Chapter 4 A Dangerous Proposition

• Brianna's POV
• I spent the entire day dodging them—ghosting through corridors, skipping meals, pretending I had urgent business on the far end of the territory.
• But no matter how fast I moved, fate moved faster.
• Just past sunset, a messenger found me.
• "You’re summoned," he said with a tilt of his head. "Rowan. His chamber. Now."
• I didn’t ask why. I already knew.
• Still, I took my time walking there, dragging my feet like a child facing the principal. The moment I reached his door, my palms were slick with sweat.
• I raised my hand to knock—but it opened before I touched it.
• "Come in," Rowan’s voice called.
• His room was… irritatingly tidy. Everything sharp. Black walls, silver accents, a fireplace that burned low and steady. Rowan stood near the window, back to me, arms folded.
• "I didn’t expect you to actually show up," he said.
• "I didn’t expect to be summoned like a servant."
• He turned. His eyes met mine—dark, unreadable. "Would you have come if I asked nicely?"
• "No."
• "Exactly."
• I rolled my eyes, but stayed silent.
• He studied me for a beat, then motioned to the chair across from him. "Sit."
• "I’d rather stand."
• "Tough," he said. "Sit."
• Reluctantly, I obeyed.
• "Let me guess," I muttered. "You want to talk about the bond."
• "No," Rowan said, surprisingly. "Not tonight."
• I blinked.
• "Then why am I here?"
• He stepped closer, resting his hands on the edge of his desk. "Because I have an offer for you. One I think you’ll actually want to hear."
• I narrowed my eyes. "Go on."
• "We need a strategist. A real one. Not someone the Elders put in place as a formality. Someone with guts. Someone who doesn’t just follow orders—but knows how to lead."
• I didn’t breathe.
• "I’ve watched you," he continued. "You’re smart, tactical. You’ve trained in silence. Learned everything without ever being taught. You should’ve been in this position already, but your status—your gender—held you back."
• I stood slowly. "So now, because I’m your mate, I’m suddenly qualified?"
• He gave a low chuckle. "You were always qualified. Now I just have the power to give you what was already yours."
• I didn’t know what to say.
• "And before you bite my head off," he added, "this isn’t about the bond. This is about the pack. We’re heading into dangerous times. Rogues are creeping closer. Alliances are unstable. We need you."
• My heart thudded. This was what I’d dreamed of. Recognition. Power. Respect.
• But the cost?
• "I’d have to work with you," I said. "All of you."
• Rowan smiled faintly. "Exactly. And that terrifies you, doesn’t it?"
• I scowled. "It doesn’t terrify me."
• "You’re afraid of what you’ll feel," he said softly. "Because you don’t know us—not really. You’ve only seen what we show the world. Let this be a chance to see who we are beneath the title. Beneath the bond."
• I hated that his words made sense.
• Still, I hesitated.
• "If I say no?"
• "Then you’ll never earn what you deserve. And we’ll both know it’s because you’re afraid. Not unqualified. Just weak."
• That did it.
• I met his gaze, steel in mine. "Fine. I’ll do it."
• He nodded. "Good."
• "But don’t think this means I’m surrendering to fate."
• "I wouldn’t dare assume," he said, his eyes gleaming.
• That night, the pack hosted a gathering.
• Not a party—just a chance for everyone to pretend we weren’t slowly crawling toward chaos.
• I hated every second of it.
• The chatter. The fake laughter. The glares from those who still believed I was cursed for being chosen by three.
• I stuck to the edges, sipping bitter wine, trying not to combust.
• And then—I saw him.
• Ryker.
• Leaning against a pillar, his arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips as some tall brunette practically draped herself over him.
• He didn’t push her away.
• Didn’t look uncomfortable.
• Didn’t even glance at me.
• But I knew he was aware I was watching.
• My jaw clenched. I turned away.
• Pathetic. I hated that I cared. That it burned.
• I was halfway through storming out when someone stepped into my path.
• Reid.
• His expression was unreadable—cool, as always—but his eyes locked on mine with quiet intensity.
• "Running again?" he asked.
• "I’m not running," I snapped. "I’m escaping."
• "From what? Them? Us? Or yourself?"
• I narrowed my eyes. "You don’t talk, and now you want to psychoanalyze me?"
• "You hide behind anger," he said. "But you’re not angry. You’re scared."
• "Don’t pretend you know me."
• "I know enough," Reid said quietly. "I know you’re hurting. I know seeing Ryker with her got under your skin. And I know you’d rather chew glass than admit it."
• My hands curled into fists. "Why do you care?"
• "Because I feel it too. This pull. This connection. It’s not one-sided."
• His voice dropped lower, softer. "Stop pretending it is."
• The weight of his words sank deep, twisting in my chest.
• I opened my mouth to respond—but was cut off by a sharp, commanding voice.
• "Silence."
• All heads turned to the center of the room where Elder Maynard stood, his tone grave.
• "I have an announcement," he said. "An alliance has been proposed with the Blackmoon Pack. Their Alpha seeks peace between our territories."
• Murmurs spread like wildfire.
• "And to seal this union…" Maynard’s gaze turned straight to me.
• "…Brianna will be offered as the bride."
• My blood turned to ice.
• No.
• The room spun. The wine glass slipped from my hand, shattering at my feet. I barely heard it.
• "What?" I croaked.
• Maynard didn’t flinch. "You will be wed to Alpha Martinez of Bloodfang. It has been agreed."
• Rowan shot up from his seat, voice thunderous. "No. That is not your decision to make."
• "It’s already been made," Maynard said. "For the good of the pack."
• I looked at Ryker—his smile was gone.
• Reid looked like he might kill someone.
• And Rowan?
• He looked straight at me, jaw tight, eyes burning with fury.
• But I didn’t care.
• Because the only thing I could think was….
• Would I be forced into a union I didn’t want?