(AMARI'S POV)
Talon was still speaking. Casually, too. Almost like he was telling a story.
He explained that his uncle's death was predicted due to prior attacks and that it was important that his empire be protected. Through a wife. Through me.
"He had no mate nor pup. That means the council will take everything—the territory, the accounts, the alliances. But a widow holds it for a few moons."
I remained silent.
"You need to know that you are the widow of the late Alpha Kaelen Blackwood and act accordingly. No one must know that I was the one who married you as Kaelen—" He reached for my shoulders.
I pushed him back. Hard.
"What are you talking about?" I asked angrily, standing up.
"You are a pawn. I married you for someone else. And now he is dead—"
"Oh, Goddess." My lips trembled.
He stepped closer. "Calm down."
"You used me," I accused breathlessly, taking more steps backward.
"Keep your voice down," he warned, tone a pitch higher, eyes darker.
My heart raced harder as a thought came to my mind. "You killed him—the real Kaelen." I moved back until my spine hit the wall.
"I didn't kill him."
"Somebody—" He grabbed me, cutting off my cries. I fought—shoved, clawed, tried to scream. His hand clamped over my mouth, muffling everything. His other arm locked around my waist.
"Quiet." His breath was hot behind my ear. "I didn't kill him. He has enemies. People wanted him dead."
Desperately, I bit his hand.
He yelped and let go. I scrambled toward the door, but he was there in a hearbeat m, blocking the door, rubbing the red mark on his palm.
"I'll scream," I warned, chest heaving.
He smoothed his clothes. "Scream. How hard will it be to make it look like the plan was yours?"
A chill ran down my spine.
"You have nothing, Amari." He rolled his eyes. "I can deny everything. The only people who met me were your family. And with your debts… you'd do anything for money." He laughed drily. "Let's not talk about you being a sludge."
My knees wobbled. I grabbed the wall.
"There's more." He stepped close and brought something from his pocket. A folded handkerchief. He unfolded it, and I felt a punch to my stomach. My trembling hands rose to my lips.
Curly auburn hair, resting on the white handkerchief.
"No," I whispered.
Talon came closer, and this time he shoved a phone screen in my face.
My body turned to ice as I recognized my brother. Al.
Two men held him. His head hung low.
My knees gave out, and I slid down the wall.
"Jets are faster than trains," Talon said softly. "I paid your family a visit not long ago."
I curled inward, my forehead nearly touching the floor.
"Now, shall we talk?"
I saw a flash of cruelty in his sharp brown eyes.
"What do you want?"
Silence.
"Here's what you'll say: Kaelen Blackwood met you three days ago during a project in your village. He fell in love and married you. He promised to return by weekend. You will tell that to the Blackwood family and the River pack council."
I said nothing.
He grabbed my chin, forcing my eyes to his.
"Whatever happens, damn it—even if you are faced with my uncle's ghost—you must pretend to be his widow! One wrong look, one hesitation, one slip—and Al starts losing his fingers next."
I couldn't speak. My tongue felt numb.
Next, he patted my head and straightened his posture.
"I'll be back in the morning. Be ready to cooperate."
He turned to leave.
"We need our clothes, we left them in the car that brought—," I called after him in a tiny voice, hoping my voice wasn't too shaky to expose me.
"Whatever," he said, starting to walk away.
"Why?" I called a little louder.
He stopped.
"Why do this to me? Why choose me and my family?" I tried to fight the tears in.
"Because you're vulnerable. You can easily be forgotten. And no one will ever believe you." He didn't hold a breath as he threw the words over his shoulder before walking away.
I didn't scream after he left. I didn't cry either. I just lay there, cheek against the cold floor, fighting the anger in me as I made a list.
One – My siblings are in danger because I married a monster.
Two – Talon needs me alive… for now.
Three – A little patience and I can plan an escape. If impossible for me, then at least for Rudina and Al.
I got up, limbs heavy, and dragged myself from the room. A shadow in the living room made me freeze.
Rudina stood. Sleepy-eyed. Messy auburn mane and a lingering yawn.
I crossed the room quickly. "Ru, are you alright? Did something happen?"
"I thought I heard noises. Then I woke up and you weren't there." She didn't finish speaking when I pulled her into a tight hug.
Rudina pulled back and eyed me.
"Are you alright?"
I opened my mouth. Then shut it.
How could I break the news to her? Tell her that we were in a big mess? Maybe I shouldn't tell her tonight.
"Yes, I'm—"
A sharp knock interrupted my sentence, then the door opened quickly.
My sister and I held each other.
Vanessa, the woman who brought us here, stood at the doorway. Her clothes were the same, but something in her face had shifted—less composed. Her eyes weren't calm. They were urgent.
"Come with me, Amari."
My heart kicked against my ribs. Beside me, Rudina stirred.
"Where?"
"Just outside here." She crossed the room in three quick strides and took my arm.
"But my sister—"
"This is only for you," Vanessa interrupted, not looking back. "You'll just be out front."
I looked at Rudina. Her eyes were open now, wide and scared. I squeezed her hand once. She nodded back in understanding.
Vanessa pulled me quickly out the door, behind her. I used my free hand to clutch my veil tight over my hair.
We stepped outside, and the cold air hit my face. Then she stopped—and I nearly crashed into her back.
She turned to me, her eyes bright, still puffy.
"Your husband survived the accident. He survived."
The words didn't make sense.
"Kaelen… is alive," she announced.
My heart stopped.
Alive?
Vanessa stepped aside. The wind moved at an unnaturally slow pace, a stark contrast to my drumming heart as my eyes fixated on him.
He stood in the courtyard. Tall. Still. Dark-haired. He had bandages wrapped around his forearm, his head, and his chest, but he looked more like one who caused an accident than one who survived it.
Vanessa guided me toward him. A few steps more, and our eyes met.
My heart slammed harder in my ribs, and I forgot how to breathe.
I wanted to look away, but I couldn't.
His eyes held mine. Not even breaking for one second. Unreadable. Dark and as thick as spilled ink.
I was about three feet away. Close enough for me to feel his presence—heavy, like a hand on my chest—and to notice the craned edges of the bandage on his head.
Most likely, critical trauma.
"Here," Vanessa said softly the moment we closed the distance between us and the statue of authority before us.
The air stilled again. My knees felt weak as his eyes stared—almost into my soul.
He's alive. The real Kaelen is truly alive. And you're in the center of it all, Amari. If Elara were here, she would say, 'You shouldn't be surprised—you are cursed after all.'
The real Kaelen looked at me. Head to toe. Then his gaze flickered to Vanessa beside me.
"Mother," he said. His voice was lower than Talon's but rougher. "I'd like to be alone with my wife."