"You have been bailed," was the last thing I had thought would be heard by four hours before my execution.
The guard’s words hit like a slap. I stared at him, chains still on my wrists, waiting for the joke. There wasn’t one. Paperwork was shoved under my nose, a pen pressed into my hand. I signed without reading. My legs carried out of Silvercrest on autopilot, the gates clanging shut behind like a bad dream ending too soon.
Then fear gripped . Real, cold fear. This was too easy. Too good. They didn’t just free an Alpha-killer. Soone had paid. Soone had claid . I looked down at the thin silver band now circling my ring finger and rembered exactly how it got there.
Four hours earlier, Simon had slid it across the tal table.
"Say yes, Irene. Say yes and you walk out alive."
I had stared at the ring, then at him, then at the clock ticking down my life.
"Yes," I had spat, hating every syllable.
The officiant had been called in, vows rushed through, the pardon stamped before the ink dried. I beca Gamma-Luna of the North in under eight minutes. Price of my head: marriage to the man who once humiliated on our wedding day in front of the entire pack. I still tasted bile when I thought of him, but bile was better than the executioner’s blade.
Five days later we did the official ceremony. Just the three of us: Simon, , and a bored officiant in a back room of the prison offices. No flowers, no guests, no Gideon, no Brielle. I wore the sa grey jumpsuit they’d given the day I was booked. The officiant mumbled the words.
"Do you take this male as your mate and Gamma?"
"I do," I said, voice flat.
"Do you take this woman as your Luna and wife?"
"I do," Simon answered, smiling like he’d won sothing.
"You may kiss the bride."
Simon leaned in. I turned my head. His lips landed on my cheek. The officiant stamped the paper. Done. Married. Ten minutes and I was Mrs. Lawson. I wanted to vomit.
Ten days after that, Simon pulled up outside the temporary safe-house in a sleek black car.
"Ti to go ho," he said, opening the passenger door.
I climbed in without a word. The drive north was long and quiet except for him trying.
"My mother always loved the North," he started, fingers drumming the wheel. "She used to say the air tastes cleaner up here. She can’t wait to et you. Been asking about you every day."
I stared out the window. Trees blurred past. He kept talking. About the house, about pack traditions, about how proud his mother would be. I didn’t answer once.
At the border, the security hit first. Two checkpoints, ard wolves, scanners, the works. IDs checked twice. They saluted Simon like he was royalty. He waved back like it was normal.
Then the pack house appeared.
I actually stopped breathing for a second. Stone and steel, twelve stories high, windows glinting like predator eyes. It towed over everything.
Simon leaned across , grinning. "This building has forty-eight rooms. You’ll love it."
I didn’t answer. He parked in the underground lot, jumped out, ran around to open my door. He offered his hand.
I ignored it, stepped out on my own, boots hitting concrete. Up close the building was even more monstrous. People stread in and out, so stopping to bow.
"Gamma Simon, welco back!"
He nodded, chest puffed. "Good to be ho."
A woman in uniform bowed deeper. "Gamma-Luna," she said to , eyes lowered.
I walked past her without acknowledgent.
Simon caught up. "They don’t know your history," he said under his breath. "All they know is we dated once, I took the Gamma post to bring you here, and now we’re married. That’s the story. Keep it simple."
"Whatever," I muttered.
The lobby swallowed us. Marble floors, high ceilings, five elevators, and one golden one in the corner.
I tilted my head toward it. "That one special?"
"Alpha only," Simon said, pressing the button for a regular elevator. "New Alpha was appointed three weeks after Voltage died. We don’t call them Kings anymore. Just Alpha of the North."
The doors slid open. We stepped in. He hit 4.
The ride was silent except for the hum. When the doors opened on floor 4, another hallway stretched out, floor-to-ceiling windows on one side showing the entire territory spread below like a map.
People passed us, nodding.
"Gamma Simon, good to have you back."
"Congratulations on the bonding, sir."
A tall male in tactical gear stopped directly in front of us, clapped Simon on the shoulder, then looked at and smirked.
"So this is her. Congratulations, man. She’s even prettier than the pictures." He glanced back down the hall and shouted, "Hey, Simon, don’t forget the final sealing with the Alpha tonight or tomorrow. Can’t have a Gamma-Luna walking around half-accepted!"
He walked off laughing.
I turned to Simon. "Final sealing?"
Simon rubbed the back of his neck. "The Alpha of the North has to officially accept you into the pack. He places his seal—bite or blood, whatever he chooses—on the bond. Then you’re fully recognized. It’s tradition."
"No," I said instantly. "I’m not letting anyone bite . I’m here. I’m married. That’s enough."
Simon sighed. "It’s not optional, Irene. Without it, half the pack won’t respect you. So might even challenge you. We do it tomorrow evening. Quick eting, in and out."
He stopped at a door marked 2307, swiped his keycard, pushed it open.
I stepped inside and stopped.
Two huge windows, gauzy white curtains snapping in the breeze. A bed big enough for four. Grey sheets, dark headboard. One door on the left—bathroom. One on the right—walk-in closet, I guessed.
Simon closed the door behind us.
"Welco ho," he said softly. "After the sealing tomorrow, we’ll go et my mother. She’s been dying to have you here."
I walked to the window, stared out at the mountains. My reflection stared back—ring on my finger, prison pallor still on my skin, eyes dead.
Simon ca up behind , not touching.
"Tomorrow evening," he repeated. "Then everything’s official."
I didn’t turn around.
"Get out," I said.
He hesitated. "Irene—"
"Out."
The door clicked shut behind him.
I stood there a long ti, wind whipping the curtains against my legs, the silver band on my finger catching the last of the afternoon light.
Tomorrow evening I would et the Alpha of the North.
I didn’t know his na yet.
But sothing cold slid down my spine anyway, like a warning I couldn’t na.
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