Luna by Contract, Mother in Secret

The Deal of Shadows

The letter arrived just after midnight, slipped under the door of the tiny human apartment Aria Winter's called home.

There was no return address. That was quite weird. Just then she realised it was only the elegant black seal of the Darkfang Pack — a wolf’s fang through a crescent moon and that was enough description.

Aria stared at it for minutes before she found the courage to touch it. Her hands trembled as she peeled it open, heart pounding against her ribs like a prisoner trying to escape.

“Miss Winters,

You are requested to appear before Alpha Caden Blackthorn at 9:00 a.m. There should be no delays, no excuses. This is not a request but an order backed up by the law.”

Her fingers curled around the paper as dread crawled up her spine.

He found me.

My past has begun hunting me.

After all these years of hiding… he finally found me.

But it looks like she didn’t have a choice. Not with her son sleeping in the next room, curled beneath a thin blanket, his tiny chest rising and falling like fragile hope. She tiptoed into the bedroom, brushing a kiss against Rollan’s forehead, the child who should have never existed.

The child of an Alpha.

The child of a secret night.

And the child of the man waiting for her at Darkfang Keep, Alpha Caden.

She started scribbling a letter and dropped it by Rollan while he slept. A letter for Rosalie, her closest friend stating a plea for her to keep Rolland safe till she comes for him. She drafted the letter in tears as she took her last glances at Rollan before she took her leave.

She immediately headed for the Darkfang pack house.

The fortress was as intimidating as she remembered. It had huge black stone walls, silver banners rippling in the wind, and guards who barely acknowledged her as they opened the iron gates.

She wasn’t supposed to return here.

Not to this world.

Not even to him but she had no choice. He had the fate of everyone in his hands.

“Miss Winters?” a deep voice pulled her from her thoughts. A tall man in a dark suit waited for her in the grand foyer. “Alpha Blackthorn is ready for you.”

Aria followed in silence, her legs stiff with fear. The further they walked, the more memories tried to claw their way back. 

Memories at the Gala. A night soaked in moonlight and wine. A forbidden kiss that led to an unforgettable mistake.

And the Alpha who never saw her again.

Until now.

The doors to the Alpha’s chambers creaked open, revealing a space of shadow and sharp edges. He stood behind the massive desk, broad-shouldered, dressed in black, and radiating power like a storm about to break.

“Alpha Caden Blackthorn.”

The man who unknowingly changed her life.

He didn’t even blink when he saw her.

“Sit,” he ordered, his voice was very low and clipped.

She obeyed, folding her hands in her lap to stop them from trembling. It was obvious he didn’t recognize her. Not even a flicker of memory passed over his expression. 

Of course, she looked different now with less makeup, shorter hair, thinner from years of running. At least she was now a mother, not just a random lady of the past.

But still she remembered everything.

“I’ll get to the point,” he said. “The Council is trying to dethrone me. Apparently, being a single Alpha makes me look… unstable. Quite dangerous, like a threat to the unity of the supernatural realm.”

Aria frowned. “What does that have to do with me?”

“I need a wife,” he said.

The words landed like a slap.

“I don’t need love, I don’t need loyalty. I just need an image. And I need it fast.” He slid a folder across the desk. “Take it! Six-month contract. You will live here. You will wear the Luna mark. You will keep your mouth shut, and all in exchange of giving you protection, a generous payout, and all your debts erased.”

She began thinking, how did he know she had so many debts to pay. She obviously incurred them from taking care of Rollan. But who knows?

She hesitated “Why me?”

“Well based on your status, you’re no one,” he said flatly. “You have no pack ties. No family. No influence. You won’t attract attention, and that’s exactly the type of woman I need.”

Aria’s lips parted, but she couldn’t speak.

No family?

No pack?

Was he talking about her?

She was his mate once. She carried his child. And he called her no one?

Tears threatened behind her eyes, but she blinked them away. It was obvious he talked that way because he couldn't remember her. But it was for the best, her identity is best hidden. If he knew who she was, he would probably kill her. Well, she’d survived worse. She would survive this too.

“You have until tomorrow morning,” Caden said, already looking away. “If you sign, you’ll move in immediately. Your life will no longer be your own. You’ll live in my shadow. Is that clear?”

Her voice was a whisper. “Yes.”

She stood and turned to leave, but his voice stopped her cold.

“One more thing.”

She turned, pulse thudding.

“I don’t tolerate betrayal,” he said. “If I find out you’re hiding anything… anything at all, this deal ends. And I won’t be so merciful.”

Aria nodded once, then left to a quiet place to think. 

In the woods.

Her thoughts began popping up like a storm — the money would secure Rollan’s future. The Alpha would never need to know.

She could survive six months.

She had to.

Just as she was thinking of returning back to sign the contract. She overheard some guards close by. 

“Victor Hale is back.”

Aria’s blood froze hearing that.

No!

Not Victor.

Not him.

“He attacked the Crimson pack and soon he would be launching an attack on us. We

have to be on alert.”

And Aria, for the first time in five years, felt the cold breath of fate crawling down her neck again.