Chapter 2 A deal with my father.

Luca’s POV

I stood frozen in the middle of my father’s bedroom, staring from him to my mother, then to the circle of elders watching me like I was some sacrificial lamb. I must have misheard him. There was no possible way I was going to marry that beast for any reason.

“You all have gone crazy,” I finally spat.

Elder Fernandez looked at me with something almost like pity in his eyes. “Luca, you’re our only hope. You just have to endure until we get your sister back. You don’t even know Rodrigo yet.”

“This is ridiculous. And I don’t need to know him—I’ve heard the stories.” I turned on my heel, ready to storm out of this den of delusional old wolves.

“You don’t have a choice,” my father said, voice low and final.

I left anyway, slamming the door behind me.

How could Lucille do this to me?

I knew she was stupidly in love with that human boy she met at college. I’d caught her sneaking out more times than I could count. But I never thought she’d actually go through with disappearing the night before the wedding—especially after months of pretending to be excited about dresses and decorations and becoming the perfect Luna.

The ceremony was in less than twenty-four hours. I needed to get out of this suffocating manor before they locked me in a room and started fitting me for a wedding gown.

I slipped into my room, changed quickly, and armed myself. A few blades went into my boots, one in my sleeve, another tucked against my ribs. Hoodie up, I left the way I always did—out the window, rope coiled around my arm, dropping silently into the shadows.

I moved like a ghost, dodging cameras and patrol routes I’d memorized years ago. The moment I cleared the outer gate, I let out a long breath. Freedom. Nothing in the world felt better.

After running nearly three kilometers through the dark forest bordering our territory, I slowed at the sound of trouble ahead. A group of three thugs had cornered a lone figure on the quiet road. Typical. Shameless wolves preying on the weak.

This was exactly why I did this. Because of scum like them.

I moved in fast.

“Get lost, kid. This has nothing to do with you,” one of them growled. A nasty scar ran across his face.

I sized them up. Three against one. I could handle them in under three minutes.

“Wait… isn’t this the kid they say goes around causing trouble?” the bald one added.

Their leader smirked. “We could make a fortune delivering him to the Don.”

I glanced at their intended victim—a guy in a black face cap and sunglasses. Sunglasses at night? Bold choice.

Before they could coordinate, I struck. Two quick stabs to the thighs of the first two. The leader got it in the shoulder. They howled in pain. The guy in the cap stepped back but stayed watching.

I turned to the bleeding thugs with a cold smile. “Go tell your Don he can try to catch me if he wants.”

They lunged again, sloppy with rage. I danced around them, leaving shallow cuts across their arms and sides—painful reminders, not killing blows. When they were done twitching on the ground, I grabbed the silent stranger’s wrist.

“Come on.”

He didn’t resist or speak. Not a single word. Not even a thank you.

We ran until we were clear. I stopped at a fork in the path and released his hand. “You’re safe from here.”

He still said nothing. I shrugged and turned, breaking into another run back toward the manor. The adrenaline from the fight and the night air burned through my veins, pushing the weight of my father’s words further from my mind.

I slipped back into my room, changed into pajamas, and dropped onto the bed like nothing had happened. The rush made me feel alive. For a few blissful minutes, I almost forgot about my father’s insane proposal.

Then the door burst open in the middle of the night.

I jolted awake, hand already sliding under my pillow for the knife I kept there. Lights flooded the room, blinding me for a critical second. That was all it took.

Strong hands seized me. My wrists were yanked behind my back and cuffed. My knife was ripped away. They tore through the room, confiscating every blade I’d hidden. They knew I was good with knives—but not how good. After all, I was just the useless omega twin.

I didn’t fight. I recognized my father’s personal guards.

“What the hell are you doing?” I snarled. “What is going on?”

They said nothing. They simply stepped aside as my father entered the room.

“The more you struggle, the more you hurt yourself,” he said calmly.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Does this look like a circus to you?”

“Is this because I refused to marry that bastard?” The cuffs bit into my skin as I twisted.

“I have an offer you might like,” he continued, ignoring my glare. “First, if you marry Rodrigo, the moment we retrieve your sister, I will give you everything in my will. You’ll be free to go wherever you want. But…”

“There’s always a ‘but,’” I cut in bitterly.

“But if you refuse, I will send hunters after your sister—dead or alive. You will be disowned. Thrown out with nothing. And perhaps hunted as well. How does that sound?”

I stared at him, the weight of his words settling like lead in my chest. I thought about it for less than five seconds.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll do it.”

“Good choice.” My father gestured, and the guards removed the cuffs. Without another word, he turned and left.

I rubbed my wrists, staring at the empty doorway.

Elias: You don’t actually believe him, do you?

My wolf finally decided to speak. The bastard only showed up when our life was on the line.

“Oh please. So now you care whether he’s lying or not?”

Elias: I am your voice of wisdom, so yes. I’ll only speak when needed.

I scoffed. “Voice of wisdom my ass. Don’t flatter yourself. Tomorrow… we’re getting married.”

Elias: Unfortunately.