Chapter 2 The Beast Behind the Billionaire

Lia had always believed silence could be a form of peace.

But inside Cain Wolfe's mansion, silence was punishment. Every corner of the house whispered a warning: you don't belong here.

She stood by the tall window, watching as the fog rolled in from the woods. Her fingers clutched the edge of the curtain like it was a lifeline. It was only her second day as Cain's wife, and she already felt like a ghost wandering through someone else's life.

The door creaked behind her.

She turned.

Cain leaned against the frame, his white shirt rolled up to his elbows, veins sharp against his forearms. He looked less like a businessman now-and more like something dangerous kept barely in check.

"You skipped breakfast," he said.

"I wasn't hungry."

"You need to eat." His tone wasn't gentle, but it wasn't cruel either. Just... commanding.

"I'm not your prisoner," she said, chin lifted. "You don't get to decide when I eat."

"No," he said, stepping closer, "but I paid for your time. And your obedience was part of the deal."

Her pulse quickened. "You think this is about control? I signed that contract to save someone I love. Not to become your puppet."

Cain stopped, just inches from her now. His scent-clean soap, pine, and something feral-wrapped around her like heat.

"You don't know what kind of world you've stepped into, Lia," he said, voice low. "This isn't about control. It's about survival. You need me."

She laughed bitterly. "Is that what you tell yourself when you buy women like cattle? That you're saving them?"

His eyes darkened. "Careful."

But she didn't back down. "What are you really hiding behind all this power? You bought a wife you can't even touch. Why, Cain? Who broke you?"

The question hung between them like smoke.

For a second, his mask slipped. Just a second.

Lia caught the flicker of something-pain, guilt, maybe even fear. Then it was gone.

He stepped back. "You'll be escorted to the hospital tomorrow. A private nurse will meet you there. Check on your sister. Stay an hour. Then come home."

Her chest tightened. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," he said, voice turning cold. "Just do what you're told."

The next morning, a black SUV picked her up. True to Cain's word, the hospital staff greeted her with warm smiles and no questions. Sasha looked stronger already-sitting up, laughing with the nurse.

Lia hugged her tight.

"You look fancy," Sasha said, teasing. "Like a rich man's wife."

Lia smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Something like that."

"Is he good to you?"

Lia hesitated. "He's... complicated."

"That's code for handsome and rich but emotionally unavailable."

Lia laughed-genuinely this time. "You're such a brat."

Sasha grinned, but her eyes turned serious. "Just be careful, Lia. I know you did this for me. But I don't want you to get hurt."

Lia nodded. "I'll be fine."

But deep down, she wasn't sure she believed that.

Back at the mansion, Cain was waiting in the library. He didn't look up when she entered-just sipped whiskey from a glass and stared at the fire.

"I saw Sasha," she said softly. "She's better."

He nodded.

Silence.

"Why did you really choose me?" she asked. "Out of all the women who probably would've begged to be your bride?"

He finally looked at her. "Because you didn't beg."

She blinked.

"You looked me in the eye that day and didn't flinch. You were desperate, but you had fire. That's rare."

"And what do you want with fire?"

He drained his glass. "To burn something down."

She didn't understand. Not yet. But something about the way he said it sent a chill through her.

Days passed.

Lia adjusted to the routine-cold breakfasts, long walks in the silent halls, occasional trips to check on Sasha. Cain remained distant, unpredictable. Sometimes he was polite. Sometimes cruel. Always guarded.

But something was shifting between them.

One night, she caught him watching her from the terrace as she watered the plants. Not with lust, but with curiosity-like he was trying to figure her out.

"What?" she asked, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

He shrugged. "You don't act like a woman who married for money."

"Because I didn't," she said. "I married to save my sister."

"And now that she's safe, what do you want?"

Lia looked him dead in the eye. "To leave."

Cain's jaw tightened. "You'll leave when I say you can."

"I'm not a dog."

"No," he said, stepping closer, "you're a wolf. I can see it. You just don't know how to bare your teeth yet."

She held his gaze, refusing to back down. "Then maybe you should stop trying to chain me."

Cain reached out suddenly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. She froze-not because of the touch, but because of the way his fingers trembled.

"I don't want to hurt you, Lia," he murmured.

"Then stop treating me like something you own."

His hand dropped. "Go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow."

But they never did.

That night, she woke to screams echoing through the mansion.

Not hers.

His.

She crept down the hall barefoot, heart pounding. The door to his bedroom was ajar. Inside, Cain thrashed in bed, soaked in sweat. His breaths came fast and ragged, like he was trapped in a nightmare.

"Cain?" she whispered, stepping closer.

He shot upright, eyes wild, claws out, fangs bared.

Wolf.

Her heart stopped.

She stumbled back, breath caught in her throat. But then-he saw her. And the monster in his eyes faded.

"Get out," he growled.

But she didn't move. She stepped forward instead.

"You're

"A beast," he finished. "Now you know."

"No," she said softly. "You're broken. That's different."

For a long time, he said nothing.

Then, voice low and rough: "You should run, Lia."

But she didn't.

She stayed.