The Contract

LYRA

“How dare you show your face after running away like a pathetic little boy?” a deep voice boomed from behind the office door, and I flinched on instinct.

“I gave you a simple task and you failed! Just how incompetent can you be? You let a rogue into my pack. What if someone had gotten hurt before I found out?” His voice cracked like a whip, cold and furious, sending a shiver down my spine.

I stood frozen, staring at the door, fear crawling up my throat like smoke. Should I knock? Should I run?

“I-I’m so sorry, Alpha. I couldn’t smell him,” a timid voice stammered, shaky and terrified.

I jumped as something slammed against the wall. My heart leapt into my throat.

“I don’t tolerate excuses!” the Alpha snarled. “You were careless, and the only reason I haven’t ripped your throat out is because of your pregnant mate. Don’t confuse that with mercy. You are not free.”

A small, involuntary whimper escaped me. That growl, it wasn’t just angry. It was primal, pure Alpha. My knees buckled slightly under the weight of his power, and I could feel his rage thick in the air, curling around my lungs like smoke.

“I’m sorry, Alpha! It won’t happen again,” the voice pleaded.

“Oh, I know it won’t,” the Alpha hissed. “Because you will be demoted. You embarrassed this pack and my training. You don’t deserve to show your fucking face to me. Leave.”

His fury slammed into me like a tidal wave. My chest tightened. I couldn’t catch my breath, his pheromones were too dominant. My wolf whimpered inside me, and I clenched my fists to stop myself from collapsing into submission. I couldn’t let this break me. Not before I even met him.

My mind was getting fuzzy from his scent. I had to act before instinct took over. I lifted a trembling hand and knocked.

It was silent.

Then, a thunderous growl. “Get the fuck out, or I’ll break every bone in your body and hang you by the goddamn door. Leave!”

The door yanked open. A man burst out, eyes wide, face pale. I stumbled back as he sprinted past me, and then… he turned.

The Alpha.

His nose twitched and  those eyes, cold, sharp, and impossibly blue locked on mine.

Time stopped as something inside me twisted, deep and unfamiliar. My wolf surged forward, ears perked, tail lowered in a mix of fear and curiosity. I couldn’t think.

The Alpha’s gaze darkened slightly, narrowing.

What was this? My wolf. I felt my wolf. 

Why did it feel like I wanted to flee and move closer to him at the same time?

“Come in.”

His deep voice snapped me out of my daze. My cheeks heated up and I quickly lowered my gaze, stepping inside with my head bowed.

“I’m a very busy man, so let’s not waste time,” he said, already sounding irritated. “I’m sure Cooper explained everything, but I’ll go over it one more time. Listen carefully. I hate repeating myself.”

I bit back a soft whimper as his scent wrapped around me, intoxicating and suffocating. His aura was a weight pressing down on my chest. I didn’t know why I felt like this. My wolf stirred inside me, restless and alert.

“The contract is simple,” he began, pacing behind me. I felt the heat of his body even without him touching me. “You’ll pretend to be my mate for one year. You’ll wear my mark. Obey my every word. Act like the perfect Luna until I secure my position. And you will never mention the contract to anyone.”

He started circling me like a predator, and goosebumps rose across my skin.

“In return, I’ll take care of your every need and pay you generously. But make no mistakes, you slip up, and I’ll have you thrown into the dungeon. Do you have anyone in your life?”

The question threw me off.

“What?” I breathed, blinking up at him.

He stopped directly in front of me, and my gaze landed on his chiseled chest. My mouth went dry.

“I asked you a question, Omega,” he snapped, voice sharp as a blade.

“N-no,” I stuttered, quickly.

“Good.” He leaned in slightly. “You’ll live by my rules. Fake or not, you’ll wear my mark and answer to me. I don’t tolerate disobedience, and I sure as hell don’t tolerate nosy little girls poking where they don’t belong. Stick to the plan and stay out of my way.”

His voice dropped, lower now. “I’d hate to hurt such a pretty thing.”

A shiver shot through me. My instincts screamed to run, but I couldn’t. My voice came out small.

“I agree. But I have one condition.”

“Look into my eyes when you’re talking to me,” he growled.

I whimpered, forcing myself to meet his gaze. His eyes blazed like ice and fire.

“I don’t want to get intimate with you,” I said, my voice shaking. His brow lifted in surprise, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. “I’ll only agree if you promise not to touch me that way and if you pay my brother’s hospital bills.”

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he said, voice rich with amusement. “You’ll be rolling on your stomach, begging for my touch in no time.”

Heat bloomed in my chest. He sounded so sure of himself, so smug. What the hell had I gotten myself into?

“Anything else?” he asked coolly.

I shook my head.

He returned to his desk, pulled out a crisp sheet of paper, and slid it across the mahogany table along with a pen.

“Go over the contract and sign it.”

His eyes never left mine. I swallowed hard and stepped forward, fingers trembling as I flipped through the pages. Each line felt like it was binding me tighter. But when I saw the monthly payment, my eyes widened.

“One million?” I whispered, stunned.

“If it’s too small, we can renegotiate,” he said.

I stared at him like he was insane. That kind of money could save my brother and leave more than enough for us to survive on.

I signed and When I handed the contract back to him, our fingers brushed.

My knees buckled.

His arm shot out, catching me instinctively. The moment his skin touched mine, it was like a spark exploded between us. My whole body ignited. My wolf surged, howling from deep inside me. I gasped, my lungs forgetting how to work.

His eyes darkened to crimson.

He didn’t speak, just stared at me, hard and intense. The room felt suddenly hot. My heart pounded. My skin burned where he touched me, and my thoughts scattered into nothing but instinct.

My wolf stirred.

“Are you okay?” he asked, voice rougher now, edged with something that sounded like concern and something primal.

I couldn’t answer. My emotions were a storm inside me, fear, confusion, desire, dread. The air was too thick. His scent was everywhere. I needed to move. I needed space.

I needed to get out of there but somehow, I knew I’d already walked into the fire.