: The Wolf at the Door

Nene stepped out of the café, stuffing the black envelope deep into her jacket pocket. Her mind was still spinning from everything her mother had just dumped on her.

Twenty million in untraceable funds.

A safehouse.

She let out a slow breath.

What the hell was she supposed to do with all of this?

A sleek, black car was parked by the curb, its windows so tinted they were nearly opaque.

Not the one her mother had sent.

Her stomach tightened.

The back door clicked open—without anyone stepping out.

Nene froze.

This was… not normal.

She took a half-step back, ready to ignore it and walk the other way—

Then a smooth, deep voice called from inside.

"Get in, Lin Evangeline."

She didn't move. "And if I don't?"

A pause. Then, like he found her mildly amusing, the man said, "Then I wait. But we both know you're curious."

Nene gritted her teeth.

She hated being told what to do. But the way he said it—smooth, assured, like he already knew she'd get in the car—made her want to prove him wrong.

Instead, she exhaled sharply, glanced around the street, then muttered, "Fine."

She slid into the backseat.

The door shut behind her with a soft click.

The interior of the car was as sleek and expensive as she expected—black leather seats, a faint scent of something rich and dark, like cedar and expensive whiskey, and the kind of quiet that only came with high-tech soundproofing.

And sitting across from her, completely at ease, was Zhao Alexander.

The second richest man in the world.

Nene had seen his face before—he was impossible to ignore in business reports, the occasional magazine cover, and the whispers of Alphas who feared him.

Tall, sharp-jawed, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that probably cost more than her entire existence, and with the kind of lazy confidence that came from absolute power. His gold cufflinks glinted as he rested an arm along the seat, watching her with cool, unreadable eyes.

Like he had already decided something about her before she even spoke.

Nene folded her arms. "So. Are we doing small talk first, or are you going to tell me why I'm here?"

Alexander's lips tilted slightly, like he was amused.

"We're getting married."

Nene blinked.

She leaned forward slightly, as if she hadn't heard right. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Marriage," Alexander repeated smoothly, like he was discussing a business acquisition. "My proposal for an alliance was for me to marry Lin Zhen's daughter. That's what was agreed upon."

Her stomach dropped.

She had known Lin Zhen had plans for her.

But marriage? To Zhao Alexander?

A man so powerful entire territories feared his name?

"Let me guess," she said dryly. "You didn't know there were two of us."

Alexander inclined his head slightly. "No. I assumed I was marrying Meiling. She was the only daughter in Lin Zhen's public records. You were… removed."

Nene stiffened.

"Removed?" she repeated. "Like I was an accident someone erased?"

Alexander was silent for a moment, then said, "Like Lin Zhen wanted to live his life perfectly. And that life didn't include you."

Nene clenched her jaw.

She knew that.

She had always known that.

But hearing it so plainly—so matter-of-fact, as if it were just a footnote in some business deal—made something twist in her chest.

She forced her voice to stay steady. "And you're just… fine with that?"

Alexander studied her for a long moment, unreadable.

Then, finally—

"I had to verify who my wife would be. But I like what I see."

Nene rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw her past life.

"Wow," she said flatly. "Romantic."

Alexander actually smirked. "I wasn't aware you wanted romance."

She gawked at him. "I—I don't! That's not the point! The point is you just decided I was 'acceptable' like I'm some stock option you're investing in!"

He tilted his head slightly, considering that. "That is how Alpha marriages work."

Nene let out a slow, deep breath. "I hate werewolf politics."

Alexander didn't disagree.

Instead, he leaned forward slightly, gold eyes sharp. "Regardless of your personal feelings, this arrangement is beneficial to you."

Nene snorted. "Oh yeah? How exactly?"

"Because my name will protect you."

His voice was smooth, but underneath it was something unshakable.

"Lin Zhen removed you from records," Alexander continued, "but now that you're legally recognized, you are a target. If you remain under Lin Zhen's influence, you will be used. If you try to remain neutral, you will be approached. But if you are my wife—"

His gaze met hers, sharp as a blade.

"—no one will touch you."

Nene barely had time to process Zhao Alexander's words before she felt a shift—a sudden movement, impossibly smooth and controlled—

And the next thing she knew—

She wasn't sitting across from him anymore.

She was in his lap.

Her breath caught as one of his arms wrapped around her waist, effortlessly keeping her in place, while the other rested against the seat, caging her in without even trying.

Warmth radiated off of him, a mix of expensive cologne and something deeper—something undeniably Alpha.

Nene stiffened instantly. "What the hell—"

"Calm down," Alexander said, his voice infuriatingly calm. "I find that negotiations go smoother when I have your full attention."

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

Oh, she was paying attention now.

She tried to shift, to push against his chest, but his hold didn't even budge—not tight, not forceful, just… unmovable.

His gold eyes flickered down to her. "Are you done?"

Nene gritted her teeth. "You could've just asked for my attention."

"Would you have given it to me?"

She hated that the answer was probably no.

Alexander smirked slightly, then leaned in, his voice brushing against her ear.

"Let's discuss your benefits."

Nene's fingers curled into fists, pressing against Alexander's chest, but his hold didn't loosen.

He wasn't restraining her.

But somehow, it felt like she'd have an easier time shoving a mountain out of her way.

"Let's discuss your benefits," Alexander murmured, his voice smooth, measured—like he was explaining the fine print of a contract.

Nene scowled. "Oh, good. I was worried this wasn't a mutually beneficial kidnapping."

His lips twitched, just barely. "You're quick-witted. That's good."

"Flattery isn't going to make me like you."

"I'm not here to be liked."

His gold eyes locked onto hers, sharp as a blade. "I'm here to ensure you survive."

That shut her up.

For a second.

Then, gritting her teeth, she said, "And what, exactly, am I surviving?"

Alexander's hold on her waist tightened slightly, his fingers pressing into the small of her back—not painful, just grounding. Unshakable.

"First," he said, his voice patient, "you are an unprotected female Alpha-born. That alone makes you a target."

Nene frowned. "I can protect myself."

Alexander gave her a look, like she was a child insisting the stove wasn't hot.

"Did your mother ever tell you the ratio of male to female werewolves?"

She hesitated. "...No?"

His thumb idly traced along the fabric of her jacket, like he wasn't even aware he was doing it. "Three to Ten."

Nene blinked. "What?"

"For every three female werewolves, there are ten males. That ratio only gets worse in Alpha bloodlines. Do you know what that means?"

She didn't answer, but something cold slid down her spine.

Alexander leaned in slightly. "It means most female werewolves should never travel alone."

His voice was steady, unhurried, almost conversational. "Because if they do… they might not come back."

Nene's breath hitched.

Alexander continued, "You've never had to live by pack law. In our world, disappearances are normal. Unmated females are taken or traded for power. Even if fight, unless they are dominant they rarely win."

Nene's stomach twisted.

She had spent eighteen years living like a human, never realizing that in werewolf society, a female without protection was practically a free resource.

"And let me guess," she said, her voice sharper than she felt. "You think your name keeps me safe from that?"

Alexander's gaze flickered down to her. "It does."

"Second," he continued, voice calm but unwavering, "if you refuse this marriage, you are legally eligible to fight Lin Zhen for his Alpha position."

Nene stared. "Excuse me, what?"

Alexander smirked slightly. "Didn't your mother explain? Alpha leadership is based on bloodline. You are Lin Zhen's biological daughter, which means you have the right to challenge him for control of his pack."

Nene's mind reeled. "That's insane! I don't even want his position!"

"That doesn't matter."

His fingers pressed slightly against her lower back, his warmth bleeding through her clothes. "Once you're legally recognized, other Alphas will expect you to claim your inheritance or step aside. If you don't—"

She swallowed hard. "If I don't… what?"

Alexander's voice was almost lazy. "Someone will challenge you. And if they win, they can take your claim—or force you into submission."

Her stomach flipped.

She had always thought werewolf dominance fights were about physical power—who was stronger, faster.

But this wasn't just about fighting.

It was about legal ownership.

Alexander studied her carefully. "Lin Zhen arranged this marriage to bypass that. If you marry me, you gain my rank—my standing. No one will challenge you, because legally, you will not be an Alpha heir anymore."

Nene's head was spinning.

She had spent her whole life avoiding werewolf society, only to find out that it had a thousand different ways to pull her in.

Disappearing was normal.

Being forced into dominance fights was normal.

Her stomach twisted. "That's insane."

Alexander raised a brow. "It's just politics."

Silence stretched between them.

The weight of his words hung in the air, pressing against her in a way that had nothing to do with his hand on her waist.

Finally, Nene exhaled. "And if I say no?"

Alexander's gold eyes flickered with something darkly amused. "Then you're on your own."

His grip loosened slightly, as if to let her go.

And for the first time, Nene felt it—a sharp, unexpected loss.

Like she was walking away from a shield she hadn't realized she needed.

She swallowed hard, staring at him. "And if I say yes?"

His fingers tightened again, just slightly.

Then, in a voice smooth as silk, he murmured,

"Then you belong to me."