This was supposed to be a moment of celebration, but all I could think was that I’d rather be anywhere else. Anywhere but here, where my future was being decided without my consent. I glanced around at the finely decorated surroundings—the rich tapestries, the glittering chandeliers—and couldn’t help but think how absurd it was that this was what passed for diplomacy.

“Welcome to your new home,” I murmured under my breath, though no one seemed to hear me. I had perfected the art of being invisible in situations like these, blending into the background like a shadow. 

My gaze fell upon Devin, the alpha heir of Moonridge Pack. From what I had heard, he was the epitome of the ideal future alpha—strong, respected, and all those other admirable qualities. In reality, he looked as disinterested in this arrangement as I felt. His stance was casual, but there was a hint of arrogance in the way he carried himself. I guess even the most perfect of alphas can be a little bit of a disappointment when seen up close.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. If I let the situation get to me, I’d only be feeding into the inevitable chaos that awaited. My father had made it clear: this marriage was meant to symbolize unity between our packs, a chance for peace after decades of conflict. But I wasn’t blind. I knew this was more about political gain than any sort of genuine harmony.

Alpha Marcus stood at the head of the room, his presence commanding the respect of everyone present. I focused on him, as one does when they don’t want to look at the larger picture—the impending disaster that was my life being laid out for everyone to see.

The ceremony was meant to be a symbol of peace between our packs, but in truth, it was little more than a glorified presentation of the marriage that had been arranged for me. The very thought of it was almost unbearable. I would be married to Devin, the heir of the Moonridge Pack, in what was supposed to be a gesture of goodwill. In reality, it was a shackle, a chain forged in the name of tradition.

The discussion dragged on with all the enthusiasm of a root canal. Alpha Marcus spoke with grand gestures and lofty promises of a future free of conflict, while I stood silently, a mere pawn in the elaborate game of politics. I could almost hear the whispered murmurs of the crowd as they speculated on my fate, their eyes skimming over me as if I were a piece of furniture rather than a person.

I caught the glint of someone’s eyes from the corner of the room and turned to see Kai, the infamous troublemaker of Moonridge. His expression was a perfect blend of disinterest and sarcasm. I could almost feel the weight of his disdain from where I stood. He looked at me as if he was waiting for a punchline to a joke that wasn’t funny in the first place.

Great. Of all the people to notice me, it had to be him. The one person who seemed to take joy in poking at the traditions that governed our lives. I had to resist the urge to scowl at him. His lack of decorum was one of the reasons I found him so insufferable.

He was, of course, dressed like a rebel in the middle of a formal gathering, and I had to admit there was something almost refreshing about his disregard for the rules. Or perhaps it was just another reminder that I was here to play the part of a dutiful son while he got to be the "cool, detached outsider."

“Eli, son of Alpha Lucan, will marry Devin, the heir to the Moonridge Pack,” Alpha Marcus announced, and the room erupted into applause that felt as hollow as the promises being made.

I could feel the color draining from my face as the reality of the situation sank in. Marrying Devin was not a matter of choice but of duty, a tradition that had been imposed upon me. It was as if my own desires and feelings were irrelevant to the greater scheme of things.

The applause that followed was as insincere as it was loud. I glanced at Devin again, noting the lack of enthusiasm in his claps. If this were a play, we’d all be waiting for the curtain to fall on the final act. The only difference was that there was no second chance for a different ending.

As the applause died down, I could feel the weight of expectations bearing down on me. I was supposed to be grateful for this opportunity, this so-called chance for peace. But all I felt was a gnawing sense of dread. 

And then I saw it. Kai’s smirk. The one that seemed to say, ‘I told you so.’ I wanted to ignore him, to pretend he wasn’t there, but his presence was like a spotlight, drawing attention to the absurdity of my predicament. 

“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath, not caring who heard. “Because nothing says ‘peaceful resolution’ like a marriage that no one actually wants.”

His eyes met mine again, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a glimmer of understanding there, something that made me think he might actually care about this farce of an arrangement. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by that ever-present smirk of his.

I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like for him—living on the edge, challenging the status quo while I was stuck in the role of the dutiful son. There was something undeniably intriguing about him, though I wasn’t sure if it was his defiance or just the fact that he seemed to see through the façade of this whole charade.

The ceremony continued, and I tried to focus on the speeches, but it was like trying to read a book in a storm. Words and promises were tossed around, and I stood there, a silent participant in a play I never auditioned for.

As the crowd began to disperse, I caught Kai’s eye once more. He had this look in his eyes, like he was almost... amused. It was infuriating, but also oddly intriguing. He didn’t seem to share the same sense of duty or resignation that I had been taught to embrace. 

I wanted to ignore him, to walk away from the scene of my upcoming entrapment, but something about his gaze held me there, if only for a moment longer. 

For now, all I could do was accept the reality of my situation and brace myself for the future. My life was no longer my own, and the path ahead was fraught with expectations and sacrifices.