CHAPTER 4: The Contract Marriage

***SERENA***

"You should consider yourself lucky. Your family didn't exactly seem sad when they watched me take you away."

I was sitting numb on the couch in his living room while he poured himself coffee and took a seat.

I was going to violently kick against leaving with him, since I knew literally nothing about him except for the fact that he saved me when I needed help most. But the main reason why I decided to follow him was because he could really relate to me since he's human.

“Don’t drift, Serena Keaton when I'm talking to you.” His voice pulled me back from my chain of long thoughts.

I flinched, then swallowed hard.

The air around him felt heavy and stale, like everything around him had learned to bend at his will.

I didn’t want to imagine what he would be like if someone crossed him.

“Why… why did you act like that at the wedding despite knowing that I was being wrongly accused?” I asked weakly. ‘You could have stood as my witness.”

His expression softened slightly when I asked that question, but he went back to his usual self almost immediately and continued.

“I don’t have the time, nor the interest, to ask how you’re feeling. “So, I’ll be brief.”

He reached his hand towards his belt and placed a gun on the table, in a slow, deliberate motion.

My body reacted before my mind could, and a shiver ran through my spine.

Who is this man?

He lifted his gaze to mine. And in that moment, I could see a terrifying coldness in his eyes. Empty in a way that was drowning.

“You’re here because of a debt your father owes,” he said.

The gun sat quietly between us on the table.

At that point, I wanted to pick the gun and point at him, but every muscle in my body resisted.

“If it’s money,” I said quickly, the words tumbling out, “you can let me go. I’ll work. I’ll repay it. Whatever he owes, I’ll find a way to refund.”

Something in my chest warned me even as I spoke. Staying here would be worse than being with my family.

He didn’t raise his voice as he responded.

“First rule, Miss Keaton. You do not interrupt me.”

His eyes stayed locked on mine. “Second, your father’s debt is not something you could ever dream of paying, no matter how hard you work. It existed before he married. Before he thought it wise to bring you into the world. So whatever part of you believes you can repay it needs to be silenced.”

My throat tightened.

Just how much exactly does my father owe him?

And why am I standing here instead of him?

A pressing silence settled between us.

“Good,” he said softly. “You’re learning.”

I said nothing, despite the nudge in my chest to protest further.

“Since your father has failed to repay what he owes, you will be made useful,” he slid a file across the table. “Read it, then sign.”

I took the file with shaky hands. The aura emanating from him now felt completely different from when he rescued me.

The paper felt heavier than it should have. And my vision blurred as I skimmed through the pages.

IT WAS A MARRIAGE CONTRACT.

He had taken me from my father without resistance. Without a meaningful explanation.

And now, this sat in front of me, as if any of this could ever be called lawful.

My eyes traced towards the gun once again.

Then I reached the final clause and stopped breathing altogether.

THE DEBT WILL BE CONSIDERED NULL, IF AN HEIR IS PRODUCED.

A low chuckle left him as he watched my face. Then he pushed a pen toward me. “You already know you have no choice. Sign.”

I hesitated for a heartbeat, then I picked the pen up and signed.

“The maids will show you to your room,” he added. “And understand this—under no circumstance should you enter the basement or the west wing. I value my privacy.”

My hand shook and the pen dropped from my hand.

I slid the contract back across the table. And he took it without even looking at me. I stayed where he left me, staring into nothing like a brainless zombie.

My legs gave out eventually. I slid into a chair nearby and leaned forward, pressing my palms to my face while my breath came uneven.

Then a gentle voice came behind me. “Hi, Mrs. Cree.”

I lifted my head slowly.

A young girl stood a short distance away, hands folded neatly in front of her. She looked young—seventeen, maybe. Dark hair pulled back, and a bright smile fixed in place.

“I’m Elena,” she continued in a soft tone. “I’ll be your assistant.”

I looked at her without speaking. Something about her felt wrong. Hidden under the smile, I could feel the same stillness I had felt from Landon, only wrapped in something gentler.

“Assistant?” I repeated.

She nodded once. “I’ll show you to your room now.”

I followed her down the hallway. The walls were clean and bare, stripped of anything personal.

The room she opened was large and arranged with care. The bed looked untouched. The windows were tall, hidden behind thick curtains. It looked comfortable, but I knew the room was going to be my cage.

“If you need anything,” Elena said, still smiling, “I’ll be nearby.”

I nodded.

Then the door closed behind her.

***

Evening arrived in no time.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing, when the door opened again.

Landon's figure appeared at the door post. He stepped inside without even knocking. His eyes moved over me in a measuring motion. Then, he leaned in close, close enough that I felt his breath against my neck, like he was taking my scent.

My body locked in place.

“I’m leaving,” he muttered, then straightened. “Some of the staff will be gone with me, but Elena will be staying so that she can tend to your needs.”

His eyes hardened. “You remember the rules.”

I nodded, swallowing hard, “I can't go to the basement and the west wing.”

His mouth curved slightly into a smirk. Then he turned and walked out.

I stayed where I was, counting time by sound. I waited until the noise of footsteps, tires and engines disappeared completely.

Only then did I move. I found Elena in the corridor and forced my voice steady.

“I need something.”

She looked at me with quiet attention. “Of course.”

“I have a severe allergy,” I said. “Dust mites. It gets bad at night if I don’t take my medication.”

I paused, taking in a shallow breath. “Cetirizin—the higher dose.”

She frowned faintly. “We don’t have that here.”

My eyes locked with hers. “I know, that’s why I need you to go to the pharmacy.”

“Mr. Cree already warned me not to leave you at any time.”

“Would you rather he found me dead when he comes back?”I threatened, staring straight into her face.

She studied my face. Her eyes were sharp beneath the softness.

After a moment, she nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

The door closed softly behind her.

That was my chance to find out more about where I really am. I moved immediately, careful with every step. I followed instinct down the corridor Landon had warned me about, stopping in front of the door that felt heavy to pull.

The basement opened with a low groan, and cold air spilled out. The lights were dim, some, flickering. The air inside felt heavy as if belonging to another world.

When I got down the basement, my breath froze, thick chains bolted into the concrete, worn out from use.

The floor was scratched and stained. Clumps of fur lay everywhere on the ground.

My stomach tightened, “who the fuck is this guy exactly!”

Then a crazy thought slid into my mind, but I ignored it immediately.

“There's no way Landon is a wolf too,” I mumbled to myself nodding my head slightly.

A small table sat in the corner. And a diary rested on it, its leather cover looked creased and handled too often.A name was pressed into the front.

LANDON CREE.

My fingers shook as I reached for it.

I had barely touched the diary when a voice came behind me—

“So this is why you sent me out.”

I froze, then turned slowly.

Elena stood at the bottom of the stairs. Her smile was gone. Her posture, loose, wrong in a way I couldn’t name. She looked at me calmly. And for a brief moment, her eyes flashed gold.