E POV


    This close, with the scent of Alexander’s cologne washing over me and the possessive fire in his eyes as he looked down at me, I felt something cold and hard begin to soften ever so slightly inside of me, like the morning sun melting the frost on the grass.


    It should have been a nice feeling, to warm up slightly toward my mate and husband, but all it did was make me feel uneasy.


    Right now, I hated him-hated what he was putting me through, hated the fact that he wouldn’t help me with my wolf, hated that we had even gotten to this point to begin with simply because he couldn’t bear to love me despite how hard I had tried for five years.


    And yet, I couldn’t help but feel the pull of our fated mate bond in my chest. Even with my wolf dormant, it was still there- a faint tug of an invisible string tied around my heart, constantly pulling, constantly urging me closer to him.


    For a brief, heart-stopping moment, I nearly gave in and closed the remaining distance between us.


    Maybe, if this had happened yesterday, I would have even hoped to kiss him.


    But now… Now, I just wanted him to get away.


    Biting the inside of my cheek, I shoved hard against his chest. It wasn’t enough to make him stumble back, but it did seem to take him by surprise, and he released his grip on my arm.


    “If you want me to sign your contract, you also have to promise to stop touching me like that.” I smoothed down the front of my dress and lifted my chin. “And I’m not spending the night with you. Whatever sexual favors you think you’ll get from me on the side, it’s not happening.”


    Alexander blinked. “Sexual favors? Don’t overthink things, E. The only reason why I think you should stay in my room is because the Board is here. I can’t have them thinking we’re actually having marital problems.”


    His exnation infuriated me in ways I didn’t want to admit-because of course he had only invited me to fulfill his agenda. and for no other reasons-but it was also logical.


    We slept on opposite sides of the house. My bedroom was just down the hall from where the Board was staying. Of course it would raise eyebrows if we slept like that with such important guests around.


    “Fine,” I sighed, throwing my hands up in the air. “I’ll sleep in your room for now. But only until the Board is gone.”


    I didn’t wait for a response before I turned and left.


    As I made my way toward Alexander’s room instead of mine, I couldn’t help butugh wryly under my breath.


    Who would have thought that, after five years of marriage, this would be our first time ever sharing a bed?


    Strangely, when I reached Alexander’s room and prepared to shower, I felt more ufortable with his permission to be here than I had felt when sneaking around earlier that day. Somehow, being invited into his space felt more unnatural than simply doing it to anger him.


    Before today, I had never even set foot in this room. On our wedding night, just as I was about to enter, he had coldly told me to leave—that I wasn’t allowed inside because he wasn’t going to have children with me, and thus there was no need for a


    shared bed.


    And then he took me to my sad little room all the way on the other end of the house, and that was the end of that.


    But now, he was the one who wanted me to sleep in his room. How ironic.


    Thankfully, Alexander didn’te upstairs right away, so I had time to shower and prepare for bed on my own.


    After washing off the day in his luxurious walk-in shower, I brushed my teeth, dried my hair, and even did another face mask for good measure. A servant had brought me some pajamas, so I slipped into the silky blue sleep set before stepping


    out of the bathroom.


    Alexander was waiting for me, already shirtless with nothing but a pair of nnel pants slung low around his chiseled waist, when I emerged. He was holding a bundle of papers in his hand, which he tossed toward me as I approached.


    I tried not to gawk at the delicious V-line of his hips, reminding myself that as attractive as he was, I still hated him.


    “The new contract,” he said, holding out a pen. “All you have to do is sign.”


    I picked the contract up off the coffee table and flipped through it, ensuring everything was in order and that I couldn’t get tricked. Indeed, Alexander had stayed true to his word.


    The contract was simple: I just needed to stay in the house as his wife for the six-month duration of his election campaign, during which time I would be expected to perform my usual Luna duties, attend any public events or the like with him, and then remain doing so for three months after the campaign whether he won or lost.


    Then he would divorce me, reject me, and I would be free. My father wouldn’t owe any money and there would be no repercussions.


    I took the pen from his hand, my fingers briefly brushing his as I did, and signed my name at the bottom with a flourish. “Your turn,” I said, holding the contract and pen back out to him.”


    A muscle in Alexander’s jaw ticked, but he signed his name next to mine.


    “There. I’ll have it notarized in the morning.”


    I nodded and abruptly turned toward the bed, but then hesitated. My eyes shifted toward the couch in the small sitting room, and I said, “Am I sleeping on the sofa, or are you?”


    Alexander looked at me like I’d just sprouted a second head. “Why should either of us take the couch? The bed is plenty big.”


    Before I could respond, he pulled the covers back and climbed into the right side of the bed. I hesitated, clenching my jaw, but climbed into the other side. To be fair, it was a veryrge bed, and the two of us couldy on our backs and even sprawl out a little without touching.


    “Fine. But if youy a hand on me, I’ll bite it off.”


    “Trust me, I’m not in the habit of assaulting women.”


    With that, Alexander flicked off the light, casting the room into darkness. Despite the soft sheets and luxurious pillows, I shifted ufortably as my eyes adjusted; I always left the curtains open at night in my room, preferring to have a bit of light shed by the moon rather thanplete darkness. It made me feel less cooped up.


    But somehow, I had a feeling that if I asked him to open the curtains, he would decline just to spite me.


    “E.” Alexander suddenly spoke. “How did you meet Liam?”


    The question took me by surprise. Why did he suddenly care about my past with Liam-was he really that jealous over the thought of me having an affair, or was he just prying for information?


    Not wanting to talk, I pretended to be asleep instead. I evened out my breathing and didn’t answer.


    “I know you’re pretending to sleep.” I heard Alexander roll toward me so he was closer now, and it sounded like he propped himself up on one elbow. “I’m not an idiot, E.” His voice was right above me.


    I jutted my chin out, but begrudgingly opened my eyes. Alexander was hovering over me, his face just six inches away in the dim light.


    My breath caught. Maybe it was just the darkness ying tricks on me, but for a moment, I thought I almost saw him… smirking.


    I stared up at him, not sure how to react. And like clockwork, that damn mate bond tugged at me again. Even the dormant wolf inside me wanted to close the remaining distance and finally do what normal couples do in bed.


    Goddess damn this man.


    “Why do you want to know about Liam?” I blurted out.


    Alexander leaned a little closer, and his scent overwhelmed me. “I’m still your mate for the next nine months. You should be honest with me.”


    apte