Valerie slowly opened her eyes, only to jolt awake when the face of a man appeared vividly in front of her.
"Awake?" His voice was cold, flat, emotionless.
Valerie immediately pulled the blanket up to her chest, her breath hitching as last night's memories crashed back into her mind.
The duke rose calmly, slipping on his trousers with no hint of guilt. Then his eyes slid to her sharp, assessing, almost accusing.
"Who sent you? And why would they send a virgin?" he asked, voice cutting like ice.
"W–what do you mean?" Valerie stammered, trembling.
"Just tell me who sent you." His tone grew harsher, Demian Morvex.
The notorious duke feared across the empire. Half of his blood came from the ancient wolf demons, creatures who once ruled the world. Part human, part monster, and his nature reflected exactly that.
Tap.
A tear fell.
Then another. Until Valerie burst into sobs painful, broken, uncontrollable. Demian froze. He wasn't used to tears, much less from a woman whose innocence he had taken only hours ago.
"You took my purity… and now you're asking who sent me? Do you not remember what happened last night?" she cried.
Demian closed his eyes, forcing himself to recall.
He had seen Valerie in the garden, alone, drunk, stumbling, and approached her under the pretense of helping. She refused, but he insisted. He brought her to his private suite in the Crystal Mansion, the grand hotel where Princess Meridia's birthday celebration was being held.
He was the one who made her rest. He was the one who poured another drink. He was the one who lost control… and took the virginity of a woman who had trusted him.
Gods. He truly was a beast. And now he had the audacity to blame her?
"Stop crying," he finally said. "I'll marry you." Cold. Emotionless. As if marriage were nothing more than a quick solution to clean up last night's mess.
That was Demian Morvex.
Valerie Austin woke up in the same bed as the duke and every part of her body ached. The red marks on her skin were evidence she could never erase.
"What are you saying?" Valerie asked, her voice trembling.
"Don't make noise. I said I'll marry you," the duke replied coldly.
"How can you marry me when you're about to get married?" Valerie snapped, anger rising despite the pain in her body.
Demian fell silent. He exhaled slowly because the truth was, he was indeed engaged. An arranged engagement decided since birth… with another woman.
"Then wait until I break off my engagement," Demian said calmly.
"You can't just do that. Do you want my family to die?" Valerie shot back sharply.
"But-"
"No. Forget what happened last night." Valerie pulled the blanket closer and forced herself to stand, though her legs trembled violently. Her entire body felt shattered, every movement a stab of pain from the merciless way he'd taken her the night before.
The blood on the sheets made Valerie's eyes squeeze shut in humiliation.
Sruk.
Brugh!
Valerie nearly collapsed, but Demian caught her at the last second. Their eyes locked for a long moment too close, too intense. Valerie's scent drifted upward, warm and intoxicating, drawing Demian in unconsciously.
"What are you planning to do now?" Valerie snapped, glaring at him.
"You're… tempting. Your scent-" Demian swallowed hard, unable to finish.
"Let me go. I can walk on my own," Valerie hissed.
"Fine. Clean yourself up first. Then we'll talk," Demian said, releasing her reluctantly.
Valerie let out a shaky breath. Even now, her tears wouldn't stop flowing. Her purity had been torn apart by Demian Morvex himself, and the weight of it was suffocating.
When she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she froze.What kind of man leaves marks like these if not a beast?Every red bruise, every bite, every imprint on her skin was a brutal reminder:
She had slept with a monster last night.
Valerie slipped back into the gown she had worn the night before, while Demian sat calmly on the couch.
"Sit. We need to talk," Demian said, glancing at the man nearby. The man, Ash, his personal assistant, immediately nodded and left the room, fully aware that he wasn't allowed to stay for this conversation.
"I will give you compensation," Demian said.
"There's no need. It was partly my fault too. I shouldn't have accepted your invitation… but you know I was drunk," Valerie replied quietly.
"Even so, it's still my fault. I benefited from it, and you were harmed," Demian said calmly.
Valerie looked at him, the man with jet-black hair that shone even in the dim room. Beautiful, distant, cold. His expression unreadable.
She stayed silent.
"I want you," Demian said abruptly.
"What?" Valerie blinked, confused.
"Yes." Demian scratched the back of his neck, though it wasn't itchy.
"Don't joke around. You shouldn't say things like that," Valerie muttered.
"But it's the truth. I want you… and I can't deny it. Your scent right now it makes me want to claim you," he confessed, voice low.
"How can something like that even be possible?" Valerie asked, baffled.
"That's just how it is," Demian replied, looking straight at her.
"But you're going to get married. You're already engaged," Valerie reminded him.
"What's the problem?" Demian asked bluntly.
Valerie swallowed hard.
"You're talking as if… as if my purity doesn't matter anymore. Who would marry a woman who's no longer pure?" he said, eyes fixed on her.
Valerie fell silent.It was cruel, but it was true and she had no idea what her future would become now.
"Stay with me," Demian said.
"What woman would accept being second? I wouldn't! I refuse to be the other woman. Especially when your fiancée is the daughter of a Marquess my family wouldn't survive the consequences," Valerie protested.
"That's why you should stay with me, Lady Austin," Demian said, voice deep and husky.
Valerie swallowed again, her chest tightening.
"I will speak to your father," Demian said.
"What? How could you-"
"Anything is possible, as long as you stay with me… and become my woman."Demian moved closer, sitting beside her.
Valerie's breath caught as she saw his undeniably handsome face so near.
"Breaking that engagement won't be easy," Demian murmured, "so until then… stay by my side. Become my woman, and you will have everything you desire."