: Get Married First

This was not how she imagined marriage happening.

Then again, she had also never imagined she'd be marrying the second richest Alpha in the world for survival.

She crossed her arms. "No ceremony? No rings? Just paperwork?"

Alexander glanced at her, and for a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gold eyes.

"Would you like a ceremony?"

Nene stiffened.

There was something in his voice—not quite teasing, not quite serious, but something else.

She swallowed. "No. This is a business transaction, right?"

A slow, deliberate pause.

Then, softly:

"For now."

Her heart skipped.

She ignored it.

"Fine," she muttered. "Let's get it over with."

Alexander nodded. "Good choice."

And just like that, they arrived.

The Werewolf Registry Office was nothing like Nene expected. She thought it would be grand, traditional—some kind of ancient pack hall filled with elders and ceremonial nonsense.

Instead, it was brutally modern.

Sleek black architecture, neon-blue security scans, and government employees in high-tech uniforms moving with quiet efficiency.

It looked less like a marriage office and more like a corporate headquarters for legally binding fated mates.

The moment she and Alexander stepped inside, she felt the weight of hundreds of security scans sweep over them.

Biometric verification. Genetic ID tracking.

Her stomach tightened.

This wasn't just marriage. This was binding on a fundamental level.

She shot Alexander a look. "Tell me again why we're doing this right now?"

He didn't even glance at her. "Because the moment your bloodline was made public, you became a political target. This stops any challenges before they start."

Her jaw clenched. "You keep saying that like this is a business deal."

"It is," he said smoothly. "For now."

There it was again. The promise of something more that made nene's heart jump a little.

Nene ignored it for now.

Instead, she turned back to the massive holographic sign above the main desk:

WEREWOLF MATE & MARRIAGE REGISTRY

Legal Mate Bond Confirmations & Alpha Court Disputes Processed Here.

She resisted the urge to scream.

A robotic voice chimed overhead.

"Zhao Alexander & Lin Evangeline. Confirmed Alpha-Luna Marriage Processing. Please proceed to Private Room 02."

Nene blinked. "Private room?"

Alexander placed a hand against the biometric scanner, and the doors slid open silently.

"You didn't think we'd sign papers at the front desk like everyone else, did you?"

She groaned, following him inside.

The room was minimalist and cold, with a single table, two chairs, and a government official already waiting.

A Beta woman in a high-tech uniform glanced up from her holo-tablet. She looked completely unimpressed by them.

"Zhao Alexander," she greeted. "Lin Evangeline."

Nene hated hearing her full name like that.

The woman gestured to the digital contract floating between them.

"You know the terms," she said briskly. "Marriage under werewolf law is binding and legally unbreakable. Upon signing, Lin Evangeline will be recognized under Zhao Alexander's house and pack. Any legal challenges or mate claims against her will be nullified."

Nene felt lightheaded.

This was really happening.

The official glanced at Alexander. "Anything to add?"

He didn't hesitate. "I'm adding a full security override."

Nene snapped to him. "A what?"

The official raised a brow. "Clarify?"

Alexander's voice was calm, firm. "She is to have absolute clearance under my name. No one—not even Lin Zhen—can challenge her legal status. If anyone attempts to manipulate this contract, my authority will override it."

Nene's mouth went dry.

That wasn't just marriage protection.

That was a cage.

A very expensive, high-tech, no-loophole cage.

The official simply nodded. "Understood."

Then, she slid a holo-pen across the table.

"Sign here."

Nene stared at the glowing contract.

Her hand hovered.

This was it.

One signature, and she'd be legally, permanently bound to the most dangerous Alpha in the world.

She inhaled slowly.

Then, without another word—

She signed.

A second later, the system processed it.

"Marriage confirmed. Lin Evangeline is now legally registered as Zhao Evangeline."

Nene froze.

Wait. What?!

She snapped to Alexander. "Zhao?!"

Alexander smirked. "I told you. You're mine now."

Nene gawked at him. "Hold on. Zhao? I didn't agree to change my last name!"

Alexander, completely unbothered, signed his own section of the contract. The system chimed again—

"Marriage officially recorded. Zhao Evangeline is now legally recognized under House Zhao."

Her stomach dropped.

"Unbelievable," she muttered, rubbing her temple. "You literally didn't tell me this was part of the deal."

Alexander finally glanced at her. "Does it matter?"

She glared. "Yes, it matters! I wasn't planning on suddenly becoming a Zhao like some corporate merger!"

He tilted his head slightly. "That's exactly what this is."

Her eye twitched.

The Beta official cleared her throat. "If you're done, I'll finalize the system processing. Your marriage contract is now locked, and per Alpha law, any disputes or loopholes regarding fated mates, legal challenges, or annulments are nullified. Congratulations."

Nene exhaled sharply. "Yeah. Thanks."

The moment they stepped out of the room, she rounded on Alexander.

"You knew this would happen, didn't you?"

He didn't even pretend to look guilty. "Of course."

She threw her hands up. "So you just decided my name for me? No warning? No discussion?"

Alexander stopped walking. Turned.

And suddenly, the air changed.

He leaned in slightly, gold eyes sharp and unreadable.

"Would you have refused?"

Nene froze.

Her pulse jumped, because—

She didn't know.

She didn't think she would have cared about keeping Lin Zhen's name, but something about Alexander deciding for her made her bristle.

She crossed her arms. "That's not the point."

Alexander smirked. "It is to me."

Her breath caught.

Because the way he said it—low, assured, final—made something curl in her stomach.

Before she could snap back, the Registry system chimed again.

"Marriage processing complete. Welcome, Luna of House Zhao."

Nene stared at the screen.

Luna.

House Zhao.

There was no backing out now.

Alexander placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the exit.

"Come on," he murmured. "Time to go home, wife."