Contract Marriage

Camille

Every meeting with her father—Alpha Loeka had always included her brothers; Devon and Conrad.

Camille could tell something was definitely off.

She arched a brow. “Apparently, it's my business now,” she quipped.

“Rather than stand here arguing with your mother, which is a proof of your arrogance and rebellion, you should know better than to keep your father waiting. You have five minutes more,” Rosalind said, her fake smile cracking rapidly as she walked away.

“Whatever,” Camille muttered, heaving a sigh of relief.

With her mother gone, she pressed her palm moist with sweat to her face. What special guest did her father need her there for?

Pulling her hair back into its strap, she hurried toward Alpha Loeka's study. If she needed answers, there was no point in boxing her brain for something it had no idea about.

Two more strides and she would be in front of his study when an unfamiliar, languid smell hit her nostrils.

Camille, this wasn't unusual. her sense of smell was unnaturally high. She could even pick the smell of insects.

It didn't smell like a member of WhiteMoon pack.

Her father's guest was here.

But when? she hadn't seen any car drive in. Or had Rosalind's little time distracted her from noticing?

Camille tapped on the door twice, immediately followed by the turning of the knobs. She didn't wait for Alpha Loeka to respond; she opened the door to his magnificent study.

Alpha Loeka's guest was here.

His back turned to her as he sat facing her father.

His heavy-built shoulders made a statement through his well-tailored suit. He looked athletic.

Camille inhaled deeply.

*She didn't just notice that. Did she?

She didn't just check him out.

Certainly, not. She'd never done that before. she could promise it wasn't anything serious,* Camille thought.

She was just… anyway, who cared?

Alpha Loeka lifted his eyes to face her, Mr. Stranger's expression remained fixed as he stared ahead, as if no one had interrupted his meeting.

“Good evening, Father,” Camille said, her voice hoarse as she bowed showing her respect

“I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting, but Mother informed me you sent for me,” she added, standing straight.

“Very well, then,” Loeka said returning a stifled smile, his eagle eyes on her choice of outfit. Camille hadn't changed from from her training suit.

“Mmmhh…” he grunted, obviously clearing his throat as if it were clogged. “Why not come forward so Alpha Sigewuf can see you, darling?”

Alpha Sigewuf? Darling?

Darling? That was insanely strange, but there was no time to rationalize things. She stepped forward toward the area where he held out his hand to her.

“This is Alpha Sigewuf of the Darkstar Pack from the North,” Loeka announced with a proud smile on his face, like he had just earned himself a golden fish.

Camille wanted to roll my eyes but didn't.

“Welcome to Lakenheath, Alpha Sigewuf,” she curtsied, catching a side view of his face. Chiseled cheekbones with thick brows, dark hair falling slightly above them. He looked…

Hot!

Did all the alphas from the North look this deadbeat, eye-catching handsome?

“Thank you,” he said with a blank stare that wasn't thankful, tilting his head so that his full face was visible, giving me her his complete attention.

Emerald eyes shone, fierce and dark.

Camille turned away.

Those eyes reminded her of something. Someone? she couldn't remember. Her mind tuned out again, only coming back to the present when her father began to speak.

“Alpha Sigewuf just finished signing the final contract,” Alpha Loeka continued.

“Contract?” she asked, feeling the air in the study shift.

If her father needed someone present to sign a business contract, wouldn't Conrad have been the perfect witness?

Camille thought, except this wasn't a business contract....

Camille suddenly felt her stomach knot with anxiety. She didn't like the sound of that.

Alpha Loeka nodded, a confident smile on his face.

“What contract would that be, Father?” Camille asked, already feeling her chest tighten with dreaded suspicion.

The goddess, it shouldn't be what she was thinking. She prayed silently.

An eternal second of uncomfortable silence followed.

“Your marriage contract…” Alpha Loeka announced then paused before continuing, “Alpha Sigewuf has just signed the final contract. The mating ceremony will be held tomorrow at Slantville.”

Camille felt her heart stop. The blood drained from her face, and her legs suddenly felt like butter underneath her weight, unable to keep her upright. Steady.

Alpha Loeka continued to speak, but she could not hear him. Marriage? The word echoed in her head as her consciousness drifted.

If death could only come now. Take her. Seal her. Keep her from this evil.

She was going under.

And probably, this time, she was gone.