THE LYCAN'S GOLD DIGGER WIFE

Lacy's POV

"I can't really take a break, and it's my first day here?" I didn't know what was going on. Since I arrived, everything has been off and strange.

Another crash. A snarl followed by shouts and slamming doors.

Was that a cue for me to step out, too?

My body moves before my mind catches up. I stumble to the door, my fingers shaking as I yank it open. The hallway is dark and quiet. Something was definitely off.

Then, a scream pierces the air.

A woman's scream.

My stomach twists.

I take a hesitant step forward, peering around the corner when,

BANG!

The wall beside me explodes.

I scream, stumbling back as a huge figure barrels through the dust. My brain barely has time to register what's happening before a thick, meaty hand snatches my wrist.

"Got her."

A deathly scream leaves my throat.

The strange, huge man laughs at my measly attempt to escape from him.

I kick, claw, and thrash, but the man is built like a damn wall. His grip is firm like a vice, and I could barely move. I wrench my head up, my breath catching at the sight before me.

He wasn't alone.

More of them.

Bulky men with huge, broad shoulders and covered faces roam the halls. Bodies litter the floor, guards? Staff? I don't know. Blood pools beneath them, staining the expensive flooring.

Tears fall from my eyes, wetting my cheeks. What had I gotten myself into?

Oh, God.

I twist violently, but the man holding me tightens his grip, yanking me close. His lips curl, and his disgusting breath touches my face.

"She's a weak little thing. No wonder he chose her."

The others laugh at his lame attempt at a joke.

I don't get a chance to ask what the hell he means.

Because at that moment, a low, rumbling growl shakes the entire house.

The hairs on my arms stand, and my fear grows more.

And then...

I spot fur?

Something massive collides with my captor, sending him flying. I barely have time to register the movement before I'm tumbling backwards, landing hard on my hands and knees.

Pain flares up in my wrists, but I barely feel it because–

Oh. My. God.

A monster stands before me.

"What... what is going on here?" I screech out in fear. Was I dreaming? Was I hallucinating?

A beast, covered in jet-black fur and fangs, glints in the dim light, a dark snarl rattling from its throat.

A... Lycan?

No. No, this isn't real.

It can't be real; Lycans aren't real. It's all some made-up lie.

They're all lies!

This is some nightmare, some twisted hallucination.

The creature turns its head slightly, eyes locking onto mine. My breath catches. There's something terrifyingly intelligent in that gaze.

The bulky men scramble back, their cocky arrogance gone.

"Fuck. It's him."

The one who held on to me turns to the other.

"I thought you said you had him occupied enough for us to kill the human."

The beast lunges.

I don't stay to watch.

I push myself to my feet and run.

I don't care where I'm going, I don't care what's happening... I just need to get away.

My breath comes in short gasps, my heart hammering against my ribs. I don't stop until I burst through the doors of the mansion and step outside, slamming the doors shut behind me.

I brace against them, sucking in air.

I'm shaking.

I squeeze my eyes shut.

What the hell was that?

I-I must have imagined it. Stress. Exhaustion. Maybe I hit my head-

The door behind me flies open, pushing me forward towards the grass.

I scream, stumbling back as he strides in.

Vincent.

Except... not the Vincent I met in the bar.

Not the cold, arrogant man who laid out his ridiculous rules just hours ago.

No, this Vincent is something else.

His chest rises and falls heavily, his muscles tense as sweat glistens on his skin. I am thankful that I have finally seen a familiar face, and a smile crawls up my face when I spot his nails.

Claws? They were long and covered in blood.

No, no, no...

I press myself against the wall. "What-" My voice comes out as a breathless whisper. "What are you?"

Vincent tilts his head, watching me like I'm some amusing little thing. "That," he drawls, "is something you would have known... if you had read the contract."

My blood runs cold.

"What?"

He takes a slow step forward.

"You really are just a greedy little thing, aren't you?" His voice is mocking me, "You didn't even bother to read what you signed. Didn't care about the details, just the money."

I shake my head. No. No, that's not true. I-

My stomach twists.

I didn't read the damn thing.

I had skipped it, sure. Not like I was going to actually go through pages of legal jargon. I thought it was just some ridiculous rich-man nonsense.

But he's serious.

And suddenly, it all clicks.

The whispers in the hallway. The way they called me human. The power radiating off Vincent's mother. The thing I just saw ripped through those men like they were nothing.

"No." My voice shakes. "No, that's... that's impossible."

Vincent just smirks. "Welcome to your new world, wife."

I grip the ground, shaking my head. "You're lying. This...this is a sick joke."

He laughs. He actually laughs.

"Oh, sweetheart." He steps closer, and suddenly, his hand is under my chin, tilting my face up.

"I don't need to lie. You belong to me now. And that means..." His smirk deepens, his thumb brushing against my jaw. "You belong to us."

I shove him away, my chest rising and falling in short, panicked breaths. "You deceitful monster."

His smirk vanishes.

He steps closer again, and this time, I sidestep him, and I run.

I don't stop until I'm back in the room, slamming the door shut.

My heart hammers against my ribs.

My hands are still trembling as I press them against the door, my mind racing.

I'm trapped.

Bound to something I don't understand.

And the worst part?

I signed up for it.

A sudden, sharp knock sounds against the wood.

I hold my breath, hoping that whoever was there would go away.

Silence.

Then a deep, quiet voice.

"You're mine now, Lacy. Whether you like it or not. You were mine the minute you signed yourself off to be my wife."

"Get used to your new reality."