CHAPTER 3

Sophia Washington

“Uhmm. I’m sorry, I…” My voice faltered, regret clawing at me for every decision that had led me to this moment. My breath hitched as I took a step back.

“Come on in, little one. Some guys could use a mouth like yours,” the man sneered, his words making my stomach churn.

“No! No!” I screamed, spinning on my heels and bolting. My bag slipped from my grip, but I didn’t stop. I needed to run.

The sound of his footsteps followed me, closing in as I darted down the darkened street, screaming for help. I was desperate, frantic, until—

I slammed into someone solid, tall, and unyielding. Before I could process it, the man pulled me behind him like a shield.

“Are you looking for someone?” the stranger’s voice was low and commanding, dripping with authority.

The man chasing me froze, his confidence evaporating. “N-No, I— I’m leaving,” he stammered, retreating into the shadows.

When the stranger turned, my heart stopped.

“You! What the hell are you doing here? Are you stalking me?” I snapped, recognizing Alpha Giovanni’s piercing gaze.

“No,” he replied smoothly, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “You ran to me, young lady.”

He opened the car door and gestured for me to get in.

“No way! I’m not getting in that car!” I snapped, backing away.

Giovanni’s eyes narrowed, sharp as knives. “From the way you were running from a brothel, I can already tell a lot about you. What are you? A stripper?”

“Don’t you dare judge me!” I hissed, seething. “You rich people act like gods!”

I turned to leave, but before I could take another step, he yanked me back and gently pushed me into the seat.

“Drive,” he commanded his driver, who obeyed without hesitation.

“Are you kidnapping me now? Really? Is this how you operate, Alpha?”

He didn’t answer, his golden eyes assessing me. Finally, he spoke. “You’re homeless, aren’t you?”

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Yes, and what about it? Is this your way of stealing my baby? Because you won’t. This baby is mine!”

“Contract marriage,” he said abruptly.

“What?”

“Be with me for one year. Let the child be born, and I’ll give you anything you want—money, houses, villas. Just sign the contract.”

I gaped at him. “Are you trying to buy me?”

“If that’s how you want to see it, then yes,” he replied coolly, leaning back against the seat.

“One year?” I whispered, weighing his words.

I had nothing left—no family, no money, and no future. My fiancé had betrayed me, and now I was alone with a baby I had no means of raising.

“Fine,” I said finally, my voice trembling. “But I need to know how much.”

“Don’t worry, little wolf. I’m not buying you. You just name your price, and it’s yours,” he murmured, his tone both comforting and infuriating as he watched me.

The car came to a halt in front of a sprawling mansion that oozed authority. The Pack Royal House.

The sheer size and grandeur of the estate made my chest tighten. Few humans were ever allowed inside, and now I understood why.

Giovanni stepped out first, his presence commanding. He extended a hand toward me, and though I hesitated, I took it. His grip was firm as he led me out of the car and toward the massive doors.

A man dressed in an impeccable black suit stood at the entrance, his posture rigid.

“Welcome, Alpha,” he greeted with a bow, his eyes flickering to me briefly, curiosity etched on his face.

“She’s my mate,” Giovanni said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Her name is—”

“Sophia. Just Sophia,” I interjected quickly, meeting the man’s gaze. He nodded once but didn’t mask his lingering doubt.

Giovanni tightened his hold on my hand, pulling me through the doors and down a maze of hallways until we reached a room.

The door clicked shut behind us with a sharp finality, and before I could gather my thoughts, Giovanni turned to me, his expression unreadable.

“Take off your dress,” he said flatly.

“What?” I snapped, recoiling. “Are you insane?”

He let out a frustrated exhale, pinching the bridge of his nose. “The moment someone sees you, they’ll know you’re human. And do you know what happens if they find out my mate is human?”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on me.

“You’ll be dead,” he continued, his voice low but edged with tension. “And if that happens, I will lose my child. So, I’ll say it again—off your dress. Now.”

Reluctantly, I did as he instructed, stripping down to just my pants and bra. My hands trembled as I hugged myself, avoiding his piercing gaze. Embarrassment burned my cheeks, but I held my ground.

“This won’t take long,” Giovanni said, his voice low and calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.

He pulled out a small vial containing a thick, dark liquid. The scent was earthy, almost metallic, and it made my stomach churn.

“What is that?” I asked warily, stepping back.

“A scent mask,” he replied, stepping closer. “Once applied, it’ll disguise you as one of us. But…” He hesitated briefly. “It’ll hurt. Just a little.”

Before I could protest, he dipped his fingers into the vial and began applying the substance along the curve of my neck and shoulders. The liquid was cold at first, but as it seeped into my skin, it burned.

I winced, biting my lip to stifle a cry.

“This is necessary,” he muttered, his tone softening as he worked. “They can’t know you’re human.”

Just as I thought the worst was over, Giovanni leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin.

“What are you—”

I didn’t get to finish. His teeth sank into the curve of my neck, sharp and precise. Pain shot through me like fire, and I couldn’t stop the scream that tore from my throat.

“It’s done,” he said, pulling back and wiping the corner of his mouth. His gaze lingered on the mark he’d left behind.

I reached up, my fingers brushing over the tender spot. “You bit me!” I hissed, glaring at him.

“That’s part of the masking process. Now, no one will question your scent,” he replied, stepping back and handing me my dress. “Get dressed. We don’t have time to waste.”

Shaking, I slipped back into my clothes, my body still reeling from the pain. He watched me silently, his expression unreadable.

“Let’s go,” Giovanni said, his voice firm, as he opened the door.