short-tempered devil. If anyone tried to get on his nerve not even Moon Goddess could save that person. But can I tell his truth to anyone? No, because no good thing would bear from this action. 

Unexpectedly, his hand slowly went back to my hair. He gripped my hair, forcing me to look into his eyes. "But you don't have to worry, doll. I'll deal with that Lycan when the time comes. He's not worthy of you... but he dares to think he can claim what's mine." If anyone had said this to me, I would not have believed but Lucian was not someone. I knew what he was capable of, and the determination, in his eyes, was the proof that he would not let me go out of his claw that easily.

"My blood is already boiling thinking that from tomorrow he would touch what's mine." His low voice sent shivers to my body. His finger trailed from my shoulder to my stomach. In a moment, he clawed out the dress from my body. I gasped in horror. "But from tonight, you'll carry my marks, a reminder of who you belong to." His lips curled into a sinister smile.

His eyes slowly turned blue. His wolf was ready to lurch on me and the worst part was, I could not even say no to him. My eyes went in the direction of the window. There had always been something to distract me when he came near—something to pull my mind away. But tonight, there was nothing. No moon, no stars. Only black clouds mirroring the emptiness and despair that defined my life.

Time dragged on, my body numb from the relentless pain Lucian had inflicted on me.. "Sleep tight, doll," he whispered against my ear. "Tomorrow, you'll belong to him—but remember, you'll always be mine."