Chapter 16
Roana reflects on signing a contract that requires using a name as a shield to protect her lover, Rye. Though it might bring danger, she feels secure with Rye by her side. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sharing private thoughts about wanting a child through IVF, a plan she had never voiced before. Bored and restless, she contemplates taking a patrol around the pack, enjoying the freedom of being unburdened despite her pregnancy.
Cassian returns home earlier than expected, tired but still striking. Their interaction is tense; he questions her comfort in his space, reminding her they aren’t a real couple despite their contract. Roana asserts her right to feel at home, even setting boundaries on their shared bed to claim her space. Cassian’s cold demeanor contrasts with her playful defiance, highlighting the uneasy balance in their relationship.
Despite the friction, Cassian suggests having dinner together, a rare gesture that stirs complex emotions in Roana. Rye comments on Cassian’s allure and the complications of their situation, especially since Roana cannot count on Cassian’s genes for her baby due to his feelings for another woman and the terms of their contract. The story reveals the emotional conflict of loving someone already tied to another.
The chapter ends with a knock at the door and a woman’s voice greeting Cassian warmly, pressing against Roana with familiarity. This unexpected visitor hints at further complications, as Rye wonders if she might be a threat, but Roana refuses to judge without cause. The tension rises, setting the stage for the next developments.
Chapter 16
Roana,
Signing the contract hadn’t been a difficult task. All he asked for was a name to serve as a shield—a convenient scapegoat to protect his lover. That was the extent of his demand. Of course, it implied that I might eventually find myself tangled with dangerous people, but with Rye by my side, why should I feel anxious?
What caught me off guard was how easily I spilled my private thoughts to him. Marriage had never been part of my plan, but having a child—my own child—that was something I truly desired. My vision was straightforward: IVF, clinical and detached, no emotional strings tied to the father. Yet somehow, I found myself voicing it aloud. That wasn’t like me at all. But it was out there now.
“Anyway, what should I do? I’m bored,” I said, stretching out across the couch with exaggerated flair, my arms reaching wide. “My baby girl hasn’t even arrived yet. Maybe we should take a patrol around the pack p>
Rye’s voice echoed inside my mind, tinged with amusement. “Aren’t you a bit too comfortable to be moving anywhere p>
“You don’t get it, Rye. Being holed up in a warm room with no obligations—that’s a kind of freedom all on its own,” I grinned, tossing a grape into my mouth with playful ease.
“That’s just called unemployment. You’re just enjoying lying around and eating p>
“Oh, come on! Who doesn’t love food? And besides, I don’t have to stress about gaining weight—my body’s a mystery as it is,” I chuckled, flicking another grape into the air and catching it deftly.
“So you’re proud of being lazy p>
“Yes. And proud of my curves too p>
“You evil—! Oh! It’s Cassian!” Rye’s voice dropped to a purr the instant his scent drifted into my senses.
It had only been a few hours since Cassian left for business. I’d hoped he’d be gone long enough for me to enjoy the couch in peace. But here he was, back far sooner than I expected. Not that I minded. Honestly, the couch still beat his bed any day.
The door swung open wide, and there he stood—
Cassian, as handsome as ever, though his face was drawn tight with exhaustion.
“Good evening, Your Majesty!” I greeted him casually, swinging my legs with a relaxed air.
He stepped into the room, his movement halting as his eyes locked onto me. For a brief moment, he looked as if he’d walked into the wrong place. His brows furrowed, then softened, then knitted together again, as if his face couldn’t decide what to feel.
His lips parted, then closed, then parted once more. Finally, his voice emerged, colder than necessary. “What are you doing, Ms. Roana?” The edge in his tone betrayed his displeasure.
“Just enjoying my evening. Care to join me p>
“No.” His reply was immediate, but his gaze flicked once—couch, fruit bowl, my grin—before darting away, as if he didn’t want me to catch him noticing.
I rolled onto my stomach, resting my chin in my hands. “What’s wrong? You look like a pufferfish dragged out of the ocean. Did someone step on your feet, Your Majesty? Come here, I’ll soothe your worries p>
Cassian’s brows drew tight. He didn’t look convinced—more like caught somewhere between irritation and disbelief. Surely he didn’t think I’d get so comfortable in this room and act as if I owned it. Well, technically, I did—half of it, at least, as his Luna. Hehe.
“Nah, I’m fine.” He crossed the room to the closet, shrugging off his waistcoat. “Did you meet the servants I sent p>
“Oh, them? No. I was asleep when they came. Didn’t bother. I don’t need one anyway.” I peeled a tangerine, glancing at him. “By the way, Your Majesty, are you sure you want to entrust the household to me p>
“Absolutely,” he answered simply, meeting my eyes steadily. “As my Luna, you hold an equal place here. If you want to stay, this is your home. But if you prefer the village, that choice is yours p>
I hesitated. He was really keeping his word. For once, someone wasn’t trying to shove responsibility away from me. Slowly, I nodded.
“Fine. Then I expect the same treatment in return. After all, I’m not here by accident. I’m your wife—contractually and legally your equal partner.” I smirked.
Cassian studied me, one brow raised. “So you want me to treat you as an equal p>
“Yes,” I declared, moving toward the bed. “That means I get the right side, you get the left. This pillow marks the border. The bed is two-oh-seven centimeters wide, which gives each of us precisely one-oh-three point five. No cheating p>
He blinked, watching as I carefully positioned a pillow down the middle like a dividing wall.
“You really do love sleeping, don’t you?” His voice was flat, unreadable.
“Sleep is sacred. And knowing I have a space that’s truly mine? That’s peace p>
“Stop being smug. You’re pushing him too far,” Rye warned sharply.
I looked up. Cassian stood directly in front of me, his expression shadowed, a faint gloom lingering in his eyes.
“Ms. Roana,” he said quietly, “aren’t you getting a little too comfortable? We’re not a real couple p>
Not a real couple? The words stung more than I expected.
“Oh?” I tilted my head, flashing a playful smile. My hand reached for his tie. “But you invited me here. I intend to be comfortable in my own space. Would you rather I sit cold and stiff like you, turning this room into an icebox, Your Majesty p>
The moment my fingers touched his tie, his entire body stiffened. His eyes followed my movements, pupils narrowing, lips pressing into a tight line.
I gave his tie a gentle tug to loosen it, but the smile I offered him never quite reached my eyes. If he dared lecture me after insisting I stay, he’d have to live with the consequences.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice steady, but the tension in his grip as he caught my wrist betrayed his calm.
“Helping you breathe. You look exhausted. Maybe you should rest, Your Majesty p>
He released me with a light yank and turned back to the closet. “Don’t fall asleep again. You still need to choose a servant. And—” He hesitated, glancing back over his shoulder.
“Let’s have dinner together p>
My eyes widened in surprise. He offered a thin, tight-lipped smile, but it struck me deeply. My heart fluttered painfully in my chest.
How could someone look so devastating with so little expression?
“Gosh, my heart,” Rye groaned dramatically as Cassian disappeared behind the closet door.
I collapsed sideways onto the bed, sprawling out like a lazy starfish. “He’s gorgeous. Too bad I can’t use his genes for my baby p>
“Why not? He’s our mate,” Rye purred.
“Because if the baby turned out Lycan, Cassian would drag it through hell. Besides, the contract forbids anything unnecessary between us. And don’t forget—there’s someone else he cares about p>
“We’re protecting his woman’s place. Cassian already has p>
“Doesn’t it hurt? Our mate loves another. We’ll be rejected p>
“Hurt or not, nothing changes. I’ll live my life the way I want p>
Rye chuckled. “Don’t you think this feels like a movie? We got cheated on by the first man we loved, then fate handed us a mate who’s already taken p>
I laughed softly. “It’s cliché. But at least we don’t have a villain stalking us, right? Someone pathetic, chasing the male lead p>
A knock interrupted me.
“Your Majesty, may I come in?” A sweet female voice floated from behind the door, accompanied by a heavy wave of perfume.
Rye sneered. “Is she the villain p>
“Shut up. We don’t label people bad unless they choose to be.” I moved to open the door.
But before I could, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
“Your Majesty!” the woman exclaimed, pressing against me with practiced familiarity. “I’ve been waiting for your return. I missed you so much p>
This chapter delicately explores the fragile balance between duty and desire, highlighting Roana’s growing comfort in her new role despite the complexities of her relationship with Cassian. Their interactions, marked by subtle tension and unspoken emotions, reveal a tentative intimacy that challenges the boundaries of their contractual marriage. Through playful banter and quiet moments, Roana asserts her place as Cassian’s equal, carving out a space where she can feel both secure and true to herself.
Beneath the surface, the presence of Rye and the looming shadow of past loves add layers of emotional complexity, reminding us that love and loyalty are never simple. Yet, Roana’s resolve to live life on her own terms shines through, embodying a quiet strength amid uncertainty. The chapter closes on a note of anticipation, as new dynamics begin to unfold, promising that the journey ahead will be as challenging as it is transformative.
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the complex dynamics unfolding within Cassian and Roana’s fragile alliance. As Roana navigates her new role in the household and grapples with the emotional undercurrents between herself, Cassian, and Rye, tensions simmer just beneath the surface. The unexpected return of a mysterious woman, brimming with affection and familiarity, threatens to disrupt the delicate balance Roana has begun to establish. Readers will find themselves drawn into the subtle power plays and unspoken feelings that color every interaction.
Emotions will run high as Roana confronts the messy reality of being tethered to a man whose heart seems divided, and the implications this holds for her own desires and plans. The arrival of this new character raises questions about loyalty, trust, and the true nature of the relationships at play. Will Roana’s determination to claim her space and assert her equality be enough to withstand the challenges ahead? The next chapter will invite readers to explore the fragile boundaries between love, duty, and personal freedom, setting the stage for revelations that may shift everything they thought they knew.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.