Elara POV
"Elara," Darius voice gentled, "I know this isn't what you wanted. But I promise you'll be safe here."
"Safe," I repeated hollowly, "Right."
I got out before he could say anything else with my boots crunching on the gravel drive.
"This way," Darius gestured toward the doors.
I followed him up the steps. The doors swung open before we reached them, operated by wolves in formal uniforms I didn't recognize.
"The Alpha is in his study. He's expecting you," One of the uniformed wolves said.
Of course he was.
My hands started shaking again and I shoved them into my pockets. My fingers brushed the vial of herbs. No one had detected anything unusual about my scent.
We walked through hallways that seemed endless. Finally, Darius stopped before a heavy oak door.
He knocked once, "Alpha. I've brought Elara Vance."
"Enter."
The voice that answered made something in my chest move. It was deep and commanding.
Darius opened the door and gestured for me to go ahead.
I stepped into the study and my entire world caught fire.
The mate bond slammed into me like a physical blow, stealing the air from my lungs. Every cell in my body suddenly knew, with absolute certainty, that the man standing behind the massive desk was mine.
Alpha Silas Vane looked up from his papers, and his ice blue eyes locked onto mine.
I watched his hands grip the desk edge so hard the desk vibrated.
He felt it too.
For one perfect, impossible moment, neither of us moved. The bond pulled between us like a golden thread.
Then his expression shuttered completely.
"You're not her," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, "You're not the firstborn."
"What?"
"The contract specified Elena Vance. The eldest daughter." His jaw clenched, "Who the hell are you?"
The mate bond screamed at me to go to him, to cross the space between us and press myself against his chest until the ache subsided. Instead, I dug my nails into my palms hard enough to draw blood.
"I'm Elara Vance. And I was told I was the one being collected," I said.
Silas moved around the desk. Everything about him radiated Alpha dominance.
"Darius, explain," He said as he kept his gaze on me.
The Beta stepped forward, and I caught the confusion on his face. "The contract named the Vance daughter as settlement for the debt. There was no specification."
"The agreement explicitly stated his firstborn child. Elena Vance is twenty-five years old. This girl can't be up to..."
"I'm twenty-two," I said, interrupting his sentence, "And this girl has a name."
His eyes flashed with something that seemed like anger.
"Where is your sister?"
"Living her best life somewhere else," I said, "She was invited to take my place but she declined."
"Invited?" Silas's expression darkened, "By whom?"
"Our mother. It doesn't matter. I'm here now and Elena's not."
"This is a problem," he said.
"Really? I'm so glad we're on the same page," I crossed my hands over my chest.
"You don't understand," He stepped back, "The contract binds me to the firstborn. Not you. This entire arrangement is void."
"So I can leave?"
"No."
"What do you mean, no? You just said..."
"The debt still exists. Your father borrowed significant resources from my pack. That debt must be settled," His eyes moved over me, "But I can't marry you. The contract won't allow it."
Something in my chest cracked at those words. The bond twisted, turning painful.
"Then send me home," I said quietly, "What do you want from me?"
The question hung in the air between us. I watched something flicker across his face.
"Darius, have her shown to the guest quarters in the East Wing. Make sure she has everything she needs," He turned back to his desk, dismissing me like I was nothing, "I'll contact the Vance family and sort this mess out."
"You'll contact Elena?" The realization hit me like a slap, "You're going to bring her here instead."
He didn't answer.
The bond shrieked in protest as I turned toward the door. My wolf clawed at my insides, begging me to stay and make him see that we were mates but he already knew. He just didn't care because of some piece of paper my dead father had signed.
"Elara."
I stopped at the door but didn't turn around.
"I'm sorry," Silas said, "This isn't what I wanted."
Darius led me through East Wing and many hallways. We finally stopped at a suite. It was twice bigger than the house I lived in.
"This is temporary," Darius said, " You'll be staying here for the mean time until the Alpha figures out the contract situation."
"Right. Temporary." I dropped my backpack onto a bed that looked like it cost more than a year's rent. "How long does sorting out a contract usually take?"
"That depends on a lot of factors, " He moved to the window, "The original agreement was made between Alphas. Breaking it isn't simple.
"But he has to marry Elena because she's the firstborn," he added, "The contract specifies..."
"I know what it specifies, you don't have to explain it again."
Darius was quiet for a moment "You felt the bond."
"What?"
"When you walked into his study. I saw your face. And I've known Silas since we were children. I saw his face too."
"Doesn't matter what I felt. He made his position pretty clear."
"Did he?" Darius moved closer, his voice dropping, "Because the Silas I know doesn't apologize. And he definitely doesn't look at people the way he looked at you."
"Well, he can't keep me. Contract won't allow it, remember?"
"He won't let you leave," Darius said it with such certainty that I turned to face him, "The debt aside, Silas won't let his mate walk away."
"He doesn't have a choice."
"Everyone has choices," he headed for the door, "Dinner is at seven. Someone will come collect you,so try and get some rest."
After he left, I collapsed onto the bed. The mate bond hummed under my skin pulling me toward Silas even though he was somewhere else in this massive house.
This couldn't be happening. I couldn't be mated to a man who was contractually obligated to marry my sister. The universe couldn't be that cruel.
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
