Chapter 1 I Will Marry Him

• “If you relinquish your first night, I'll give you the witch's antidote,” she proposed.
• Charlotte Lanning's eyes rested on the woman standing before her, her silence stretching into a palpable tension. After a prolonged pause filled with contemplation, she finally clenched her jaw and gave a reluctant nod to seal her agreement.
• In the blink of an eye, before she could even muster a response, darkness enveloped her vision, sweeping her into unconsciousness.
• A cold, sticky feeling slowly coaxed Charlotte back to consciousness. As she opened her eyes, she found herself engulfed in total darkness. She could just barely discern the figure of a sturdy man, his head nestled between her thighs.
• His tongue skillfully teased her clitoris, extracting soft, involuntary moans from Charlotte. She clung feebly to the bed sheets, her body overwhelmed by a wave of warmth emanating from her core.
• The man sensed her readiness, and with a sense of fulfillment, he entered her forcefully.
• “Ouch!” Charlotte's body instinctively jerked back, recoiling sharply like a shrimp exposed to heat.
• In the consuming darkness, the man stole a glance at her. His eyes, fierce and calculating like those of a predatory wolf, shone with a sinister red gleam in the utter blackness.
• Her vision too dim to see his features clearly, she could only feel the dick, untamed power of him as he continued without hesitation.
• Driven by the excitement of the wolf within him, he tirelessly adjusted her position, experimenting with various angles in his fervent exploration.
• With his deep, enticing voice vibrating beside her ear, he inquired, “Is this your first time?”
• Charlotte responded with a simple nod.
• “Do you regret it?” he asked.
• Wordlessly, Charlotte turned her eyes toward the dark sky above, her head gently shaking in denial.
• Despite not having reached the age of eighteen and having disregarded the Moon Goddess' advice to find her destined mate, Charlotte felt no remorse for surrendering her first night to a man whose face remained a mystery to her. The sacrifice was a necessary one, made in the desperate hope of securing an antidote for her brother, Noah Lanning's critical condition.
• As the night progressed into its deeper phases, the man eventually succumbed to sleep. It was only then that Charlotte, summoning her remaining strength, managed to rise. She dressed quietly and left the room.
• The middle-aged woman who had orchestrated the grim transaction handed her a small box, about the size of her palm, stating, “This is your payment.”
• Without a moment's delay, Charlotte took the antidote. Holding it tightly in her grasp, she hurried out, ignoring the persistent ache in her lower body. Her only desire was to reach her home as swiftly as her legs could carry her.
• Regrettably, the wolf inside her, tempered by her human lineage, failed to transform and facilitate her rapid return.
• Upon her arrival at home, a devastating scene greeted her. The antidote she had so desperately sought was still in her hand as she discovered her brother lifeless on his bed, with their mother, Hazel Sykes, also unconscious and sprawled on the floor nearby.
• It felt as though a thunderbolt had struck her squarely on the head, the impact causing her vision to blur momentarily.
• The agony was excruciating, akin to having her chest stirred with a knife. She collapsed to the ground in anguish. Seven years earlier, when she was merely ten, her father, the alpha of Moon Shadow Pack, had betrayed and deserted her mother.
• He scorned the half-human lineage Hazel possessed and thus sought companionship elsewhere, engaging in an affair with a purebred werewolf. He declared her mother unworthy of the title Luna, and banished her, heavily pregnant, to an unfamiliar nation where she was a stranger.
• Eventually, Noah was born, and at the tender age of three, he was diagnosed with autism, adding another layer of complexity to Charlotte and Hazel's already challenging lives.
• Then, tragedy struck again when Noah was inadvertently poisoned by a witch. Charlotte had always suspected that the poisoning was no mere accident, but before she could investigate further, her brother was teetering on the brink of death.
• She had scoured far and wide, ultimately securing the antidote. Driven to the brink of despair, she had sold herself, yet, tragically, she was too late to save her brother.
• Charlotte was crushed by despair, but she had to persevere, for Hazel still depended on her.
• It was only after she had rushed Hazel to the hospital that she discovered her mother was afflicted with the same slow-acting poison as her younger brother.
• She administered the antidote she had obtained to Hazel, who, after receiving treatment in the hospital, began to show signs of recovery. However, the limited quantity of the witch-crafted antidote was insufficient to fully purge the poison from her system, managing only to sustain her life for the moment.
• When Hazel regained her senses, the overwhelming grief of Noah's death engulfed her completely.
• Holding her mother, Charlotte cried, “Mom, you still have me. Live well, for my sake.”
• During their month-long hospital stay, Hazel frequently appeared lost in thought beside the bed. Charlotte knew she was grieving for Noah. If it weren't for her, Hazel might have succumbed to her grief. Because she needed to care for her mother, Charlotte had been expelled from school.
• As she neared the door of the ward, carrying a tray of food, she paused upon hearing a familiar voice from within.
• Despite the eight years that had passed, she vividly remembered the voice that had forced her and her mother to leave.
• Since we were sent here, he had never once looked our way. What could his unexpected visit today possibly mean?
• “Hazel, years ago, you and Mrs. Zovkic were as close as sisters, and you pledged to unite our families through marriage. Logically, it should be your daughter who honors this pact by marrying into their family...”
• “What are you implying, Gregory?” Despite her frail and weakened frame, Hazel managed to rise to her feet, ready to confront the man, ignoring her own frailty.
• Gregory Lanning had left her and their daughter in this forsaken place, indifferent to their struggles. And now, suddenly, he was here, demanding that their daughter be married off.
• “The alpha of the Thunderstorm Pack, the son of your dear friend, is renowned for his handsome features and leads the most formidable pack. A marriage into that family would surely bring her happiness...” His voice faded, trailing off.
• The alpha of the Thunderstorm Pack was indeed respected and remarkably attractive. However, a month earlier, he had been abroad on business when he unexpectedly succumbed to poisoning. The toxin had paralyzed his nerves, leaving him incapacitated. His role as alpha was now precarious, and he risked being overthrown at any moment.
• Rumors circulated that his reproductive capabilities had been compromised. Marrying him would be akin to living as a widow while he was still alive.
• “I'll do it.” Abruptly, Charlotte pushed the door open, standing at the threshold. Her hand gripped the lunch box tightly. “I'm willing to marry him, but on one condition,” she declared.