By the time I got home, my chest still felt like it was being crushed from the inside.

Every breath hurt.

My wedding dress dragged across the marble floor as I stumbled through the front doors of the Vale estate.

I barely made it three steps.

SLAP.

My head snapped violently to the side.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth instantly.

“You useless girl.”

My father stood in front of me breathing hard, fury burning in his eyes.

“I spent years raising you, educating you, shaping you into the perfect daughter—”

Another slap.

“—and you still lost to that bastard child who ran away with her mother.”

I looked at him in disbelief, my cheek burning.

“She’s my sister,” I whispered. “Your daughter too.”

The punch came this time.

Straight into my stomach.

Pain exploded through me and I doubled over with a gasp.

“How dare you talk back to me?”

His voice thundered through the entrance hall.

The servants nearby lowered their heads immediately.

Nobody moved.

Nobody helped me.

“I warned you your only purpose was securing my position in Ashford Group.”

He grabbed my jaw painfully hard and forced me to look at him.

“At the next shareholders’ meeting, I need more control. I need the Ashford bloodline tied to this family.”

His grip tightened.

“So whichever daughter Cassian chooses becomes valuable.”

I froze.

Cold spread slowly through my body.

“…What?”

“You heard me.”

His expression was terrifyingly calm now.

“You’ll replace Selene.”

Replace her?

“With who?”

My father released me roughly.

“Lucien Ashford.”

The name alone made my stomach twist.

Cassian’s uncle.

The invisible monster of the Ashford family.

The man nobody ever saw publicly.

The genius executive CEO who controlled half the company from the shadows.

The wolfless freak.

Rumors about Lucien had followed him for years.

That he was unstable. Cruel. Obsessive. That he hated being touched, the women left his estate crying. That he kept strange hobbies inside the old Ashford castle.

No one knew which stories were true.

Because Lucien Ashford never appeared long enough for anyone to ask.

“I can work instead,” I said quickly, panic rising in my throat. “I can join the company. I already received my scholarship offer. I’m graduating from—”

“I don’t care.”

My father’s voice cut through mine instantly.

“You think your degrees matter more than marriage?”

He laughed coldly.

“Lucien Ashford has no wolf. Yet somehow he still survived in that family and became one of the most powerful men in the country.”

His eyes narrowed.

“My daughter will marry into that power.”

A shiver crawled down my spine.

“Please…” My voice cracked. “Dad, I’m your daughter.”

“You are an investment.”

The words landed harder than the slap.

He stepped closer slowly.

“And your only remaining value is your bloodline.”

Something inside me finally broke.

Not loudly. Not dramatically. Quietly.

Like glass cracking underwater.

A few minutes later, servants dragged me upstairs.

I fought them the entire way.

“Stop—!”

“Please!”

But nobody listened.

By the time they finished changing me, I barely recognized myself in the mirror.

The dress they forced onto me was nothing like the wedding gown from earlier.

This one was soft black silk.

Thin straps. Low neckline. Too revealing. Like I was being gift-wrapped for someone.

Humiliation burned through me.

When I refused to move, my father entered the room himself.

His gaze swept over me critically.

“Good.”

I wanted to throw up.

“You disgust me.”

His expression didn’t even change.

“Then make yourself useful.”

He leaned closer.

“If you fail to stay beside Lucien Ashford…”

His voice dropped dangerously low.

“…I can survive with only one daughter.”

Fear finally hit me.

An hour later, I sat silently in the back of a black car while rain hit the windows outside.

Nobody spoke during the drive.

The farther we traveled from the city, the darker the roads became.

Until finally—

The castle appeared.

Massive stone walls rose from the darkness like something ancient.

Cold. Silent.

The Ashford estate looked less like a home and more like a prison.

My hands shook as the gates slowly opened.

I shouldn’t be here.

Every instinct screamed it.

The front doors opened before I could knock.

A servant bowed silently.

“This way, Miss Vale.”

The inside of the castle was strangely quiet.

Only the sound of my heels against black marble floors.

Then—

I saw him.

Lucien Ashford stood near the fireplace with one hand in his pocket.

Tall, dark suit, sharp shoulders.

His face half hidden by shadows.

God.

He was beautiful. Not soft like Cassian, dangerous beautiful.

The kind that made people nervous without understanding why.

His eyes lifted toward me.

And immediately narrowed.

“You’re shaking.”

His voice was low. Calm.

“Are you afraid of me?”

“Yes,” I admitted automatically.

Then quickly:

“No. I mean— not exactly.”

Something unreadable crossed his face.

Lucien stepped closer slowly.

“Why are you here?”

I swallowed hard.

“My father said… there was supposed to be a marriage arrangement.”

A faint crease appeared between his brows.

“With Selene,” he said quietly. “Your father wanted me to marry your sister.”

Then his eyes sharpened slightly.

“But you’re not her.”

I froze.

“You can tell us apart?”

Even I had been startled seeing Selene earlier tonight.

For a second, it had felt like looking into a distorted mirror.

But Lucien answered immediately.

“You smell different.”

The words hit strangely.

Before I could respond—

Pain exploded through my chest again.

I gasped sharply and stumbled sideways.

The mate bond.

Cassian.

Oh God—

I grabbed the edge of the table desperately.

Lucien moved instantly.

Strong hands caught me before I collapsed.

“You need rest.”

His hand pressed lightly against my back.

And suddenly—

everything changed.

His body went rigid.

Completely rigid.

A strange expression crossed his face.

Confusion.

His fingers tightened against me.

Then he inhaled slowly against my neck.

And the air in the room shifted.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered.

Lucien looked almost sick.

“You…”

His jaw clenched violently.

“You smell…”

Another inhale.

His eyes darkened.

“Dangerously good.”

My heartbeat stuttered.

Something unfamiliar flashed across his face.

Not emotion. Instinct.

Lucien Ashford didn’t have a wolf.

Everyone knew that.

But right now—

something inside him was waking up.

He suddenly shoved his suit jacket around my shoulders roughly, covering my body.

Then he stepped backward like he was trying to escape himself.

“Leave.”

The word came out strained.

I stared at him.

“What?”

Lucien dropped to one knee abruptly.

A low, painful sound tore from his throat.

Almost like a growl.

My eyes widened.

“Lucien—”

“Don’t come closer.”

His breathing became uneven.

His hands shook against the floor.

“What’s happening to you?” I asked anxiously. “Do you need a doctor?”

His head snapped toward me instantly.

And for one terrifying second—

his eyes flashed gold.

I stopped breathing.

No.

That wasn’t possible.

Lucien looked horrified by my expression.

Then something inside him finally broke.

“You should regret your kindness,” he said hoarsely.

Before I could react—

he grabbed me.

And the world disappeared.

When I woke up, sunlight was already pouring through the massive windows.

For a second, I didn’t know where I was.

Then the memories came back all at once.

The castle.

Lucien. His hands. His voice.

The way his eyes had turned gold.

My body instantly tensed beneath the blankets.

A low groan escaped me before I could stop it.

The door opened immediately.

Lucien walked in carrying a tray of food.

And the moment he saw me awake—

his entire expression changed.

Guilt.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

His voice sounded rougher than usual.

Like he hadn’t slept.

I pulled the blanket tighter around myself instinctively.

Lucien froze at the movement.

Pain flickered across his face.

“I’m sorry.”

The words came quickly.

“I lost control.”

I stared at him silently.

This man terrified half the country.

Yet right now he looked almost… ashamed.

“That should never have happened,” he continued quietly. “Not like that.”

His jaw tightened hard.

“I’ll take responsibility.”

The words should’ve comforted me.

Instead, my chest hurt again.

Because responsibility wasn’t love.

And I had already learned that lesson once.

Lucien stepped closer slowly and placed the tray beside the bed.

“You should eat something.”

I looked away.

“I should go home.”

“No.”

The answer came instantly.

Too fast.

His own expression darkened slightly, like he surprised himself.

Then more calmly:

“You’re safer here.”

Safe. I almost laughed.

Before I could answer, my phone suddenly started vibrating on the nightstand.

Cassian.

My stomach twisted violently.

Lucien noticed the name immediately.

Something cold entered his eyes.

I hesitated before picking up.

Cassian didn’t even greet me.

“Where are you?”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“At home,” I lied automatically.

“Well, hurry up and get ready.”

His tone sounded irritated, like I was inconveniencing him.

“The engagement ceremony starts in three hours.”

Engagement.

Right. Today was the day.

“Selene wants you there as her bridesmaid.”

Every word felt unreal.

I closed my eyes briefly.

“Cassian—”

“You owe her that much.”

Then he hung up.

Just like that.

I sat there silently for several seconds before realizing Lucien was still watching me.

“What happened?”

I forced myself to stand.

“I need to attend their engagement ceremony.”

The room suddenly felt colder.

Lucien’s expression became unreadable.

“You don’t have to go.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I do.”

I really do feel guilty toward Selene. I never knew what happened to her. I always thought she was living a good life.

An hour later, I stood outside the Ashford Grand Hotel wearing pale silver chiffon instead of white.

Bridesmaid colors.

Not bridal colors.

The irony almost made me sick.

The ballroom downstairs buzzed with voices.

As I walked through the hallway, whispers followed me everywhere.

“That’s the original fiancée.”

“I heard Cassian found his real mate.”

“They’re twins, right?”

“Poor thing.”

I kept walking.

Every word felt like glass under my skin.

By the time I reached the bridal suite, my hands were shaking again.

I knocked softly.

“Come in.”

Selene’s voice sounded sweet.

When I entered, she was sitting in front of the mirror while makeup artists adjusted her hair.

She looked radiant.

The room emptied quietly after she waved the staff away.

Then we were alone.

Selene smiled at me through the mirror.

“So.”

Her eyes moved slowly over my body.

“I heard Father already sent you to Lucien.”

I stayed silent.

Her smile widened slightly.

“What’s it like?”

She tilted her head mockingly.

“Marrying a wolfless cripple?”

Something sharp twisted in my chest.

“He’s not crippled.”

The words left my mouth automatically.

Selene actually laughed.

“Oh?”

She turned around slowly.

“So you’re defending him already?”

I looked down.

“I didn’t know what happened to you after you left,” I whispered quietly. “If I had known—”

“Known what?”

Her voice suddenly snapped cold.

“That I was starving?”

“That Mom worked three jobs?”

“That men touched me before I was even sixteen because we couldn’t afford rent?”

I froze.

Selene stepped closer.

“You grew up in mansions while I learned how to survive.”

There was no softness left in her eyes now.

Only hatred.

“So tell me, Lyra…”

Her lips curled.

“What exactly does your apology fix?”

I had no answer.

Because she was right.

Nothing I said could undo fifteen years.

Selene leaned closer until we were nearly face to face.

“I want every good thing you ever had.”

Her voice lowered into something poisonous.

“Piece by piece.”

The door suddenly opened.

Cassian walked in.

Immediately, Selene’s entire expression changed.

Her eyes widened slightly.

And before I even realized what she was doing—

she stumbled backward.

“Lyra…”

Her voice trembled.

“I’m sorry if I upset you—”

Cassian instantly moved toward her.

“What happened?”

Selene shook her head quickly.

“It’s okay. She’s emotional, I understand—”

I wanted to argue back, but the words died in my throat almost immediately. If this would make Selene happy… then maybe I deserved to stay silent.

Cassian’s gaze snapped toward me.

And the disappointment in his eyes hit harder than anger.

“You’re doing this again?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

I had prepared myself for this moment, but seeing Cassian trust Selene without even a second of hesitation still hurt more than I expected..

“Cassian—”

“Enough.”

His voice hardened instantly.

“Stop making everything difficult.”

Then he saw the faint bruises near my collarbone.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Where did those come from?”

Panic flashed across me.

But before I could answer—

another voice spoke behind him.

“What are you guys doing?”

The entire room went silent.

Lucien Ashford stood in the doorway.

The atmosphere shifted the second he entered.

Cassian straightened automatically.

Even Selene looked nervous.

Lucien’s eyes moved toward me briefly.

Then to the bruise on my cheek.

The bruise Cassian gave me.

Something dangerous flickered beneath his calm expression.

Cassian cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Uncle.”

Lucien ignored him completely.

Instead, he walked toward me slowly.

Then stopped beside me. Too close.

Cassian’s expression darkened immediately.

“She’s my childhood friend,” he said coldly. “Whatever issues we have are between us.”

Lucien finally looked at him.

And somehow that was worse than shouting.

“Is that so?”

Cassian’s jaw tightened.

The tension in the room became suffocating.

But Lucien suddenly turned toward me instead.

“What do you want?”

The question stunned me.

Nobody had asked me that in years.

Selene immediately stepped forward softly.

“I just want my sister beside me today.”

Her eyes filled with fake tears again.

“I want her to witness my happiness.”

My chest tightened painfully.

Lucien’s gaze stayed on me.

Waiting.

I lowered my eyes slowly.

“…I’ll stay.”

Something unreadable crossed Lucien’s face.

Then he nodded once.

Without another word, he turned and walked out.

Cassian followed after him several seconds later.

The moment the door closed—

Selene’s smile disappeared completely.

Silence filled the room.

Then she laughed quietly.

“You really are pathetic.”

I looked up slowly.

Selene stepped closer.

“Even after sleeping with him…”

Her eyes swept over me cruelly.

“…he still refuses to acknowledge you.”

Humiliation burned through me instantly.

Because deep down—

I had thought the same thing.

If Lucien truly wanted me—

why hide it?

Why say nothing?

Why not claim me publicly?

Selene smiled knowingly.

“You gave your body away for nothing.”

The words landed exactly where she intended.

My chest hurt again.

But weaker this time.

Distant.

Then the door opened once more.

Cassian returned.

The moment he saw Selene, his entire expression softened immediately.

Like instinct.

Like gravity.

He walked straight toward her and pulled her gently into his arms.

Then kissed her.

Right in front of me.

I waited for the agony.

For the unbearable tearing inside my chest.

For the mate bond to destroy me again.

But this time—

the pain was smaller.

Still there.

But survivable.

I stared at them silently.

And for the first time—

a terrifying thought entered my mind.

What if Cassian really wasn’t my mate anymore?