CLOVER

The air in Oakshade’s pack hall was suffocating, heavy with anxiety and expectation. My sisters and I stood in a tense line, our father’s sharp gaze drilling into us like a blade. Margot wore her usual confident smirk, her beauty glowing like a well-polished weapon. Lucille fidgeted, her fingers twisting nervously.

And me? I was a shadow. The mute daughter. The curse no one wanted to claim.

The doors groaned open, cutting through the murmurs. Power rolled in like a stormfront, sharp and commanding. All eyes turned as Alpha Howard entered. His reputation preceded him—a warrior, ruthless and undefeated. But the man in the wheelchair before us defied expectations.

Alpha Howard of Red Obsidian couldn’t walk.

Margot’s confidence faltered, her lips parting in silent shock. Lucille shrank back, her unease deepening. But our father, ever the strategist, bowed deeply, his voice steady despite the flicker of fear in his eyes.

“Alpha Howard, welcome to Oakshade. We are honored by your presence.”

Howard’s steel-gray eyes scanned the room, sharp and calculating. When they landed on me, I felt their weight—a predator assessing prey. My wolf, Cleo, stirred uneasily.

"Bring them forward," Howard ordered, his voice cold and absolute.

One by one, we stepped forward. Margot moved with calculated grace, her charm on full display. Lucille followed, quiet but deliberate. And then it was my turn.

As I approached, Howard’s gaze pinned me in place. My father’s harsh voice broke the silence.

“She’s mute,” he said, his words laced with disdain.

Howard tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Mute?"

“Yes,” my father confirmed curtly. “But she understands her role.”

Howard studied me, his silence more unsettling than any words. Then, to everyone’s shock, he spoke: “I choose her.”

The room erupted. Margot gasped audibly, her mask of confidence shattering. Lucille’s face went pale. My father froze, disbelief etched into his features.

“You mean… Clover?” Margot stammered.

“Yes,” Howard said, his tone brooking no argument. “The bonding ceremony will take place tomorrow. Inform the council. I want them all there.”

With that, Howard turned his wheelchair and left, his Beta guiding him. The whispers in the room were deafening, but I barely heard them. My father’s glare burned into me, a silent promise of retribution.

“Do not ruin this for me,” he hissed, storming away.

The next day passed in a blur. My father thrust a crimson dress into my arms, his disdain palpable. “Wear this. And keep your mouth shut. Not that you have much choice.”

Mia, a kind maid, helped me dress, her hands trembling. “Miss Clover,” she whispered, “I’m scared for you.”

I scribbled quickly in my notebook: I’ll survive. I always do.

But when Margot and Lucille barged in, their mockery cut deeper than I expected.

“You’re perfect for him,” Margot sneered. “Mute and useless. A pity bride for a crippled Alpha.”

Their laughter followed me to the ceremony, but I refused to let it break me.

The grand hall was packed with the werewolf elite, tension crackling in the air. My father led me to the front, where Howard waited. His presence was commanding despite his chair, and when his eyes met mine, I felt a strange, unspoken understanding.

The ceremony was quick but suffocating. As Howard’s hand closed over mine to seal the bond, whispers swirled around us—pity, disbelief, curiosity. But I ignored them, focusing only on the warmth of his grip.

The moment the ceremony ended, I retreated to pack my belongings. My relief was short-lived. Thomas, my former mate, stormed into my room with his sister, Tanya.

“Marrying him?” Thomas spat, his voice dripping with contempt. “Is this your plan, Clover? To claw your way to relevance?”

Tanya smirked, her tone razor-sharp. “You’re a cockroach. Surviving by latching onto power.”

Their words sliced through me, but before I could respond, a voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“Is there a problem here?”

Howard.

His presence filled the doorway, his gaze lethal. “What business do you have with my Luna?”

Thomas stiffened, his bravado crumbling. “No business,” he muttered, retreating with Tanya at his heels.

Howard’s eyes softened as he turned to me. “Are you ready?”

I nodded, grabbing my bag.

The ride to Red Obsidian was silent but heavy with unspoken tension. As we approached the gates, the towering trees and sprawling estate loomed like a fortress. My chest tightened. This was my new life—a world as mysterious as the man beside me.

Howard’s voice broke the silence. “There are things you need to know,” he said, his tone grave.

The gates creaked open, revealing the vast, shadowed territory beyond. My heart pounded as his next words sent a chill through me.

“You weren’t chosen by chance. They’re coming for you.”

CLOVER

The mansion rose like a fortress against the twilight, its stone walls glowing softly under the fading light. Howard’s Beta, Caleb, led the way with precise, silent steps, his presence as imposing as Howard’s unyielding gaze. My fingers tightened around my bag strap as I followed, Cleo’s low hum of unease whispering in the back of my mind.

Stay sharp, she urged.

Inside, the grandeur was suffocating. Howard’s wheelchair moved smoothly as he gestured toward a heavy wooden door. “Follow me.”

He didn’t wait for a response, and I didn’t hesitate. My father had sold me to this man, tied me to this world, and I needed answers.

When the door creaked open, the sight within stunned me. A little girl sat on a plush rug, dark curls tumbling over her shoulders. Her small hands moved in quick, fluid gestures. Blaire. Howard introduced her without preamble. “She’s my daughter.”

I barely processed his words before he continued. “She’s deaf and mute, like you.”

The weight of his intent crushed me. I wasn’t truly mute, but my silence over the years had become my armor. Blaire’s gray eyes flicked up to meet mine, so much like her father’s, yet softer, innocent. Something about her fragility pierced through my defenses.

“She’s why I brought you here,” Howard said, his tone hardening. “No one outside this pack knows about her. Not even her mother.”

The mention of Blaire’s mother sent questions spiraling through my mind, but Howard’s gaze warned me against asking. “Protect her. Help her,” he demanded. “In return, I’ll give you whatever you ask for.”

The room fell silent, his command a heavy weight. I nodded, the pull toward Blaire outweighing my anger at my father’s betrayal.

As I followed Caleb to my room, Cleo’s voice cut through my tangled thoughts. He’s hiding more than he’s telling.

The next morning, a knock jarred me awake. Moments later, Howard rolled into the room, his expression unreadable. “Get ready. We need to talk.”

I obeyed without a word, dressing quickly. As I stepped into the hall, he led me toward a pair of grand double doors. Before we reached them, a guard approached.

“Alpha,” the guard said, his tone urgent. “News from Wildthorn Pack. Thomas Kane and Lucille Weston are to be bonded in five days.”

The name hit me like a blow. Thomas—my former mate. Lucille—my sister.

Howard’s sharp gaze caught my reaction. “Does this affect you?”

I shook my head, swallowing the storm of emotions threatening to spill over. Howard didn’t press further. Instead, his focus shifted as another guard arrived.

“Alpha, Tanya Kane is at the gate.”

Tanya. The name sent a shiver down my spine. Howard’s demeanor darkened instantly. “Don’t let her inside. Send her to the training grounds. I’ll meet her there.”

His sharp command left no room for argument. As he turned to me, his eyes were steely. “You’re coming with me.”

The training grounds buzzed with energy, wolves sparring in synchronized precision. At the center stood Tanya, her imposing presence unmistakable. Her sharp eyes locked on us as we approached.

“Howard,” she drawled, her voice syrupy and mocking. “Is this the replacement you’ve chosen?” Her gaze landed on me, her disdain cutting.

Howard’s response was swift. He reached for my wrist, pulling me toward him. Before I could react, his lips were on mine—decisive and claiming. The world seemed to tilt as Cleo stirred in shock, her presence vibrating through me.

When he pulled back, Howard’s icy gaze met Tanya’s. “Does that answer your question?”

Her smirk faltered, replaced by simmering fury.

Howard’s tone turned deadly. “If you don’t stop meddling, Tanya, I’ll expose everything. When the truth comes out, your father will disown you, and no one will want you.”

Tanya’s confidence cracked, her face paling. Without another word, she stormed away.

As her figure disappeared, Howard exhaled slowly, his wolf’s intensity retreating. “Now you see why Blaire is so important—and why I chose you.”

Before I could respond, his expression shifted, shadowed by something darker. “This is only the beginning, Clover. Brace yourself, Clover. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The truths buried here will shake everything you believe.”

The chill in his voice lingered, leaving me with one question burning in my mind: What else is he hiding?

CLOVER

Howard’s warning lingered in my mind: “Brace yourself, Clover. This is just the tip of the iceberg.” Yet after Tanya’s dramatic departure, he withdrew from me entirely. The distance between us grew, his cool and unreadable demeanor leaving me with more questions than answers. Was he avoiding me because of the kiss—or was there something more?

Howard’s absence, however, gave me time to bond with Blaire. She was the light in the mansion’s ever-present shadows. Her resilience and curiosity captivated me, and I found myself wanting to bridge the gap between us.

One quiet morning, I took the leap. As Blaire stacked her blocks, I softly said, “Hello.”

Her wide-eyed shock froze her in place, but as I smiled and signed, her delight was contagious. I told her my voice was a secret, one she had to keep. She promised with a vigorous nod, and for the first time in years, I felt a connection that eased the ache in my chest.

That connection was tested one afternoon when Blaire slipped on a block. I lunged, catching her just in time, a cry of her name escaping my lips. Relief flooded me—until I looked up and saw Howard in the doorway, his face a mask of shock.

“You can talk,” he said, his voice low and sharp.

Blaire’s small hands clung to me, her wide eyes darting between us as Howard rolled closer. His gaze was like a blade, cutting through every excuse I wanted to make.

“How long?” he demanded.

I swallowed hard. “Always.”

His expression darkened. “Your father made you stay silent, didn’t he?”

I nodded, unable to meet his piercing gaze.

“And you never thought to trust me with this?” His tone softened, but the disappointment in his voice hit harder than anger ever could.

Blaire signed something, her small hands pleading for peace. Howard exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. “This isn’t over, Clover,” he said firmly. “But Blaire comes first.”

That night, as I lay tangled in guilt and confusion, a knock startled me.

“Come with me,” Howard’s voice called through the door, steady and commanding.

I followed him down the dim corridors, my heart pounding with every step. His office felt colder than usual, the shadows clinging to the corners like secrets.

“Talk,” he said as soon as the door shut.

I hesitated. “I didn’t think you’d trust me if I spoke,” I admitted.

“Trust isn’t built on lies,” he snapped, then softened. “But it’s not irreparable either.”

His tone shifted suddenly, cutting through the tension. “The kiss was for Tanya to see,” he explained, his words a dagger to my chest. “She needed to know I’ve moved on. That’s all.”

I nodded, my voice steady despite the ache. “I understand.”

Howard’s gaze hardened, as though steeling himself for what came next. “Tanya and I were fated mates,” he began, his words sending a chill down my spine. “But no one could know. Our families were sworn enemies.”

Over the next moments, he unraveled a story of love, betrayal, and heartbreak. Secret meetings, a forbidden pregnancy, and Tanya’s decision to abandon not just him, but Blaire.

“She thought she succeeded in erasing the child,” he said, his voice cold. “But I ensured Blaire survived. I took her and severed all ties with Tanya.”

My mind reeled. Tanya’s bitterness, Howard’s guarded nature—it all made sense now. We were more alike than I’d realized: two people left broken by rejection, yet still standing for what we loved most.

“Why tell me this now?” I asked, my voice a whisper.

Howard’s smirk returned, softer this time. “Because you deserve to know. You’re not just Blaire’s mother. You’re my Luna.”

The weight of his words settled over me like a mantle I wasn’t sure I could bear.

As I turned to leave, Howard’s voice stopped me.

“One more thing,” he said, his tone darker. “Tanya’s visit wasn’t just about me. She’s hiding something—and I intend to find out what it is.”

The intensity in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. Whatever Tanya was hiding, I had a sinking feeling it wouldn’t just threaten Howard’s world—but mine as well.