The Delmark estate sat on the edge of the capital. I stood outside the iron gates at midnight, wearing jeans and a leather jacket that barely hid the bandage on my shoulder.
Two guards approached, their eyes glowing amber.
"Name," one growled.
"Aurora Bluey. I'm expected."
They exchanged glances. One spoke into a radio. Static crackled back. "Send her up."
The gates opened. I walked up the driveway, my boots crunching on gravel. The mansion was lit from within, nothing like the Keyamo compound.
The front door opened before I reached it.
A woman stood in the doorway. Sharp cheekbones, perfect posture, dark hair in a sleek bun. Pencil skirt and heels.
"Miss Bluey," she said. "I'm Jane Delmark, the Alpha King's mother. Please, come in."
I stepped inside. My wolf immediately sensed the power in this place, pressing against my skin. Multiple alphas lived here.
"This way." Jane led me through a hallway lined with portraits. "My son is waiting."
"What does he want from me?"
"He'll explain everything."
We stopped at a wooden door. Jane knocked twice and opened it.
"Your guest is here," she said.
I walked in. The man behind the desk was young—maybe thirty—with dark hair and eyes that shifted between brown and gold. Black shirt, sleeves rolled up, forearms marked with alpha tattoos. He looked up and studied me.
"Aurora Bluey," he said. "Thank you for coming."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Everyone has a choice." He stood and walked around the desk. "Please, sit."
I stayed standing. "Where's my sister?"
"Safe. For now." He leaned against the desk. "Larry Keyamo took her to his compound three hours ago. My sources tell me he discovered she's not a virgin."
Panic flared in my chest. "You said you could save her."
"I can. But first, we need to discuss terms."
"Terms?"
"Larry Keyamo owes me two million in gold. He's been avoiding payment for six months." Richard's eyes hardened. "He thinks I won't collect. He's wrong."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"You were purchased as his bride. That makes you a Keyamo asset." He pulled a document from his desk. "If I pay your bride price plus your parents' debt, you transfer to my pack. Legally."
I stared at the paper. "You want to buy me."
"I want to remove you from Larry Keyamo and use you as leverage." He set the document down. "In return, I'll extract your sister tonight."
"And then what?"
"You become a member of my pack. You'll have housing, protection, and a position in my household." His gaze didn't waver. "You'll be safe."
"I don't want to be anyone's property."
"Then you shouldn't have let your parents sell you." The words were harsh but true. "This is your best option. Take it, or let your sister face the consequences."
I wanted to hit him. My wolf snarled, furious at how he spoke about my life like a business transaction.
"How do I know you'll keep your word?"
"You don't." He moved closer. "But I'm the only one offering you a way out. Who do you trust more? Me, or Larry Keyamo?"
The answer was obvious. I picked up the document and scanned it. Transfer of bride price. Transfer of allegiance. Transfer of debt.
"If I sign this, you'll get Codysa out tonight?"
"Within the hour."
I looked up at him. "And you won't expect anything from me?"
"I'm not Larry Keyamo. You'll work for your place here, but I don't force myself on anyone." His voice dropped. "You have my word."
I wanted to believe him. Standing in this study with an alpha king felt safer than anything I'd experienced in the last month.
I grabbed a pen and signed my name.
"Done," I said.
Richard took the paper and examined my signature. "Welcome to the Delmark pack."
"Now get my sister."
He pulled out his phone and typed a message. A reply came within seconds. He showed me the screen.
Team in position. Ready to extract on your order.
"Consider it done."
Relief flooded through me.
"There's one more thing," Richard said. He walked to the window. "Larry Keyamo won't accept this quietly. He'll come for you."
"Let him try."
"He will. You're going to train with my warriors. Starting tomorrow."
"I'm still healing."
"Then heal fast." His expression was unreadable. "In three days, I'm hosting the Alpha Council meeting here. Larry will attend. I'm going to make him acknowledge the transfer in front of every pack leader in the kingdom."
My stomach dropped. "He'll never agree."
"He will. Because if he doesn't, I'll reveal why he owes me two million gold." Richard smiled, cold and dangerous. "That's a secret he'll kill to protect."
The door opened. A guard stepped in.
"Sir," the guard said. "We have a problem. The Keyamo pack just sent word. They're bringing the debt payment tomorrow. But they want their bride returned first."
Richard's smile vanished. "Which bride? The one they paid for, or the replacement?"
The guard looked at me. "Both, sir. They want both sisters by dawn, or they're declaring breach of contract."
Silence.
"They can't do that," I said. But I knew they could. Pack law was complicated.
Richard's jaw tightened. "Get me Senator Delmark. Now."
The guard left. Richard turned to me. For the first time, I saw something like apology in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said. "This just got complicated."