My Contract Luna

[ Kaiden ]

As expected, my mother was waiting for me the moment I stepped into the packhouse.

Queen Adeline stood in the foyer, pacing back and forth, visibly annoyed and irritated. Despite the anger radiating off her, she looked as composed and regal as always.

The second her gaze landed on me, it flickered toward Calantha with nothing but hatred and disgust. The poor girl tensed beside me, visibly shrinking under my mother’s glare.

Still, she bowed. “G-Good day, My Queen.”

My mother didn’t acknowledge her greeting. Instead, she shifted her burning gaze to me and stormed forward.

“Getting mated to a slave girl behind my back? What the hell were you thinking?!”

I didn’t reply right away. Instead, I turned toward the head maid standing behind her.

“Take the Luna to the room prepared for her.”

The head maid obeyed immediately, leading Calantha upstairs. I waited until they disappeared before shifting my attention back to my mother.

“A slave girl? Really?!” she snapped, disbelief in her voice. “And not just any slave girl, but one from the very family whose daughter you were supposed to mate? Have you lost your mind?!”

“You need to calm down, Mother. You overreact too much.”

I turned and headed upstairs, not bothering to slow my steps as she followed, her heels clicking furiously behind me.

“Overreacting?” Her voice rose. “You bet I am! Are you trying to tear down everything your father and grandfather built? Are you trying to disgrace our bloodline?”

I stepped into my chamber, letting her storm in after me before shutting the door behind us.

Perfect. I had her exactly where I wanted her.

I turned to face her. “The Grants are conspiring with Alpha Slade to have me overthrown.”

For the first time, my mother’s words died on her lips. Her cold eyes locked onto mine, but beneath the icy exterior, I caught a flicker of something shock and disbelief.

I often wondered which of my parents I inherited my cold exterior from. My mother or my late father?

They were both as cold and ruthless as I was. Even if the world was crashing at their feet, they wouldn’t break a sweat.

The only person who was different from the rest of us was my twin sister; Raya.

My heart turned sour at the reminder of her and for the millionth time, I felt a noose of guilt around my neck.

“What?” My mother’s voice was sharp, but her expression remained unreadable.

“You heard me right.” I managed to shake off the thought of Raya and walked over to my desk, picking up a contract I had left there earlier.

Alpha Slade was my father’s step brother who believed the Lycan throne should have gone to one of his sons, not me. He claimed we stole his rightful place. From the information I had gathered, he had been gathering support. Conspiring with Alphas and even members of my council, like the Grants. Promising them power in exchange for their loyalty.

I scoffed, shaking my head.

The Grants. Those fools.

They thought I wouldn’t find out. It was almost insulting how much they underestimated a man like me.

“They planned to use their daughter against me after we were mated,” I said, turning back to my mother. “That’s why I chose the slave girl instead. She’s harmless and simple. She will be my mate for a year. And when all of this is settled, I’ll get rid of her.”

“Those traitors.” My mother’s jaw clenched so tightly, that I could hear the grind of her teeth. Her eyes darkened, filled with the kind of bloodthirsty rage only a true Lycan Queen could possess. “You should have them locked up and punished!”

“Patience, Mother.” I forced a small smirk. “Good things come to those who wait. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take this to my slave Luna.”

I turned to leave, but as my fingers brushed the doorknob, I paused. Without looking back, I spoke again, my voice lower this time.

“You have to trust me, Mother. I would never do anything to throw away what Father and Grandfather sacrificed so much for.”

Silence lingered between us for a moment before she finally responded.

“And the slave girl?” I could hear the apprehension in her tone. “What if she finds out about the secret our family has been hiding all these years? It would destroy us completely.”

…or worse, it could get her killed.

Of course, I had already considered all possibilities. That was exactly why I had prepared this contract —to protect both her and myself.

“Don’t worry about that.” I said, hoping to ease her mind. “I’ve got it covered.”

With that, I pushed open the door and stepped out, heading straight for Calantha’s room.

When I reached it, I found the door slightly ajar. Standing in the doorway, I watched as she moved around, taking in her new space with wide eyed wonder, completely unaware of my presence.

For a brief moment, something about her reminded me of Raya again.

That same cheerful smile despite the weight of the world pressing down on them. The way her eyes sparkled when she looked at something new, as if she had never been allowed to dream before.

I shut my eyes briefly and exhaled deeply.

Goddammit! Everything reminded me of Raya.

But I wasn’t complaining. That was the least punishment I deserved for what I had done to her. I couldn’t even forgive myself for what I had done. So, why should the universe forgive me?

Just then, Calantha turned, her olive green eyes widening slightly when she noticed me standing at the doorway. Pushing aside every lingering thought,

I walked toward her, stopping a mere two feet away.

Even though I had already noticed her beauty the first night I saw her, up close, she was even more striking.

Deep auburn red hair, sun-kissed skin dotted with freckles, long natural lashes that framed those sharp green eyes.

She was a striking natural beauty.

Suddenly, memories of the night I had stolen her virginity flooded in my mind, making my groin harden in response.

I pushed the thought away and held up the contract instead.

“The agreement you’re to sign.”

I handed her the paper, watching as she accepted it cautiously. Her long lashes lowered as she read through the terms, her brows slowly knitting together.

A small, amused smile tugged at her lips before she glanced up at me.

“Thou are permitted from close proximity?” she read aloud, her voice amused. “Thou shall mind your business and not snoop around the pack house? Thou shall not be unfortunate to catch feelings…?”

And then, she burst into laughter.

I didn’t find anything funny. If only she knew how much abiding by the rules of this contract would save her life for the next one year that we would be together.

I simply raised an eyebrow.

“What’s so funny?”

“Everything, My King.” The way she said ‘My King’ wasn’t exactly mocking, but it held a teasing edge. One that, oddly enough, didn’t feel disrespectful.

“I know you’re hot, good looking, and all that, but trust me, I have no plans to fall for you.”

“Good.” My response was immediate, but for some reason, her words left an odd sting in my chest.

A cold rejection? From an omega slave?

I scoffed internally. The nerves!

“Because you’re not even my type, to begin with.” I finished and she nodded.

“Is that all?” She asked, her sweet-sunshiny smile still lingering.

“Yes,” I said, turning away. “Tomorrow, you’ll be enrolled in Redwood Elite Academy. Your classes start immediately.”