Silvia

I sprinted toward Noah's study but stopped cold.

My brother lay collapsed on the floor, his tall frame twisted in agony.

His skin was pale, slick with sweat, and his body trembled with violent spasms.

"No, no, no!"

I dropped to my knees beside him, pressing trembling fingers to his neck. A pulse--faint, erratic--fluttered beneath my touch.

"Noah, please! Don't leave me too!"

My voice broke. My hands shook so hard I nearly dropped my phone as I called the pack doctor.

He was all I had left. My last piece of family. I couldn't lose him too.

While I waited for help to arrive, I cradled Noah's head in my lap. His breathing came in shallow, broken gasps.

"Stay with me," I whispered, stroking his damp hair back from his forehead. "I can't do this alone. Please."

Within minutes, the pack doctor burst in with his team. The room filled with the sterile scent of medicine and fear.

They moved fast--checking vitals, inserting IVs, calling out orders. I stayed beside him, numb, useless, terrified.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked when one of them paused, tears streaming down my cheeks.

The doctor looked at me with grave sympathy. "His heart's in severe distress. Has he experienced any significant trauma recently?"

Trauma.

The word tasted bitter on my tongue.

"Our parents just died," I managed hoarsely. "And... his heart's always been weak."

The doctor nodded slowly. "I'm sorry. Pack bonds can amplify loss. Sometimes the heart can't take it."

They lifted Noah onto a stretcher. I gripped his limp hand, whispering over and over,

"Hold on, Noah. I'm right here. I won't leave you."

--

The hospital corridor was a sterile nightmare.

My pacing had probably worn a path in the linoleum floor as I waited outside the emergency room where they'd taken Noah.

The antiseptic smell burned my nostrils, and Keal paced restlessly within me, sensing my distress.

"Miss Silvia?" A nurse approached, clipboard in hand.

"The doctor will speak with you shortly about your brother's condition."

I nodded, unable to form words past the lump in my throat.

My fingers nervously twisted the sleeve of my rain-soaked sweater.

After what felt like hours, a tall doctor with salt-and-pepper hair and tired eyes emerged from the double doors.

"Miss Silvia? I'm Dr. Mitchell." He extended his hand. "Would you mind stepping into a private room?"

I nodded and followed him into a small consultation office, my heart pounding against my ribs like a war drum.

"Your brother has just suffered a major cardiac event," he said, his tone steady but edged with concern. "The external injuries--though concerning--appear to be blunt force trauma, most likely from a fall after he lost consciousness. Given the severity of his heart condition, I strongly recommend emergency surgery."

"Is he going to be okay?" I asked, barely recognizing my own voice as it cracked.

Dr. Mitchell hesitated. "With immediate surgery, yes, his chances are good. But..."

He cleared his throat. "I have to discuss the financial aspects. Without insurance, the procedure costs $58,000."

The number hit me like a physical blow. "$58,000?" I whispered. "I don't... I can't possibly..."

"I understand this is difficult." His eyes reflected genuine sympathy. "But we need to move forward with treatment within 24 hours. Beyond that, the damage may become irreversible."

My mind raced frantically. "What about payment plans? There has to be something--"

"The hospital requires at least half the amount upfront to schedule the surgery." Dr. Mitchell handed me some paperwork.

"These forms explain your options. Do you have any other pack members who might help?"

I shook my head numbly. "No. Just Noah and me now."

"I'm truly sorry." He squeezed my shoulder gently. "Call this number when you've made arrangements. But please don't wait too long."

After he left, I collapsed into a chair, my body trembling.

My fingers hovered over my phone. Zack flashed in my mind. He was wealthy--his family owned the massive Nightfang Pack territory and businesses.

But the thought of crawling back to him after what he'd done...

And worse, the look of humiliation on Noah's face if he learned I'd begged my cheating ex-mate for money...

"No," I said aloud. "Never."

My gaze drifted to the waiting room television where a business news segment was playing.

"What are we going to do?" I whispered to Keal.

"We first need to calm down and things will turn around," Keal said.

"Alpha Sherman Carter, CEO of Carter Enterprises, has just announced a merger valued at over two billion dollars," the news anchor reported. "This marks the third major acquisition this year for the Nightfang Pack Alpha, solidifying his position as one of the wealthiest werewolves in North America."

The camera panned to show a tall, imposing man with piercing blue eyes and golden hair, dressed in an immaculate suit.

Alpha Sherman Carter. Zack's half-brother and greatest rival.

Memory flashed through my mind--six months ago at the Carter family gala.

I'd gone as Zack's mate, uncomfortable in the formal setting among wolves who clearly saw Blackwood Pack members as beneath them.

"So you're the omega who's caught my brother's eye," a deep voice had said behind me while Zack was fetching drinks.

I'd lifted my chin, meeting his intense gaze directly. "I am Silvia of Blackwood Pack, yes."

A smile tugged at his lips, sharp and knowing. "Sherman Carter. Alpha of Nightfang Pack. Tell me, how does an omega from a fading pack ensnare an Alpha heir? Even one as... unremarkable as my dear brother?"

The insult to both me and Zack had stung.

"The Moon Goddess chooses our mates, not social status or wealth."

He'd laughed then, the sound both beautiful and dangerous. "The Moon Goddess has an interesting sense of humor, then."

His eyes had traveled over me in a way that made my skin heat uncomfortably. "Though I can see the appeal. You have spirit, little wolf."

"I'm not interested in your approval," I'd replied coldly.

"No? But perhaps you're interested in something else?" He'd moved closer, his scent--A rich rum flavor--enveloping me.

"My brother could never satisfy a wolf like you. When you tire of being his pretty little ornament--come to me. My door is always open."

I'd stepped back, disgust evident in my expression. "I would never betray my mate."

"Not even for someone who could give you everything he can't?"Alpha Sherman had challenged, his eyes flashing with something primal and possessive.

"Think about it, little wolf. You deserve better than playing second fiddle to every omega that catches his eye."

I'd walked away, disgusted by his arrogance and dismissing him as just another rich playboy.

But now, watching his face on the TV, something inside me shifted.

Power. Wealth. And a hatred for Zack that ran deeper than blood.

"He could help us," Keal whispered.

The thought was madness. Dangerous.

And yet--completely logical.

I stood slowly, my reflection staring back from the dark window:

a drenched, exhausted omega who had lost everything.

I needed money to survive, power to protect what was left.

And he held both.

I had no choice anymore.

I had to find Alpha Sherman Carter.

Silvia

The city was still ghostly when I stepped out of the hospital.

The cold dawn bit through my clothes.

I pulled my black coat tighter, trying to guard the fragile composure I had left.

Every step toward the Nightfang Pack's world was a step away from everything that had once been simple and safe.

Finding Carter Enterprises wasn't hard.

Everyone in Blackwood Pack and beyond knew those blue-glass towers marked Sherman Carter's domain--a monument to an Alpha's arrogance and power.

Still, as I passed through the shimmering glass doors in my wrinkled dress and rain-specked shoes, a part of me quaked.

What was I really about to do?

At the marble reception desk, a sharply dressed woman immediately rose.

Her gaze held a flicker of recognition. "Miss Silvia?" she asked, almost too polite. "Alpha Sherman Carter asked to be notified should you arrive. He's waiting for you on the 27th floor."

I stared, numb, as she handed me a glossy keycard.

Had he expected me? Or--worse--had he always been watching?

With no choice, I took the silent elevator up. Every new floor seemed to heighten my tension, my pulse roaring in my ears.

The doors glided open onto the 27th floor--quiet, understated luxury in soft grey and blue, smelling faintly of rum.

At floor twenty-seven, the doors whisked open to reveal a spacious foyer, where Alpha Sherman's Beta, Felix, smiled coolly and ushered me into the Alpha's lair.

Alpha Sherman Carter was right behind his desk--flawless in his tailored shirt, golden hair tousled just enough to look artfully effortless His eyes pinned me instantly, glacial blue and midnight.

It was as if he'd been waiting specifically for me all night.

"Silvia." My name rolled off his tongue smooth as whiskey.

He gestured to a leather chair across from him. "Please. Sit."

For just a second, I hovered, drawn between the urge to bolt and the impossible need for his help. Finally, I slid into the chair.

Alpha Sherman pushed a delicate cup across the table to me--sweet tea, just the way I liked it--and set a thin slice of Victoria sponge cake before me, light as spun sugar.

Vivaldi's Spring played quietly from invisible speakers, so peaceful it almost made me suspicious.

I blinked, thrown off by the details. "Did Zack tell you that?"

A twist of a smile--almost cruel--tugged at his mouth. "He talks more than he should, about things he ought to protect better."

There was a loaded silence.

For a heartbeat, I almost asked him what exactly he knew--about Zack, about everything.

But I forced myself back to reality. "You know why I'm here, don't you?"

His eyes flickered to mine, sharp and unreadable.

"I guessed." His voice was even. "You need something. Money for the surgery. You think I'll give it to you, because you have nothing left to lose and I hate Zack even more than you do."

"Did you know he was cheating on me?" My words came out colder than I intended. "Did you laugh?"

He didn't look away. "I warned you, Silvia. My brother is a spoiled fool."

I straightened in my seat, pulse hammering.

My wolf Keal stirred within me, wary and restless.

We could both sense that only ruthless honesty would cut through this.

"Let's not pretend, then," I said quietly, breath barely steady. "I can't pay for Noah's surgery. I will do whatever it takes to save my family. I know your dilemma, we can make a deal."

His lips twitched, but his eyes never left mine. "A deal? What exactly do you have in mind, little wolf?"

My heart was pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else.

All I could see was my brother Noah, hooked up to those machines, so pale. I had to do this. For him.

I took a shaky breath, trying to sound way calmer than I felt.

"As an Alpha, you don't have long to go on your bachelor vacation." I spoke, my gaze looking straight into those bottomless blue eyes, not daring to divulge a hint of cowardice, "The new rules of the Council of Elders...... I can help you. Marry you, play your Luna, help you stabilize the situation. And you just need to give me a sum of money to save my brother."

For a second, Alpha Sherman just stared. Then this cold, mocking smile spread across his face.

He stood up, and damn, he was tall.

"You?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What makes you think you're the one? I could have any she-wolf I want. They'd be falling over themselves to be with me."

My stomach dropped, but I pushed back.

I forced a shrug, like it was no big deal. "Yeah, maybe. But here's the thing: I won't fall in love with you. When this is over, I'm gone. Plus, let's be real--it would really piss your brother Zack off. Isn't that what you really want? "

Something flashed in his eyes--anger, maybe, or just surprise.

He didn't say anything.

Crap. Was that not enough?

I was running out of options.

I turned like I was about to leave and dropped my last card, the risky one. "You know what? Forget it. I'm sure someone else will help me. Maybe your father--I hear he likes helping young women."

That got him.

"Don't you dare."

His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist--hard.

He pulled me close, so suddenly I almost lost my balance. His face was right in mine, his blue eyes blazing.

"Alright, Silvia Brown," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You got what you wanted."

His thumb rubbed rough circles on my wrist, sending a weird shiver through me even though his grip was tight.

"But just remember," he said, locking eyes with me. "From now on, I make the rules."

And just like that, I knew--I'd made a deal with the devil to save my brother.

Silvia

Alpha Sherman's expression softened, if only slightly.

But the tension between us was thick, like ice that could crack with a single wrong word.

His eyes were locked on me--not just scanning my body, but reading something deeper. Something raw.

"I have to admit," he said finally, his deep voice low and measured, "you've got guts. Not many people would dare pitch a deal like that to an Alpha."

His thumb was still casually drawing slow circles on my wrist, sending a chill up my spine that I hated how much I felt.

"But courage is cheap," he added, eyes narrowing. "Tell me--what else do you have that a hundred other she-wolves don't?"

I swallowed hard, my wolf Keal growling protectively inside me.

This was the moment of truth.

"If you have more conditions," I added, "just say them."

Something flickered in his gaze--something dark.

Maybe interest.

Maybe something more primal.

"I like your honesty," he said, voice dropping a notch. "That's rare. So what I want... is obedience. In every way. " His voice dropped, roughened.

His hand dropped from my wrist, but he stepped in closer, towering over me.

"Including between the sheets."

His scent--woodsy, strong, spiced with rum--hit me like a wave.

I lifted my chin, forcing myself to stand my ground.

"Let's get one thing straight," I said, my voice low but clear. "This deal we're making--it's a public arrangement. Nothing more."

He tilted his head.

I could tell he wasn't used to hearing NO.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across his lips.

"If you want my name, Silvia," he said, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "you take everything that comes with it."

His meaning couldn't have been clearer.

"No," I shook my head sharply. "That wasn't part of the deal. I'll marry you for one year -- on paper only."

Alpha Sherman's laugh was cold. "Did you really think I'd agree to a sexless arrangement? You're offering me a business transaction, so let's be clear about the terms. You want my money, my protection, my name. I want a wife who performs all wifely duties."

My face burned. "I can't. It would complicate things."

"And why would that be?" His eyes narrowed, studying me.

I looked away. "Because feelings might develop. And that's not what this is about."

"Afraid you'll fall for me?" His tone was mocking.

"No," I said. "I'm afraid you'll develop expectations I can't meet when this ends."

Alpha Sherman moved closer, his fingers tracing a line from my jaw to my collarbone.

I tried not to shiver.

"Here's what I can offer you," he said, his voice like velvet wrapped around steel.

"I'll make sure Zack crawls on his knees. I'll have the world's finest cardiac surgeon fly in for your brother's operation. You'll never have to worry about money again --you can pursue your music, finish your studies, do whatever you desire."

He paused, his gaze intensifying. "But what you can offer me is far too little. I could form a pact with any she-wolf and indulge in carnal pleasure. You're merely a fun bargaining chip for my revenge against my brother. I don't want a Luna who's just for show."

My heart hammered in my chest.

Everything I needed --Noah's life, revenge against Zack, financial security to pursue my dreams --all within reach, but at what cost?

"You're asking me to prostitute myself," I whispered, even as Keal whined in conflict inside me.

"I'm asking you to be my mate in every sense of the word," he corrected smoothly. "The choice is yours."

I closed my eyes briefly.

Noah's pale face in that hospital bed flashed through my mind.

My brother, who had always protected me, who needed me now.

"Fine," I finally said, my voice stronger than I felt. "But if you go back on any of your promises, I will ruin you, Alpha or not."

Alpha Sherman's laugh was genuine this time, almost warm. "You can certainly try, little wolf."

He checked his watch like he owned time itself. "We leave now. My chaplain will have us married by sunset."

My stomach dropped. Now?

Panic fluttered behind my ribs.

"I can't--not yet. Noah needs me at the hospital. And I have to file a leave from university, quit my job--"

Alpha Sherman studied me, his icy blue gaze lingering as though I were a puzzle he'd only just decided was worth solving.

There was something in his expression--not quite respect, but something close to anger.

Then his eyes darkened, as if remembering something unspoken.

Noah.

Alpha Sherman knew more than he let on--I could feel it.

The way his jaw tightened slightly at the mention of my brother's name...

"Your brother comes first," he said, and for the first time, his voice held something almost resembling softness.

"That's... admirable."

Before I could process what felt like a moment of genuine acknowledgment, he'd pulled out his phone.

My breath caught as he dialed, his eyes never leaving mine.

"This is Alpha Sherman Carter," he said, cool and commanding. "Prepare an OR immediately. Bypass surgery. Patient's name is Noah Brown."

My heart stuttered.

He's doing it. Just like that.

"Yes, today. Within the hour. VIP treatment--private suite, dedicated staff, whatever he needs."

A pause.

Then, his voice lowered, deliberate and clear.

"My relation?" He held my gaze, unwavering. "He's my brother."

The world tilted. My brother.

Shock rendered me silent, my thoughts spinning.

Why would he say that?

Was it protection?

Or possession?

He ended the call, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips.

"How did you--" I started, my voice thin, disbelieving.

"I'm your Alpha, Silvia," he said smoothly, as though that explained everything.

And perhaps it did.

He guided me toward the door, his hand resting firmly against the small of my back.