The Bumpkin

Valerie's POV:

I walk away with a satisfied smile, paying no mind to the shrill voice echoing down the corridor.

"You bumpkin Omega!" Daphne screams, her tone laced with venom. "Let me tell you, there is no way I will let you marry Kaelen and become the Luna of the Zenith Pack!"

I cannot help but laugh out loud at her outburst. Her hostility is genuinely amusing. She has spent her morning orchestrating this pathetic trap, acting like her life depends on driving me away. From where I stand, it seems she wants to marry Kaelen far more than I ever could.

The heavy oak door behind me clicks shut. Kaelen steps out of the bedroom. The second his boots hit the hardwood floor, a stifling Alpha aura floods the hallway. The sheer pressure in the air makes Daphne shrink back instantly. Her raging temper evaporates, replaced by a meek, fearful posture.

Leaving Kaelen to deal with his cousin’s tantrum, I turn and head down the grand sweeping staircase. The moment I am out of earshot, I direct my frustration inward, scolding my wolf.

*What happened last night?* I snap through our mind-link. *Why didn't you wake me the second he got into our bed?*

Lyra stretches in the back of my mind, letting out a lazy, contented yawn. *Please. You were the one sleeping like a rock. Besides, his scent is nice. I liked it.*

I pause on the landing, blinking in shock. This is the first time Lyra has ever expressed interest in the scent of any man. A strange flutter ripples through my chest. *Could he be our fated mate?*

Lyra does not deny it. She merely chuckles, a low rumbling sound. *Why don't we share a few more nights to confirm it?*

*No!* I fiercely reject the notion, my grip tightening on the wooden banister. *I do not like him. Kaelen is way too arrogant. He acts like the world owes him everything.*

Lyra lets out a mocking hum deep in my soul, clearly amused by my defensive reaction, but she falls silent. Even if his scent is tolerable, we have no real connection. Kaelen cannot be my fated mate.

A servant guides me back to my guest room. I quickly unpack my bags, wash up, and head downstairs for breakfast.

The dining room is vast and echoing, dominated by a long mahogany table. Beatrice sits at one end, sipping tea with practiced elegance. Daphne glares at me from across the table, her face still flushed with lingering anger. And sitting near the head of the table is the brooding heir of the Zenith Pack, Kaelen.

I pull out a chair and sit. Before I can even reach for a glass of water, Beatrice sets her teacup down with a sharp clink.

"Someone slept in late and offered zero help with breakfast," Beatrice remarks, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Tell me, do you think you are already the Luna of this pack? Do you expect us to wait on you?"

I meet her cold gaze without flinching. "Well, I am not your servant either."

If they think I am going to tie an apron around my waist and cook for them, they are delusional.

Kaelen does not say a single word. He sits there in brooding silence, his jaw tight, emanating open hostility. He clearly despises my presence here, and the feeling is mutual. The rest of the meal passes in a heavy, unspoken tension. The only sounds are the scraping of silverware and the quiet sipping of coffee.

As I stand up to leave the table, Beatrice’s voice cuts through the room again. "Hold on."

She reaches into her designer purse, pulls out a sleek bank card, and tosses it across the polished wood. It slides to a stop right in front of my plate.

"There is five thousand dollars on that card," Beatrice orders, her chin raised. "Go buy yourself some decent clothes before you head to Zenith Group today. And remember your place at the company. Do not cause any trouble for Kaelen."

I stare at the plastic rectangle, my brows knitting together. "Zenith Group? Me?"

"Of course," Beatrice sneers. "Alpha Alaric has taken it upon himself to force you two closer. He arranged for you to be Kaelen's personal secretary. Otherwise, how would a bumpkin like you ever get a foot in the door of such a prestigious company?"

My head spins. Alpha Alaric is aggressively pushing this arrangement, going so far as to mandate our proximity in the workplace. He actually expects me, the Alpha of the Obsidian Pack, to fetch coffee and file paperwork for his spoiled son.

Still, I promised to spend three months here. Getting out of this suffocating manor and doing something productive sounds much better than staying cooped up with Beatrice and Daphne all day.

But her financial charity is another story. Five thousand dollars? Who does she think she is insulting?

"Keep it," I say, my voice laced with heavy sarcasm. "I do not need your money."

I turn on my heel and march upstairs, leaving the card sitting on the table. They have no idea that my luggage is packed with custom-made garments from exclusive designers. Most people in this house lack the eye to recognize the craftsmanship, and I have zero desire to explain it to them.

The moment I step into my bedroom, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

I pull it out and stare at the screen. A new transfer notification flashes bright and clear. Fifty million dollars has just landed in my account, the string of zeros stretching across the display. A message from my grandfather follows a second later.

*My dear Alpha, make sure to take care of yourself. Buy whatever you want, eat whatever you want. Do not hold back on spending the money.*

A genuine smile finally breaks across my face. I tap the screen, typing out a quick reply.

*Grandpa, the Vances are bullying me. It is not fun at all.*

His response is almost instantaneous.

*Really? It is rare for anyone to dare bully you. Hmm, great! Alright, I am going fishing now.*

I shake my head, chuckling at his unbothered attitude. He knows exactly what I am capable of.

After swapping my casual clothes for a sleek, tailored professional suit, I step out of the Vance Manor. The morning air is crisp. The same driver from yesterday stands by a luxurious black sedan, holding the rear door open for me.

I slide onto the leather seat, only to stop short. Kaelen is already sitting on the other side, scrolling through a tablet.

He glances up, his dark eyes raking over my outfit. "Did you not claim to be utterly uninterested in me? Why are you going to Zenith Group to be my secretary if you despise me so much?"

His deep voice drips with mockery, daring me to defend myself.

I settle back into the seat, offering him a faint, unbothered smile. "I promised my grandfather I would spend exactly three months with you. After those three months are up, we will officially break off this engagement. Working at your company just passes the time."

Kaelen snorts, turning his gaze back to his tablet. "Just be careful. I warn you, do not fall for me by the end of this arrangement. I do not want you clinging to the Vance family when your time is up."

I stare at him for a second before a loud, genuine laugh escapes my lips. His towering ego is astonishing. He sits there in his expensive suit, acting like his mere presence is a gift to womankind. He might have a handsome face, but his arrogant, sharp-tongued personality makes him unbearable.

"So the rumors about the aloof, untouchable Mr. Vance are actually true," I say, my tone laced with pity. "You really are that full of yourself, huh? Let me make this clear for you. It does not matter if it is three months or three years. I will never like you. Not in this lifetime."

Kaelen's POV:

Not in this lifetime?

My fingers freeze over the screen of my tablet. I slowly turn my head to look at her. Valerie sits there with a defiant, stubborn expression on her face, her chin held high, radiating a quiet confidence that grates on my nerves. If she truly despises me, why did she agree to come to the Zenith Pack in the first place?

I study her steady gaze and figure she is just playing a game. She is playing hard to get, putting up this combative front to mask her true intentions and draw my attention.

"Valerie, you better remember what you said today," I warn darkly, letting my voice drop in a subtle threat.

She flashes a fake, plastic smile, her eyes devoid of any warmth. "Sure, Mr. Vance. Do not worry. We will part ways the second those three months end. Oh, and let us pretend we do not know each other at the office. I want to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings with your staff."

Her audacity is staggering. She acts as if being associated with me is a stain on her reputation. Annoyed by her arrogant attitude, I turn my head away, refusing to engage with her any further. I catch the driver's eye in the rearview mirror and give a short nod. The engine purrs to life, and the car glides down the driveway.

My phone suddenly buzzes in my suit pocket.

I pull it out and see a string of messages from my head secretary. He has sent several screenshots taken directly from the Zenith Group's main company chat. The employees are already tearing into the news of my new hire.

*Did you hear? Mr. Vance's fiancée is coming to work at Zenith Group. She is going to be his new secretary.*

*I heard she is incredibly ugly and from some backwards countryside pack. I wonder if she graduated from a degree mill. Can she even read corporate documents?*

*Hahaha, she probably does not even know how to turn on a computer! This is going to be a disaster.*

I read through the vicious gossip, my expression remaining neutral. Good news stays hidden, but nasty rumors spread like a wildfire.

Another text pops up from my secretary.

*Mr. Vance, there is a lot of negative talk circulating through the departments regarding your fiancée joining the team today. Should I step in and control the rumors before she arrives?*

I keep the phone angled away from Valerie. I glance sideways at her. She is staring out the window, looking so poised and untouchable in her tailored suit, entirely unaware of the storm waiting for her at the front desk.

A slight smile curves the corners of my mouth.

I tap the screen and type my reply.

*No need. Let the rumors spread. After all, I do not want this marriage either.*