The Fiancée Proposal
Bella POV
The first thing I became aware of was whispering. Not polite whispers—more like two grown men arguing in the middle of a library and trying really hard not to get kicked out.
I cracked one eye open. Just one. I'm bold, not reckless.
Two guys stood across the massive bedroom—massive, like "this-could-be-a-hotel-lobby" massive. My grandma's house definitely did not come with rooms of this size. I blinked again. Nope, still giant.
"You can't trust her. You said it yourself—her eyes changed. That means she's a witch!"
A witch? Seriously? I lose consciousness for ten minutes and suddenly I'm Sabrina the Teenaged Disaster.
"No, she is not a witch, Spike," the other guy snapped.
Spike? Seriously?
That sounds less like a man and more like a dog.
The second voice made my brain jolt—bathroom guy. The naked creep. Perfect. Just the person I wanted near me right now.
"She is my mate," Naked Surprise Guy continued.
Mate.
I blinked.
What is he, British?
Why am I someone's "mate"? Are we having tea next? Should I start saying "cheerio"? I swear, if he calls me "luv," I'm throwing myself out the window.
"And I don't know what I saw," he added. "Maybe it was just the light."
Spike groaned. "Two warriors saw her eyes change too. She's connected to the witches. I'm telling you—she's dangerous."
Warriors? Witches? Mate?
Seriously? Did I fall into a fantasy novel or is someone filming a medieval cosplay convention without telling me?
And my eyes changing? Please. It was probably just bad lighting as he said. Or their collective stupidity. My eyes do not change. Ever.
"No, she's not," bathroom guy insisted. "She's human."
Gee, thank you. Very reassuring to know I'm not secretly a garden gnome.
Spike crossed his arms. "Your 'human' mate magically appeared out of nowhere and her eyes changed colors. I don't think she's just human."
Wow. Rude. I'm extremely human—annoyingly human. No magical powers at all. If I had any, I'd magic myself out of this nonsense.
Spike sighed dramatically. "What are you planning to do with her, Logan?"
Ah. Logan. Mr. Naked Name Reveal.
"I don't know," Logan said.
Fantastic. Kidnap a girl, put her in a giant bedroom… and have no plan. A psychopath.
Spike gave him a look. "You think I don't know what you are planning to do? You're making a bad decision. Please stick to Clara, your fiancée. At least she loves you."
Oh? Logan has a fiancée?
Of course he does.
"That woman is suspicious," Spike continued. "She might be a spy for the witch sector."
A spy? Me? Oh, please. This Spike guy must have a few screws rolling around up there.
"We don't know any of that yet," Logan muttered.
I stayed perfectly still, because eavesdropping is a sacred art.
Spike threw his hands up. "Your engagement begins soon! What are you planning to do? Replace your fiancée? Risk your life—and our pack's future—for some stranger?"
"That 'stranger' is my mate."
There it was again. Mate.
He said it like it was a whole life-or-death situation.
Replace me with his fiancée?
Excuse you?
…
Wait.
Oh.
I don't think I'm the "mate" in this conversation.
"But does she love you?" Spike retorted.
"We can work on that."
Work on WHAT, sir?! The word 'love' got deleted from my dictionary a long time ago—especially the male edition. Well, why am I even bothered? There's no galaxy in which he's talking about me.
Spike rubbed his forehead. "Fine. Whatever. Clara says you've been avoiding her."
"I'll talk to Clara later," Logan said.
"But you need to go. When the party starts, keep everyone distracted. Especially my father."
Party?
Father?
Distraction?
I was in a telenovela.
Spike tried to say more, but Logan pushed him out and shut the door in his face.
I heard Logan exhale, long and tired.
I could almost picture him rubbing his forehead.
And because I am dramatic and brilliant, I shut my eye and pretended to be unconscious—complete with an Oscar-worthy little exhale.
I heard his footsteps before I felt anything else. Slow, deliberate, but somehow… predatory. My stomach twisted.
I kept my eyes shut. Maybe if I didn't look, he wouldn't know I was awake.
"I know you're awake. Open your eyes."
How the hell did he know?!
Was he bluffing?
Please let him be bluffing.
I kept my eyes closed.
He sighed, annoyed.
"Open your eyes, lady. We need to talk. I have a proposal you will like."
Proposal?
I snapped my eyes open, stretching my arms like I had just woken up.
He just stared at me like,
Nice try.
Then he shook his head and sat in a chair beside the bed.
I glared at him.
"What did you do to me? And why the hell is my neck hurting?"
He leaned forward slightly. The movement was small, but it made my stomach lurch. "First, be honest. Who are you? How did you get past my security and enter the royal bathroom? Be careful—your life depends on your answer."
"The ROYAL what?" I said, louder than intended. "This has to be a joke… right? Please tell me it's a joke. And—um—did you just threaten me? Because I don't do well with threats.
I jabbed a finger at him.
He didn't smile. Didn't move his lips at all. Just stared. Like he was measuring me. And damn, it made me feel… exposed. "In fact—I should be the one threatening you. WHO ARE YOU?"
"My name is Logan. And this is my kingdom."
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"…Now tell me your name," he continued,
"and explain how a human ended up in the royal bathroom. You know that is punishable by law."
I stared at him like he'd grown three heads.
"What the fuck are you talking about? Am I supposed to be a vampire? WAIT—this is a prank. Grandma, enough! Come out now!"
I looked around the massive room.
No grandma.
No cameras.
No film crew.
Just a hot crazy man staring at me like I was the insane one.
"Grandma," I called again, louder.
"This prank is NOT funny anymore. Seriously—come out."
And his eyes.
He leaned in, just a fraction, and my stomach twisted, heat crawling up my neck and exploding across my cheeks.
Why is my body betraying me like this? Who the hell is this man?
"You still haven't answered my question. Who are you?" he demanded.
I slapped my cheek, frustrated. "Wake up, Bella. This is a DREAM."
He tilted his head slightly, studying me. "Just tell me. Maybe I can help you."
I froze.
"You can help me?"
"Yes. I am the king here. This is my kingdom. I will help you find your grandma—if you tell me the truth."
I squinted. My chest tightened. His calm tone, his commanding posture, the way he looked at me—it made me feel like my thoughts weren't private anymore.
"Fine. I'm Bella Russo. My dad's American, my mom's Italian. Grandma invited me for Christmas. I was admiring a mirror and…" My voice faltered. "…and then I ended up here."
Logan blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"America… Italy… I have never heard of those places."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"Are you a spy sent by witches to kill me?" he asked quietly, almost casually.
"No! I'm not a spy!" I snapped, suddenly defensive. But my heart was racing. God, why does his voice make my knees feel weak?
His gaze held mine, unwavering, almost… hungry.
"You're not lying."
My head whipped back. "You can tell?"
He didn't answer. Just leaned a little closer, so close I could smell him. And damn his presence was electric.
"It is enough for now. I can work with that."
"Work with what?" I asked, trying to sound tough. My voice betrayed me—it was a little higher than usual.
"We can help each other," he said softly.
I shivered. My face burned. My heart thudded. What the hell is happening?
I looked away, trying to regain my brattiness. "I don't want any deals with you."
"Don't be like that," he said, softer, almost teasing. "This will benefit you too."
Then, shockingly:
"Be my fiancée. Today."
I froze. My brain screamed. My body… reacted. No, I am NOT reacting. My cheeks burned. My chest… oh hell, stop it.
"Are you insane?" I shouted. "Why would I do that?"
"It's pretend," he said, unflinching, voice low and intimate. "Just for today. Convince the pack and my family you're my fiancée. Stop the questions. Stop the pressure."
I rolled my eyes. Tried to push down the fluttering in my chest.
"Logan—that's your name, right?"
He stiffened. "You can only call me that if you agree."
I rolled my eyes hard.
"LET. ME. FINISH."
He blinked.
"First, I don't believe ANY of this bullshit you're telling me. Second, I'm not making any deals. Third, this is my grandma's house."
His face didn't change.
Mine heated with anger.
"And ALL I want to do is leave this room and find her."
He sighed softly.
Then bowed his head for a moment.
Then—suddenly—stood up.
"You're right. You need to leave this room."
I paused.
"…What?"
"You need to see for yourself that this is not your grandma's villa. I won't stop you."
I narrowed my eyes.
Suspicious.
"Are you serious? Just like that?"
"Yes. But you should hurry. I might change my mind."
I jumped out of bed. My heart still thudding in a weird… electric rhythm I couldn't name.
I stopped at the door and glanced down at my nightwear… still half-wet, half-transparent, and fully embarrassing.
"Do you have any decent clothes?"
"No." His voice was calm, almost amused.
Jerk.
I opened the door.
"Bella."
I turned back.
He stood there, hands behind his back, expression unreadable.
"If you see the truth… and if you're convinced… you know where to find me."
He paused.
"You have a few minutes. If you don't come back—our deal is gone."
I scoffed loudly, rolled my eyes, and slammed the door behind me.