Chapter 7

Skylar’s POV

The second I stepped into the house, Alessia came hobbling toward me on one foot, her grin wide enough to split her face in half.

“You did it!” she squealed, throwing her arms around me with shocking force for someone with a sprained ankle.

I barely managed to stay upright. “You are literally injured,” I grumbled, trying to pry her off. “Shouldn’t you be resting?”

She ignored me, bouncing—yes, bouncing—on one foot. “The Alpha picked me—I mean, you! Sky, this plan is foolproof. Mom and Dad are gonna lose their minds.”

Before I could fully grasp how deep I’d been dragged into this mess, our parents appeared in the doorway. My mother looked pleased. An actual, bonafide smile was on her face. My father? He just looked calculating, like he was already tallying up the financial benefits of this disaster.

“Good job, Skylar,” Mom said, her voice unusually warm. “You secured the family’s future.”

I frowned. “Secured the future?” I echoed. “Mom, he picked me because—”

“Because you did what you were supposed to do,” my father interrupted, his tone sharp. “And now, you need to keep doing what’s necessary.”

My stomach twisted. “Define necessary.”

Mom sighed, moving to the dining table. She picked up a small glass vial, and the second I saw it, I knew it was bad news. It glinted ominously in the dim light, looking like something out of a villain’s starter kit.

“You’ll give this to the Alpha,” she said, holding it out.

I stared at the vial like it might explode. “…And what is it, exactly?”

“A sleeping potion,” Dad said, like that was a totally normal thing to give a werewolf Alpha. “It’ll knock him out for hours.”

I took a step back. “What? Why would I—”

Mom’s face hardened. “You’re there to hold his attention until Alessia takes her rightful place. That’s it. Nothing more.”

“Rightful place?” My voice rose. “Are you serious?”

Dad cut in, his voice even colder. “You were only chosen because Alessia couldn’t go. If the Alpha claims you—if you let him—” He exhaled sharply. “You’ll ruin everything.”

Ruin everything.

The words hit like a punch.

Mom nodded. “Exactly. Do you think this is a joke? The Alpha’s favor is Alessia’s chance to secure her future—and ours. If you mess this up, there will be consequences.”

I glanced at Alessia, waiting for her to chime in with some kind of protest. Nope. She just shrugged. “It’s not that hard, Sky. Just pour the potion into his drink and make sure he doesn’t…” She wiggled her fingers vaguely. “…you know.”

I stared at her, a wave of anger bubbling under my skin. “This isn’t fair.”

Alessia snorted. “Fair? Sky, you got picked by the Alpha. If I wasn’t literally crippled, I’d be there myself.”

I looked back at my parents, but their expressions were made of stone. My fingers curled around the vial, its surface cool and smooth—deceptively harmless.

“Do you understand?” my father asked.

I swallowed. “…Yes.”

“Good.” Mom smiled, satisfied. “Remember, Skylar—this isn’t about you.”

That part, I already knew.

I sat on my bed that night, the vial clutched tightly in my palm. The liquid inside sloshed with every tremble of my fingers, its murky green color looking almost alive. This was my role now—playing stand-in for a sister who had always been chosen over me.

Across the room, Alessia was sprawled on the couch, phone in hand, completely unbothered. “You’re freaking out,” she observed, her tone amused. “You’re not gonna back out, are you?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “I don’t understand why I have to do any of this.”

Alessia groaned dramatically. “Because I was supposed to go, but I can’t walk! And because you were lucky enough to get chosen.”

I snapped. “Lucky?” I whirled on her. “You lied, you pushed me into this, and now I’m supposed to drug a man so he doesn’t touch me? That’s not luck, Alessia. That’s insanity.”

She rolled her eyes. “Drama queen.”

The bedroom door swung open. Our parents strode in like they owned the place—which, technically, they did, but still.

Mom’s eyes flickered to the vial in my hands. “You will follow the plan.”

Dad loomed behind her. “This isn’t just for Alessia—it’s for the family.”

I knew what that meant. It meant I didn’t matter.

I nodded stiffly.

The next morning, breakfast tasted like sawdust. Alessia, meanwhile, ate like she had no conscience.

“Sky, stop sulking. It’s unbecoming,” she said, sipping her tea like some kind of villainous aristocrat.

I clenched my jaw. “You have no idea how badly I want to throw this plate at your face.”

Dad coughed pointedly. “Enough.”

Right. Family duty.

By the time I arrived at the Alpha’s palace, I felt like I was walking toward my own execution.

“The Alpha is expecting you,” the doorman said.

I swallowed hard and stepped inside.

The Alpha’s quarters were intimidating—grand, massive, designed to make intruders feel small. The air smelled of firewood, leather, and something decidedly masculine.

My eyes landed on the long table in the center of the room. It was covered in food, a few goblets glinting among the plates.

This was it.

I pulled the vial from my pocket, my hands shaking as I popped the cork.

“Just do it, Skylar,” I whispered to myself. “It’s not that hard.”

The liquid swirled into the nearest goblet, vanishing instantly.

The door creaked open behind me.

I stiffened.

And then he stepped inside.

Alpha Damon.

He was even taller than I remembered. His raven-black hair was tied back, sharp features illuminated by the firelight. And those violet eyes? They locked onto me with a predator’s focus.

“You’re early,” he mused.

I tried not to pass out. “I… didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

He smirked. “How considerate.”

He stepped closer, and holy hell, I forgot how to breathe.

“You’re nervous,” he observed, amused.

“I’m not,” I lied.

“You’re trembling.”

“No, I’m—”

He touched my chin, tilting my face up. My brain short-circuited.

“I don’t want you to be afraid of me,” he murmured.

I should have remembered the plan. I should have stepped away.

But his touch was warm. His gaze was hypnotic. And when he leaned in, I forgot everything—Alessia, my parents, the damn potion.

I let him kiss me.

And suddenly, none of it mattered anymore.