chapter 2

I still couldn't believe how my life had changed so quickly. Just a week ago, I was celebrating with my best friends after finishing my law degree. We were so excited about the future and all the possibilities ahead of us.

As I went to get us some more drinks at the party, I noticed this strange guy watching me from the corner. There was something really odd about him - his eyes were this bright, golden color and his hair was long, which is unusual for a man. He just had this intense stare that made me feel uneasy.

I tried to ignore him and go back to having fun with my friends. But all night, I couldn't stop thinking about that weird guy and the way he kept looking at me. Little did I know, that man was actually King Damien, the werewolf ruler of this kingdom.

A few days later, a group of the king's guards showed up at my family's home. They said I had to come with them to the castle to become Damien's wife. I argued and pleaded with them, but they wouldn't listen. Before I knew it, I was being dragged away from everything I knew, my dreams of a career in law left behind.

And now, here I was, standing in front of this powerful king on his throne. I had heard the rumors about Damien's savage nature and how he turns into a beast, but when he spoke to me, his voice was surprisingly gentle.

"Welcome, my dear Emilia," he said. "I hope you'll be comfortable here."

Comfortable? That was the last thing I felt in this massive, cold castle surrounded by servants and nobles who looked at me with disgust, like I didn't belong here at all.

Yet, as Damien approached me, there was something about him that made my heart beat faster. I felt drawn to him, even though I knew I should be terrified. There was an odd pull between us that I couldn't quite understand.