Six Years Later, I Am Already Married

When I was thirteen, Silas Vancroft framed me and cast me out to the desolate Silver Creek wilderness.

He was my betrothed, but he did it all for the sake of Shae Miller.

Six years later, he returned in a luxury SUV, holding Shae's hand as they came to find me.

He looked at me with cold, arrogant eyes.

"I hope these years have taught you some humility," he said.

"What happened back then was your fault. Don't blame me."

"If I hadn't sent you to Silver Creek to fix your attitude, I could never have married you."

The servants surrounding him expected me to break down and beg for his mercy.

Instead, I simply offered a faint, chilling smile.

"I never planned on marrying you, Silas. Besides..."

"I'm already married."

After spending the morning exploring the mountains, I returned to the old Vancroft estate to pick up my remaining things.

A crowd of people was standing outside the rustic farmhouse.

As I walked into the living room, I saw Silas Vancroft for the first time in six years.

He looked successful and polished, sitting closely with Shae Miller by his side.

"I wonder if Miss Blackwood has turned into a total savage after all this time?" one of the guards whispered.

"Probably. Living in a dump like Silver Creek for six years? She's definitely lost any class she once had."

"That's enough," a soft voice interrupted.

I looked at the woman who had spoken and recognized her immediately.

It was Shae Miller.

Years ago, Silas had exiled me to Silver Creek just to appease her.

I heard she had already moved into the Vancroft mansion in the city.

It was pathetic.

My parents had died on the front lines, leaving me in the care of the Vancroft pack.

Now, she lived there as if she were the one Silas was meant to marry.

I remembered when she threw all my belongings into the dirt.

When I confronted her, she slapped herself and knelt before Silas and his mother, crying like a victim.

"My family isn't as noble as hers. It's only natural for Elena to suspect me," she had sobbed.

Silas had roared at me then. "Elena, how can you be so cruel? She's a guest, yet you treat her like trash!"

I had no way to prove my innocence. In a fit of rage, I had slapped her for real.

"You're hopeless. Maybe you should go back to the old pack lands and reflect on yourself!"

When he sent me away, Silas acted like he was doing me a favor.

"Your parents are gone. Since you live under our protection, you need to lose that warrior-brat attitude."

He told me that if I didn't change, he would never fulfill our marriage contract.

I had been broken then.

But I realized a man who couldn't tell right from wrong wasn't worth my time.

Silver Creek was where my father used to lead his troops.

I thought maybe I could find peace there.

"Miss Miller is the only one gentle enough for our Alpha," a servant added.

"Stop it... Silas and I love each other, but I don't want to cause trouble," Shae said, looking down.

"Especially since my status is so low compared to a General's daughter..."

Silas grabbed her hand, pulling her close to comfort her.

"Your status doesn't matter. If Elena is still the same brat, she's staying in Silver Creek forever."

I cleared my throat, letting them know I was standing right there.

The room went silent as everyone turned to look at me.

"Who is that girl?" someone whispered.

"She's gorgeous."

"Did she get lost?"

Silas noticed the silver heirloom necklace around my neck and his eyes widened.

"Elena...?"

I nodded and set my heavy travel case on the table.

"That can't be her. Look at her clothes. She doesn't look like she's been struggling in the woods."

I knew why they were shocked.

They expected me to be covered in dirt and broken by hard labor.

Instead, I stood there in high-end tactical silk, carrying a custom-made recurve bow on my back.

I didn't look like a peasant. I looked like a queen.

Shae slowly walked toward me.

"Elena, honey..."

I moved my hand away before she could touch me.

She hadn't changed at all.

"I don't have a sister, Shae."

I sat down and poured myself a glass of water, ignoring the tension.

I used to think Shae was a good friend when she first arrived at the pack house.

I even gave her my jewelry.

I never expected her to be a snake in the grass.

Seeing me ignore him, Silas felt a surge of unearned anger.

"Six years and you still have that attitude?"

"You think you're fit to be a Vancroft? Clearly, your time here was too short."

"If you don't fix your behavior, I'm calling off the wedding for good."

The hot water touched my lips. I didn't even blink.

Did he really think I still wanted him?

When I was twelve, my parents died in the war against the rogue packs.

I was forced to live with them.

I didn't stay there because I liked it.

I was young then, and Silas was the only person I felt I could rely on.

I used to be shy around him. I thought I was in love.

Everyone knew we were supposed to mate and marry once I came of age.

But then Shae Miller, the illegitimate daughter of a rival pack, showed up.

Everything changed. His eyes stopped following me.

His kindness was reserved for someone else.

I had confronted him, asking why he treated me differently.

He just told me to stop being jealous.

He even said that a powerful Alpha should have multiple women and told me to grow up.

In a single night, my world fell apart.

I stopped smiling at him.

The more Shae hung around, the colder our relationship became.

Since I moved to Silver Creek, he hadn't sent a single letter.

My heart had died a long time ago.

02

Why did he think I was still desperate for him?

I finished my water in silence.

Silas looked like he was about to explode, but I didn't give him a chance to speak.

I went to my room and grabbed the jade pendant he had given me years ago.

"I have a husband now. Keeping your things would be inappropriate."

"Since you're here, take it back."

Silas stared at the pendant in shock. Then, he let out a mocking laugh.

"Stop playing hard to get, Elena. It's pathetic."

I shook my head. He was an idiot.

Shae snatched the pendant from his hand.

"Elena, stop joking," she said with a fake concern.

"I know life in Silver Creek is hard. Did you... did you go down a dark path to survive?"

She left the implication hanging, and Silas's face darkened.

"We stopped sending you money years ago. How did you afford those clothes?"

So he admitted he tried to starve me out.

He never once wondered how a lone girl was supposed to survive in the wild.

A maid stepped forward, her eyes wide with fake surprise.

"I've seen that fabric before. A wealthy old businessman in the city bought it for his mistress..."

"Oh my god... Elena, are you someone's side-chick?"

Silas's brow furrowed. He glared at me with pure disgust.

He had always been happy to believe the worst about me.

To him, I was malicious and calculating.

I was the daughter of a legendary General.

Even if I were starving, I would never sell myself.

I slammed the glass onto the table, the sound echoing through the room.

I stared coldly at the gossiping servants.

"Your Alpha is right here, and you're talking trash about me to his face?"

"If you want your tongues cut out, just keep talking. My hunting knife is freshly sharpened."

Then, I turned my gaze to Silas.

"I haven't taken a dime from the Vancrofts in years. You have no right to come here and insult me."

Silas looked slightly guilty, but I didn't let him speak.

"My father died for this country. He was a hero."

"If it weren't for our childhood contract, you think I'd ever look twice at a man like you?"

He wasn't even in my league.

Silas's face turned red. He felt humiliated in front of his people.

"A savage woman like you? No one would want you but me!"

"You're just doing this to make me take you back to the city."

"Since you haven't learned your lesson, you can rot here in Silver Creek!"

It was hilarious. I had my own legs. He couldn't keep me anywhere.

His ego was truly massive.

Seeing us argue, Shae leaned her weak body against Silas.

"It's all my fault..." she whimpered.

I couldn't stand her acting anymore.

I grabbed my bow from the table and fired an arrow before anyone could react.

The arrow whistled past her ear and pinned her hair bun to the wooden pillar behind her.

Her hair fell in a messy heap. She screamed, trembling like a leaf.

"You!" Silas yelled.

I smiled coldly.

"Next time, I won't miss her head."

Silas was stunned by my aggression.

He comforted the sobbing Shae and pointed a finger at me, trembling with rage.

He wanted to scream, but he was clearly afraid I'd put an arrow through him too.

"Fine! Stay here then! Don't you dare show your face in the city!" he barked before retreating.

I looked at the mess in the living room and sighed.

I didn't live here anymore, but I still liked things clean.

A pale, strong hand reached down to pick up the broken glass.

"The Lady of the House just won a battle. You should rest. I'll handle this."

I laughed and pinched his cheek.

"A battle? You're making fun of me now, Malachi?"

Once everything was packed, I stepped into a black armored SUV and headed for the city.

03

Silas didn't get to decide where I went.

Two weeks later, I was back in the capital.

I wasn't there for the Vancrofts.

I was there to visit the Elder Alpha of the High Council.

It was his birthday, and he was the one who taught me how to hunt.

I sat by his feet, and the old man patted my head affectionately.

"You stayed away for so long. I thought you were waiting for me to kick the bucket!"

"Don't say that, old man! You're going to live forever," I joked.

We laughed together, but then he looked behind me.

I turned my head and saw Silas walking in, holding Shae's hand.

The Elder Alpha motioned for me to move to a private room, but I refused.

"Child, won't it hurt to see them?"

I took a sip of expensive bourbon and sighed.

"Why would I be sad? A toxic man left my life. I'm celebrating."

"Besides, I'm already married."

The Elder Alpha froze. "To who? Is he a pack leader?"

I was a bit tipsy. "He's the best man in the world."

The old man laughed and raised his glass to me.

Others in the ballroom heard the news and came over to congratulate me.

I smiled and thanked them, but then Shae appeared in front of me.

She held a glass of wine, her eyes filled with fake pity.

"Elena, Silver Creek is such a wasteland. Who could you possibly have found there?"

"Don't tell me you got scammed by some low-life rogue."

"Marriage is for life. If you just did this to spite Silas, you're throwing your life away."

"And technically, you're still cuckolding Silas since the contract isn't officially void."

She was so incredibly fake.

I leaned back and listened to her "advice."

"Who I marry is none of your business. Shouldn't you be happy?"

I leaned in closer.

"Stop the cheap tricks, Shae. I see right through you. I just don't think you're worth the effort."

"A man like Silas? Only someone like you would think he's a prize."

Without Silas, Shae wouldn't even be allowed in this building.

She had played the victim for years to squeeze money out of the Vancrofts.

Did she really think that would work forever?

Looking at her face made me sick.

I reached out, took her wine glass, and poured it onto the floor.

"I don't drink with trash."

Shae grit her teeth, her eyes welling up with tears.

Right on cue, Silas walked over.

He saw the wine on the floor and lost his temper.

"Elena, you've gone too far!"

He raised his hand to slap me.

Suddenly, a steak knife flew through the air.

It pierced Silas's palm, pinning his hand to a nearby wooden table.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

"Mr. Vancroft, I've heard you have a temper, but you shouldn't yell at my wife."

A tall, dangerously handsome man stepped out of the shadows.

He looked like a god, but his eyes were like ice as he stared at Silas.

"Isn't that General Sterling? The one who just destroyed the rogue uprising?"

"Who did you say is your wife?" Silas gasped, clutching his bleeding hand.

I stood up and stood next to the newcomer.

"Malachi Sterling is my husband," I announced.

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