Samuel sank into the chair by the desk, running a hand through his dark hair. “It’s not like that, Aleya. It’s not as simple as you think.”
“Then explain it to me. Help me understand why my happiness doesn’t matter.”
He met her gaze, his tone soft. “Father didn’t make this decision lightly. The alliance with the Stoneclaw pack is crucial. Their territory is strategic, and Nathaniel is the heir. Marrying him ensures our pack’s future stability.”
Aleya let out a bitter laugh, stepping closer to him. “Stability? What about my future, Sam? What about what I want?” Her voice trembled, but she refused to cry.
Samuel lowered his gaze, unable to answer.
“That’s what I thought.” Aleya turned toward the window, crossing her arms. “You always do what Father wants. You never question him. But I’m not like you. I won’t stand still and accept this.”
Samuel stood, approaching her slowly. “What are you planning to do, Aleya? Run away? Risk being found and forced to return? Father is not someone to trifle with.”
She looked at him, her eyes blazing with determination. “I’m not going to stay here and let myself be married off to someone I don’t even respect. I’m going to find my own destiny, Sam. I don’t care what Father thinks.”
Samuel let out a deep sigh. “I admire you for that, Aleya. You’ve always been braver than me. But please, be careful. Father doesn’t forgive disobedience.”
Aleya looked at him, surprised. “You’re not going to stop me?”
He shook his head. “I can’t support you, but I won’t stop you either. Just… promise me you won’t do something you can’t undo.”
Aleya nodded slowly. “Thank you, Sam.”
Samuel stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’re my sister. No matter what happens, I’ll always be on your side.” Then, without another word, he left the room, leaving Aleya with a mix of fear and hope.
“Well, that was unexpected,” Luna commented in a mocking tone. “Maybe he’s not as useless as we thought.”
Aleya smiled faintly, gazing out the window at the starry sky. “This doesn’t end here, Luna. My life is just beginning.”
Two months after.
The Stoneclaw mansion was adorned with opulence, a display of power and wealth to welcome the Silverfangs. Aleya surveyed the dining room with a mix of disgust and resignation. Everything about the atmosphere seemed designed to stifle her: the crystal chandeliers, the long velvet curtains, and the inquisitive gazes of the Stoneclaw clan members.
Nathaniel sat at the head of the table, radiating his usual air of self-importance. He wore a bear-hide tunic that made his bulky figure look even more disproportionate. Aleya struggled to maintain a neutral expression, but her wolf, Luna, didn’t hold back her remarks in her mind.
“Oh, dear, look at him. He’s like a barrel on legs. Is that our future? Because I’d rather stay single for the rest of our lives.”
Aleya pressed her lips together to suppress a smile. “Shut up, Luna. This is hard enough already.”
Her fiancé raised a goblet to toast. “To our union, which will bring prosperity and glory to our packs.”
Aleya awkwardly rose, trying to follow protocol, but her discomfort was evident. When she picked up her goblet, she stumbled slightly, spilling some of the wine onto the table. The stifled laughter of some Stoneclaw members only made her feel worse.
Nathaniel, with a patronizing tone, commented, “It’s a minor mistake. My future wife will soon learn how to behave at important events.”
The words struck Aleya like a slap. “Wife? Learn?” she thought indignantly.
Luna wasted no time. “Do you realize how condescending this jerk is? Come on, say something. We deserve this.”
Before she could stop herself, the words spilled from her mouth. “Maybe I’m not the one who needs to learn, Nathaniel. Perhaps you should start by cutting back on the meat, or the wine… or everything, really.”
The room fell silent. The Stoneclaws’ eyes widened in shock, while some of the Silverfangs struggled to hide their surprise.
Nathaniel scowled, clearly annoyed. “What do you mean by that, Aleya?”
She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Just a comment. You know, for your health.”
The rest of the dinner was a disaster. Aleya showed none of the respect the Stoneclaws expected from a fiancée, and her sharp tongue only made things worse. When they returned to the Silverfang mansion, Damian was furious.
After the engagement dinner, back at home Damian’s roar echoed through the great hall as Aleya stood before him, her head held high, though she trembled inside.
“Your behavior was disgraceful! You’ve insulted not only Nathaniel but his entire clan. Do you have any idea what this means?”
“Yes, it means I don’t have to marry him,” Aleya replied defiantly.
The slap came quickly, with enough force to make her head snap to the side. The physical pain was nothing compared to the humiliation she felt.
Damian breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. “You are my daughter, but if you disrespect our family again, I’ll have no choice but to punish you as I would any other member of the pack.”
Aleya didn’t respond. Her heart was breaking, and her resolve to escape only grew stronger.
Hours later, Samuel entered her room, closing the door behind him. He found Aleya sitting on the windowsill, her face still marked from the blow.
“How are you?” he asked cautiously.
Aleya shrugged. “I’ve felt worse.”
Samuel sat beside her. “This is spiraling out of control. The Stoneclaws are demanding a public punishment. Father refuses, but this could escalate into a conflict between packs.”
Aleya stared at him in disbelief. “All because of a dinner? Because I don’t want to marry that… man?”
Samuel nodded. “It’s more complicated than that. This is politics, Aleya. Father can’t show weakness, and neither can they.”
Aleya sighed. “I can’t stay here, Sam. I can’t marry him, and I can’t be the cause of a war. There has to be another way.”
Samuel studied her in silence for a moment, then smiled faintly. “Maybe there is.”
She looked at him, intrigued. “What are you thinking?”
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “The Alpha Academy. If you disappear for a while, we could buy time while Father negotiates with the Stoneclaws. It’s the only place where you’d be safe. No one would look for you there.”
Aleya frowned. “How am I supposed to hide in an academy full of alphas? It’s a place for men, Sam. They’ll discover me in a second.”
Samuel grinned. “Not if we make sure they don’t. We’ll cut your hair, use male pheromones to mask your scent… With a bit of effort, you could blend in.”
Aleya hesitated. “This is insane.”
Luna chimed in her mind, thrilled. “Exactly what we need! See, Aleya? Finally, something fun. Say yes!”
She looked at her brother, determination returning to her eyes. “Fine. Let’s do it. But if this goes wrong, it’ll be your head Father comes after.”
Samuel chuckled softly. “Always so dramatic. You’ll be fine. And who knows? You might even enjoy it.”
As the night wore on, the two began planning every detail. Aleya didn’t know it yet, but her life was about to change forever.
