Mated to My Intended's Enemy

Victoria

I tried to act casual as I set my backpack down. "I don't know what you mean."

"Bullshit," Emma said, wiping her hands on her apron and rushing around the counter. "That was an Alpha's car if I've ever seen one. One of the major five packs for sure. What the hell are you doing with him?"

I sighed, sinking into a chair at one of the small tables. "It's not what you think. He just... offered me a ride."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Random Alphas don't offer rides to half-breed pack members for no reason, sweetie. Especially not Alphas with cars that cost more than this entire building."

"Can we talk about something else?" I pleaded. "How's Uncle Alessio doing? I just came from the Omega House."

Emma's expression softened. "He's hanging in there. His arthritis is getting worse, but you know him-too stubborn to complain." She studied my face. "You look tired, hon. Everything okay at home?"

I forced a smile. "Fine. Just the usual."

"Enzo being an ass again?" When I didn't answer, she sighed. "You know you can always stay with me if things get bad."

If only it were that simple. But Emma didn't know about Enzo's plans for me, about the debt he owed to some mysterious Alpha named Moretti. She didn't know I was supposed to be handed over like property, or that I'd nearly prostituted myself to escape that fate.

"So..." Emma leaned in conspiratorially. "Are you going to tell me which pack he's from? That guy who dropped you off? Had to be one of the five major Alphas in Northern Territory. Was it Blackwood? Martinez? Monroe?"

I shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know. We didn't exactly discuss pack politics."

"Whoever he is, he's clearly powerful," Emma said, glancing out the window as if she might still catch a glimpse of his car. "The energy coming off him... I could feel it from behind the counter."

"It doesn't matter," I said firmly. "He's not part of my life. And after tonight, none of this will be."

Emma's eyes widened. "Victoria, what are you planning?"

I looked away, unable to meet her gaze. I couldn't tell her I was leaving-she'd try to stop me, or worse, she might tell Uncle Alessio. It was better this way. A clean break.

"Nothing," I lied. "Just thinking out loud."

As I stepped out of Emma's bakery, I was startled to find Leo's black SUV still parked out front. He hadn't left.

Worse, he tailed me at a painfully slow pace down the block until I finally gave in and slid into the passenger seat.

"Don't you have better things to do as an Alpha of a major pack?" I snapped, my patience thinning.

He chuckled, low and smooth, like velvet dragging across bare skin. "Watching over you is the most important thing on my schedule today." His hazel eyes glittered as he added, "Is our final destination Alpha Howlthorne's house?"

I felt the exhaustion hit me like a wave.

Of course he knew where I lived-he was an Alpha. He probably knew about Enzo and the deal with Moretti. But why was he so insistent on being near me?

I turned my head away, refusing to meet his gaze, and sure enough, the SUV stopped precisely in front of my house.

"Thanks," I said quietly, reaching for the door handle. Just before I stepped out, I added, "But we shouldn't see each other again. It's better for both of us."

I didn't expect him to laugh.

It wasn't the kind of laugh that softened tension-it was dark, amused, and just a little unhinged. The scar along his cheek twisted with the movement, making his handsome face look almost menacing. A flicker of fear curled in my stomach.

Before I could react, Leo grabbed the collar of my shirt and yanked me toward him.

His mouth crashed onto mine in a kiss that burned. His tongue invaded my mouth without permission, dominating, claiming. I gasped against him, breath stolen, mind reeling, body betraying me with a shameful shiver.

When he finally let me go, I was breathless, stunned.

He stared into my eyes, his own unreadable, but burning with something wild and dangerous.

"You're mine now, little wolf," he murmured, lips curling into a slow, knowing smile. "You just don't know it yet."

Once safely in my room-if any place under Enzo's roof could be called "safe"-I pulled out my old suitcase from beneath the bed. My fingers trembled with anticipation as I began packing my meager belongings. Each folded shirt, each pair of jeans represented another step toward freedom.

The two thousand dollars felt like a protective talisman in my pocket. Combined with the five thousand I'd earned helping at Emma's boutique, I finally had enough for a fresh start. Seven thousand dollars wasn't much, but it was enough to disappear until I turned twenty-one and could access my father's trust fund.

"Just three hours," I whispered to myself as I carefully rolled my few precious dresses to prevent wrinkles. " Enzo can't touch me anymore."

I pressed down hard on the overstuffed suitcase, trying to force the zipper closed. The latch was just about to catch when my bedroom door crashed open.

Enzo stood in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as they took in the scene-me, kneeling on a packed suitcase, desperation etched across my face. For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

Then his face contorted with rage. "You ungrateful little bitch!"

He crossed the room in two strides, kicking the suitcase off the bed. My clothes exploded across the floor like shrapnel, scattering under the bed and dresser.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he roared, grabbing my arm and yanking me to my feet.

"Let go!" I struggled against his grip, but it was useless. Even as a failed Alpha, he was still stronger than my half-human body.

Enzo shoved me hard, sending me sprawling onto the floor. I hit the ground with a painful thud, my hip-still bruised from yesterday's beating-screaming in protest.

"Did you really think you could just run away?" He loomed over me, his shadow swallowing me whole. "After everything I've done for you?"

I pushed myself up on my elbows, laughing bitterly despite my fear. "Everything you've done for me? You mean beating me? Starving me? Treating me like a servant in my own father's house?"

His face darkened, and I saw his hand curl into a fist. I closed my eyes, bracing for the blow that would surely follow.

But nothing happened.

I opened one eye cautiously. Enzo stood frozen above me, his fist raised but trembling in midair. His breathing was ragged, his face flushed with rage-but he didn't strike.

"You're lucky," he spat, lowering his arm slowly. "You're worth more to me undamaged right now."

Relief washed through me, followed immediately by suspicion. Enzo never held back before. Why start now?

He crouched down beside me, grabbing my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze. "Tomorrow, you're going to the Shadow Pack territory. You're going to meet Alpha Moretti properly, and you're going to become his Luna."