When Alpha Logan Vale heard Isla’s bold request, his first reaction wasn’t anger.
It was disappointment.
He’d thought this fierce Omega had some real backbone.
But no—just another greedy woman trying to leverage a pregnancy to climb up the social ladder.
As if sensing his thoughts, Isla rushed to add, “Don’t misunderstand.
I’m not trying to trap you with this child or anything like that.”
“I just want my baby to be born legitimate—to avoid unnecessary gossip and judgment in the future.”
“One year.
That’s all I’m asking for.
Just one year.
After that, if you want out, I’ll sign the divorce papers anytime.
I could even sign it now.”
Logan said nothing.
He was accustomed to being the one in control.
And yet here he was, being outmaneuvered by an Omega.
The truth was, his chief healer had already confirmed the problem: his Alpha DNA was too aggressive.
Even high-ranking she-wolves rarely conceived naturally.
That’s why he’d turned to artificial insemination.
Countless attempts had failed.
Then, by some twisted stroke of fate, an insignificant Omega had succeeded.
If he let this chance slip away, who knew how many more years—or decades—it would take before another success?
And the elders were already running out of patience.
Logan pinched the bridge of his nose.
A rare trace of exhaustion flickered across his face, though his voice remained commanding.
“I’ll give you one year of marriage.
But remember this—this union exists only for the baby.
Don’t reach for things that don’t belong to you.”
Isla agreed immediately.
Logan could practically see her nodding like a bobblehead through the phone.
“Where are you now?”
“Still at the hospital.”
“Good.
Twenty minutes.
My man will pick you up and take you to City Hall.
We’re registering the marriage today.”
*
It wasn’t until the luxury car—emblazoned with the crest of Logan’s pack—actually pulled up in front of her that Isla fully grasped how surreal everything felt.
Less than twelve hours, and her entire life had been turned upside down.
Logan hadn’t come for her personally.
She hadn’t expected him to.
An Alpha of his stature had better things to do than chauffeur around an Omega bride.
Their marriage was a transaction, not a love story.
She knew her place.
The moment she stepped inside the car, Logan’s legal assistant handed her a thick stack of documents.
Page after page of dense clauses, enough to make anyone’s eyes glaze over.
After confirming that her own basic rights—and the baby’s—were protected, she signed without hesitation.
The assistant blinked, clearly stunned by her willingness.
“You’re not going to ask for anything more?”
“No need.
The money Alpha Logan is offering is more than enough for me to build a good life for myself.
As for the baby…” She swallowed.
“He can give the baby a better life than I ever could.”
The rest of the ride passed in silence.
She and Logan arrived at City Hall almost simultaneously—him from one direction, her from another.
Logan gave her a subtle, head-to-toe assessment.
Isla had come in plain, unremarkable street clothes.
“I didn’t have time to go home and change,” she said, lifting her chin.
“But we’re just going through the motions.
The clothes shouldn’t matter.”
“I don’t mind,” he said simply.
They were about to step inside when Logan paused.
“Before we make this official—there’s something I need to confirm.” His gaze sharpened.
“You and your fiancé…?”
“We’re done.” Isla managed a smile, though it wavered slightly at the edges.
“I formally rejected him today.”
Something flickered behind Logan’s eyes—surprise, perhaps.
Barely hours ago, this same woman had been ready to fight a powerful Alpha to the death in defense of her love.
Yet he was wise enough not to pry.
It wasn’t his concern.
And frankly, it saved him a great deal of trouble.
They walked to the counter that Logan’s assistant had already secured.
The City Hall registrar himself came out to personally handle the proceedings—an honor clearly not extended to just anyone.
A few clerks exchanged glances, clearly stunned that the legendary Alpha Logan Vale was marrying such an unremarkable, unknown woman.
But they were smart enough to keep their mouths shut.
A few even directed their most ingratiating smiles toward Isla.
Isla wasn’t naive.
She knew the deference wasn’t for her.
It was for the man standing beside her—the man whose name alone could open any door in the world.
When they stepped back outside, the marriage certificate warm in her hands, Isla finally exhaled.
Logan offered to have his driver take her home.
She started to refuse—old habits, not wanting to be a burden—but he cut her off.
“I’m not doing it for you,” he said flatly.
“I’m doing it for the child.
You look weak.
The rejection took more out of you than you’re admitting.”
She wanted to argue.
But her body ached, and the exhaustion was bone-deep.
So she nodded.
“Three days,” Logan said as the car door opened for her.
“I’ll send someone to collect you.
You’ll stay at my pack estate until the baby comes.”
Isla climbed into the car without another word.
Three days.
She had three days to say goodbye to her old life.
*
Isla had barely reached the front door of the Spencer house when she heard Hilda’s shrill voice cutting through the walls.
“Mom, Dad, guess what?
Isla actually rejected Coel.”
“What?
That ungrateful little bastard caused this much trouble?” Cassian Spencer’s voice thundered through the hallway.
“How dare she?
Coel is an Alpha!” Her stepmother Melinda’s shrill agreement followed immediately.
“She took advantage of him while he was weak—just out of the coma.
And I heard her artificial insemination was a disaster.
Coel is furious right now.”
“Then what do we do?” Cassian’s voice shifted from anger to something uglier—fear.
“Offending Alpha Coel will bring disaster down on all of us.”
“Relax, Dad.” Hilda’s tone dripped with self-satisfaction.
“I’ve already smoothed things over with Coel.
He said he won’t go after the rest of the family—for my sake.
But Isla?
We need to teach her a lesson.”
“Now that’s my daughter.” Melinda’s voice turned syrupy with pride before sharpening into venom.
“You hear that, husband?
We can’t keep indulging Isla.
That little wretch needs to be put in her place.”
Cassian was quiet for a moment.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Isla could almost hear the rusty gears turning in his head.
Finally, he spoke.
“Then we’ll marry her off to Alpha Reid.
That old Alpha has been asking me to take Isla as his ninety-ninth concubine.
I’ve been stalling—out of respect for Alpha Coel—but there’s no reason to wait anymore.”
Standing outside the door, Isla felt her blood run cold.
She’d known her father didn’t love her.
She’d known she was little more than a bargaining chip to him.
But ninety-ninth concubine?
To a man notorious for his cruelty—for the women who went into his estate and never came out the same?
Her hands trembled.
Not with fear.
With rage.
“But what if she says no?” Hilda asked, her voice dripping with false concern.
“I mean, she did just reject an Alpha.
What’s one more?”
“What if she says no?” Cassian laughed—a short, ugly sound.
“I’ve fed her, clothed her, housed her for twenty years.
It’s time she contributed something in return.
If she refuses, I’ll tie her up and deliver her to Alpha Reid’s bed myself.”
“Then try it.”
Isla walked straight into the living room.
Three faces turned toward her—Cassian’s widening with surprise, Melinda’s tightening with disdain, Hilda’s curling into a smug little smile.
But Isla didn’t stop.
She walked until she stood in the center of the room, right in front of them, and lifted her chin.
“You want to sell me off?” Her voice rang clear and steady.
No tremor.
No hesitation.
“Sorry to disappoint.”
She raised her hand—the fresh marriage certificate clutched tight in her fingers—and held it high for all of them to see.
“I’m already married.”