Chapter 2

Celeste POV:

The guard's announcement barely faded before the heavy crunch of iron-rimmed wheels grinding against gravel echoed from outside. Through the open doors, I watched a shabby carriage bearing the faded crest of the Fisher family roll to a stop at the bottom of the steps.

The carriage door opened, and Darrin stepped down. He wore a well-pressed but threadbare gray linen robe, with his signature gold-rimmed monocle perched on the bridge of his nose, projecting the image of a gentle, humble scholar.

As he crossed the threshold into the Great Hall, his scent hit me—a foul mixture of cheap ink and rotting wood. My stomach lurched violently, acid rising to the back of my throat.

I balled my hands into tight fists inside my wide sleeves, driving my nails into my palms to suppress the urge to vomit. Taking a half-step backward, I moved out of range of his disgusting odor.

Darrin offered a modest smile, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed deeply to Elder Arthur at the high seat.

"Respected Elder, forgive my sudden visit. I have come today to honor the marriage contract between our families."

As he straightened up, his gaze slid right past me in the dim corner and locked onto Carlie, who stood dazzling in her crimson gown.

Carlie practically threw herself forward like a preening peacock. She raised her hand to flash the ice-blue wolf pelt wrapped around her wrist, making her voice sickeningly sweet.

"Master Darrin, you must be exhausted from your journey."

Darrin's eyes zeroed in on the pelt. Behind his glass monocle, a greedy glint flashed in his narrow eyes before he quickly masked it.

Clearing his throat, he turned to Elder Arthur with a look of feigned confusion.

"Elder Arthur, why is my betrothal token on Lady Carlie's wrist? If my memory serves, the contract was made with Lady Celeste."

Elder Arthur's face turned livid. He slammed his walking stick down, opening his mouth to reprimand Carlie for her theft.

Before the old man could speak, I glided out from the shadows. Keeping my eyes downcast, I spoke in a breathy, fragile voice as if a gust of wind could knock me over.

"Master Darrin, my health has been failing lately. A weak vessel like me is simply unworthy of your grand future."

Darrin turned his head to look at me properly for the first time. Taking in my bloodless lips and plain gray dress, a look of pure disgust flickered across his face.

I caught every bit of his disdain and sneered inwardly. In our world, a werewolf without an inner wolf is called wolfless—an inferior being who can never shift or use the mind-link. Darrin was a crippled wolfless who hid his impotence and lack of a wolf behind books, yet in my last life, he had tricked me into handing over every gold coin I owned. In this life, he wouldn't get a single copper from me.

Carlie seized the moment to loop her arm around Darrin's elbow, pressing her chest against his sleeve as she whispered in a low, suggestive tone that my sharp ears easily caught.

"The token is in my hand! If you don't marry me, I will tell the Royal Court that you bought leaked exam questions on the black market!"

Darrin's spine stiffened. He knew that if he were reported, all the hard work he had put in over the years would be wasted. Turning his hand, he grasped Carlie's fingers and rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand.

Lifting his head, he put on a mask of deep devotion and dropped to one knee before Elder Arthur.

"Elder Arthur! Since Lady Celeste is unwell and the Moon Goddess has guided my token into Lady Carlie's hands, I beg your permission to take Lady Carlie as my bride instead!"

Gasps echoed through the hall. The minor elders sitting along the walls exchanged shocked glances, stunned that this common scholar had the audacity to switch brides on the spot.

Concubine Brenda covered her mouth with her handkerchief, knocking her forehead against the floor in excitement.

"Elder! This is truly the will of the Moon Goddess! Please grant their wish!"

Blood rushed to Elder Arthur's face. He pointed a trembling finger at Darrin's nose and roared.

"Absurd! A pack marriage contract is not a child's game! Do you think you can swap brides at will and trample the honor of the Wiggins pack underfoot?"

Seeing the Elder's fury, Carlie stepped in front of Darrin, jutting her chin out defiantly.

"Elder Arthur! Master Darrin is going to be the Chief Royal Scholar! My marrying him will bring glory to our entire pack!"

Standing to the side, I watched the two traitors who had ruined my past life cling to each other like drowning rats. My chest felt remarkably light.

Stepping forward again, I bowed deeply to the Elder, my tone earnest and faultless.

"Elder Arthur, my sister speaks the truth. Master Darrin has a bright path ahead of him, and I cannot bear to hold him back with my illness. I beg you to let them wed."

Elder Arthur looked at my submissive posture, his eyes filling with pity and guilt. He let out a long, defeated sigh, slumping back into his high-backed chair as if he had aged ten years in a second.

Darrin stood up, brushed the dust from his robe, and gave me a smug, patronizing smile.

"Lady Celeste, I shall remember your generosity."

Swallowing my nausea, I gave a slight nod and immediately looked away, unwilling to let his filthy face linger in my sight.

Carlie puffed out her chest like a victorious hen, shooting me a triumphant glare as though a noble coronet already sat upon her head.

Just as this farce was about to end with the Elder's reluctant nod, the heavy, rhythmic thunder of approaching hooves echoed from outside the gates. An overwhelming aura of high-ranking werewolf dominance rolled into the hall, rattling the stained-glass windows in their lead frames.

The chatter in the hall died instantly. Every wolf present held their breath under the suffocating pressure creeping through the doors.

A guard stumbled over the threshold, scrambling on hands and knees as his voice cracked with terror.

"Elder! A carriage bearing the crest of the Montgomery Duchy has just stopped at our gates!"

At the mention of the name Montgomery, every drop of blood drained from Carlie's face. She lunged sideways and dug her fingernails into Darrin's arm like a vise.