The sharp p of paper hitting the floor broke the silence of my room. I turned my head instantly, gripping the edge of my robe, only to see Dominic standing in the doorway, his face showing anger and disdain. I was just about to grab my clothes and intended to start the day in peace.


    But it seemed like I couldn''t


    His gare held mine for a moment before he gestured to the document now lying at "Sign it," he ordered coldly


    I bent down, picking up the papers with a deliberate slowness.


    "And what is this?"


    "Our new marriage agreement,


    He stood there with his arms folded as if demonstrating his authority as the most powerful Alpha and a husband.


    "I want to ensure justice between you and Cami. She deserves justice too, he demanded


    Justice? I almostughed, but I held it in, biting back the derision that felt hot on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I opened the document and began... to read my eyes seinning line after line of carefully crafted decell


    Every word exposed there was chained with an ambiguity that could be twisted to me me for everything that might go wrong. Double meanings. If one day I objected, disagreed, or even existed in a way that inconvenienced him or his precious Cami. I would suffer both formally and materially. The legal trap was thinly veiled, but I saw them for what they were.


    In conclusion, this is an insult


    Did he think we had the intelligence of a quarter of a shrimp''s brain?" My wolfs


    s voice echoed in my mind and I responded through our connection.


    As I recall you were very crazy about him and now you''re turning your back on him?"


    was you, and you were me. Of course you know why I ended up like this


    Our tastes air had then


    A disgusted growl echoed in reaction.


    That the fair''sir. Not


    I closed the document ciftly, the sound echoing in the room:


    "Im sorry, Dominar" I


    tactlessly as possible, tossing the document towards Domini "Hat this needs to be revised."


    Sipping


    of my bathrobe. I turned my back to him and opened the closet, leaving the back of my body exposed.


    *Til sign it on one conditio


    ger my own contact. If we''re ying this game of fairness, should''t Cami and I have the same rights?" I asked.


    Dominic replied in an offended to "What are you talking about, Ruby? This agreement is perfectlyr


    Sighing, I turned amount. I put on my shirt and buttoned it up. The man''s eyes, despite being in a condition of temper, were unable to resist looking at rentain areas of the female body Man Are they of the same kuuli


    "I repeated, arching an eyebrow. In that case, of course you don''t mind it Cami also has her own agreement. If I submit to these terms,


    I tilied my head, my lips curving to a smile as warm as I could to counter this


    chast morning "After all, don''t you want everything to be just and equal"


    sat on the edge of my bed ling my head to meet the sight of Dominic''s unpleasant expression.


    "I don''t see any justice here," I said out loud


    The man was ready to argue but lost once I asked him to shut up for a moment


    by bringing up the name of their affair.


    "You do realize how the public will react after this, don''t you, Alpha!"


    I massaged the bridge of my nose. "Alright, ignore that for now. About the contract or marriage agreement. It should be that each of the sides should make one. Just like on Cami''s side, mine, and yours. Not based on one voice


    "Did you just dictate to me?" Dominic''s Face darkened


    "Absolutely, no." I easily answered and once again tried to get my exnation into


    this moron''s head. "I still love my needs to have a voice too. It''s about living together in the long-term


    y sister, Dominie. In this case he


    I added a y on a older sibling''s affection here.


    "You can''t make a deal based on one person alone, 1 added.


    Putting on a slightly grim and tired face. "Let''s make this transparent. We''ll renegotiate this when all three of us are together. Between Cam, you. and me. For the benefit of everyone''s consensus"


    Dominic''s arrogance made him predictable. I saw the doubt in his eyes, but the mention of Cami''s involvement was enough to sway him. His pride and obsession with appearances left him with little choice,


    Please, just take the bait.


    Fine" he snapped after a moment and instantly I felt like I heard cheering in


    my


    head


    "But don''t think for a second that this is going to change anything to win my favor. You''re going to have to fix your bad attitude for a few days," he


    threatened


    "Yes, Alpha. I understand." I replied lightly, watching as his frustration grew.


    After the day of the marriage agreement, Dominic disappeared like a gust of wind every night. Seven days and nights passed without Dominic setting foot in our room. He always made excuses but I knew what he was hiding.


    I had confirmed the truth myself, sneaking into Cami''s room. And true to my word, he was there. I heard every word of his devotion to Cami, his whispered promises of love, his confessions that I never epted, at least, not with sincerity.


    I stare at the empty side of the bed that used to be his, an emptiness that mirrors the pain in my chest. What is the meaning of a soulmate bond if it can be so easily discarded? What was the point of fate if it only brought pain like this?


    The anger bubbled beneath the surface, mixed with the humiliation of being treated like expendable garbage. I gritted my teeth, trying to stop the tears from spilling over. I refused to let this ruin myposure. I made sure to tell myself this was nothing to cry about.


    As I closed my eyes, a strange light filled the room. It was faint at first, a glowing single point of shimmering light in the darkness. My breath caught In my throat as the light growrger, widening and swirling until it formed a vortex of light Panic gripped me as I stumbled backwards, my heart pounding


    The silhouette of a figure appeared in the light, its form firm and dashing. My fear presence instantly dominating the room.


    Killian


    Rudwick


    turned to disbelief as the figure stepped through the portal, his


    The same deadly aura, the same pair of crimson eyes that hield promise and


    threat. His lips curled into a familiar, wolfish grin, and my entire body


    was unable to move.


    "It''s been a long time, darling," he greeted.


    I couldn''t speak. My throat felt dry, my thoughts a tangled mess. Killian stepped clover, the glow of the whirlpool fading behind him as his presence filled the


    room.


    "Miss me?" he asked, tilting his head as if he already knew the answer.


    I swallowed hard, my voice finally pushing its way past the lump in my throat. "Wh-what are you doing here?"


    The man''s grin widened even furlier, a spark of excitement dancing in his eyes. "Testing a theory. And, of course, checking on my favorite Luna," he answered simply.


    The main room felt smaller with his presence. I felt that familiar pull, the one that always drew me to that deadly, powerful man. And for the first time in days, the pain in my chest lessened, reced by something far more dangerous but intoxicating


    Killian ners at my empty, lonely bed.


    see your room is pretty cold. Want to go in somewhere warmer, Ruby Lucienne?"