Hailey’s consciousness drifted in a fog, pulled by the dull ache in her body. Her head throbbed, her muscles sore from the struggle she vaguely remembered. She blinked against the blinding light streaming into the room, her mind slow to adjust. As the haze lifted, she took in her surroundings, the bed, the curtains, the scent—this couldn’t be.

She bolted upright, her heart pounding as she looked around in disbelief. She was back in her room… in the Poldark pack’s mansion. A chill ran through her, tightening her throat as the realization set in. She was back in the place she’d once known as home but had come to feel like a cage.

The door creaked open, and a figure stepped in. Hailey’s breath hitched as she recognized him—her father, his face filled with an unsettling calm as he approached her. His gaze was unreadable, but his voice was calm, almost paternal, as he addressed her.

“Hailey,” he began, his tone as if they were simply continuing an ongoing conversation. “I received your letter.” He held her gaze, as though challenging her to object. “And I told you then, Varian isn’t meant for you. He’s dangerous, a ruthless Alpha who can’t offer you the life you deserve.”

Hailey’s mouth went dry. She struggled to find her voice, rage and betrayal mingling in her chest. “So you just… took me?” she spat, her voice thick with disbelief and anger. “What gives you the right to decide who’s meant for me?”

Her father’s gaze hardened, dismissing her words with a wave of his hand. “I did what was best for you, Hailey,” he said coolly. “I promised to bring you back, away from that brute. I sought Alpha Ryker’s help to make it happen.”

The mention of Ryker’s name twisted her stomach with revulsion. She remembered his smug, cold expression, the force of his hand that had rendered her unconscious. But the worst of it was yet to come, and her father’s next words sent a chill through her bones.

“Ryker has agreed to protect you and offer our family’s pack the support we need,” he continued, his tone matter-of-fact. “In return, you’ll mate with him. He’s a powerful Alpha—someone who will secure our family’s standing and future.”

Hailey felt her chest tighten, her heart pounding against her ribs. “No,” she said in a fierce whisper, her voice trembling. “No. How could you… How could you even think of this? I have a mate. I have someone who actually—”

“Enough!” he interrupted, his voice carrying a cold finality. “This isn’t about what you want, Hailey. It’s about what’s best for our pack. Varian can’t be trusted. I refuse to leave my daughter in the care of someone like him.”

Hailey’s voice rose, breaking with emotion. “Do you even love me?” she demanded, her gaze unwavering as she stared him down. “Because what you’re saying—this isn’t love, Father. This is control. This is… using me, treating me like some bargaining tool!”

Her father’s expression remained impassive, but his jaw tightened. “You’re a daughter of this pack, Hailey,” he said coldly. “Your duty is to the family, to our name. Love has nothing to do with it.”

Hailey shook her head, rage and hurt mixing into a painful lump in her throat. “You’re wrong,” she said bitterly. “Because I love Varian. He’s my true mate, and I’ll never choose anyone over him—not Ryker, and definitely not for you or some twisted version of loyalty.”

The venom in her voice only seemed to fuel her father’s anger. He let out a frustrated growl, his hands clenching at his sides. “You’re a stubborn child, blinded by emotion. You’ll see sense eventually.” He turned sharply and strode toward the door, his hand gripping the handle tightly. “If you won’t accept this willingly, you’ll remain here until you come to your senses. Your only option is to accept the bond with Ryker. I’ll make sure of it.”

With that, he stormed out, the door slamming shut behind him, the sound echoing like a final sentence. Hailey felt herself go numb, the weight of his words settling over her like a suffocating fog. She sank back onto the bed, her heart twisting painfully. She had always known her parents saw her as a tool for status and alliances, but the brutal reality of it crushed any remaining illusion.

Night had fallen when she heard the door creak open again. She looked up, her eyes narrowing as her mother stepped into the room, her expression one of cold indifference. Hailey felt her stomach churn. Her mother had always been the colder, more distant figure in her life, quick to judge and rarely giving her any warmth. But her disdain had sharpened after Hailey had failed to find a mate at the age her family deemed “proper,” especially when her younger sister, Hannah, had been mated to a Beta at nineteen.

Her mother’s gaze swept over her, judgment simmering in her eyes as she took in Hailey’s defiant posture. “So,” she began, her voice clipped and devoid of any affection. “Still refusing to see reason?”

Hailey clenched her fists, her anger flaring anew. “Reason?” she retorted, her voice laced with bitterness. “Is that what you call this? Forcing me to be with someone I can’t stand, while tearing me away from my true mate?”

Her mother’s expression didn’t falter. Instead, she let out a cold, humorless laugh. “True mate? Varian is nothing but a brute—a beast who’s blinded you with this fantasy of love. Ryker is an Alpha, one who can offer you a life of respect and stability. It’s time you stopped chasing foolish dreams and accepted your role.”

Hailey shook her head, disbelief mixing with the hurt she felt. “Do you even realize how hypocritical you sound?” she said, her voice cracking. “You’ve judged me my whole life, made me feel like a failure because I couldn’t find a mate at your ‘ideal age.’ The moment Hannah mated, you abandoned me. Did you even care about how I felt, how alone I was?”

A flicker of something crossed her mother’s face, but it quickly vanished, replaced by the usual icy detachment. “This isn’t about feelings, Hailey,” she replied curtly. “It’s about duty and survival. You have the chance to strengthen our family—our pack. And if you won’t do it willingly…”

The sharp crack of her mother’s hand meeting her cheek rang through the room, the sting barely registering against the deeper hurt coursing through her. Hailey’s face burned, but she met her mother’s gaze, unbroken. Her mother’s eyes flared briefly, then she turned sharply and left, the door slamming shut once more.

For a moment, Hailey sat there, stunned, her face still stinging from the slap. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart. Her parents didn’t care about her—not who she was, not what she wanted. They saw her only as a pawn, a way to gain power, and they had never once tried to understand her or the love she held for Varian.

A deep, gnawing sadness settled over her as she thought of Hannah, the sister who had once been her closest friend. She missed her, missed the bond they’d shared before their parents had divided them. She thought of the letter she’d sent to her family, the one where she’d asked about Hannah, hoping for a message back, hoping for any sign that she wasn’t completely alone.

But she had received nothing. No word from her sister, no acknowledgment. She had been abandoned by the very people who were supposed to protect and cherish her, sacrificed for ambition and power.

The moonlight filtered through the barred window, casting a cold glow over her as she sat, feeling trapped and helpless. All she could think of now was Varian—the strength of his arms, the warmth of his touch, the way his eyes softened whenever he looked at her. He was her true mate, her real home, and she longed for him with an intensity that cut through her despair.

Tears blurred her vision as she buried her face in her hands, her heart aching with the unfairness of it all. She had found love, had finally felt what it was like to belong, only to have it ripped away by the very people who should have supported her.

She didn’t care what it took. She would find a way back to Varian. She would escape this place, escape the family that had only ever seen her as a tool. And she would return to her mate, the one person who had ever truly loved her for who she was. She clung to that thought as her tears fell, her resolve hardening even as her heart ached.

As the night stretched on, Hailey lay awake, vowing silently to herself that she would not give in, that she would not let them break her. No matter what they did, her heart belonged to Varian—and she would do whatever it took to be with him again.

---

Teaser:
When your family decides to play matchmaker… but forgets to ask if you’re interested. Or, you know, already in love with someone else.

Will Hailey escape the clutches of her scheming family and their totally outdated ideas on mates? Will Varian’s wrath turn into a full-blown wolf rampage, or will he be the one plotting a clever revenge? And will Hailey's poor door ever survive this chapter?

Stay tuned, dear readers! Because family drama, forbidden love, and a seriously ticked-off Alpha are just the beginning…

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