4

The Alpha's Terms

Lilith’s POV (Toronzo Pack)

I woke up with a jolt, my heart was pounding as sunlight streamed across my face.

I overslept.

That would've earned me a bucket of water, my mum would kill me.

I leapt from the bed and nearly twisted my ankle... where were the others? Had they left without waking me up?

I glanced around quickly but no one was in sight, no other mates, no cold stone floor.

Then it hit me, this wasn't the maids hall. This wasn't home. I was in Alpha Rowan's estate.

My small bag of clothes at the end of the room refreshed yesterday's memory in my head. I sighed in relief and sat on the bed massaging my ankles as my heartbeat gradually returned to normal.

I still had to do something right? I slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the door, careful not to make too much noise.

The corridors were empty, lit faintly by a few lanterns, and the smell was warm and welcoming, unlike the tension I had felt yesterday.

"Hey. Why are you up so early?" That was Luna Rachel, she had a long red robe covering her to her feet as she suddenly appeared from the corner.

"I... I thought to help and do the morning chores." I stammered and she was surprised.

"By this time? The maids are not even up yet. Take your time to rest, then have a bath before you think of helping out, we have enough helping hands already." She said softly with a small smile on her face.

"So, what am I to do if I don't help with the chores?" I needed to be clear of my roles and duties so I wouldn't fall short of them and end up being punished. It was necessary to keep my new boss and his wife smiling.

"Alpha Rowan will explain better. It's...his place to do so, but for now, go to bed. Sleep all you want, okay? Go on." She nudged me into my room and I bowed and went back inside, closing the door behind me.

Now that was weird. I was supposed to sleep for however long I want?

No, that had to be a trap. Let me sleep all day, then judge how lazy I was.

But, I think I liked this better than home.

I laid back on the bed and listened... The room was quiet, soaked in unfamiliar peace, yet I couldn't lie still. The soft furs and warm sheets wrapped around me felt like I was dreaming, soft and tempting, but I wasn't comfortable as I had never been good at doing nothing.

So, I stood up, took a long time to pick out a dress from the new set I was given before finally going into my personal bathroom to have a hot shower.

By the time I was out of my room, the maids were already at work. They were all over the place, kneading dough, chopping vegetables, tending fires. I walked into the kitchen slowly, unsure of what to do, but if I was going to stay here, I couldn’t just sit around and be waited on like I wasn't a slave too.

“Can I help?” I asked the closest maid who was scrubbing something in a large bowl.

She froze at the sound of my voice and turned to look at me. Her eyes widened slightly before her gaze dropped.

“I… please, Lady Lilith,” she murmured quickly. “You shouldn’t be here. You’re a guest.”

“I’m not a guest,” I replied gently, though my voice still held the edge of someone used to being ignored. “I live here now, don’t I?”

Another maid nearby glanced at me, then leaned in toward the first, whispering something I couldn’t catch.

“I’ll just help with the herbs,” I said quietly, moving toward the basket on the counter.

But before my hand could even touch a leaf, one of the older maids stepped forward with a soft but firm smile. “Please, Lady Lilith. We were told… it’s not your duty. You shouldn’t.”

I opened my mouth to ask but a voice interrupted behind me.

“Good morning, sweet girl.”

I turned. Luna Rachael. She looked graceful as always, wrapped in soft-colored silks and smelling faintly of roses. Her voice was kind, like someone who knew how to raise wolves, not just rule them.

“Good morning, Luna,” I said with a small bow of my head.

She stepped forward and touched my cheek gently. “How was your night?”

I gave her a small smile. “It was good.”

“I’m glad to hear that. But, you shouldn’t be here. This is not your place anymore.”

“I'm not used to being idle,” I said simply.

“You won’t be,” she assured me. “But not like this. As I already told you, the maids will take care of the kitchen and house chores. Your duty, for now, is to rest. Eat well. Sleep well. Stay healthy.”

“Stay healthy?” I echoed, watching her closely. "Why would I need to?"

She sighed with a smile. “Yes. You’ll understand soon enough.”

There was a pause. My fingers fidgeted by my side.

“Now,” she continued, “I’d like you to go to the throne room. Alpha Rowan is expecting you. He’ll explain more about your duties.”

I hesitated, “I… don’t know where that is.”

She smiled at me again, a little apologetically. “Oh, forgive me. I should have shown you around yesterday.”

She turned to the maids. “Talia,” she called gently.

A tall, slender girl with a neat braid stepped forward. She had kind eyes and looked a little younger than me. “Yes, Luna?”

“From today, you’re Lady Lilith’s personal help,” Luna Rachael said. “Show her around the house, tend to her needs, and right now, take her to the Alpha.”

Talia bowed slightly. “Yes, Luna.”

I followed Talia out of the kitchen in stunned silence. A personal maid? Lady Lilith?

"How do you like it here, Lady Lilith?" Talia asked as we walked.

"Just Lilith is fine and I can call you Talia, right?" She nodded. "Much better." I whisper to myself.

"The treatment is weird." I muttered and she shrugged and turned with a smile.

"You'll get used to it."

"Thank you,Talia. I’d like to go to the throne room first.”

She nodded. “Of course, my lady... sorry, Lilith."

"That's better." Her knowing smile told me she understood.

We passed through a wide corridor lined with tall windows. Everything here was so grand, and I felt small in it.

Before long, Talia stopped before two large double doors guarded by two warriors.

“This is the throne room.” she said. “Alpha Rowan will be waiting for you.”

I acknowledged her with a smile and stepped forward, the guards opened the door without needing to be told.

Inside, the throne room was vast...all high ceilings and stone walls. Banners hung down in rich, dark colors, with TORONZO PACK boldly engraved in them and there he was.

Alpha Rowan.

He sat with his purple silk kingly robe as if the throne belonged to him long before he was born, one arm resting on the side, composed, with his dark eyes silently fixed on me as I approached him.

I walked across the floor and stopped a respectful distance away.

“You summoned me,” I said, keeping my head slightly bowed.

He nodded once, still silent.

"How was your first night?" He finally asked.

"Good. Too good to be true and I can't wait to return the favor."

My body suddenly grew hot as I imagined returning the favor with his hands sliding up my bare skin.

Where the hell had that thought come from?

He smirked a bit and leaned to the side, pulled something from a table next to him... a thick, leather-bound book, and held it out toward me.

I stepped forward and took it with both hands. His fingers brushed mine, not long enough to be accidental, not soft enough to be comforting. My breath caught before I could stop it.

Of course he noticed.

I apologized in my head to his Luna, she had treated me well yet here I was admiring her man. But, he was my mate after all.

“That is your contract,” his voice was even and steady. “Everything you need to know is inside, rules, expectations, your role in this house. Read it. Memorize it and sign it.”

I clutched the book in both hands, refusing to meet his eyes as I nodded while he watched me.

I felt something for this man, something different from what I had with my other mates, surprisingly I wanted to explore it.

And I knew Rowand wouldn't touch me. Not this cursed and innocent lad. I knew I would have to take matters into my own hands. Maybe he was the chosen one.

Just on cue, he suddenly stood up and walked towards me. My hands became sweaty as I held tight to the book in my hands.

"There's more to that book than just rules," he whispered as he circled me. "There's a future in there too. Yours. Mine. Toronzo packs." He stopped behind me.

My heart pounded in my throat, blood rushed to the surface of my skin, and then I did it.

“You may go,” I turned around and kissed him, just at the end of his sentence.

It was imperfect, slightly away from the center of his lips.

I pulled back to see his eyes sparkling with horrified amusement as he gently wiped the side of his mouth with a thumb.

I was suddenly filled with embarrassment at what an utter failure that was, as well as high on the small contact of our lips.

I hurriedly bowed and turned, walking out of the throne room with the heavy book in my arms.

As I got to the door,

“Lilith.” His voice was lower.

I paused and turned slightly to look at him as he walked towards me again.

"Do you know what you're doing?" He drew the word out in a low warning.

I shook my head.

Not at all.

"Do you usually kiss your married mates like that?"

I shook my head again and said breathlessly, "You're the first."

Just like that, the amusement in his eyes faded to pleasure. He stepped forward and I could hear blood pumping in my ears. I was overwhelmed by the tremor across my skin and the closeness of his body that I couldn't find enough air to breathe.

His voice resonated as his lips brushed mine, softly, only a whisper.

"I have always loved coming first. I just hope to stay alive after this."

"I might be dead too if your Luna gets me."

I thought he might step away, but he drew on my lips sweetly, first the top lip, and then the bottom. The book fell from my hands.

With a lustful look, he closed the small distance, pulled me against him and I was lost. This kiss was wetter than before. Hot and wet, he kissed a path down my neck that weakened my knees but his strong arms held me up.

"Touch me." I begged.

But just then brightness covered us as the door flew open.