Emerging from the shower, I was taken aback by the unexpected scene before me. It was my wedding night, but instead of my stoic Alpha, Silas, a shirtless stranger sat on the bed, smirking at me with a surprising intensity. My thoughts raced back to the altar where I had heard his cold voice just a few hours prior. "I don't understand," I ventured, "Who are you?" "You are my wife," he replied, his tone leaving no room for doubt. The groom I had imagined to be unappealing was, in fact, disarmingly handsome. But why had he concealed his identity behind a mask during our ceremony? The revelation that he wasn't crippled added another layer of shock. As he approached, I instinctively backed away, my towel threatening to slip. In a swift move, he caught it, his strong arms enfolding me protectively. His eyes blazed with desire as he gazed down at me, a warning lurking in his gaze. "You seem eager for this night to begin," he whispered hotly into my ear, "Be prepared, my lady. Pleasure may give way to pain." His words sent shivers down my spine. I knew Silas was infamous for his ruthless nature – what could he possibly have planned for our first night together? --- My name is Bruna Walters, an illegitimate daughter who made a desperate decision to marry Regina's fiancé, Silas, in order to save my grandmother's reputation. As fear gripped me, I wondered if my secret would be uncovered, and how my ruthless husband would react to the truth that I am not the one he intended to wed.
