The contract

MAYA

"He is my Leo," I sobbed. "He is my baby. Caleb killed him, but he is here now. I will not let you take him."

Merikh's eyes narrowed slightly. "Caleb? The Alpha of Red Leaf?"

"He is a murderer," I screamed, tears streaming down my face. "He rejected me. He threw me in the mud because our son died. He let him suffocate."

Merikh looked up at his guard. "Who is she?"

The guard stepped forward. "Sire, Caleb's mate was Maya of the red leaf pack. Her father died three years ago. Word came this morning that Caleb rejected her and threw her out last night."

Merikh looked back at me. He reached out and wrapped his massive, warm hand around my wrist. His grip was like iron, but he did not squeeze hard enough to hurt me. The heat from his palm went straight through my skin, making my heart race.

"Your baby is dead, Maya," Merikh said. His voice was demanding but steady. "Look at him. This is Liam. He is my son."

I looked down at the boy. I blinked away my tears. The boy had golden curls, but his eyes were a dark gray. Leo’s eyes had been brown. This was not my son.

My heart shattered all over again. I let go of the boy and fell back onto the floor, covering my face with my hands. I sobbed, my body shaking violently.

Merikh picked his son up and handed him to the guard. "Take him to the car."

The guard left. Merikh remained kneeling in front of me on the dirty floor.

"You defended my son like he was your own," Merikh said. His eyes traveled over my face, then down over my heavy curves, before looking back into my eyes. "You were ready to fight my guards for him."

"I wanted to die anyway," I choked out. "I hate Alphas. I hate all of you. Leave me alone."

"I am not going to leave you here," Merikh said. He stood up, his tall figure casting a massive shadow over my body. "You are the daughter of Silver Crest. Mated to a useless weakling of the red lead pack, You are starving, bleeding, and Caleb's guards will kill you if you wander back near the border. Come to my estate."

"Why?" I demanded, my voice full of venom. "So you can use me? So you can lock me up? I am not a pack wolf anymore. I have nothing."

Merikh leaned down, his face inches from mine. His scent of pine and fresh rain filled my nose, making my chest tighten with a strange heat. His gray eyes were intense.

"I need a nanny for my son," Merikh whispered. "He does not trust anyone but with you, it was different, he trusted your touch instantly.”

"I do not want your charity, and I certainly would not be a nanny, I may have stooped low and accepted all of Caleb’s infidelity and insults but that ended the moment my weakness got my son killed" I spat, glaring right back at him.

"No, it is not charity, Maya…” He paused, his eyes seemed to be studying me, “You are not his nanny, you will be his mother, his mother by a deal, a contract," Merikh said. His deep voice hit hard against my chest. "Stay with me, Keep my son safe. In exchange, I will give you a title, my warriors. I will give you the weapons and the power you need. I will help you slaughter Caleb and take back your father's pack. Do we have a deal?"

I stared at him. The sudden offer of revenge cleared the fog of alcohol in my brain. I looked at his massive, outstretched hand. He was a cold monster, but he was offering me the head of the man who killed my baby.

“We need to leave here.” His eyes were assuring, I get it. This wasn’t a place of discussion, neither is it a safe place for an alpha.

I reached out, wrapped my fingers around his large, hot hand, and let him pull me up.