Chapter 3 Meeting Aidan

Aidan fixed Nicole with a razor-sharp stare, his gaze radiating an authority that seemed to press down on the air itself. An undercurrent of danger simmered beneath his collected exterior, hinting at a strength he never needed to announce.

He parted his lips, his voice low and unmistakably sure. "You're not Marissa Wilson."

His presence seemed to fill every inch of the room, making Nicole's pulse jump.

It was clear to Nicole that lying was pointless. Nicole sealed her lips tight before admitting the truth, "I'm her elder sister. Nicole Wilson."

Aidan's gaze swept over Nicole, taking in her slender frame and delicate, almost ethereal beauty-a sharp contrast to the wiry strength that had allowed her to subdue a wolf moments earlier.

She looked fragile, yet the memory of her grappling the wolf lingered in his mind, blurring the lines between vulnerability and ferocity. He found it nearly impossible to reconcile the poised, composed woman standing before him with the fearless fighter he'd just witnessed.

Lifting a brow, he remarked in a low, slightly mocking tone, "Stepping in for your sister in an arranged marriage? That's a bold, foolish move."

Nicole's throat tightened as she swallowed, an uneasy shiver trailing down her spine beneath the intensity of Aidan's presence. Since he'd entered the room, everything had shifted-air, energy, even her own certainty.

She couldn't begin to decipher what he was thinking, but one thing was clear: the wolf attack hadn't been an accident. He'd sent the wolf to test her resolve, to judge her worth.

But why? What kind of man would orchestrate something so ruthless?

At least one thing was certain-Aidan wasn't in the least satisfied with her.

Without warning, he closed the distance between them, a wave of cool, woodsy cologne wrapping around Nicole and jolting loose an old memory-a night five years ago, a faceless stranger, the same intoxicating scent. The connection rattled her, heartbeat thundering in her chest.

While Nicole stood frozen, tangled in memories, Aidan leaned down and with a subtle gesture, loosened her grip on the wolf. The beast landed with a heavy thud, bristling and snarling in her direction.

Aidan's icy scoff sliced through the tension. "Come," he ordered, his voice crisp and controlled.

Obedient as a trained dog, the wolf immediately abandoned its aggression and padded to Aidan's side, settling at his feet with a soft whine. Trying to win his favor, the once-fearsome animal nudged at his pant leg, ears flattened and tail low.

Nicole was stunned. The monster that had tried to rip her apart had morphed into a cowering pet at Aidan's command. She'd never imagined such raw power-to make a wild beast bow to a single word.

Aidan cast a sharp glance at the wolf. The creature slunk out of the room, but not before pausing at the threshold to glare back at Nicole, its eyes simmering with reluctant menace.

Aidan tipped Nicole's chin up, forcing her to meet his cold, unreadable stare. His voice dropped to a silken, frosty drawl. "The Wilsons spared no expense for that ten-million-dollar lifeline. Even if it means ending up a widow, you're willing to step in for Marissa?"

Nicole steadied her breath and met his gaze head-on. "Mr. Moore, tempting fate like that isn't wise. You're not going to die-and I'm not about to become a widow. Maybe I can help you."

Aidan wound a loose strand of Nicole's hair around his finger, his expression carved from ice, every angle of his face both striking and remote.

"Really? So you're a doctor?" There was something magnetic in the restraint of his movements, a dangerous composure lurking beneath the surface.

Despite the tension prickling her skin, Nicole kept her voice steady, her tone grave. "I can tell from your appearance that you are poisoned. If you don't get proper treatment soon, you'll end up paralyzed. Not even strength training will stop it."

Aidan's gaze turned lethal, his pupils narrowing as though he were staring straight through her. Each word he uttered was clipped and glacial. "Why should I believe you?"

"I'm your wife now," Nicole answered, her tone unwavering, eyes flashing with conviction. "I have every right to look after you."

Aidan's lips curled in a subtle, derisive smile. "Look after me? And what do you get out of it?"

Nicole held Aidan's gaze, her tone unwavering. "Honestly, if I leave, my mother will drag me straight back to a psychiatric ward. Helping you is the only way out-for both of us. So, yes, it's a win-win."

Aidan's gaze sharpened, his mood darkening. "Do you have any idea what happened to the last person who tried talking to me like that?"

A hint of tension flickered across Nicole's face as she realized her words had crossed a line. But she refused to back down now-what was said was said.

He watched her in silence, unreadable as stone. Then, without warning, his fingertips traced the line of her collarbone, the rough contact making her flinch.

"Are you aware of what happens on a wedding night?" His voice dropped, husky and charged.

His hand drifted to the zipper at Nicole's waist, his fingers skimming over the metal in a slow, deliberate motion.

The air in the room tightened, every nerve in Nicole's body on edge.

What exactly did Aidan want from her? Was he saying she could stay, or was he about to claim his wedding night rights right then and there?

He pinned her with a piercing look. "Well? Are you frightened now? Do you want to handle this yourself, or would you rather I take over?"