The older man took a measured step closer. “Is this about the werewolf girl?”
Derek returned his attention to the tablet on his desk, scrolling without really seeing the numbers. “I fail to see how a session in the training yard has anything to do with my marriage.”
“Come on, Derek. Don’t play the fool with me. What else would have possessed you to hit him like that? Why on earth did you even marry a werewolf in the first place? You of all people know the history-“
“My marriage,” Derek snapped, the words vibrating with a low, animalistic warning, “is none of your business.”
Crane’s composure finally snapped. He stepped even closer, voice rising just enough to reveal the real anger that had been simmering beneath. “You exiled my son for years! Years, Derek. He finally returns, tries to rebuild his life, and the first thing you do is batter him in front of the entire guard because of… what? Whatever some werewolf girl whispered in your ear? A wolfless traitor’s daughter you dragged here for your own twisted reasons? It’s been years, Derek. You can’t keep crucifying him for a mistake he made when he was a boy. It’s time to let it go.”
Derek’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Crane planted both palms on the desk and leaned in, close enough that Derek could smell the faint cedar of his aftershave. “Remember this: Brian is still a Wolfe. He still holds a claim to that throne until the crown is officially on your head. If you start a family war over some girl, you’ll lose a lot more than your temper. Half the council already thinks you’ve lost your mind by marrying her. Push this too far, and they will push back. Hard.”
Derek met his uncle’s eyes without flinching. “Are you finished?”
Crane straightened, exhaling through his nose. “For now.” He turned on his heel and left.
The silence lasted exactly seven seconds before the door opened again. Declan and Kai walked in together. Declan looked grim; Kai looked like he would rather be anywhere else.
Declan spoke first. “As much as I hate to say it, your uncle’s right. You can’t afford a family war right now. Half the council is already looking for a reason to hand your crown to Brian because you brought a Moonfang bride into the palace. If you keep giving them ‘undeniable evidence’ of your instability, you’re handing him the throne on a silver platter.”
Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. “There is no war. There was a spar. End of discussion.”
Declan crossed his arms. “I’ve known you since we were in the cradle, Derek. I’ve watched you spar a thousand times. I have never seen that much rage in you. Who spars with so much venom anyway? Brian was bleeding.”
“How is that my problem?”
“It was so unlike you. It got everyone talking, Derek.”
Derek said nothing. He didn’t need to justify his actions to anyone, not even to himself.
Declan remained silent for a moment. “This is about her, isn’t it? Your new bride.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed as he glanced up at his beta. “Why did you assume my new bride is the problem?”
Declan didn’t blink. “I’m just worried about you. I just hope you’re being careful enough with the whole charade. Because if you start feeling something real, you’re walking into a danger zone.”
Kai, who had been leaning against the doorframe watching them both, finally cleared his throat, stepping forward. “What we should be more concerned about is getting that crown in six months.”
Kai flopped down on the chair opposite Derek and flashed him a smirk which Derek returned with a deep scowl.
“I get your whole point, Declan, but If he need to convince Nana and the council this marriage is legitimate, he might actually have to… act like it.”
Derek’s brow lifted. “Act like what?”
“Like you’re in love with your wife,” Kai said bluntly. “Nana’s already smelling a rat. That’s why she’s moving in with you two. She wants to see proof. Musk. Bonding scent. Something that says this isn’t a paper alliance. You know that’s what everyone is whispering about, not about Brian.” He eyed Declan.
Declan’s jaw ticked. “I’m not saying he shouldn’t act like he loves his bride. I’m just saying he should be careful not to catch the real feelings. She might be a Moonfang spy.”
Kai nodded.”That’s fair. But for now, you need to be more convincing, Your Grace. Until Nana smells your scent all over the queen, on her skin, in her hair, everywhere, she’s going to keep poking. And if she decides the marriage is fake, she can give the crown to whoever she deems fit. You’ve got six months, Derek. Six months until your regency ends. You need Nana on your side. You need her to believe.”
Derek stared at the desk for a long moment. The truth of it settled like lead in his chest. “I can’t mark her now,” he said finally. “That would be a big risk to take. If Declan is right, you know what marking her can do to me.”
“You don’t need to mark her yet,” replied Kai. “Just mark her with your scent first and show everyone that she is yours alone.”
Derek stared at his tablet, jaw tight. For the first time in weeks, he let himself wonder whether taking a werewolf bride had been the catastrophic miscalculation everyone kept warning him it was. They were right. If he wanted the lie to hold until the official coronation, he was going to have to act like he gave a damn about her, even if the mere thought made his skin crawl.
He pulled out his phone to send a quick text to his “bride,” only to realise he didn’t even have her number.
‘Perfect bloody couple.’
***
Dusk had already bled across the estate by the time Kira stepped out of Connor’s SUV. Campus had been a small oasis, laughter with Jessica, actual conversation that didn’t feel like walking through a minefield. After a day of freedom at university, the mansion felt more like a gilded cage than ever. Connor had not interfered for once, offering only the occasional encouraging nod when she glanced back at him.
Still, the sight of a six-foot-four Lycan bodyguard trailing a werewolf student hadn’t gone down well. Especially with the Lycan girls. They had glared daggers at her. The few werewolves on campus had looked at her like she had personally sold their pack out for a crown and a credit card.
She turned to Connor outside the main entrance, reaching for the handbag he’d insisted on carrying. “Thank you, Connor. I can take it from here.”
He flashed a quick, surprisingly warm smile, handed the bag over, and dipped his head. “Goodnight, Your Highness. See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Connor,” she said, and meant it. She actually liked him.
The moment she crossed the threshold into the mansion, bright female laughter floated out from the direction of the kitchen. Frowning, she followed the sound, curiosity tugging her forward before caution could stop her.
She paused in the wide doorway.
Derek sat at the island, sleeves rolled to his elbows, while Ruby stood at his back, hands resting lightly on his shoulders, laughing at something he had said. The domestic picture was so cosy it made Kira’s stomach turn over.
“I promise you’ll like it,” Ruby was saying. “I can still do this, you know.”
Derek sensed the shift in the room and turned, his eyes locking onto Kira. She immediately stiffened, tilting her chin up in defiance. Ruby followed his gaze, her expression shifting into a bright, sickeningly fake smile. Kira willed herself not to care as she stepped into the kitchen, making sure not to apologise for her presence.
“Oh, Your Highness. You’re back,” Ruby chirped, moving forward and extending a hand. “We weren’t properly introduced earlier. I think we might have got off on the wrong foot this morning.”
Kira looked at the offered hand for two full seconds, then let her gaze slide away. “I see you’re still… working.”
Ruby’s smile didn’t falter, but her fingers curled back into her palm. “Uh… yes. The King keeps very long hours. We work way into the night. Someone has to keep the pack running smoothly while he handles the international side of things.”
Kira pressed her lips together and nodded once. “I see. Please, don’t let me interrupt. I only came for water.”
She brushed past them, heading for the fridge without another word. Ruby’s eyes narrowed, clearly miffed. She had laid the “we spend so much time together” bait, but Kira hadn’t bitten. The girl didn’t even look jealous. She looked bored. Ruby sank back into the chair next to Derek, who had already gone back to his tablet, ignoring his wife entirely.
Kira grabbed a bottle of water and left the kitchen without another word or glance.
Kira left the kitchen with her spine ramrod straight and her chin lifted high. Only once the heavy doors of her bedroom clicked shut behind her did she allow herself to slump back against the wood, exhaling a long, shaky breath. She stood frozen there for a moment, the chilled bottle of water still clutched in her fingers, staring blankly at the opposite wall.
She tipped the bottle to her lips and drank half of it in three desperate gulps, but the cold liquid did nothing to soothe the hot, twisting ache in her chest. Ruby’s bright laugh still rang in her ears. The casual way her hands had rested on Derek’s broad shoulders. The cosy, intimate little scene she had walked in on. It shouldn’t have stung. It really, truly shouldn’t have.
Their marriage was an open one, nothing more than a contract on paper. He could have a dozen women laughing at his jokes, touching him, for all she cared. So why did it feel as if someone had pressed a thumb hard against a sore bruise?
She scoffed under her breath and crossed to the bed, dropping her backpack onto the duvet, before setting the water bottle carefully on the nightstand. She sank onto the edge of the mattress, pulled out her small black diary from the side pocket, and cradled it in her lap. This little book was her sanctuary, the one place she could spill the messy, jagged pieces of her life without anyone judging or pitying her. Right now, she needed to focus on things that actually mattered instead of playing the part of the jealous wife in a pretend marriage.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply