CHAPTER 5; THE CONTRACT

Isla's pov

“The Alpha requests your presence downstairs,” an Omega said from outside my door.

She had knocked several times before I finally opened it, still half-asleep. It was morning, and I guessed they were inviting me for breakfast.

“Okay,” I murmured. I closed the door and got dressed in something simple before brushing my hair. I still wasn't used to this place, and I certainly wasn't going to dress up just because I had been chosen as the Alpha's breeder.

When I finally headed downstairs, I immediately felt the atmosphere change. Heads turned. Whispers followed. I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I walked down the stairs. This was the first time I had seen so many werewolves gathered in one place. Back home, our clan had been much smaller, and we had spent most of our lives hidden behind the barrier.

Here, there were wolves everywhere. I tried not to let their stares bother me as I continued down the stairs. When I reached the dining area, Alpha Alex was already seated. His eyes met mine almost immediately.

He gestured toward the chair opposite him. “Sit.” I walked over and took the seat, trying my best to ignore the curious looks still being thrown my way. A few Omegas approached and began serving breakfast. I looked down at the food in front of me, suddenly aware of how quiet the room had become.

It seemed everyone was waiting to see what would happen between the Alpha and his new breeder.

I couldn't blame them. I was the strange woman who had appeared at their borders, knew nothing about herself, and had somehow ended up being chosen as their Alpha's breeder.

It seemed everyone was waiting to see what would happen between the Alpha and his new breeder.Just then, Luna Vivian walked into the dining hall.

It was obvious she had been crying. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she kept her face lowered as she walked inside. Everyone immediately bowed to greet her, but she barely acknowledged them.

The rest of breakfast was filled with tension.

No one seemed willing to speak, and I could feel the uncomfortable atmosphere hanging heavily over the table. I kept eating quietly, trying not to draw attention to myself.

After breakfast, Alex asked me to follow him.

We left the main house and walked for a while before stopping in front of a small shop.It was a bakery.My eyes immediately went to the display window filled with cakes, pastries, and freshly baked bread.

I couldn't help staring,I had loved cakes and pastries for as long as I could remember.

“This was my mother’s shop,” Alex said.

I looked around in surprise before turning back to him. “She owns all of this?” I asked.

He nodded.“I don't want you sitting around with nothing to do, so you can work here.”

Alex was surprisingly easy to talk to, once you managed to get past his domineering personality.

I looked through the window again, the idea of working in a bakery didn't bother me at all. It was much better than being locked away in a room waiting for something to happen and it would give me more time and an excuse to check out the territory.

But when I turned back to Alex, the warmth in his expression had disappeared. His face had turned serious.

“I don't want to force you, Isla, but I need your help,” he said, his eyes fixed steadily on mine.

“You already know about the curse I've carried since I was a teenager. It has prevented me from having children for years. No she wolf I have been with had ever conceived.”His jaw tightened as though talking about it brought back memories he would rather forget.

“I've spent years trying to find a way to break it. I've tried everything, but nothing worked.”He took a breath.

“I still don't trust you. But I'm willing to learn more about you,” his voice sounded genuine.

I frowned. “Me?”

“The mark you carry, your ability to heal, and the way my curse reacts whenever you're near me aren't coincidences.” He reached out and lightly brushed his fingers over the mark on my shoulder—the strange tattoo I'd had for as long as I could remember.

My breath caught.I had never thought much of the mark before. To me, it had always just been a part of who I was. But the way Alex looked at it made a chill run down my spine.

There was something different in his voice when he said that. Beneath the cold Alpha everyone feared, I could hear how badly he wanted the family he had spent years believing he would never have.

“If, after everything, you still don't want to stay, I'll give you your freedom,” he added.

My heart skipped,Freedom.That was exactly what I had wanted since the moment I entered this pack.

Whenever I had imagined having children, this was far from what I had pictured. The thought of cross-breeding with a werewolf like Alex didn't sound so terrible anymore, but a part of me still couldn't shake the feeling that I was being used.

Alex stepped closer.“I would like us to begin tonight.”

My heart began pounding at his words.

“The children will know who you are,” he continued. “You can visit them whenever you want, and I won't stop you from leaving once we've done what we need to do.”

I stared at him, completely torn.But if this meant I could see Lisa sooner, perhaps the risk was worth taking.

“I’ll do it,” I finally said but I have one request: I will ask you one favour at a critical time and you must say yes.

He stared at me, clearly confused by my words, but after a moment, he agreed to my terms.

The moment the words left my mouth, something strange happened.A soft golden light suddenly flickered between us.I gasped as a warm sensation spread through my body. The light curled around my wrist before shooting toward Alex, wrapping itself around his hand.

He stared at it, just as stunned as I was.For a brief second, the two of us were connected by a thin thread of light.Then it disappeared.

“What was that?” I whispered.

“I have no idea,” he replied.

Before I could say anything else, he suddenly leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

I froze.The gesture caught me completely off guard, and an awkward silence settled between us.