CHAPTER 2 —
Ella struggled to remember the trip up the mountain, only aware of the cold stillness inside the car and the heavier quiet emanating from the Alpha beside her.
Rylan's gaze remained fixed on the road, his jaw clenched, hands gripping the steering wheel as if it had personally insulted him.
Ella remained stiff in the back seat, resolved to conceal her anxiety.
To keep panic at bay, she meticulously counted her breaths.
With each mile that passed, she felt increasingly detached from the life she once led.
The Silverfang mansion appeared through the mist like a beast striving to emerge from the earth.
The tall iron gates opened quietly.
The stone towers reached high into the night sky, dimly lit by scattered torches that fluttered with the wind.
Ella stepped out of the car, her boots sinking slightly into the gravel.
An unwelcome chill crawled up her spine, unmistakable and inescapable.
Once inside, the mansion felt even colder than the outside temperature.
Its wide corridors were dimly lit and adorned with portraits of stern-faced Alphas whose eyes seemed to follow her every move.
Rylan walked ahead without glancing back.
Ella hated having to hurry to keep up with him.
Everything about this manor seemed like a foreboding sign.
They entered an ornate sitting room.
The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting a warm light over Rylan's sharply chiselled features.
He turned toward her, arms crossed, and Ella sensed the shift in the energy; this was where everything truly commenced.
"Before you begin wandering around like an overly curious human," he stated, "there are conditions you need to understand."
His voice was firm, yet it carried the sharpness of a drawn sword.
Ella narrowed her eyes.
"Conditions?"
Rylan's gaze was unwavering.
"You signed a contract, which means you will adhere to the associated rules."
He stepped closer, moving deliberately and purposefully.
"Rule one," he stated.
"You are to stay on the main levels unless I give you permission."
Ella's breath caught, but she ensured her gaze remained steady.
"There are areas of this house that could pose threats, even to you."
His voice dropped, as though he were warning her about more than just secured doors.
"Rule two."
He stayed near her.
"You are not to involve yourself in pack matters. You are Luna by title only, not in authority."
Ella felt warmth rush to her cheeks, frustration simmering beneath her apprehension.
Rylan continued, "The pack has only reluctantly accepted this arrangement. Don't test their tolerance."
"Rule three," Rylan said quietly.
"No deceit."
He held her stare, his intensity surprising her.
"If you need something or have emotions to express, you must say so."
His eyes darkened. "Secrets can be deadly in this house."
Ella crossed her arms, mimicking his stance.
"And what about your secrets, Alpha?"
Rylan's jaw tightened, but he maintained her gaze.
"I ensure this pack remains strong. That is all you need to know."
His words were icy, yet she sensed something delicate beneath them.
"This isn't a partnership," he clarified.
"It's about structure. Order."
He looked at her as if she embodied chaos in human form.
"I don't want a wife. I want silence and stability."
The implication stung more than she had expected.
Ella inhaled deeply, attempting to steady her pounding heart.
"I'm not here to worship you," she declared.
"And I won't allow you to treat me as if I'm merely a complication for you to handle."
Rylan's expression faltered, revealing irritation, curiosity, and something deeper.
"You'll learn to adapt," he replied softly.
He turned away before she could respond.
"You'll be assigned to the east wing. Someone will show you to your room."
Rylan walked towards the exit, his silhouette lit by the flames.
He paused at the doorway.
"Dinner. Seven. Don't go missing."
Ella stood alone in the vast room, the soft crackle of the fire echoing behind her.
Rylan's orders felt like invisible chains gripping her wrists.
Yet under her fear… a fierce resolve simmered inside her.
If he thought she would simply yield, he had chosen the wrong girl.
Ella Hayes would not go down without a fight.