The Billionaire Investor Stolen Bride

ppeared out

ider than anything I'd ever seen. As the car approached, the

eart

erched high on a hill overlooking the forest. Lights glowed

mo

ive archway. The moment I stepped out,

you live?" I

to my side. "Wher

ord-we-tighte

ed chandeliers so grand they looked stolen from a palace. Men and women lined t

f them

Alpha," they

ph

echoed in

ive, but unmistakably guiding. "This is Lila," he

ppled throu

ooked

oked su

ked... th

ilver hair stepped forward. "

lied. "She'll ha

fore she bowed her

r. "Why is tha

cause no one stays the

ea

ust trapped-I

Floor-to-ceiling windows. Silk curtains.

ped in velv

" I said as soon as we were al

ent. "I'm not keeping you," he s

m wh

window, gaze fixed

s who already k

mach t

you mean.

at me, silver

ou were never meant to see,

icked shut

silence, I wrapped m

been

o be

o be

be cl

eep inside, ben

s question

was no longer th

ared down the curved drive

by luxury that felt far too heavy to breathe in. Every surface gleamed-marbl

it felt

elow the hill, dark and alive. Somewhere out there were wo

ck broke m

-haired woman from earlier. Up close

. "If you need anyth

not

ne keep staring

use the Alpha doesn't

ers?" I

carefully. "Yo

word

d a wardrobe large enough to house another

par

d been e

ft, I opened

es. Coats. A

st tig

I whispered to the empt

minutes. Time felt stra

d softly thro

nn

ed-until my st

it, dominated by a table that could

he h

gone, sleeves rolled up,

pulling out the

ather

lifted. "You're not refu

it too

sa

, servants moving like sh

" I fina

"Because Etha

can't

arpened. "I

away. "I won't b

venly. "You can walk an

yond th

nce answ

hen this i

owering over me-but

ecause it shines," he said quietly. "B

yes l

I wondered if he was

my s

htened me more th

fell q

more watchful than welcoming. The halls echoed softly when I walked them, my

hose paintings

sing

n a long dark gown, her posture regal, her g

a Queen," a voic

ned s

n unreadable. "She ruled beside my ancestor," he con

htened. "Why

e replied. "Y

t make me

ers," I said

s if weighing something dangerous.

dy paying

tretched

lly said. "But not the estate. And

the wolves

all wolves

chill thro

again, I tr

ock

to the hallway. No alarms. No

hadn't

mansion was enormous-but alive. The walls hummed faintly b

voice s

uldn't b

ailing ahead, eyes glowing faint

y the same,

ious. "You're the human

ve a

aze lingered. "

mien appeared beside me, t

," he

ed slightly. "As

nded on Damien. "You sa

lmly. "But freedom withou

teac

ightened.

arms. "You do

aid quietly. "I don't t

stopp

t, neither

ck. "Rest. Tomorro

nge

thing unreadable

k will m

se qui

, I realized some

't a temp

an intr

I wanted i

ady part o